Blog to Scrapbook

I started this blog with an idea of keeping the family informed of what everyone was doing. It seems it has become superfluous as it is not being read that much for all sorts of reasons and the odd thing on Facebook seems to be all everyone wants. I was hoping for more contact with grandkids but I understand use of internet etc is being restricted. So I am writing this more of a diary/scrapbook of the family for me now. I can cut photos from Facebook and keep them all in one place.

It is already summer and here in Melbourne we didn’t even have spring. It has been so cold and grey – totally depressing. In New York there seems to be a few leaves.

Liz came and went in a flash. It was good to hear of all the news from the NY family. I will be interested to hear the outcome of some of the proposed changes. Typical Melbourne weather when she was here – in the thirties one day and high teens the other two. She was rushing home for Thanksgiving. Not sure if she arrived in time or how Thanksgiving went as I have not heard anything and there was nothing on Facebook.

I have been a bit melancholy this week. I gave two substantial gifts lately one to a friend and one to a member of the family and I did not hear one word back from either. It was like it never happened. I remember Liz saying once I should give just for the sake of giving and not to expect anything back. I am afraid I can’t be like that – I do get hurt. Part of the joy of giving for me is seeing/hearing the response.

I am not sure if this made me so sad or it was because the pain in my feet has come back with a vengeance. I seemed to loose my positive outlook which meant I sort of lost control of the pain. So not sure it sadness caused pain or pain added to sadness. It seems hard to get on top of it when it is severe as it saps my energy and I feel very flat and very tearful.

Anyway to avoid the hurt and disappointment I invariably get, from now on I am not going to give gifts. I think in some ways they have passed their time anyway. Once it was the only time you got something new so they were looked forward to and very precious. Now we all have so much we don’t really need any extras and it doesn’t seem to be very special at all. I think money to charity might be a better option – a goat here, a chicken there etc. In my office we are averaging three charities at least every week writing for support. Because we have given to a few I think we are on a ‘list’ somewhere.

Singapore – At wreath making night

New York – Bruce has a birthday

I am very frustrated with lack of steps for my walking totals. I was hoping by Christmas to have got back to the 10,000 steps per day but this week it kills just walking around the apartment. Treatments going OK. I have my last for the year on 16 Dec in the morning. Taking staff to lunch at Maha same day. Then off to Singapore on Sarah’s birthday.

Isabelle Writing in Chinese

Reached the $100M