Now That's a Snowman, Er, Snowwoman!

Our friend, Judy, sent us photos of the world's largest snow-person to make us miss the snow. It's really hot here today so it worked for me. Check it out - it's pretty amazing!

http://wbztv.com/slideshows/Worlds.Tallest.Snowman.20.666058.html >

Lentils and Red Panties

Most Americans are familiar with the southern tradition of black-eyed peas and ham and I've jumped off a chair while eating an apple at midnight to celebrate the new year in the Norwegian way with our friends, the Lindmarks. However, I hadn't heard about the significance of lentils and red panties until last night.

Dan, Diana & Jen ensure lots of money
for 2009 by eating all their lentils.

Thanks to Veronica and Vito, we embraced the Italian New Year last night. Lentils, like black-eyed peas, stand for prosperity in the New Year. Hopefully, if enough people eat them, the world economy will improve. One can only hope!

Veronica wore a sexy dress but what color are
her panties? Only she and Vito know!

Unfortunately, I didn't know to wear red underwear last night to guarantee a year of great lovemaking. I guess George is off the hook until next year! Veronica says red panties are a hot item for sale in Italy this time of year. Now you know what to buy next Christmas!

Party genes are strong in Veronica's family,
shown with her niece and great niece.

As usual, the food at Veronica and Vito's was amazing with an array of appetizing morsels - cheese trays, an antipasto platter, and egg rolls for starters, prawn & mango with spinach and pear & walnut with watercress salads, and baked ziti. Desserts included decadent profiteroles, a wonderful carmel mint mousse and tiramisu which I skipped since I hate coffee. Somehow I missed this great-looking tart and bypassed Pauline's scrumptious chocolate mousse cake but was given some to take home. Good thing I didn't make my New Year's resolution to lose weight!

Lena (right) brought the profiteroles and I assumed she made them. She replied in her still very Italian accent, "I don't make those anymore. I am an Aussie now!" She and her husband, Romano, have lived here 50 years and own one of our favorite Italian markets.

Andrea's daughter is helping to improve international
relations by marrying an Englishman in April.

His parents are enjoying their first visit to Oz so
much that they are considering moving here.

The boys steal a quiet interlude to talk fishing. Maybe someday George will get his fishing pole that's sitting in Sydney with the rest of our shipment.

Pauline, Pat, Judy and Veronica enjoy reminiscing.

Yes, the Macarena made it all the way Down Under!

There were also other dances including old rock, 40s dance music, Latin beats and disco. Vito does a Travolta-worthy disco - he's staying alive!

Dan relaxes after spending most of his time at the gold mine.
It reminds me of - "Working in a gold mine, going down, down.."
I know I'm dating myself with that song.

Everyone awaits the countdown to midnight
with their noisemakers and crackers.

Vito opens the official 2009 bottle of champagne.

The English tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne while in a circle holding crossed hands was not caught on film as I was a participant but it was fun. I didn't really know the lyrics but here they are for future reference:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Our littlest partier lasted until the bitter end. Her eyes
weren't that red; I forgot to push the red eye button.

It was so worth slaving in a hot kitchen in almost 100 degree heat and almost getting flashed by an Aborginal drunk on the bus after taking the wrong bus to be there! But that's another story. It's time for bed!

Happy New Year or As They Say in -

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Indonesian: Selamat (Hari) Tahun Baru
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan

These translations are from www.fathertimes.net. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know how to say it in Ukrainian but will ask Luba or George and add it later.

A Gift with a Heart

Our good friends, Chris and Harry, sent us a precious gift that captures the Christmas spirit but does much more. As a young man, Harry volunteered in Africa for Lalmba Association. Each year, Harry makes a donation and we get a gift made by the people who benefit from the donations. This year's gift is handmade from native grasses and banana leaves by the villagers. It took them two years to make the sets.

Lalmba means a place of hope and brings American doctors and nurses to provide medical care for some of the poorest people in the world. Lalmba also cares for 1,576 orphans, many of whom are AIDS orphans.

If you'd like to make a donation or to find out if any of these nativity sets are still available, you can contact Hugh & Marty Downey at Lalmba@aol.com.

All Hospitals Are Not Created Equal

PVHS, where George worked for 26 years, just received the 2008 Malcolm Baldridge Award for Excellence, so we are used to superior health care. We knew things would be different here with socialized medicine and expected more basic care at the public hospitals.

However, we were most surprised to hear that the private hospitals are also run quite differently. Shirley Kay, one of my American friends, told me a story about her experience with the local private hospital that I found incredible. Hopefully, you'll find it interesting too.

