Christmas Message to You from Me

Dear Lifestylers,

As another year draws to a close I’d like to thank you all so very much for your support and all the time you’ve taken this year to read and engage with everything written on Lifestyle Fify, whether it was on the blog here, or on Instagram or Facebook. Thank you!

It’s beginning to look like Christmas here at Lifestyle Central, although I realise it may not be the same for many of you around the world. I feel deeply sorry for anyone affected by Covid, and anyone dealing with loss or grief or illness in any way. May you find love, and strength to carry on.

Here the Christmas tree is up, and Christmas meals are being planned. It will be a stuffed roast turkey roll and glazed ham with all the trimmings followed by Pavlova for us possibly with extras like these two easy to prepare in advance side dishes.

The weather is hotting up (the flies are back!) and the school holidays have begun which really officially marks the start of the Christmas vacation. In Australia our long summer holiday is from now until February.

In Western Australia we have been so fortunate, at least up until now, to have escaped the worst of Covid19 and most of us with families living in this State will be able to spend Christmas together.

My heart goes out to all those of you whose plans have had to change. To all those of you who had hoped to be flying interstate to be with family for Christmas, but can’t now due to hard borders being imposed again.

Around the world I realise that festivities and family get togethers will be very different or even non existant for many of you this year. May you find ways to enjoy the holiday season, and I wish you love, joy, peace and laughter with those people – friends or family – you do have around you.

What a terrible year 2020 has been for so many. And right now 2021 is not looking very different. Despite the fact that we’ve had a reasonably untroubled time here in Western Australia we’ve found that many plans have changed and we are definitely looking at living life differently these days.

I don’t believe that 2021 will magically be consistently better, vaccine or not, as I’m sure there will be other worldwide and personal challenges for us all to deal with. But I’m looking forward with hope, and I’m excited for the light between the cracks and the things which bring joy and fulfilment.

The simple things … which for me might be …

• Being with my family.
• Coffee with a friend.
• A bike ride on a glorious day.
• Time to read a book.
• Snuggles with Little Miss Minnie.

• A walk along a beautiful beach

• The sights, sounds and smell of the Australian bush

Overall it’s been a strange and challenging year which has made me delve deep into memories of how things once were. I remember my darling Mum and miss her every day, though I realise how difficult it would have been had she been alive and unwell during Covid. I think of how freely we could jump on a plane to travel, but right now I don’t really miss it. I look back on how frantic and frenetic life was, while now it seems to have shifted down a gear.

But while reflecting on times past I look forward to the future.

I strongly believe that with every New Year there is abundant new energy, and whatever happens I hope you can tap into that energy to make 2021 a great year.

On the blog a recent post, Christmas Traditions and Memories was my way of taking stock and remembering all the good things about the Christmas season. Maybe you’d like to have a read and see if it makes you reflect on some of your own memories and traditions? It was fun to write!

This is the last blog post from me for 2020, and I want to thank you all so much for continuing to read and engage with everything Lifestyle Fifty.

I’ll still be posting quick news on Instagram and Facebook if you’d like to follow along there.

Until next year, here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from me and my patient, loving, supportive husband, Dave.