We play Rummy with these tiles.We are about to have a coffee break.
We like to have a game of Scrabble.
Here I repeat what I wrote already this morning in another post:
“Next Friday is going to be the 19th of December. On that day we are going to have a Body Corporate meeting in Wollongong. The following day, on the 20th, we are going to have a Christmas Party for the residents and some previous residents. And for Sunday, the 21st, Peter and I are being invited to a Christmas Luncheon in Sydney.
Christmas Eve we are going to have the family at our place as is traditional for us. Early the following morning on Christmas Day Caroline, Matthew, Peter and I are going to travel to Melbourne in a rented car.
Ah, and I forgot, this coming Sunday, which is the third Sunday of Advent, we are also going to be in Sydney to belatedly celebrate Caroline’s birthday. Last Sunday we went to see Monika for her birthday.”
Does this sound busy? Peter seems to think so. Both Peter and I have a few health issues at the moment. We just hope all will be well pretty soon despite our rather “busy” life.
I said I took a lot of pictures on that Friday. Here now are a few more of them.
I went through Lakelands Park early in the morning.
On the way back, looking at neighbours gardens, I took pictures of anything colourful in their gardens and last but not least also again a few pictures near the entrance to our home.
The shoes that Peter loves.
17 Responses to “Friday, the 13th of December (continued)”
Ann Koplow
December 15, 2013 at 11:59 am Edit #
Thanks for all the great images. And so nice to end on love!
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auntyuta
December 15, 2013 at 12:32 pm Edit #
Thanks Ann. Have a great holiday season!
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elizabeth2560
December 15, 2013 at 12:36 pm Edit #
No sign of a “black” Friday anywhere in your photos. .
delightful post. 🙂
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auntyuta
December 15, 2013 at 2:08 pm Edit #
No “black” Friday, Elizabeth, indeed not at all. even though I tend to get a bit out of breath sometimes when I try to do things too quickly.
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gerard oosterman
December 15, 2013 at 12:53 pm Edit #
Love the ceramic elephant and the beautiful garden photos, especially the one with the gnarled tree tops.
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auntyuta
December 15, 2013 at 2:09 pm Edit #
Thanks, Gerard. 🙂
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berlioz1935
December 15, 2013 at 2:24 pm Edit #
Right you are Aunty Uta. I love those shoes.
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auntyuta
December 15, 2013 at 2:28 pm Edit #
Right, Berlioz, you should wear them again soon for a little run on the grass in Lakelands Park! How about it? 🙂
REPLY
auntyuta
December 16, 2013 at 6:23 am Edit #
Has been raining all night. Maybe the grass is a bit too wet this morning! Today, Berlioz, is the day when we finally have to put up our Christmas tree, right? 🙂
catterel
December 15, 2013 at 8:47 pm Edit #
What a pretty neighbourhood – and you even manage to make the graffiti bench look artistic! Am very envious of those shoes 😦
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auntyuta
December 16, 2013 at 6:20 am Edit #
I have similar shoes, Catherine, and they are really good for walking, a bit like walking barefoot. 🙂
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The Emu
December 15, 2013 at 10:07 pm Edit #
Thanks for sharing great pics Auntyuta, love the array of flowers.
Emu
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auntyuta
December 16, 2013 at 6:18 am Edit #
Glad you like them, dear Emu. Christmas is getting very close now! 🙂
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Robert M. Weiss
December 16, 2013 at 3:21 am Edit #
I really enjoy the flower photos.
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auntyuta
December 16, 2013 at 6:16 am Edit #
Thanks for this, Robert. 🙂
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Munira
December 16, 2013 at 7:38 am Edit #
I felt like I was walking with you today 🙂
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auntyuta
December 17, 2013 at 6:26 am Edit #
It’s great, Munira, to have your company. Thank you! 🙂
This was the last Friday before Christmas where I could play Scrabble with my friends. Early in the morning I had gone for a walk in Lakelands Park. Again I took quite a few pictures. I can’t help myself, when I have the camera with me, I usually start taking some pictures and then it just goes on and on.
Ready to play ScrabbleWe had a coffee break.
Today is again the last Friday before Christmas where we can meet to play our games. We actually do not play only Scrabble, we do also play a few games of Rummy.
Next Friday is going to be the 19th of December. On that day we are going to have a Body Corporate meeting in Wollongong. The following day, on the 20th, we are going to have a Christmas Party for the residents and some previous residents. And for Sunday, the 21st, Peter and I are being invited to a Christmas Luncheon in Sydney.
Christmas Eve we are going to have the family at our place as is traditional for us. Early the following morning on Christmas Day Caroline, Matthew, Peter and I are going to travel to Melbourne in a rented car.
