Sorry I couldn't be part of the card exchange this year. To be honest money is suddenly very tight. I don't know what's the deal exactly as we're making more money than ever (number-wise) . Food prices are currently through the roof so that's part of it. Where before you could buy food for the week at P200 now it's P500 and by Thursday you're scrounging to find something to cook. And my garden got completely anihilated in the recent hail storm so we can't eat from there right now. :(

For sure next year I'm in. I've used some of my cards form last year as decorations around the house this year and it reminded me of what I was missing.

_________________
"I am building a stairway to the stars. I have the authority to take the whole of mankind up there with me.
That is why I write." - Bessie Head


http://thoughtsfrombotswana.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas, Laurie!!!

_________________
"In the beginning was the Word..."

http://groovybell.blogspot.com/

and

http://groovytrekkers.blogspot.com/

Now I Squidoo!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/groovyoldlady

Mine went out today, so they'll be late, but maybe not too late.

Money is very tight for us now, too, Laurie. My income this year is the lowest since I started freelancing full-time in 1984. Here's hoping things get better for all of us in the year ahead!

*Hugs*
Nancy

_________________
Please spay/neuter your companion animals. And when it's time to add to your four-legged family, save a life by adopting a stray or from a shelter or rescue group.

Thanks Groovy !

Then it's probably better I stayed out to save you folks overseas postage. I know it's not cheap. 2010 is our year folks! Things are looking up!

Merry Christmas everyone. Off to my sister-in-law's wedding and sadly another relatives funeral (complicated - niece-in-law's husband- is there a word for that? They only just got married too)

_________________
"I am building a stairway to the stars. I have the authority to take the whole of mankind up there with me.
That is why I write." - Bessie Head


http://thoughtsfrombotswana.blogspot.com/

What an emotional roller-coaster ride you're having this Christmas, laurie. I hope there are moments of love, warmth and hope mixed in with all the grief, stress and work.

I got Bonita's yesterday. THANK YOU. It doesn't bother me that the rest will get here after the Day - - - it just extends the happy season a little.

It's Christmas Eve here. Jeff's just gone to a funeral in a small town an hour's drive away. It's for the sister-in-law of a couple from our church. She had cancer and has left behind a young family. So sad. I'd normally go with him, but I'm cooking the meal for our family's Christmas Eve dinner. Because we're having it at our daughter's place, I'm doing it in stages so it'll all be ready to take with us later this afternoon. So, I can't afford to have a 3 or 4 hour chunk taken out of the day.

I'm hoping things will pick up financially next year. I had one paid editing job this year and haven't managed to sell anything. My expertise seems to be in the unpaid realm. I wish reviewing paid cash money; I'd be doing really well, then!
Hopefully I'll get my book picked up next year.
We live in hope.

25 degrees Celsius for Christmas Day. I'm glad it's not going to rain. We have a visitor from the UK with us and the last thing she wants is a cold, wet Christmas. She could have stayed back home for that. Haha.
The sad thing is we've already had some bad fires in our state. It used to be fire season was the end of January. Freaks me out that it's already started.

I get really angry with the Climate Change sceptics. It's already happened, people! Anyway, even if you don't believe it, we still have a God-given responsibility to look after our planet. No excuses.

They were showing the Australian fires on Botswana TV last night. They looked awful! Fire is one of the scariest things. Hope they get it under control soon.

_________________
"I am building a stairway to the stars. I have the authority to take the whole of mankind up there with me.
That is why I write." - Bessie Head


http://thoughtsfrombotswana.blogspot.com/

No lives lost in the fire -- just some homes, barns and live stock. Gave everyone a bit of fright, tho'. And - typical for Australia - Northern NSW are bracing themselves for floods.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas Day. Ours was a mixture of happy and sad.
My son and his fiance had a huge fight Christmas Eve and so they didn't turn up for my family Christmas Eve dinner, nor did they come to the bigger family dinner on Christmas Day. We had planned a gathering of all of my husband's side of the family. His parents are in their 80s and quite frail, and his Dad has had a few mini-strokes, so we wanted to get us all together while they are still with us. The only ones missing were one grandson, who is in jail, and my son, who had a fight with his fiancee. :(

But the rest of us, when not worrying about the missing fellas, had a good day together.

It's Boxing Day now, about 1.30 in the afternoon. My husband is veggin out in the recliner, watching the cricket, and I'm still in my nightie. I'm thinking about grabbing a book and heading back to bed.
And, why not?

Ah Wendy, I can feel your pain. Scout got in a bar fight on the night of the 23rd (someone was being rude to his best bud's girlfriend) and got head-butted in the face. He had a nasty, swollen lip and broken tooth and the other guy ripped up his brand new coat. He was so embarassed that he flitted in, ate and then took off.

It was sad.

_________________
"In the beginning was the Word..."

http://groovybell.blogspot.com/

and

http://groovytrekkers.blogspot.com/

Now I Squidoo!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/groovyoldlady

Kids!

After worrying us all ( he told his sister he wanted to drive off a cliff!) and spending Christmas day alone with the fiancee he was fighting with, they turned up last night for dinner and butter wouldn't have melted in their mouths. You'd never guess there was a thing wrong. They even discussed possible venues for the wedding reception. !!!!
I could SMACK them.

Kids!

Sorry to hear about Scout. I hear ya.

KIDS!!!

Got cards from Kathyls and NWC today - thanks ladies!

You're most welcome, Wendy, but geeeezzz...it took forever for that card to get to you!

Didn't thank you for your lovely card that arrived well before Christmas. And didn't thank all you ladies for your cards and well wishes, either. Appreciated them so much.

Bonita, your magazine is very impressive! As our friends across the pond say, "Well done, you!"

Nancy

_________________
Please spay/neuter your companion animals. And when it's time to add to your four-legged family, save a life by adopting a stray or from a shelter or rescue group.

Sherry, in all the heartburn caused by son and fiancee, I forgot to thank you for your card and the delightful poems. Made me smile. Please thank your darling daughters for their contribution.

That makes 4 cards received... is there any more to come? I can't remember.

Heh-heh-heh...I am glad you enjoyed it. I rather feared that our bad poetry would just give everyone MORE heartburn!

;-)

_________________
"In the beginning was the Word..."

http://groovybell.blogspot.com/

and

http://groovytrekkers.blogspot.com/

Now I Squidoo!!!
http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/groovyoldlady