Christmas

Christmas to me is about families, enjoying the ones we have and remembering the ones who have departed.

I have been fortunate enough to have spent Christmas with my parents every year while they were alive. Every Christmas we gathered around in the big ballroom size lounge room and I often acted as Santa to hand out the many presents.
Each year the numbers would grow as another grandchild arrived and then later on great grandchildren.

Now on Christmas morning I visit my family in the cemetry before going on to enjoy Christmas with my husband, daughters and grandsons.

Not all family members are in the position to travel or come together at Christmas, but there are so many other ways you can keep in touch. I know of many lonely parents who for some reason do not have family visit for Christmas and are on their own  and that is where the local church group are saviours and put on a Christmas lunch for those who are by themselves and don't want to spend it alone. These volunteers give up their time to make lonely people feel wanted.

I feel very fortunate to have always had family around me at Christmas and  my wish is that families all around the world could share happiness together this year.

Driving Miss Mazzy Part 3

New fines recently imposed upon NSW drivers is long overdue in my opinion, especially doing a u-turn across unbroken lines.

In my home town, the introduction of nose-in parking seemed to go hand in hand with the regular use of u-turns to cross to the other side of the street to snare a park. As this practice seemed to go unheeded by the police, it  became common practise, that is until two weeks ago, when there was a blitz with the introduction of the new fines.

The illegal u-turn has caused several accidents and near misses with raised voices and horns blowing. Then there is the reverse u-turn across the street and some sights you would not believe unless seen with your very own eyes.

Many motorists have nearly come to blows as the person doing the right thing in obtaining a park is confronted by an irate driver who wanted to cross the double unbroken line and take a short cut across to the very parking space that the other motorist had acquired legally.

What is the answer -it all boils down to using a bit of commensense and being aware of the road rules and the rights of your fellow road users and maybe a big dose of tolerance.