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Monday, 31 December 2018

Adapting to change at the end of 2018




Usually at the end of the year I write about the year that was. But for this year I am wrapping up the year differently.

Early in 2014 I was asked to join the Communal Global family as one of its regular contributors. I had been linking up my weekly blog posts to their Wednesday Around the World linky party for a couple of years, so I was thrilled to be invited to join this wonderful group of ladies from all around the world.


 Then around August 2017 I was asked if I could write their regular Friday posts, which included a mosaic from each of their regular contributors.

Communal Global has had many contributors over the years. Their current contributors are from Hong Kong (Singwa), New Zealand (Betty), Australia (me), Finland (Susanna), England (Caroline) and USA (Tamar) with occasional visits from Catherine (formally in Paris but now back in the USA) and Caro (Venezuela). 

 Communal Global is a vibrant group of women from all over the world, with many differences in where we live and the language we speak, but also many similarities to be found as we shared pieces of our lives and we found we were really not that different to each other.

Due to a few changes happening with Flickr where we upload our weekly photos, and changes in circumstances with some contributors, we have sadly decided to close down the Communal Global blog on Blogspot and the weekly Wednesday Around the World link-up on that blog. 

BUT it is not the end of Communal Global -  you will now be able to find us over on Instagram and Facebook with our link ups at Linky Friends on Facebook 
We are making changes to keep up with our changing world, but Communal Global has gone through many changes over the years. 

My goodness, Instagram seems to be the flavour for sharing at the moment. I hope you will come and join us and follow us over there.


Our last post is today 31 December, so we are going out with an explosion of colour and memories. I sincerely thank the girls for inviting me to join Communal Global. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. And I am sad to see the blog in its present format close down.

Here is my final collage. I've enjoyed sharing my little corner of Australia with people all over the world through Communal Global. 


And final mosaics from the other contributors I have come to know over the last few years. I hope you will click on the links to visit them.

Singwa, Hong Kong - sharing her fascinating life - sights and sounds - in a big city


 Betty, New Zealand - amazing scenery
Susanna, Finland - I've loved seeing her snowy pics, especially in summer here!



Caroline, England - who has been at Communal Global right from the beginning

Tamar, USA - Tamar will be continuing a Wednesday link up at her blog - Randomosity - The good, random and fun  Thank you Tamar! 



Caro, Venezuela, with her delightful shares of family life
And the amazing street photography of Catherine in Paris, now adapting to life back in the USA.

So that is me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by.  I wish you all and your families a happy, safe and fabulous 2019 and as I said at the top of the post "dare to dream".  You never know where it might take you in 2019. Dream big, but start small.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Life in Reflection

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
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Monday, 24 December 2018

May Peace & Joy be yours this Christmas

This Christmas I pray for peace in our world for all and a life without hunger or fear. A world of tolerance and harmony between all, regardless of faith.


Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you the joy and peace of Christmas and happy, worry free times spent in the company of your loved ones, family and friends. If you are estranged from your family, please contact them and let them know you are ok.  It will be a gift beyond measure for both of you.
Montserrat, Spain
  I would like to share a special poem with you today. I wrote it in 2014 just a few months after my father passed away. It is for all of you missing someone from your table this year.


The Ghosts of Christmas Past

Christmas only comes but once a year
It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations 
And planning menus
I am thinking of those who will be missing from my table 
for the first time this year
They are the ghosts of Christmas past.

My father hanging Christmas lights in the pine trees at our front gate
The carol singers under our corner street light

I lay in bed wondering how Father Christmas could possibly come down
our kitchen chimney
and through the little doors at the front of our Metters wood Stove.
But he did – because the carrots and cake were gone in the morning.

The excitement of seeing my new big doll Lucy under the Christmas tree.
My mother dishing up the Christmas pudding with the threepences hidden inside
Her Christmas carols that filled the house.

The long Christmas table at my Aunts
With aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents
And silly hats.

Summer heat and laughter,
Playing under the sprinkler on the back lawn,
And laying on the long cool passage lino with a new book.

The simple pleasure of humid summer evenings on the back lawn
     looking up at the stars. 

As I hang the special Christmas baubles on my tree
And light the candle of remembrance
I look into the eyes of my grandchildren
And I see the ghosts of Christmas past.

Jill Harrison
2 December 2014

Australian Rose Mallee

Thank you so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate your support over the the year, and wish you the happiest Christmas. 
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Random-osity. 
Travel Photo Thursday 
Life in Reflection

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

 If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 


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Sunday, 16 December 2018

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - December randomness

If you are anything like me once December hits Christmas seems to be here before we know it. So for today just some December randomness.

It is summer in Australia and the colours around where we live during the lead up to Christmas are vibrant - the yellow of the Candlestick Bankisa, the yellow-orange of the Australian Christmas tree and the purple of the Jacarandas.

And my front garden this time of year in particular looks a treat - with the yellow and green kangaroo paws flowering in profusion with the backdrop of red Coral Bush and purple agapanthus. 

LOL the tinsel garlands around my kangaroo paws are to keep the parrots away, but it doesn't seem to help too much. 



I've been to a few Christmas crafting free workshops lately in our local library, handprinting gift wrapping paper and making twig decorations, 


On Friday I went to another short workshop - floral gift wrapping toppers.  This one was run by lovely Francine Metcalfe from Pollen Nation Floral Studio. Francine makes the most glorious wreaths and bouquets from Australian natives and she is partners at the Green Depot floral studio and gift shop.  We simply wrapped boxes in brown paper, tied with string, and topped with florals. Inside the boxes we popped an inspirational card - a present to ourselves or to a special friend when you or they might need a boost. I spent a lovely hour with the ladies in the workshop.

This time of year there are parties and get-togethers with family and friends. We live in a small cul de sac street, and every year we have a "street party" on the front lawn, rotating which lawn hosts the party. We all bring our own chairs, drinks and a plate to share. This year I made Cranberry Brie Bites, which someone had shared on Facebook, from Delish.com - they really were delicious and oh so easy to make. Here is a link to the recipe - Cranberry Brie Bites. 
I used almond slivers instead of the pecans and didn't use the rosemary springs. I used puff pastry sheets and the recipe made about 30 small tarts. They are just as good cold. 

I am yet to do my Christmas baking - but will have to get to it this week!
This is also the time of year for cherries - yum!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed my little look at the lead up to Christmas. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Life in Reflection

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

 If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 




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