Having a wonderful Christmas/New Year in Sydney. NSW for me is synonymous with warm balmy weather, lazy days filled with good food and family games. Marg and I travelled up to The Entrance on New Year's day with Grandma and the 4 kids to visit my sister Pat, her husband Steve and my mother, Sheila enjoying a BBQ and a swim at the beach.
Marg's family and ours travelled to Leura in the Blue Mts on the 3rd Jan. for 5 days to stay in a large rented holiday house sitting on the escarpment overlooking the magnificent Jameson Valley only a couple of clicks from the "Three Sisters" at Echo Pt. The temperature here, at 1000 metres was in the mid teens with lots of misty rain interspersed with sunny periods. Uncle Ian and I nicknamed the "Blind Dudes" took on all comers in a family badminton knockout finishing unbeaten winning the coveted prize of $20. The young ones deeply disturbed that the oldies prevailed against all the odds. I have regained my walking "mojo" for the first time in 18 months. During that time I was unmotivated given a long period of feeling nauseous, dry reaching when undertaking even minimal exercise. I'm surprising myself with daily, often strenuous bush walks through glorious country teeming with wild life; red wattle birds, eastern whip birds, honey eaters and dozens of differents parrots. The wildflowers have to be seen to be believed.
Marg and I had two wonderful experiences on the same walk early one morning; 2 pairs of lyrebirds walked right past within a metre of us. In all my years of walking I could count on 1 hand the number of times I have seen a lyrebird, let alone have them come close enough to touch. The Blue Mts. are a sight to behold, having profound spiritual importance for the local aboriginal clan, you can understand why when you see the rugged terrain, different coloured sandstones and read something of the geographical history of the place. Walking around these mountains leaves me feeling quite small in the whole scheme of things.

We all arrived back in Epping at Pam and Ian's after watching the final nail in the "Ashes" coffin. I have mixed emotions after many years (especially the 70's & 80's) of watching the Pom's consistently humiliated. Maybe it's good in the long run for Aussie cricket, balancing the books so to speak!
Enjoying a family dinner out at a local Chinese restaurant tonight, a visit to the pictures to see "The King's Speech" before picking up my Auntie at the airport tomorrow morning. Auntie Margaret has travelled from England via California to spend a week in Sydney with different family members. Driving up to Canberra on the 8th for 3 days and then home to Castlemaine on the 11th.
I'm feeling really good physically at the moment. My scalp has stopped itching and the rash on my face and torso has all but cleared up. Apart from very dry (facial) skin, my body is handling the trial drug (certuximab) well.

Blessings to you all and sincerely hoping you are finding some satisfaction in your life experiences?
Take good care of yourself
Regards
Ray