2014 begins!!

As I begin 2014, like many of you, I feel my emotions running the gamut from deep sadness to extreme happiness.  I extend my sympathy and understanding to those of you who have experienced serious illness or have lost loved ones in 2013.  Also, I thank you all for the communications of compassion and understanding that I received during the illness and subsequent death of my father. This is the first year of my life that I begin without him and the melancholy still overtakes me at the most unexpected times.  I can still hear his voice in my mind as he spoke to me of what he wanted for me to do when he was gone. Live in the moment, take care of myself first and most of all, he wanted Jason and I to reunite after a long period of living so far away from each other.  Therein, I find the other end of the emotional spectrum!! The happiness, comfort and joy that Jason and I have shared in the last month is beyond my expectations!!  I have struggled with how to present this message of mixed emotions and that is why it has taken me a bit longer to update this blog.  Now, as I get back to my Australian adventure, I wish you all a very Happy Year in 2014!!

I left off in my last message as Jason, Renee, Steve, Frankie and Stella, and myself left for an afternoon at Rose Bay beach. This is a lovely spot on Sydney Harbor and when we first arrived, I swear my jaw dropped to my knees!!  What a view and such a beautiful beach on the harbor. There were lots of people with their dogs and it did not feel crowded at all. (see the photos below) When we got home, Renee made us all an Aussie Barbie: Homemade potato salad, hamburgers and ‘sausages’ (hot dogs, as we call them in the USA!).  Renee and Steve use bar-b-que sauce like we use mayo, ketchup and mustard!! It goes on everything!!!!  After dinner we played games on the Wii and then a rousing bout of Monopoly!! Steve won!!

If you look closely (click to enlarge the photo) you can see the 

Sydney skyline and the Harbor Bridge

  Frankie and Stella with Steve and Jason ready to swim!

                                      

The castle looking building is a school where a friend of 

Jason's teaches. 

                                               Beautiful day...beautiful beach!!

End of part one!  Click on photos to enlarge...having trouble getting my postings to work, so I made the photos smaller.