I've uploaded photos from Christmas Day, where my family and Brian's (my sister's partner) met up for the day at Whiteman Park, a natural reserve located north-east of the city. Photos of the family, people playing cricket, and then nature pics I took while wandering.



Note the lack of anything resembling SNOW or COLD WEATHER. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA :)

...wow.

This day did NOT turn out as predicted.

Xmas itself went as expected - family gathered, stayed for lunch, then headed on..

Then I waited a while, went online, and recharge138 said he had tried to call, but he'd used the wrong number. So he called, and we chatted for about an hour or so.

And then things got weird.

Weird as in, my mother's boyfriend, Bruce, must have started venting his opinions - not in that drunken "Rarrarar rassinfrassin" sense, but in that "I've enough booze to make me confident enough to speak my mind, whilst not being aware of this thing called 'tact'." Earlier, over lunch, he basically called my sister fat. She was a little taken aback (she's not fat by any means, just stocky, with a big bust), but let it slide somewhat.

Mum came in at one point, and basically said, "I'm taking your grandmother home now. Bruce has been mouthing off, and called me a smart-arse, and a lowlife, and now your grandmother's starting into him". I know he was trying to compensate when Gran went to leave by saying, "Don't leave because of what I've said", but it failed completely.

Mum was furious. As in, that sort of anger where you go silent and withdrawn. I've NEVER seen my mother like this. This is something entirely new on her pissed-off-ometer. She went to talk to him after she got back from dropping Gran home, and they talked a while. And then mum came in, told me she was putting his wallet and keys (that were in her handbag) on the counter, and she was going for a drive.

That was the weirdest bit. She NEVER drives without a purpose. She never drives anywhere without a plan of where she's going to.

About ten minutes later, I heard Bruce get his stuff, and head to his car, and leave. Mum's still out there driving right now.

As to what happens now, I don't know.

*Five minutes later*

I rang her to let her know he headed out, since I had a phone message saying "am ok, just need time". I think she's just ended the whole thing - although he's left his Xmas presents (not just from us, from his kids too) and some clothes here. Mum will probably gather them up or something, and drop them off, I guess.

TOTALLY not what was expected of a Good family Christmas, that's for sure.

Well, it's that time of year... I'm sitting here, thinking about my past year. A lot of travelling around - and suprisingly a lot less health angst, recent events aside.

I've got Hoop's "A Very Hooper_X-Mas" mix CD playing, and I'm thinking of my friends overseas, and sort of wishing I was spending my Christmas with them. Not that I dislike my family, it's more that Christmas here.. is over fast. It's not like when we were kids, and had big events, or drove down to the country to get together with my dad's side of the family (with about 20 kids, a couple of dozen adults, etc)*.. it's more a standard form now - wake up, potter around, Mum goes nuts in the kitchen, we wait for people to come over, we go get Gran, we have Xmas lunch, and then... most people vanish. Sarah goes to be with Brian's family. Bruce's kids go do their spouses' families, Gran sits on the couch, either just looking out the window with some tea, or I put on a DVD for her.. and I wander back to my room.

And that's it. That's really as far as Christmas goes. I guess I just long for something akin to the #wiigii! exuberance

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In other news, my legs have been really sore. I'm going to attribute it to the muscular pain for now. I think after Xmas, I'll get the ultrasound done. But of course, even when there's a far more sound premise (say, the "sports hernia"), my brain likes to throw back in a "Maybe it IS cancer related, like what Chip had". Stupid, stupid brain creature.

I also modified my icon to suit the season.

Work was pretty dull and quiet all day. I ended buying some comics, a couple of Kabaya TF mini-figures, and that's about it.


So, I guess I leave you with this quote from Infinite Crisis #3.

[Animal Man]: "Angry Thanagarians. Everybody step back. I don't know what kind of animal I'm syncing up with out here.. but it shoots lightning out of its face."



* LAst time we had that was 1990.

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! Last Thursday I turned windchaser in for spitting (3 points). In March I caught a purse-snatcher who stole sntint's purse (30 points). Last Tuesday I donated bone marrow to mouse_pad in a life-saving procedure (300 points). Last Sunday I didn't flush (-1 points). Last Saturday lincexor and I robbed a bank (-50 points). Overall, I've been nice (282 points). For Christmas I deserve a pony! Sincerely, finback

Write your letter to Santa! Enter your LJ username:

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From this we can learn three things.

1. Windy, you should swallow.
2. Alan has a man-bag.
3. Waspy's albinism is going to kill him.