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Post by Oz-T on Dec 21, 2016 9:53:48 GMT
Another year has passed and now we head into Christmas. Thanks to all our members and guests who have contributed or read the many travel discussions throughout 2016. Wishing everyone the best health and happiness for the new year and looking forward to your participation here in 2017! OzT π
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Post by californian on Dec 21, 2016 10:01:40 GMT
Thank you Oz for creating this blog so we could stay in touch, and a very Merry Christmas to you and Mrs Oz and the family, and a happy and perfect 2017!
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Post by Owen on Dec 21, 2016 15:42:11 GMT
To All,
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2017
Healthy & Safe & Enjoyable Travels
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Post by Oz-T on Dec 21, 2016 20:14:46 GMT
Thanks to Owen for another year of continuous support with the many travel topics and helpful information posted on this forum. It is much appreciated.
I'd also like to thank The Judge - our Admin support who monitors this forum to ensure everything is working fine when I'm not around to do so. It's easy to overlook this mainly invisible role, but without it, this forum would be deluged with spam and other nasties. Those who remember the old Trafalgar forum will recall how spam regularly hit that board, and in some cases it fell victim to people who were more intent on seizing control than participating in friendly discussions.
The occasional bit of spam gets posted here but not for long. Sometimes we delete it within a few minutes. Sometimes later - thanks to members who report this; we do act upon everything brought to our attention. It only takes a few seconds to delete the offending posts and to ban someone. Spammers usually find themselves blocked from access so they've wasted their own time more than ours. So I do acknowledge and appreciate the administrative support that keeps this forum clean and welcoming to members and guests.
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Post by Oz-T on Dec 21, 2016 21:04:02 GMT
Hi Californian, hope you have a nice Christmas and new year! It will be a warm day for us here with an expected temperature of 35C (95F). Celebrating Christmas in summer tends to alter the menu so we usually have cold seafood for lunch or dinner - prawns, smoked salmon, crayfish (lobster) etc. But we planned lunch before the weather forecast and it'll be roast pork, with me officially in charge of the Weber bbq. Thank goodness we're not getting to 45C (113F) as we do on some summer days.
It'll be our first Christmas for our grand-daughter and Mrs Oz has been predictably running around the shops for months to ensure the kid gets overwhelmed by gifts. I will have to put another line on my household budget spreadsheet to cope with this new expense that is currently testing my credit card limit...
2016 has been an incredibly busy year for me. I accepted a job offer early in the year when I had planned to be early-retired or doing some part-time work. Managing a team of professionals has been a very fulfilling but busy time, and we've achieved some big outcomes. I will most likely be looking for a change during 2017, depending on circumstances. No significant holiday travel this year as I had been absorbed in work and Mrs Oz has been preoccupied with visiting her elderly parent who has a terminal illness - so 2017 will be tinged with some sadness when the moment comes.
Meanwhile, we have been spending most weekends lately looking for a holiday house at the beach. The plan is to be able to permanently store our boat there and split our week between our current house and the beach house. That way we can go fishing whenever the weather permits and without long drives and returning the boat securely into our backyard. The beach property can also be a suitable location for me to set up a studio where I can indulge in one of my hobbies - oil painting. We will continue the house hunting in 2017 until we find something suitable.
Whilst travel has been on hold for awhile, we do plan to do some more caravan holidays. I still need to write a travel tale of our big trip through the Australian outback in 2015 and I hope to post it here before I embark on another adventure.
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Post by solaria on Dec 21, 2016 21:14:07 GMT
Seasons greetings from Scotland!
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Post by Oz-T on Dec 21, 2016 21:40:08 GMT
Well being in Scotland sure has to improve the odds of a white Christmas, Solaria! But I'm still trying to visualise Santa's sleigh hauled by highland cows... Have a great Christmas and make sure you place holly on your haggis....
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Post by solaria on Dec 22, 2016 2:18:08 GMT
Sorry, I am not actually in Scotland. A friend sent it to me as they know I love 'heery coos' π€ I thought the snowy pic would cool you Aussies down a little?
where we are in NZ, its been very cool and wet leading up to Xmas. Only the last few days have we got over 20Β°C. And rain is predicted again tomorrow! I am about to clean our windows for Xmas sparkle, so it will definitely rain..
