Winter Solstice

Hi. I've been thinking about a blog posting for a few days now, so I guess it's about time to make it happen.

Yesterday, a group of us decided that the day was too perfect to go inside. So we ate breakfast outdoors at one of our favourite cafes (Crumb in Concord) and then we set up the tables and chairs in our backyard. We also got out the outdoor heater because we knew that once that glorious sun sunk behind out house that it would start to be really cold. We were right.

But before the sun left us, we were warm and happy. Margaritas were filled and refilled by Alan. Water spacers (which we call "wedgies") were consumed by everyone. Ange volunteered to go to the store to get us some nibbles (and she outdid herself). Copper played happily with AJ. And we found a ladybug. She was enjoying the beautiful day, too. This isn't a picture of her - we were relatively camera free - this is one I found on the net. The resemblance is uncanny . :)

A winter solstice here means that Arizona is HOT, HOT, HOT. You can send the sun back our way now, folks.... We'll take it from here. Sit tight because you only have 4 more months of triple digit temps. I love Sydney!

FYI, our trip to Vietnam was fantastic. We went for free thanks to my PartyLite career. Once again, PartyLite selected a destination that Alan and I would likely have overlooked. We stayed in Da Nang on the east coast of Vietnam; pretty much in the middle of the country when scanning it from North to South. The resort was spectacular. We visited the nearby ancient village of Hoi An a few times to get some historical perspective, to see the traditional vendors and tradespeople, and to do our part to stimulate the Vietnamese economy. Most of the time we spent relaxing in the pool, on the beach, or at a dining table of some sort. It was a hard five days, but we struggled through it.

I've been playing my guitar quite a bit for the last few weeks. Got myself a few gigs and made some things happen. I actually have my friend Joanne to thank for getting things moving again. She wanted some live music at her 40th and Little Big Horn (LBH) was happy to oblige. Well, the pub liked it and asked if I could put together a duo for a few Saturday nights. So Wen and Bendy dusted off the mothballs and played a great gig earlier this month. This Saturday I will play with Paulie which will be heaps of fun. Then two more Wen and Bendy gigs in July. And now LBH has another booking in August. It's starting to happen again - Ben might even say I'm on a roll. :) Thanks, Jo!

Well, writing this might be a stalling tactic. I'm going to sign off and get to it. There's lots to do today. I hope you in the north are enjoying the summer solstice as much as we in the south are enjoying our winter one. Once again, the incredibleness, and the reliability of the universe amazes me. Let the days get longer!

Ta ta for now. Love, WLC.

Vietnam, Ularu, Victoria, Shanghai, etc...

Travel. One of Alan's favourite things to do. One of mine, too. In fact, travel is one of the big reasons that I wanted to move back to Australia. With four weeks of paid vacation instead of two to three, I knew we could do more travelling if we lived here. And boy have we!

The list in the title is a partial list of the places we are planning to visit in 2010 and 2011. We will likely take a week off at Christmas time to visit the beach. Oh, and we've already been to Colorado to skiesta. How about a photo or two of that? OK - here!

Angela and I both earned the PartyLite 2010 Incentive Trip to Vietnam. We sold our normal amount of candles and sponsored our normal amount of new consultants and as a result they are sending us on a fully paid vacation (with Ben and Alan, too!). I tell you, sales jobs are the best in the world - they pay you to do your job and bribe (oops - incentivise) you to keep doing it. Very cool. We go there in late May.

In 2011, Alan and I will go on four adventures: Ularu/Darwin/Alice Springs in one, a road trip through Victoria for another, wherever PartyLite takes us for doing our job, and then a big one to see Douglas in Shanghai.

In 2012, we are going on another big trip with Ben, Ange, Michael, SHAK, DWLJR, Douglas, Tex, Pam, Elora, Alice, Ben, Debbie, Brian, Nora, Miles, Ali, Pete, Nicole, Brad, and Kel. We'll let you know where and when soon. Then if you want to join us - just let us know.

So, Where the bloody hell are you?

Did Americans get to see that tourism ad campaign? I think it only went to the UK. It was pulled because of the word "bloody." Silly poms. It is a few years old now. It did create a PR stir, so perhaps it did its job. But then the GFC come crashing down and our Aussie dollar got stronger. People have stayed away. I'm sure the Aussie tourism could use a stimulus.

So I thought I'd mention the wall of fame. Congratulations to (in no particular order) Ali, Pete, SHAK, DWLJR, Douglas, Heather, Walker, Cindy, Beans, Jen, John M, Doug F, Tex, Cyd, and Johnny G! You all deserve a big pat on the back and huge kudos for coming out to visit us. Some of you multiple times. You lucky buggers!

