So that was christmas …

Apologies to the poor use of the legend’s (John Lennon) song lyric there, but it had to be.  Christmas 2008 came and went like a flash, but luckily I was able to take a few weeks off which I had already booked for the ill fated trip to Tokyo.  Go back to work on the 19th which is going to be a bummer.

I suppose many of you were like me and spent the equivalent to a small African nation’s GDP on gifts and food.  It is incredible what we spend.  On this year’s budget I could have done 7 nights in a moderate level Anaheim hotel with 14 day DL park hopper for the 4 of us!  But it was a great day anyway.  This was a rare year when we were able to stay at home all day, with the trade off being the need to entertain near on 20 people.  To start with we were awoken at not too bad a time around 6 with the kids.  Then I was off to share the christmas spirit with the kids of our community with Santa delivering presents to those who participated.  It’s a few of us blokes who get together to do it and it is a great time, finishing up with a couple of well earned sherbets.  For this year the local bush firies have offered use of the fire truck which will be a great spectacle.  So overall our christmas was pleasant and luckily not too hot, unlike the weather that was to follow.

New year was another story though.  We had planned on doing very little, but ended up having dinner with friends and then wandering around to a local party.  Should have stuck with the planned to do nothing as it took me the whole next day to get over the 3 bottles of red I consumed the prior evening.  You know, we never learn do we.  Luckily Australian reds are just so good that at least it was enjoyable while it was going down.  This year’s poison was Wolf Blas Yellow label Cab Sav.

Now the new year did bring some joy at least.  We started in earnest the planning for the December 2010 trip to Orlando.  For those who revel in the planning process, you will know the discussion that this brings.  What to do where, when and how.  We want to do all the main attractions around Orlando as well as the cruise, but WDW is the focus.  Christmas must be spent in WDW somewhere as well as NYE.  Because cruises are set, we decided to work around those dates, so obviously, first things first, the cruise.  Which we decided upon and booked.  No point mucking around with these things.  December 11th 7 night Western Caribbean, deck 6.  We now are able to work every thing around this now, which is harder than it sounds.  I also want to be able to land in San Francisco and see the Disney Family Library before we head to Orlando and if possible duck into the Happiest Place on Earth for a few days on the way home.  I also want to be able to time the Very Merry Christmas Parade at MK as well as the Candlelight Processional at Epcot.  As you can see alot of planning, but thankfully time is on our side (at the moment anyway).  At least we’ve started with booking the cruise anyway.  In future blogs I’ll update on any new plans we make but for now, it’ll be a little low key.

On another note, starting Feb 3rd, I commence my time as Assistant Coach of the Camden & Districts U14 Representative Netball side.  I’m nervous but excited about the prospect.  I know some of you are saying WHAT THE about netball coaching.  But for the few years I’ve done it, I’ve enjoyed it, and I’m not bad at it either if I do say so myself.  But I wanted to learn more and this was one way I saw to do it, and I get to try and influence a team to achieve at a State Championship, which is pretty special I reckon.

Look forward to this year’s meetings and enjoyed the Wednesday night trivia.  I’ll open a little secret and tell you that I actually had the whole family in the study participating, we all had a ball.  Anyway until next time!