Santa Claus is coming to town

I love Christmas.

Although some times I'm a real bah hum bug.

Mostly, I love Christmas.

Hearing Bing Crosby's White Christmas evokes a comfort and warmth that really oozes holiday spirit.  Although technically the "warmth" part of it is probably because it's so darn hot at Christmas time in Australia!  But none the less I picture soft, white snow falling gently outside a double French window while an open fire crackles and the family sit around talking, laughing sipping on egg nog and wearing crass homemade knitted jumpers. (or was that a movie I saw?)

There's just something about Christmas.

I love walking through malls draped in Christmas decorations (but can't stand the crowds).  I love hearing Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is You (but can't stand how expensive everything is) and I love watching Home Alone.

But there is one image of Christmas that I love above all else and that is Christmas in New York.  I have never been to New York during winter but I'd like to image that it is a magical place during the festive season.









Merry Christmas to All & Happy Holidays.

My battle with Mother Earth

Let me tell you a tale of how I took on Mother Earth...


As I opened the heavy metal door to the garage, on this the first day of winter, the sun warmed my face but did little for my frozen fingertips.   A smile caught the edges of my lips.  It was a beautiful morning.

I spent the next 8 monotonous hours wishing I were outside, laying under the blue sky, instead of working.  When the hands of the clock finally got around to quitting time,  I was outta there, not a second later.


But just as the daylight slaps a groundhog in the face when he awakes from his hibernation, the onimously grey mass of clouds covering a substantial amount, if not all of the sky slapped me in the face.


With no umbrella and a 30 minute hike home after my train trip, I knew Mother Earth was putting out a challenge.  Would I make the trek home unscathed? Was I ready for battle?


On the train, I watched the clouds with an eager eye. They were neither building nor dispersing.  This gave me hope.  I kept asking myself the question... what am I going to do if the clouds open and the rain falls like it did on Noah?

Spewing forth from the train carriage, my two legs carrying me as fast as they could, I set off.


A patch of darker grey clouds appeared above me and the signs were not good. Then I paniced,  I couldn't remember thinking of a plan should the rain start!


But like a beacon of light, dollops of blue sky fought their way through the low lying clouds and then like a miracle, the clouds started to thin like an old mans hair and I knew I had this won.  But I couldn't count Mother Earth out just yet, I still had half the trip to go.


With all the gusto left in me, I trekked on nearing closer to the refuge of my four walls and roof,   the threat of rain always looming. 


Just like that I was under the saftey of my porch. 


I got home with not a drop of water on me and the smile that licked the edges of my lips this morning and which had alluded me since, returned.


Mother Earth had to concede defeat - this time.

It was negative

Need I say more?

When I took a photo of the test, it looked strangley like a lightsaber:

Compare...

Uh-huh!