January 3rd: Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all, let us hope that 2011 will bring more luck and one or two changes of government. We have worried about you all struggling with the snow and ice in Europe. I remember it happened last around 1985, Elm Grove was like a black ski-slope for weeks. However, the following year was excellent for gardening because all the pests had been weakened.

We are having a coolish summer which is the result of La Nina. Some days we are boiling in 35 degree heat and then it switches to 18 degrees. The cricketers are baking one minute and rained off the next. The Ashes series is in the final test stage now and it is very nerve-wracking. Ponting has gone out injured. The English bowlers look very menacing especially with the sticky wickets which seem to suit their style.

Simon is on a break between rehab programmes and we have been managing by ourselves using a local physio. He is making good progress and I can see a time when he will walk again. Tomorrow we are going into Adelaide in our new wagon - this is actually a very old Ford Falcon that will take the powered wheelchair in the back. Simon has to sit in the front seat. It is a tricky operation and so we are doing a practice run tomorrow with the help of my nieces. Next week we will try the run by ourselves. We have booked into a nice hotel for Simon's birthday and plan a good shopping trip (many CDs to buy). I start teaching again on Jan 14th which seems all too soon.

For Christmas, I got a pasta maker. This is brilliant. The first attempt was a bit messy, flour everywhere, and it took both of us (me feeding the machine and Simon cranking the roller), but it was fun, and really delicious. The quantities are a problem, 100gm of flour to one egg, but this feeds at least four people. How to arrive at half an egg is the difficulty. We have masses of tomatoes and courgettes, so heaps of tasty sauce.

Simon has a new home-brew beer kit which is bubbling away in the music room. He plans to invent his own flavoured beer and serve it up to the neighbours from a bar in our garage along with plates of pasta - Simon's Trattatoria!

Skippy has recently been menaced by flocks of cockatoos in the morning. Big white birds that screech for a living. This morning he fled indoors and hid for several hours. Simon is more worried that the cockies will eat our tomatoes but I think they are more interested in the peach crop nextdoor.

Sorry that we didn't get Christmas cards out to everyone this year. We do think about you all and hope that you will stay in touch.

Much Love, Marian x