Xmas 2021

Not much time to sit idle, but a welcome walk in the neighbourhood brings some thoughts to the fore and with these I write my xmas message for this challenging year, the year of two out of three and the borrowed Xmas Tree. A year which brought regulation changes more frequently than we change our underpants. Jesting aside, this has been so hard for so many families wrenched apart by the faceless, nameless masses of red tape, (and how easy it is to hide behind that). Loved ones not quite within reach, whether grandparents in old peoples homes or young babes which have just been welcomed to a not broad enough meeting of aunts and uncles, grandparents and more. 

The message on my 2020 Xmas Cake was "Roll on 2021", but now looking back it is more like we were rolled under the bus. Everything became a considered decision which teetered on the moment, in the year, though by all accounts Australia survived better than most places in the world and weathered the Delta variant well, but we were so aware of how many many lives were lost in that time, particularly in India and the US. Just as we thought that we were finally out of the woods we find ourselves facing more uncertainty, admittedly with changing goal posts, and a little further along the Greek Alphabet. Will we get to the end? 

Now once more we are on the cusp of Christmas and we hold our breath. Dare we wish for open borders, renewed travel and no more deaths around the world? Will we reunite with loved ones and plan ahead? Thoughts and sympathy for lives lost. Thinking about Kathy's son Mathieu, Gabi in SA who lost her brother, Lusy in Kenya my wonderful PA, who lost her only son in a tragic car accident this week, and children's lives lost in Devonport in Tasmania. To all those thrown apart. To those recovering from Covid and its side effects. As my niece's daughter complained, to the loss of her teenage years. The list is long. 

Perhaps the answer lies in living in the moment, being aware of all that is around, and being thankful for what we have.To my Xmas Angel Robyn Jaques for supplying the Xmas tree for the season - a shortage of Xmas trees has been the latest supply chain problem. To my boys who love one another and reach out where there is a need and for a hubby who plants and harvests goodness in the garden. 

There are sunflowers in our garden but also clouds. Wary of 2022 - who wouldn't be.