Ah, and I forgot, this coming Sunday, which is the third Sunday of Advent, we are also going to be in Sydney to belatedly celebrate Caroline’s birthday. Last Sunday we went to see Monika for her birthday.
Which Primary School did provide the most favorite handmade decorations for the Christmas Tree?
We had arrived at the shopping centre pretty early. Santa was not available yet. For children to have a photo taken with Santa is popular every year in all shopping centres.
This calendar with little chocolates and a picture in it for every day is for little Lucas. We are going to see him on Sunday, the 7th of December, meaning he may find chocolates from number 1 to 7! (Sorry, that we could not give him the calendar before the 1st of December.)
I had every year an Advent Calendar when I was a child. However my calendars never had any chocolates in it. The idea to have chocolates in advent calendars came up many years later. But for the 6th of December, on St. Nicolas Day, we usually got some special pre Christmas treat. The night before that day we had to put our shoes in front of our bedroom door. If we had been ‘good’ children, we would find on the morning of the 6th, that good St. Nicholas had put some delicious things into our shoes, like ginger bread, chocolates, nuts and apples.
“German and Austrian Christmas customs have spread throughout the world wherever Christmas (Weihnachten) is celebrated. From the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) to “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht“) and on to the Advent calendar (Adventskalender), people around the globe have adopted many traditions that began in the German-speaking world.”
This is our Advent Crown (Adventskranz) with four candles in it, one for each Sunday of Advent. This Adventskranz has been with us for many years. For each Advent we dig it out again. In times gone past we would of course rather have bought a fresh Adventskranz made of Tannenzweigen (fir-twigs).
We also dig out some old advents calendars every year for advent. The numbers on the calendars go from 1 to 24, which is of course Christmas Eve.
Peter fastened the calendars to a wall and tries to find the relevant number of the day every morning! Some numbers are really hard to find!This picture shows a Weihnachtsmarkt in Berlin in the 19th century!
German and Austrian Christmas customs have spread throughout the world wherever Christmas (Weihnachten) is celebrated. From the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) to “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht“) and on to the Advent calendar (Adventskalender), people around the globe have adopted many traditions that began in the German-speaking world.
The Christmas songs, that I remember from my childhood, have a special meaning for me. Some songs were very joyful, others more reflective, that is ‘besinnlich’. Besinnlich meant we became deeply and seriously thoughtful while singing these songs . This kind of singing appealed to me. Advent was the only time of the year when my family would sing some songs together. And it went on for four Sunday afternoons in a row. After the fourth Sunday of Advent some serious preparations for Christmas Eve started. We children were not included in these preparations. As children we therefore became highly impatient while we were waiting for Christmas Eve – “Heiligabend” .
“Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,” and “O du fröhliche” were very popular songs during my childhood. (I was born in 1934.)
German
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Halleluja, Tönt es laut von fern und nah: Christ, der Retter ist da! Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund , Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’. Christ, in deiner Geburt! Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816 Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818
English
Silent night, holy night All is calm all is bright ‘Round yon virgin Mother and Child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
O du fröhliche This very popular German Christmas carol has Italian origins. In 1788 the German philosopher, theologian, and poet Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803) brought the melody to Germany after a trip to Italy. Originally a Sicilian fisherman’s song, the melody was used for the Latin hymn “O Sanctissima.” Around 1816 Johannes Daniel Falk (1768-1826) wrote the German lyrics for what soon became one of the most popular German Weihnachtslieder. The English version is known as “O How Joyfully.”
O du fröhliche O You Merry (Christmastide)
MELODIE: Sizilianisches Fischerlied – Johann Gottfried von Herder (1788) TEXT: Johannes Daniel Falk (1816)
DEUTSCH Johannes Daniel Falk, 1816O du fröhliche, o du selige, Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Welt ging verloren, Christ ist geboren, Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige, Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Christ ist erschienen, Uns zu versöhnen, Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige, Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Himmlische Heere Jauchzen dir Ehre, Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
ENGLISH (lit. prose) See poetic version belowO you merry, o you blessed, Merciful Christmastide! The world was lost, Christ was born, Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
O you merry, o you blessed, Merciful Christmastide! Christ appeared, To reconcile us, Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
O you merry, o you blessed, Merciful Christmastide! Heavenly hosts, Exult your honor, Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
English poetic version, author unknown O How Joyfully (O du fröhliche)
O how joyfully, o how blessedly, Comes the glory of Christmastime! To a world so lost in sin, Christ the Savior, enters in: Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!
O how joyfully, o how blessedly, Comes the glory of Christmastime! Jesus, born in lowly stall, With His grace redeems us all: Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!
O how joyfully, o how blessedly, Comes the glory of Christmastime! Hosts of angels from on high, Sing, rejoicing, in the sky: Praise Him, praise Him Christians, evermore!
