Happy 2007!

Wow. Another year to begin. Such potential in a new year, I think. So many things could happen.

We had a lovely quiet Christmas this year, celebrating the day with my sister Rebecca; my brother John, his wife Megan and their two boys, Lachlan and Matthew; my brother David, his wife Naomi and their two children, Jack and Sophie; Naomi's parents Robin and Jenny and brother Rohan; Megan's mum Barbara, sister Kylie and her husband Mark and daughter Jessie. With all those names, it doesn't sound so quiet, but that's only half of the family it could have been. We definitely missed having the intrepid US travellers Mum and Dad, Jen and Neil, Aynslee, Ellen and Joe, Margaret, Mark, Eli and Flynn with us this year, but know they are having a fabulous time together in Marg and Mark's new home in Nashville. We also missed Chris and Penny, George and Lily, who are having a country Christmas with Pen's family in Victoria. Not to mention Ben's parents Penny and Stuart and brothers Lachlan and Tim, who are adventurously making their way down the Nile in a felucca at the moment. We hope all our travelling family are keeping safe and well.

After Ben and I awoke to find our presents from Santa on Christmas day, we went up to John and Megan's place to open gifts with the rest of the family. There were plenty of posed shots with our new gifts for the paparazzi in the room. Afterwards, we went down to the pool for a swim and hung out in the barbecue area while our delicious Christmas lunch was cooking on the barbecue. There were more swims after lunch and everyone was looking pretty weary by the time we went home at 6pm. I think Ben and I were fast asleep by 8pm!

On Boxing day, we packed up and headed to a little unit at Marcoola Beach, on the Sunshine coast, for a week at the beach. The weather was rather rainy and cold (apparently the coldest Boxing day on record) for the first few days, but we weren't worried about the weather - we quite happily watched the cricket and read our books inside. Although a very low-key holiday, it was nice to be away from the office and computers for a week. We also got to catch up with some friends during our stay - a fish and chip lunch with Lisa, Darryl and Matisse at Mooloolaba, lunch at the Coolum Surf Club with Cathryn and Nathan (from Sydney), and lunch at Carolyn, Matt and Martin's beautiful new home at Kawana Island. On New Year's Eve, we decided to head back to Brisbane just for a few hours to celebrate the impending new year with the Mitchells - another soiree at John and Megan's house. While Ben and I love each other's company (most of the time!), it was nice to share the festivities with the family, rather than being by ourselves up the coast. We arrived back at Marcoola just after 11pm, in time to call Penny, Stuart, Lachlan and Tim for an update on their travels and hear the fireworks go off at Marcoola Beach. I think we were in bed by about 12.01! The weather for most of our holiday was magnificent and we were really lucky to be able to have a break for a whole week.

Now we're home again, ready to launch into the new year. I'm still thinking about my new year's resolutions... think I should just start by cleaning my office! It's a bit hard to get the old brain moving again after a week off, but I'll get there... I'm sure it will be a cracker 2007!