Boxing Day

Boxing day and it's raining again but its OK. At least the weather was nice for Christmas day and we had a lovely day - Early mass, open presents, then Christmas lunch and a short visit from Caleb. Here are some pictures:

  Peter & Cheryl in Christmas Disguise - scary

 Mums triffle x2 - not so scary

 Nonno models his Godfather T-shirt - cute

 Caleb unwraps presents - big truck very cute

Politically Correct Xmas Humour

POLITICALLY CORRECT - 12 Days of Xmas

On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship gave to me:

• TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming, 
• ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note), 
• TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping, 
• NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression, 
• EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk-products from enslaved Bovine-Americans, 
• SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands, 
• SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products, 
• FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration, (NOTE: after members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.) 
• FOUR hours of recorded whale songs 
• THREE deconstructionist poets 
• TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses and... 
• ONE Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree. 

Merry Christmas Happy Chanukah. Good Kwanzaa. Blessed Yule. Happy Holidays! (unless otherwise prohibited by law)*

*Unless, of course, you are suffering from Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD). If this be the case, please substitute this gratuitous call for celebration with suggestion that you have a thoroughly adequate day.

The Lost Xmas Episode of the X FILES

This is one of the scripts deemed to be so controversial that it was never filmed or produced,


Mulder: We're too late. It's already been here.

Scully: Mulder, I hope you know what you are doing.

Mulder: Look, Scully, just like the other homes: Douglas fir, truncated, mounted, transformed into some sort of shrine; halls decked with boughs of holly; stockings hung by the chimney, with care.

Scully: You really think someone's been here?

Mulder: Someone or some thing.

Scully:  Mulder, over here--it's fruitcake.

Mulder: Don't touch it! Those things can be lethal.

Scully: It's O. K. There's a note attached: "Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. "

Mulder: It's judging them, Scully. It's making a list.

Scully: Who? What are you talking about?

Mulder: Ancient mythology tells of an obese humanoid entity who could travel at great speed in a craft powered by antlered servants. Once each year, near the winter solstice, this creature is said to descend from the heavens to reward its followers and punish its disbelievers with jagged chunks of anthracite.

Scully: But that's legend, Mulder - a story told by parents to frighten children. Surely, you don't believe it?

Mulder: Something was here tonight, Scully. Check out the bite marks on this gingerbread man. Whatever tore through this plate of cookies was massive - and in a hurry.

Scully: It left crumbs everywhere. And look, Mulder, this milk glass has been completely drained.

Mulder: It gorged itself, Scully. It fed without remorse.

Scully: But why would they leave it milk and cookies?

Mulder: Appeasement. Tonight is the Eve, and nothing can stop its wilding.

Scully: But if this thing does exist, how did it get in? The doors and windows were locked. There's no sign of forced entry.

Mulder: Unless I miss my guess, it came through the fireplace.

Scully: Wait a minute, Mulder. If you are saying some huge creature landed on the roof and came down the chimney, you're crazy. The flue is barely six inches wide. Nothing could get through there.

Mulder: But what if it could alter its shape, move in all directions.

Scully: You mean, like a bowl full of jelly?

Mulder: Exactly. Scully, I've never told anyone this, but when I was a child my home was visited. I saw the creature. It had long white strips of fur surrounding its ruddy, misshapen head. Its bloated torso was red and white. I'll never forget the horror. I turned away, and when I looked back it had somehow taken on the facial features of my father.

Scully: Impossible.

Mulder: I know what I saw. And that night it read my mind. It brought me a Mr. Potato Head, Scully. IT KNEW I WANTED A MR. POTATO HEAD.

Scully: I'm sorry, Mulder, but you're asking me to disregard the laws of physics. You want me to believe in some supernatural being who soars across the skies and brings gifts to good little girls and boys. Listen to what you are saying. Do you understand the repercussions? If this gets out, they'll close the X-files.

Mulder: Scully, listen to me: It knows when you are sleeping. It knows when you're awake.

Scully: But we have no proof.

Mulder: Last year, on this exact date, S. E. T. I. radio telescopes detected bogeys in the airspace over twenty-seven states. The White House ordered a Condition Red.

Scully: But that was a meteor shower.

Mulder: Officially. Two days ago, eight prized Scandinavian reindeer vanished from the National Zoo in Washington, D. C. Nobody - not even the zookeeper - was told about it. The government doesn't want people to know about Project Kringle. They fear that if this thing is proved to exist, then the public would stop spending half its annual income in a holiday shopping frenzy. Retail markets will collapse. Scully, they cannot let the world believe this creature lives. There's too much at stake. They'll do whatever it takes to insure another silent night.

Scully: Mulder, It's On the roof. It sounds like... a clatter.

Mulder: The truth is up there. Let's see what's the matter..."

Evening from Manhattan: Link to Mat and Sims Travel Blog

Following is confirmation at Mat and Sims travel blog that they got to New York OK.
Use the following to see their blog:
na/sa trip: Evening from Manhatten:


Their opening comment
"Well we've made it. The drive into Manhatten is amazing, the city skyline plays out in front of you, with the Empire State Bldg shining th..."Publish Post

Last day of work

Today is last day of work before Christmas break. Getting very excited about having a break.

GFC version "12 Days of Christmas"

1) partridge retained, but pear replaced by plastic hanging plant
2) Two turtle doves are redundancy, simply not cost effective. Their romance during working hours could not be condoned -positions therefore, eliminated
3) Three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French.
4) Four calling birds will be replaced by automated voice mail system, with call waiting.
5) Five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors.
6) Six geese-a-laying constitutes luxury which can no longer be afforded. 3 geese will be let go.
7) Seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order.
8) Eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. Militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching
9) Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps
10) Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work politicians. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed politicians especially in NSW next year
11) Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line
Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the law society seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing "), a decision is pending. Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number."

Last Monday before Christmas

3rd last day before my Christmas break. Feel like a train about to pull into a station after a long trip. Today's work day was nicely broken up by a visit from Cheryl and Mat. Mat and Sim flew out this afternoon.