It seems to get longer each time between myjournal entries although I have already written this and lost itthree times when I went to save it - Murphy's Law in force again!!! .
 
If you're thinking that I'm going to write aboutour lovely, sunny and warm Summer weather, I'm not. This has been ourcoldest start to Summer for 51 years. Not only are the temps way downbut it is bleak, windy and raining.- not our usual December weatherat all.
 
The cataract surgery on my eyes went so well. Myleft eye has always been very weak and the eye surgeon has been able,with the new lens been able to restore full vision. he said he couldnot have done this even three years ago. It is because the insertedlens have advanced so much in that time span. So only glasses forreading small print now! I'm still getting used to not wearingglasses after doing so for decades. Maybe they were my shield fromthe world!!! Today I went and had GLASSES taken off my DrivingLicence.
 
November saw our second daughter, who lives andworks in Dubai, climb Mt Kilimanjaro, in Africa, and reach thesummit. We were so happy she achieved her goal as, apparently, thelast 400 metres stops a lot of people because of the altitude. Shedid suffer some altitude problems but was very well looked after byher trekking guide who supported and encouraged her over the lastlittle bit. The very shy little girl, who lacked confidence growingup, has blossomed into a successful and strong young woman with manyfriends and  an  “I can do it” approach to life.
 
Our third daughter then met up with her sister inTanzania and they did a safari together for eight days. That isn'tsomething on my “bucket list” but they had an amazing time andtook some wonderful photos of lions, zebras, baboons, elephants,giraffes, alligators, rhinoceros and deer-type animals crossing theroad in front of them or alongside the road.  They were very lucky tosee a Black Rhino, which is an endangered species in Africa, just afew metres away from them. They flew to Zanzibar for five days andrelaxed at a resort on the beach..They both would love to go back andsee more of Africa.
 
Our little grandaughter is now eleven  months old,moving around  and getting into strife as toddlers do. She's gonefrom being a baby to a little girl so quickly, it seems. She israther gorgeous, of course – not that I'm biased in any way!!! Oursecond grandson starts school next year. That is when one realiseshow quickly time passes.
 
The next two weeks are starting to look ratherhectic with Christmas functions and farewells. For only the secondtime ever, we are going away over Christmas. G. and I are leaving forBali on December 17th for five days, then flying toLombok, a small island off the coast of Bali. Our two youngerdaughters will join us around 24th December for a week,flying in from Dubai and Sydney. We will celebrate Christmas in earlyJanuary with our eldest daughter  and family as they have threebirthdays in the first week of January..
 
It will be interesting. Our three girls have beento Bali and Indonesia twice, once as part of their Indonesian studiesat High School (??? not sure what you call it in US and Canada) andanother time separately when they were older.- as in their twenties -with other friends.
 
I thank you, my cyber friends, for your supportand friendship throughout the last two years. It means so much to meand you have become part of my life.. I know what a tough year thishas been for many of you and my heart goes out to you.
 
I am early in wishing you all a blessed Christmasand holiday time with friends and family. As we step over thethreshold of one year into the next,  may 2012 bring peace, happinessand stable health to you and yours.
 
Hugs