Which means the rest of you are on the wall of shame. Our US photos of you are fading. We might not even remember your names any more. Sad really. You know, this is our 10th year in OZ, so we're getting older and becoming more forgetful. You'd better send us an email every now and then to remind us who you are and how we know you. :)

I'm kidding... sort of.

I'm deadly serious about the open invitation to come to Australia.Our home in Sydney has a spare bedroom, with a comfy bed (just ask those on the wall of fame), and a place to hang your clothes. We live pretty close to the city and you can get around on a ferry, bus, train, or taxi to almost everywhere you'll want to go.

So that's what I thought I'd write about this time. Copper says hi. He'd like to meet you, too!

Thanks for the Cuddles

Photo by Jo Baxter.

On Saturday, we said good-bye to Mogy. My last words to him were to go play with Pro. Alan was holding his head. I was standing in front of him looking straight into his eyes. It was sad. It was a relief.

We knew he was going, so we had time to prepare, to say our good-byes, to love him. Many people called. His local fan base came to visit, pet, and love him. Some wrote - likely with wet eyes. Here are a few of the kind words that were read to him.

Esther

Dear Mogy,

Thank you for letting me be your companion for a little while. It will make me sad to say goodbye but I know you are going to a good place. We won't ever forget you here in this place because you have touched our hearts and will live on always in our memories. You have been very lucky to have had the best owners in Wendy and Alan, but I don't need to tell you that. Copper will also miss you but his journey has only begun here so he will have lots more to learn, see and do ... you have guided him well to this point. Wendy and Alan will be the saddest to see you leave but the time has come to say goodbye and farewell. Rest in peace my good friend.

Sally-Heath

As Mogy’s Grandmama I am sad but know that this is right. Mogy is a wonderful hugger and he is truly by choice a non retriever, He spent years trying to see the trees falling in the forest with his wild leaps to stand upright from a sound sleep. He is gentle and is truly Pro’s dog (his firm belief when he had Pro near him) I will cry I always do for my dogs, there are an intricate part of our family. Hugs to Wendy and Alan. Love you Grandpuppy. Your Grandmama.

Doug Jr

Mogy, I suspect I'll never encounter any being who can react to the undetectable so instantaneously and with such intensity. Thank you for that, and for the love you brought into our family. We wish you all the best. Love, Grandaddy Buck

Ben

I have very fond memories of the Mogestar when he was just a little boy in Hampden road…. He was so cute and he just grew into a lovely dog. I will miss our walks …I will miss him jumping up out of nowhere.... I will miss his greeting moans.... I will miss him being too scared to cross over a metal grate.... I will miss his 110 decibel slurps at the water bowl. I will visit before we all have to say goodbye. He did have a great life though.... 2 great brothers and a wonderful mum and dad. Ben.

Russell

We’re very sad that you had to make the decision about Mogy’s appointment on Saturday. We’d all prefer our mates to live forever. However, that is not the way of things – at least, not here, anyway.

Nobody in his/her right mind would stand by and watch a friend in terminal pain, with no ability to continue on life’s path without a great deal of debility, without intervention. We support your decision from a position of experience with our own feline mates. It’s very hard but, in the circumstances, it’s best.

It’s a pity that what we are permitted to afford our friends in the animal kingdom, we are not permitted to apply to our own brothers and sisters in the human race, and we consider that to be shameful.

We will remember Mogy as the powerful and playful boy that he is, and in the same vein as Pro. If it’s true what the scripture (or some other Christian manifesto) states that all imperfections are removed when you go to heaven, then look out up there when these two get together!

God bless Mogy, Copper, all the animals on earth and the both of you. Lots of love, Dad and Lorraine.

Heather

Mogy was the first dog I nicked named Cuddle-Bug...I met him about 9 years ago when he was just a pup growing into his legs and I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. No matter what he was doing, he never refused to cuddle with me, even if I was interrupting nap time, one of his favorite activities. I never minded his beautiful strands of fur he covered me with because I got to take a little piece of him with me wherever I went. I saw the happily destuffed leather furniture abandoned in the basement of the Chiswick house never realizing the power of puppy destruction (which later prepared me for Arty through his puppy stages). Even though it's been years since I last saw him, I can't help but smile whenever something or someone brings up Mogy. I'll always remember His love and the twinkle in his eyes ...Lots of Hugs and Kisses to my Cuddle-Bug

Sometimes it strikes me as strange that we bring this life force into our home, feed it, walk it, train it, talk to it, play with it, fall in love with it....  You can estimate how much having that life force in my life means to me by knowing that no matter how much I mourn him, no matter how many tears I cry, no matter what ache I have in my heart now... I'll go through it again. Because the life force sitting next to me now makes me feel happy, content, at home, comfortable, needed, connected, not alone, proud, and loved. And I know he's happy, at home, comfortable, needed, connected, not alone, proud, and loved, too.

And he's got a little bit of Mogy's spirit in him. I think it's in the cuddles....