A New Year

Today is our parents wedding anniversary. Today they would have been married for 43 years. It's a gloomy old day in Sydney. Torrential rain, grey skies. The type of day that you have to illuminate with electric light because the sun's downed tools. We celebrated New Year's Eve at Ashleigh's house, just as we had done last year, with one exception - Dad wasn't there. His absence was ever present. He loved Ashleigh's apartment on the harbour. He loved the spectacle of the bridge lit up like a fluorescent birthday cake. It was a rather sedate night. Most of which I spent with mum talking about how much has changed since Dad departed.

2006 was a year of sorrow for this family. One grief followed another. The last happened late in December when Mum had to make the decision to put Dad's beloved dog and Mum's companion, Buddy down as he had succumb to cancer. This decision was made even harder as Mum was over here when it happened and the house sitter had to manage everything. Thankfully, Mum found a wonderful housesitter who had also grown to love Buddy and handled everything. It is going to be hard for Mum to walk into that empty space with no Dad and no Buddy but she is so strong and has dealt with so much that I know she will deal with this too.

It has not been all sorrow this past month. We did have Ginger Lightly Monaghan Gibbs' christening, which was joyous. That's her above in Otto's sheet cubby in ur backyard. We also had a Christmas Day full of children and laughter and every type of roasted meat you can imagine. We are all happy to see the back of 2006 and hope that 2007 is kind to everyone.