The longest day has been and gone

I know for some people the shortest day has just happened, but here in sunny Oz the longest day was yesterday, December 21st, at 11 minutes past five in the afternoon.  Days will now start to shorten imperceptibly, only by five seconds at first then more rapidly, but it will probably be a few weeks before we notice much difference.    Unfortunately the current heat wave will be with us for a couple more days, but hopefully it might be a little cooler for Christmas because sleeping is not easy in this heat, especially while wearing a sling.  Oh, to be able to curl up on my side again.......

To get us all in the festive mood here are a couple of Christmas wombats with their tree, it's not a pine tree but it's still green!  Aventurine leaves on a bloodstone base; it and the wombats are gifts from previous Christmases.  If I had the use of both arms I would take some pics of our decorations, but that will have to wait until next year.  How is your countdown to Christmas coming along?

The specialist is pleased with the range of movement in my shoulder, apparently it is where it should be at this point, and is very slowly gaining strength although I can't lift my arm very high at all.  This means my hair has to stay down for the time being because putting it up is completely impossible, totally out of the question, and I refuse to cut it.  I like to wear my hair up, and am not yet ready for The Chop.  On Friday the physiotherapist said not to even think of playing uke just yet, pity about that......I had been hoping for a plink or two over the festive season......the uke group has a gig in next month's big country music festival so I need to be able to play for that.  One song, only two chords......I can do it......my arm might fall off afterwards, but it will be done.

Christmas programs are everywhere on TV right now too, some are fun and many are abysmal.  Why do so many performers sing Christmas carols as though they are pop songs?  Most Christmas concerts feature hip young things singing old carols in the style of their latest (probably their only) hit.  And what's with the hand-held microphones?  Surely in this day and age a headset mike gives the audience (these concerts are live) a better view of the performers than having the bottom half of their faces obscured by a microphone.  And who chooses the songs?  Warbling about chestnuts and open fires and winter wonderlands is ridiculous in Australia's summer heat.  Many years ago two Australian composers wrote some lovely songs which are much more relevant to our Christmas, it would be nice to hear them instead of songs about non-existent snow.

When I rule the world things will be different......

"Walking with a lady acquaintance.
A gentleman should not join a lady acquaintance on the street for the purpose of walking with her, unless he ascertains that his company would be perfectly agreeable to her.  It might be otherwise, and she should frankly say so, if asked."

While I don't know about all of you, I suspect that given the age and matrimonial status of most of us this is quite unlikely to happen.

Enjoy your days!