Happy Anniversary Sweetheart.

Today fourteen years ago I did the best thing I had done in my entire life. I married you.

Have a wonderful day

Love Mark

The recent bushfires here in Australia have had a profound effect on me.
The carnage has opened many doors in my head that have been closed for years. Doors that took a long time to close in the first place, and much self control to keep that way, for many reasons.
It’s something I rarely speak about at all, let alone publicly, and yet I put it on my blog?
Go figure!
The past week has seen me not sleeping well, quite restless and very emotional.
The loss of life, human and wildlife, property and just the sheer magnitude of the event have all conspired to make me feel like I’m some sort of unhinged basket case.
I sit here watching the TV with slient tears running down my cheeks, trying to make sense of why.
It’s almost too much to take in if that makes sense?
People have died, others have lost everything they own and are having to rebuild lives they’ve already spent the best part of a life time on, having to start again with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs.
So much to take in and process.
So damned hard to comprehend.
There have been some amazing stories come from this event. Tales of survival, others of heroic deeds, people helping others while their own homes burn. There are dozens of them all over the news.
As to our fire fighters, paid and volunteer, well, they just defy description.
True heroes in a world where the word hero is bandied about as if it’s some sort of trophy.
It’s people such as these that word hero was made for.
So…
As those of you who have Gmail would know, in the bar above your inbox, there is a rotating news line. It shows you sponsored links to stories all over the world. I rarely click these links, more because I have just about every news service available coming into my reader, however…
While checking my email last night, I saw this link and it took my eye because it was about the bushfires.
Within this article there is a video link which I’ve posted here for you.

I know there are probably more moving articles, or even videos, that relate to people as opposed to animals, but I’m a bit of an animal lover, and many people don’t think about the poor creatures killed or left behind in agony, to die a long, painful death. People are blogging about the human toll all over the net, so me, being me, thought I would be different.
This is a wonderful feel good story and video.
It made me smile, and also made me realise that from every natural disaster, there always comes hope, be it big or small, and that’s a good thing.
For without hope, we are lost, surely?

Well, Christmas is done and dusted for another year.
I’ve had a wonderful day and it was topped off in the best possible way I could ever have wished for.
Suffice to say I received the one thing I wanted more than anything this year. It was only a simple little thing to many, but to me it was worth more than any material item money can buy.
A new beginning has been created, one which holds hope and promise for many things, all of which are very important to me.
Yes, this is cryptic to many, and there will be no explaination, but knowing you guys as I do, I’m sure you’re happy to celebrate with me all the same.
For those of you just starting Christmas day, if yours is but half as good as mine, then I’ll be pleased for every last one of you.
As you can see my theme has changed. The pictures in the header rotate, and are, at this point, the generic ones that came with the theme
I’ll try to find the time to replace them with more personal pics over the weekend .
I’ve also added, at the top of the left hand sidebar, a widget that is driven by a plugin, and it’s called a Wordpress Wall. It allows for little comments without the need for email insertion, going to a different screen or anything else, and it refreshes every 90 seconds, so if I’m around you’re more than likely to get an immediate response.
It’s a nifty little gadget that simply took my fancy. NFI whether it will be of any use, but it took my fancy all the same

I’m now off to bed with a satisfied smile on my face and in my heart.
Enjoy your Christmas day wherever you are.
I hope all your dreams come true.
Mine did.

It’s Christmas day here in Australia. By the time you read this, everyone on my blogroll will have a comment to wish them all the best.
For most of my readers it’s not quite there yet, but with the time difference, we start the day a little earlier than you.
We’re off out for lunch this year, something we’ve never done and I’m quite looking forward to some good food, even better company, and a few quiet drinks. Knowing there is no preparation or cleaning up to be done is odd, but in a good way.
No presents as such, in our house this year, which I mentioned in an earlier post.
We’re off overseas in July to meet some very special people, and in fact our “presents” for each other were the return flights, finally booked and paid for last Saturday with dates and times sent in an email I’ve been waiting to send for many months. That there was an amazing rate to be had was a bonus. We were going to book and pay around February, but the 1400.00 saving was just too good to go past.

To each and every one of you, I wish nothing but good things for you and your families. Not only for Christmas but the coming year as well.
I know some of you have had a long year for various reasons {you know who you are} I pray for easier times, relief from worry and all the very best that life can offer. It is surely desrved.
For those a little closer, know that January 1 is the start of a new year, and the time for new beginnings. To you I send hope for inner peace and health, with much love attached.
To all of our children and grandchildren not with is today, we send all our love and hope your dreams come true. Know that whilst we miss you very much all year round, we will feel it more today. Far more than you know.

I would ask that all of you spare a thought for those away from family and all things familiar, particularly our armed forces, regardless of which country you live in, and also those sick and/or in hospital.
If you have nothing else today, you still have more than them.
People you love are around you. At the end of the day that is worth more than any present you can give or receive..

For those of you that have family who don’t understand the day, or maybe even don’t know you’re there, please know our thoughts are especially with you. Keep doing what you’re doing. I’m sure that if nothing else, they can feel the love that radiates from you.

I leave you with a carol that reduces me to tears every time I hear it, because it was my Mums favourite.
Doesn’t matter where I am, I cry like a baby at the thought of Christmas as it was when she was still alive. Seems the passing of time can’t soothe me when it comes to this time of year.
Quite besides that it reminds of what the season is all about.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I find some interesting little things while stumbling around the net, and now have quite the collection of quotes and expressions.
I’m not the most talented person when it comes to putting things into words, so I tend to look for other ways to express what I often struggle to verbalise.
I thought those below were quite appropriate for a few I know in the blogoshphere. There is a story behind each of them, and I felt the need to let these people know they’re rarely far from my thoughts at a time when maybe they would like to know someone is thinking of them. No, they’re not alone by any means, but now and then it’s nice for a person to give a little just because they can, and for no other reason.
If you’re not there, fear not, there will be a couple of these posts between now and Christmas. I would hate anyone to think I didn’t have something for them too!

Hope your weekend is kicking along swimmingly. Mine is. I’ve made my phone calls, got the washing done, lawns mowed, and house respectable. Top that off with a walk along one of the most beautiful stretches of beach you’ll ever see, all while eating vanilla ice cream with fresh raspberries and passionfruit, and I’m sure you can see why.
*sigh* The delights of living in the tropics. Beaches, ice cream and clear, balmy nights
:)
Anyhow, I’m gone. There’s a rock pool full of cold sea water that has my name on it.

Michael.
So appropriate my friend. I can see you smiling as you read it. Substitute the “I” and “Me”for “You” and it will make perfect sense.

Annie.
I’m sure you understand this totally my precious.

Peter Parkour. I know you’ve been facing some challenges in your life too, so felt this might just give you a little inkling that whilst I may not say a lot, I do understand where you are.