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Post by 1jhwks on Dec 26, 2016 5:47:59 GMT
Merry Christmas snd Happy Hanukkah to all from the middle of USA!!
It had been raining on and off today. No white Christmas this year, although we got some last week, which all got washed away with the rain.
Hope everyone stays healthy in 2017!! ππΎ
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Post by californian on Dec 26, 2016 17:06:28 GMT
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 1jhwks, and go KC Chiefs!
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Post by 1jhwks on Dec 26, 2016 17:14:12 GMT
Hi Californian! Hope you had a great holiday weekend. We shall see how far the Chiefs go this year. Did you watch the game last night?
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Post by marielouise on Dec 26, 2016 19:23:13 GMT
Happy New Year, everyone. We got 20 cm snow by Christmas Eve and -16C. Often we don't have a white Christmas, so it was a surprise, a lot of shoveling but it looks beautiful.
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Post by tassiedevil on Dec 27, 2016 17:06:59 GMT
A little late, but merry Christmas from San Francisco!
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Post by marielouise on Dec 27, 2016 17:14:14 GMT
Wonderful that you were able to make it to the States, Tassie.
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Post by purvis on Dec 27, 2016 18:01:58 GMT
Tassiedevil: Merry Christmas from cold and snow covered Alberta Canada. Enjoy the warmth of California. Purvis
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Post by 1jhwks on Dec 27, 2016 18:48:22 GMT
Tassiedevil, have a great trip here in The USA!
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Post by chech on Dec 28, 2016 16:06:42 GMT
A belated Happy Christmas to all....now that I have fast internet.
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Post by purvis on Dec 28, 2016 16:13:27 GMT
Chech: You had to rub it in didn't you. Oh well just 4 months until spring here in snow-covered Alberta. Have a great tour and enjoy the warm weather but remember you must return to Newfoundland and our great Canadian winter. Purvis
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Post by Oz-T on Dec 29, 2016 6:27:18 GMT
Snow covered Alberta?! Could you send some here, Purvis? We had 38C yesterday and it got to 41C (106F) under the roofed decking in my backyard. ... and my plan to cool off with an ice cream encountered an unexpected problem.
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Post by marielouise on Dec 29, 2016 14:22:46 GMT
We had 20 cm of snow here in Calgary by Christmas Eve. Lots of shoveling. But i am glad I live here, it has been nice -2 for a few days but will be cold for the next 2 weeks. I can't imagine 41 degrees, I don't like it above 30 or even 25. Enjoy it Oz!
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Post by chech on Dec 29, 2016 19:11:19 GMT
LOL...I'll take the cold over the heat any day. As I like to say...in the depths of winter, I throw on a jacket and gloves and can go play in the snow. In oppressive heat, I can only take so much off....legally. (My pic was from a display in the airport)
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Post by marielouise on Dec 29, 2016 20:15:30 GMT
Welcome home Chech. I totally agree with you.
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Post by chech on Dec 29, 2016 20:23:24 GMT
Thanks! I'll have the blog started on Costa Rica in a few days. Awesome destination! Like how Eldertreks did stuff slightly more adventurous and off the beaten path.
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Post by purvis on Dec 31, 2016 7:04:07 GMT
Welcome home Chech: Looking forward to your new tour tale. I hear you have some winter weather on the east coast. Didn't want you to miss a good Canadian winter. Purvis
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Post by chech on Dec 31, 2016 15:32:28 GMT
Seems I did miss it....40mm of rain fell last night.
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Post by purvis on Dec 31, 2016 16:04:46 GMT
`Chech: Don't have to shovel rain EH`. Have a great NEW YEAR. Purvis
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Post by chech on Dec 31, 2016 16:20:53 GMT
You too!
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Post by tiffany on Jan 2, 2017 20:01:28 GMT
I know I'm a little late, as I've been off-line for the last 10 days or so, but I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. All the best to everyone in 2017!
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