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Cheer up Kaz, it could be worse. I know one family near where I used to live that are spending the first xmas without their son who was killed in Iraq a couple of months ago, must be a nightmare for them this year. If you got to see your daughters (even for a while) it can't be all bad eh.

I can honestly say I've really enjoyed seeing the family this year, we've all been able to get together in the same place which I never take for granted.

If nothing else it's an excuse to buy yourself another gadget or something for the bike maybe ;)

firestorm996 wrote:Cheer up Kaz, it could be worse. I know one family near where I used to live that are spending the first xmas without their son who was killed in Iraq a couple of months ago, must be a nightmare for them this year.

Who was that? I was out there for 7 months from April to November.

Firestorm 996.

Thanks for pulling me up by the bootstraps so to speak (see my thread re sidestand revenge).
Puts things in THIS world (not just MY world) into perspective. Cheers!

Chris

Ditto, 996.

I spent my Christmas Eve night working on a cancer ward from 9pm-7am and Christmas Night in Emergency. 11pm Christmas night, a 47 year old man with two early-teen daughters gave up his fight after a long struggle. If he'd been able to hang on another hour, Christmas Day every year for his family could've been a lot different. And, of course, we got the ceaseless string of elderly people with no families, prepared to pay hundreds to get admitted to hospital for feigned illnesses, just for a bit of company at Christmas. Then there was the sweet thing with oesophageal cancer who knew she shouldn't, but couldn't resist a little bit of Chrissy cake... Very dangerous stuff that, under certain circumstances.

On a lighter note, I had "Christmas" last Thursday, with a few lads out in the Aussie bush in the middle of nowhere. As I've already told Kaz, we chucked some prawn kebabs, steak & marinated chicken on the barbie (two of the fellas there were chefs ) & I made a wicked batch of sangria. We sat on the verandah with the Chrissy carols in the background, shooting anything that wandered past (except the few neighbours who made the trek to drop in when they saw the festivities). These guys are real Aussies. Nothing is wasted. The metre long goanna, red-bellied black, roo & wallaby all chucked into the freezer for future tucker (not sure if that'd be for them or their dogs... most of the dogs out here in the bush eat better than their owners). It was a warm night & between carols, you could hear the ciccadas & crickets singing their own happy birthday to Jesus. It was great.

Kaz, if you or anyone else do fancy getting away next year, I promise to show any of you a real outback Christmas!

In saying that, Christmas day actually brought some areas of Australia, a white Christmas! Unheard of!

mellis wrote:

firestorm996 wrote:Cheer up Kaz, it could be worse. I know one family near where I used to live that are spending the first xmas without their son who was killed in Iraq a couple of months ago, must be a nightmare for them this year.

Who was that? I was out there for 7 months from April to November.

Jamie Hancock. He lived back-to-back with my parents, I don't know him but his Dad chucked our football back over the fence many a time when we were nippers

My brother and Dad knew him though.

LotusSevenMan wrote:Firestorm 996.

Thanks for pulling me up by the bootstraps so to speak (see my thread re sidestand revenge).
Puts things in THIS world (not just MY world) into perspective. Cheers!

Chris

No probs m8, if it makes you feel any better I've only ever owned one bike that didn't end up on it's side at one point or another! My fault or otherwise...

lol, i never had christmas this year, got a stomache bug on christmas eve, spent the night on the toilet throwing up and trying to turn myself inside out from both ends.
spent christmas day in bed myself, never left the house to see any of the family, and still not had my christmas dinner, or presants. lol.
started eating today, had some chocolate, beer, and rice with sweet chilli sauce, so i'm on the mend. covered most of the important food groups there.

hope you all have a good new year cause i'm planning on having one, got to have a bit of a drink to make up for lost time.

firestorm996 wrote: Jamie Hancock. He lived back-to-back with my parents, I don't know him but his Dad chucked our football back over the fence many a time when we were nippers

My brother and Dad knew him though.

He and his guys took over from us and the Light Infantry. The blokes living at Old State Building took a real pasting over the tour and had lots of small arms contacts. They reckoned that there was a sort of sharpshooter (not good enough to be a sniper) operating in the local area and a couple of blokes had some real near misses. I guess its all about luck. Sorry for your and their loss, i at least have some idea what is like..........

VTR1000KAZ wrote:Twinnie... absolutely love the sound of xmas in the bush !

Me too! Well someone had to lighten the mood, it is Xmas and all that.

mellis wrote:Thanks Chris, your thoughts are welcomed. Have a good new year mate.

You're very welcome Mellis I hope you have a good New Year as well

Chris.

I've just been reading through the posts here, some of them certainly have put thing's into perspective, it makes me realise just how precious life is and that we should make the effort to enjoy life everyday when ever we can

Chris.