I hope everyone who celebrates today or any of the cluster of days around it—or who’s just enjoying the days off work or school—has a most excellent end of the year. I plan to.
I’d like to adopt the USian custom of giving thanks (yeah, yeah, I know they do it on a different day—whatever!). Here’s what I’m thankful for:
That I’m home in Sydney living in the best place ever: Flying foxes at dusk! Huge decks! Huge bath tub! Views! Amazing pubs, cafes & restaurants within spitting distance! Southerly breezes!
That I’m home in the land of continuous cricket coverage! Of beautiful beaches! And the best avocadoes (yes, Mely, you need to move here, not smelly California) and mangosteens and mangoes and all the other yummy fruit and veg my heart pines for!
Rediscovering all my CDs what have been in storage since forever. Most especially Sepharad: Songs of the Spanish Jews by Sarband. Best CD ever!
The books beside my bed: The Tale of Genji—started it, but am intimidated by its enormousness, though I really want to take part in this amazing discussion; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince—started it; Shaman’s Crossing by Robin Hobb; The Fencing Master by Arturo Pérez-Reverte—finished it, loved it!; The Big Ship: Warwick Armstrong and the Making of Modern Cricket by Gideon Haigh—started it; Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm—started it.
My writing career, and that I can type those words without cacking myself. Yes, I really do have a writing career!
My family and friends. Especially my family: Jan, John, Niki and Scott, with whom I’m about to do the whole yummy food and wine, pressies, playing-lots-of-games thing! Bring it on!
Hope most everything is wonderful with you lot as well.
I hope you and Scott and the rest of your family have a wonderful holiday.
Same to you, m’dear.
Oh, and do read the Beerbohm next. Hilarious!
Jason: Thanks! Hope yours is good, too.
Roger: Charmed and right back atcha. I would read the Beerbohm next, but I really must finish The Tale of Genji.
When Australia starts offering asylum to US refugees fleeing civil rights violations, I’ll keep it in mind.
I mean, it’s a democracy *and* it’s got avocados. You don’t need to break out the hard sell.
Mely: I dunno how much of a democracy it is anymore . . . But we sure do have lots of yummy yummy avos! And cricket! What else could you want?