It's Christmas

It’s early morning in Queensland, the place I now call home.
Birds of all sorts - an amazing variety - are calling, displaying a vast range of musical notes and possibilities. Yes, the rainbow Lorikeets are a bit noisy and tuneless but others soften their raspy notes. A Currawong calls, telling us there is rain on the way. Hallelujah!
Magpies warble their glorious song, without moving their lips (sorry, beaks). How do they do this?

It’s Christmas Eve and I have had a seething mass of despair in the pit of my stomach for the past few days, but I have to let it go — at least until after Christmas.
I refuse to let the happiness of this festive season be overcome by the ridiculous, harmful stupidity and callous behaviour of our politicians—one in particular. I will put off writing and voicing my thoughts until another day, yet keep my hopes for fire relief to soon appear.

Meanwhile I will be grateful for what I have at this Christmas time.
Shopping is done. Some gifts already given; books and garden herbs and wooden beads for the littlest one, to mention a few.

The pudding is waiting in the fridge (you don’t hang them in the sub-tropics – a fact I learnt on the first Christmas here!) The shortbreads are about to be packaged in their cellophane Christmas finery, and I am (temporally) at peace with the world.

All that is left is to wish everyone a happy, joyous, love-filled Christmas. Yes, even to those who have no links to the Christmas story or any Christian faith. May it be a peaceful, relaxed time, far away from all the hustle and bustle and worries of the past days, weeks —and the year.

The birds are still carolling.

Soon I will turn on my electronic music source and select some Christmas music and sing along.

Happy Christmas!
              xxxx