Peter found a series of old German Christmas songs in the computer. It was very rewarding to be able to listen to all these songs while celebrating the First of Advent.
A picture from the computer of the Vienna Boy’s Choir singing German Christmas songs.
We listened to a lot of Christmas songs by different groups and artists. They all sang the German texts that we are still quite familiar with, bringing back memories to what it was like when we were children. Here some names of the songs: O Tannenbaum, O du fröhliche, Ave Maria, Kling Glöckchen kling, Leise rieselt der Schnee, and so on.
We had tea and German ‘Oblaten Lebkuchen’.
Then I could not help myself taking a few more pictures!
A lot of the party food had chicken in it. I tried to find food with no chicken. There were lots of sweets too. But I did not go for any sweets today. I had a cup of coffee though.
This cheese was very nice.
Marta proudly holds up some of the food that she had brought along.
Edith as cheerful as ever.
The song Feliz Navidad . I wish you a merry Christmas
Whoever wanted to do some heart move exercises could join in.
Ayleen’s cousin Gary took this picture of Ayleen and me.
Today, Thursday, we met for Marta’s class for the last time this year. There are no classes for December and January. The next heart move class is going to be on the first Thursday in February. Today I did not join in any of the exercises because of a sore knee. There is probably some kind of inflammation in the knee. I hope it is going to get better soon.
Summer has arrived here in Australia. There are Australian grown apricots, peaches and cherries, meaning Christmas can’t be far away anymore.
Today we bought a DIGITAL KETTLE with Temperature Control! It says: Set the ideal temperature for the perfect brew at the touch of a button. It also has a ‘keep warm function’. There are five different temperature settings!
At David Jones in Sydney we saw this decoration for Christmas.
There were also some window decorations at David Jones.
We had a look inside what sort of sweets were available for Christmas.
Later on we went to the Queen Victoria Building and discovered a shop with elaborate train sets that we could see through the window.
This bear welcomed us at the ABC shop where we bought a few Christmas gifts.
Next door was a shop that had lots of aboriginal artifacts for sale. This picture did hang in the window.
One year ago we were visiting Berlin. For two months we stayed in one of the high-rise apartment buildings in Hansa Viertel, right in the centre of Berlin with the Tiergarten at our doorstep. We would usually go for an early morning walk in this beautiful Tiergarten. The above picture we probably took around the 2nd of November when our stay in Berlin was nearing its end.
In Berlin, the first and second of November would not have been any special days for us. Unless you were Catholic, you would not think of All Saints and All Souls. In some parts of Germany the 31st of October is a holiday to celebrate Reformation Day. But in Berlin even the 31st of October is not a holiday.
Gaby, our daughter passed away last year. When we light a candle, we remember her. We also remember a great number of other departed. Nearly everyone who has been older than we are, has passed away by now. After all, both Peter and I are in our late seventies by now. There are not all that many people around who are older than we are. We always think we might be the next ones to leave!
Do we have special needs in an emergency? This question came up recently when large areas of New South Wales experienced very hot conditions and fast spreading fires. Peter copied for us from the internet a plan for an emergency during a HEATWAVE. It said: “ABC Emergency delivers official warnings and alerts and publishes emergency coverage sourced form ABC Local Radio and ABC News.”
Here is a list of some of the things we should have prepared in our SURVIVAL KIT:
BATTERY-OPERATED RADIO (WITH SPARE BATTERIES)
Torch (with spare batteries)
Strong shoes, gumboots, leather gloves and overalls
First aid kit and medications we need
A change of clothes, toiletry and sanitary supplies
Water in sealed containers – ten litres per person (for three days)
Three days supply of canned food (plus can opener and utensils)
Pillows and blankets (woollen and thermal)
Mobile phone and charger
Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents, and photos)
Spare car and house keys
Several Emergency Services are mentioned that can be of help.
Here is what we should do before a HEATWAVE:
Stay hydrated – it’s recommended to drink two to three litres of water and to avoid alcohol and caffeine
Dress light
Check on family and friends – twice a day
Avoid exposure to the sun
Get your home ready – draw curtains, blinds, awnings at the start of the day to keep the sun out
Seek air-conditioning in a shopping centre, library or other public place. (We do not have air-conditioning)
Fans can also provide relief (We do have fans.)
During a HEATWAVE we should phone for assistance immediately if we show any symptoms of heat stress including extremely heavy sweating, headache and vomiting, confusion, swollen tongue
After a Heatwave we should be careful of falling tree limbs – they can be a hazard during periods of extended high temperatures.
German and Austrian Christmas customs have spread throughout the world wherever Christmas (Weihnachten) is celebrated. From the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) to “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht“) and on to the Advent calendar (Adventskalender), people around the globe have adopted many traditions that began in the German-speaking world.
AuntyUta 