Shirley Kay's 18-year-old son hurt his ankle jumping off a pier at the beach. (I can certainly relate to that!) He has a high pain tolerance and refused to go to the hospital until much later after his mother insisted. They had the usual emergency room wait that happens anywhere but were shocked to hear that there was no x-ray technician on duty. After being advised that one could be called in for a $70 fee, Shirley Kay agreed so they waited another hour only to be told that the technician had changed her mind and wanted to stay at her Christmas party! They were given the choice of going to another hospital or returning in the morning.

Shirley Kay was skeptical when the x-ray technician looked the same age as her son and even more worried when the girl started flirting with him. "Oh, were you the one who came in last night? I'm so glad my friend didn't want to leave her party. You're cute!"

However the young technician did seem proficient so Shirley Kay left her son to search for the doctor. She was unable to locate the doctor but was informed by her son that he needed surgery and a pin. Shirley Kay surmised the doctor had visited and couldn't believe it when her son said, "No, the x-ray technician told me." That would never fly at home - she'd be so fired!

The ER doctor was very nice and efficient and gave Shirley Kay her mobile number along with the referral number for the orthopaedic specialist. Shirley Kay called the specialist's office Monday morning and explained the whole situation to the receptionist. Imagine her exasperation when the receptionist told her their first available appointment is the end of February. Shirley Kay replied, "Haven't you been listening to me? He's had a serious break and can't walk. May I please speak with the doctor?"

"He's in the theatre right now."

"The doctor's at the movies?!" Again, we speak the same language, sort of!

Anyway, it got all sorted out with the ER doc finding another specialist and the surgery already completed. It sure makes me happy I didn't break anything when I fell. Something else for which to be profoundly grateful!

George was not quite as amazed at this story because the Fremantle Hospital has 400 beds and there are no pharmacists, phlobotomists or x-ray technicians on duty nights and weekends.

Cottesloe Beach

Boxing Day was a perfect day for the beach for me, although the locals thought it was cold at about 90 degrees F. Pauline and Michael picked me up and we were supposed to meet three other couples.

Lynn, Doug, Michael and Pauline by the wall.

Due to the breeze, Pauline and Lynn were cold so Michael and Doug found a sheltered but shady spot that was wonderful. As we were moving, they were all jumping down from this short wall. Like a ninny, I refused Doug's offer of help and told him I was fine. Famous last words! I should know how uncoordinated I am and remembered just as I tumbled spectacularly down this gravel slope. My pride was more injured than my body and I was embarrassed at the fuss they were making. Michael even went to the car to fetch a first-aid kit.

A view to a picnic. Just what I needed - more great food!

We wondered what happened to the rest of the group while they were trying to "ring" us and couldn't "raise" us. They even called Veronica to call our house to find out if we'd left yet. Michael thought maybe he should try someone's "mobile" but Pauline thought the beach wasn't that crowded and that Tony would find us. More famous last words!

We finally found the rest of the gang after lunch.

Now Tony has "sorted it out" and is collecting email addresses and mobile and land numbers for the group so it won't happen again.

Since we haven't received our shipment, we don't have bathing suits yet and I refuse to buy one since I just bought two for the trip before we left. The water looked so inviting but I enjoyed visiting and watching the people of all ages instead of swimming.

Now I'm not sure I'll ever go in the water! They closed Cottesloe Beach today because of shark sightings. A man was carried off by one yesterday just south of here and is presumed dead. Scary!

Christmas Down Under

Holiday traditions here include shrimp on the barbie and a day at the beach. I waited until Boxing Day to have my beach outing and made meatloaf and turkey to celebrate instead. Since George had to work Christmas Day, we started our celebration the night before Christmas Eve with a holiday dinner on the patio. Since we still haven't received our shipment, I bought some plastic Santa placemats and some candy canes and ribbon to try to make it more festive. It's amazing what you can get for $10 from Red Dot stores.

In Vito's honor, we served Bill Dorin's famous meatloaf recipe from the cooking school he attended in Italy. We enjoyed conversing with Pauline and Michael, Veronica and Vito, and their children who are visiting from New York and London. It's funny to hear Luca and Ann-Marie speaking with New York accents since Veronica still has her British accent and Vito's accent is decidedly Italian. Ann-Marie is finishing her degree in Translation and Luca works for Unicef.

Christmas Eve was celebrated with more new friends and their families. Somehow Lisa and Tom' s family escaped without having a photo taken. It's been fun to meet the college age kids that we've heard so much about. Grant is in high school here while Trisha is attending Texas A & M. Sherri's family have only been here a month so Alex isn't in school yet and Kris is in school in Georgia.

Paul and Sheri's daughter, Kris, was a real trouper, arriving

hours before the party after flight delays due to weather.

Alex, George and Paul "chill" on the warm night.

Sherri and Lisa take time out to look gorgeous for the camera.

Time flies when you're having fun! Paul and Nicole know
how to party hearty and left at about 1:30 a.m.