Because Australians are such nice people Santa gives us Christmas Day 24 hours before the rest of the world. So it is Christmas Eve and I am getting my cooking done.
I'll be bringing my wife home for lunch from the nursing home and we shall have lunch with her family.
I realise how lucky I am to have a family who accept me but I also know many of us will hurt this Christmas as we do in most family holidays.
The site of course remains open, and I and my Mod team will be on to support everyone who is feeling down.
I would like to take this chance to thank some incredible people who work way beyond anything that can be asked.
Dena, Mariah, Grace, VM, Arch, LordKat, Katrinaw in particular have been there for all of us; even when their own issues are too much too carry.
I cannot express my gratitude enough for their personal support when I break down and for their incredible contribution to this Forum for all members.
I would also like to acknowledge a group who are seldom acknowledged. Susan and her Admins.
Without the constant full time work that Sue puts in, this Resource would not exist.
Without the work that the Admins do, the various Forums would fail.
I never knew how hard an Admin works until I became one. And I sincerely thank my brothers and sister Admins for their help throughout the year.
I also want to thank all of the members, for your dumb jokes, the posts that inspire me, the posts that make me weep: For the posts that define us as a community. For without each other we are nothing.
I particularly want to thank one member; they know why. White Rabbit. Thank you and HUGS.
Anyhow in Australia it is the night before Christmas and:
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Forum.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Susan's soon would be there.
The members were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a driver, so lively and quick,
We knew in a moment it must be Sue.
More rapid than eagles her Admins they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Cindy! now, Devlyn! now, Max and Matt,
On, Helen On, Wynternight!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
Down the chimney Susan came with a bound.
She was dressed all in fur, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys she had flung on her back,
We laughed when we saw her, in spite of ourself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave us to know we had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
She sprang to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, 'ere she drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
