Sliding over the Rainbow from Taiwan to Oz

It was great to make it down for Christmas/New Year and to get around quite a bit. Here are a few pix to give you an idea of what it was like - indescribable really!!

Captions:
As many as we could assemble at one time
Dad and Jez
Dizzy Blondes
Bravely crossing the raging creek
A nice one of Rob
Nothing like a home-made pizza oven
A face full of pizza
Little Jim is all potential
Krik and Rika
Mum savours the great taste of an Aussie bbq - vegetarian, of course!
Jolie puts in the maximum effort for the photo
Steve immerses himself in the surf
A warm and fuzzy Rob and Amelia - emphasis on fuzzy!
A very chilled Prem and Rika
See - I have hands!
Teri warms up the bun in her oven
A couple of beach babes

Merry Christmas! xīnnián kuàilè

"By popular demand" we are back with our blog. Well, I should qualify that I am using that term very loosely. In fact, most people gave up on asking months ago - but Ange - you're persistent, so you can credit yourself with having changed a part of the world.

Today we will be travelling back to Aus for Christmas. Our darling, Emma returned to Taiwan a week ago after 5 months in San Diego. Soo good to have you back, Em.

Taiwan is not exactly Christmas crazy! Our landlord saw the tree and Christmas lights and decorations and wondered what they were for. He celebrated Christmas once, in Australia, so thought it was celebrated in summer! Well, there is Christmas music playing in stores and some decorations up ... but compared to Chinese New year, it pales into insignificance.

OK, Ange ... it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil ... so here's a pic of Ange and Em at a special Christmas meal we had together.

I'll end this post with a few Christmas thoughts --- Happy Christmas all!!

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
—Oren Arnold

Peace on Earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day.
—Helen Steiner Rice

Chicco hires Billy the Kid

On the day before Teri and Jolie and Jimmy went back to Sydney, Jim was told his talents were required. Under his "norman de plume" or was it his "alias" since he hasn't been discovered as a writer yet, Billy braved the elements. He made his way downtown - hanging on triumphantly on the rough ride on the Cobb and Co coach - for the big shoot out. He would have been on the Runway - but not being able to walk yet they thought they had him pegged as sitter. "Don't come crawling to me" they taunted - but our Billy was not deterred - he was off like a shot. While Jolie busied herself at the makeup table, wild Bill took on the other contenders and made a great fist of it.
They all agreed he was a legend.

Taiwan mountain experience

It's summer here and we stayed at this homestay type place. We slept in a tatami room - mats on the floor. The place had been built by an older couple (older than us - but still young - ha!). The food was really something. The lady of the house did all the cooking. She made lunch and dinner for us and each meal which was for 9 of us had 8 or 9 different dishes. They had a trout farm and a chicken run - so each morning you'd see the maid go down and bring back a couple of chickens and just before lunch the man of the house would scoop up a couple of trout. Of course mum and I avoided the chicken but that's how fresh the food was. The tofu was also picked off the tree just before meal prep. OK, I am going a bit too far - but really you would have loved the food, this woman was amazing - and she had such a glory in what she did. She took such good care of us. On the last night, she'd had enough of cooking so the photo is of us having dinner at a restaurant - she took her family and us there and paid for the meal. Pretty good - but not nearly as good as hers.

A Peach of a Day

Mum and I had the opportunity to go out of town for a few days (not that we actually live in town anyway) but this was up in the mountains of North West Taiwan. Here I am up at a peach orchard where the owners had built a deck and served drinks and plates of peaches. I have never tasted such peaches - they were heavenly!! As sweet and juicy as you could want. They served iced green tea with pieces of fruit and that was refreshing too. Sam and I commented that it was the sort of drink you'd probably never find in Australia and made us thankful that we have the opportunity to experience so many different things.

A happy "Welcome to the woeful California"

A few excellent shots of mum visiting San Diego and catching up with Dave in his environment - complete with Activated cravat and shirt. Bruce and Honey are living with Ang now so that was an extra treat to see our old friends too.
Too bad about California guys - you can check out anytime you like - but you can never leave!! So sorry.

A Bevy of Beauties "Wishing" a Beautiful Bevy

A flash back to birthday celebrations for mum.
We had a great meal out - more of a western style meal - and how good was it that Leigh, Em, Krix and Rika could be there to add their flavours of humour and blend of fun conversation?
"It's great to be blessed with a family that loves you, who'll stick with you through and through,
just thank our great Maker who gave you these blessings and gave you the strength to give all there is of you." We sure love you!!