Happy New Year!

Ah, the last day of freedom for me! Miranda started back to school this morning, and Steve and I took down the tree (and chucked it over the balcony!) in her absence. I took down the majority of the seasonal decorations yesterday, but have tried to capture it all in a few photos. Highlights of the hols post-Christmas: parents here on Boxing Day; dinner with dear friends in Vancouver on the 29th; Drum Circle at the Church Hall on New Year's Eve; New Year's Day visiting with neighbours; the cousins with us for lunch and the afternoon on the 2nd; attending a birthday party on the 5th. I'm sure I've left something out (like when the dishwasher and washing machine broke down on the same day), but you get the general idea of merrymaking with family and friends! And now (with apologies to Margaret Wise Brown's wonderful book, "Goodnight Moon") it's...

Goodbye, tree, we'll miss your presence...







Goodbye, pudding's rummy pleasance...







Goodbye, folks in Christmas Town....








It's time to take those houses down...








Goodbye, wise man, seeking child...








Goodbye, shepherds, meek and mild...








Goodbye, colourful displays...








Goodbye, flowers (dead for days)...








Goodbye, front-hall Yuletide shrine...








Candles, dim your Christmas shine...








The year is over, greet the sun--








.................................................... It's time to start another one.