shy’s Neighborhood

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Tonight my train operator said "Please use all open doors; please use all open doors" ...

And I thought today was going to be the day I could walk through doors.

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I know I did a lot of complaining about the heat while I was in Australia but do I have to be punished now by this hideous cold?   The wind is just plain spiteful.

When I was home, the princess shouted me to brunch at the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar.  Their menu includes:  Danish Toffee Chocolate, Italian thick chocolate, Mexican spicy chocolate;  warm Belgian waffles drizzled in chocolate and chocolate pizza.   We had a Tutti Frutti waffle between us.  The menu is here if you are interested.

This is a big pot of melted chocolate: 

Which then travels along the pipes to the prep area: 
Mmmm....  eat more chocolate; get bikini body?   Well obviously!    

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?
Brought to you by Leap Year. In theaters January 8th.

I guess "stupid" is the right word.. haha..  Back in college before the hubby and I moved in together, I would drive to see him.  I remember driving to his parents house in the pouring rain just so I can see him.  I'm glad those days are over.  haha..

Mom gave me some money for Christmas and I used some of it to get a Simplex fast-boil kettle I have been thinking about for some time, unable to commit.  I boil a lot of water - mainly for coffee and tea - and am looking forward to the shorter boiling times.  The photo really doesn't do it justice. The finish is much smoother and shinier.

The year always goes too fast, doesn't it?

Did I achieve what I set out to achieve this year?  Yes and no.  Somewhere along the way my aims changed.  But that's the nature of life .... things change.  More changes this year, more changes next year.

Luckily photography looks to be a constant within those changes.

Hmmm I just realised that I've come full circle and I'm back to where I started with photography and my view on life...

... the glass is half full and I love taking pictures of the beautiful things in life!

At the end of 2009, I found myself with a pile of frequent flyer miles that expire in March but saddled with so many blackout dates that it would be impossible to use them. Fortunately, I can use them on hotel rooms, so we opted to snag a gorgeous room at the Intercontinental down on the Boston waterfront for New Year's Eve. 

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Last night, I went to bed around 10:30pm expecting 8 + hours sleep and a good start to 2010 but my neighbours across the road decided I should vicariously party with them.  They let off fireworks in the street around 11.30 and then continued to party on their front porch until about 4am.....   they must have been fairly liquor-lubricated to continue partying in the sub-freezing temperature.  

So ...  2009 has closed for business.  After taking into account all the credits and debits of my year my balance sheet has finished very solidly on the credit side.  I have a job and I got to go home for my first Christmas (and summer!) since 1999 and I witnessed my eldest son's wedding. 

I haven't made New Year Resolutions since I was a teenager and realised that few lasted past the middle of January, but I do reflect on the year just passed and think on ways I could make going forward better.

This morning, feeling tired and grumpy, I gave some thought as to how I could ensure I see many more January 1st mornings - strangely, those thoughts turned to conjuring up ways to get rid of the neighbours!   

* photo taken in the country town of Merriwa, NSW, Australia

 

and I will be in bed before it gets to midnight.   

The first of the year will come around whether I am awake or not and I might as well face 2010 well rested.

I'm having my champagne and chocolate now and I'm going to spend the evening sorting through my Australian photos imagining myself back in the warmth of the southern hemisphere.

This is really an answer to the Question of The Day on:  How will I be ringing in the New Year which I've seen others post ....  but I never seem to find the QoTDs myself.    

Anyway,  to use an expression I heard a zillion times today,  see you next year.....

I didn't make any resolutions for this year, but reflecting back on the ones I made last year -- at least two of them involved exploring myself more creatively, artistically and through writing which I feel like I absolutely did. So thanks for that, 2009, but otherwise I'm gladly welcoming 2010 with open arms. :)

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If I don't post these now the New Year will be here... I took these around the Ryde area in Sydney.  With so much light around their own homes I wonder if they even notice any New Year's eve fireworks.    I can't imagine how annoying it must be to try to sleep next to a house flashing like these -  and I'm very glad I don't have to pay any of their electricity bills!  (although pretty I am of the opinion that this is quite a waste of power!).

I love the alien Santa in this one:

This one had an exploding, flashing pinwheel on the right -  especially annoying to neighbours:

Happy New Year to all my neighbours who, due to various timezones, will start their year (and hangovers) before I do........

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Well, what an attractive bed partner I made last night!   Thick, black & aqua striped knee high socks; old lady flannel nightie over the top of two tourist-type tee shirts and snuggled under two quilts.  I considered putting a scarf around my neck but thought I might roll over in the night and choke myself.

Bundled up as such I survived the night in a house with no heating - though the morning trip to the bathroom was not pleasant.  A lot of hot water was used in a fairly futile attempt to warm up the bathroom before I disrobed.   It was in the 30's when I left home this morning with a brutal wind making the "real feel" about 16 F - I think it was about the same inside the house!  

The manservant got to stay home and wait for a repairman who arrived at the promised time, took one look and said the electronic ignition system had burnt out and could be repaired for $250.  As the manservant does not feel the cold like I do,  I half expected him to tell me that he had then contacted another company to come out and give a second quote!   Fear for his life was greater than the fear of an overdrawn account and I came home to a lovely cozy house.

It's so hot in here now that I could almost believe it's warm enough outside to have a bbq!    Here is my son getting the barbie ready on Christmas Day: 

And here is the first plate of prawns - they were soooo good: