Friday 1 January 2010



Happy New Year!
We had a quiet NYE — a lovely dinner, snoozing in front of Sean Micallef's very good show, and bed at 30 seconds past midnight.
Perfect!
Earlier we'd been to see another (much better) movie — this time it was Where the Wild Things Are, directed by Spike Jonze with fabulous special effects, and even more wonderful music.
We took Marnie (and our grand-daughter still to come) and our grandson Mack. David and I absolutely loved it, but it was all a bit too grown-up for Mack, who recently turned six. More a film for slightly older people who have loved the Maurice Sendak book since they were children — like Mack's dad!

:: Los Americanos, with Lily, Nick and Will, have departed for the Great Southern and the South-West. They're spending a few nights in the Walpole-Pemberton area to see the great karris, and next week they are walking the Cape-to-Cape track — 134 km from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, camping all the way.
The house is very quiet without them!
It was great fun watching them get ready (that's Nick and his step-mum, Jenise, organising camping food, above). Scott, Nick and Jenise are seasoned hikers and knew what gear was needed, how to pack it, how to cater for 14 days in the bush, and generally how to go about the whole big project. After helping with a couple of trips to the (rip-off) outdoor adventure stores, David and I just kept out of the way!

:: To save weight and space in his backpack, Will has taken my little Canon camera and left me with his giant Nikon, and I have to figure out how to use it well enough to post pics.
So, in the meantime this is a pic of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, where, with Dace, Max and Halina, we were a year ago today, watching the amazing and moving Turtle Dance performed by men of the Pueblo Indians, a New Year's Day ritual.The dance was performed right in front of this incredible adobe structure, which has been continuously inhabited since the 10th century.
There were no cameras allowed at the dance, and it was extremely cold though sunny, with snow everywhere. The pueblo looked incredibly beautiful.
Our feet lost all feeling as we stood on the frozen ground waiting for the dance to begin. It was well worth the wait, though. There were drums, and chanting, and elaborate head-dresses and finery made of feathers and pelts, with sprays of evergreen. A fabulous experience.

:: Thanks for coming by for another year, and for all your comments and emails.
Happy New Year to you, and I really hope you enjoy this bold, bright decade to come.

7 comments:

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Happy New Year.

Sarah said...

Happy New Year Lesley!

Gina said...

Happy New Year to you and all your family

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Jennifer said...

I'm not sure I can adequately put into words the underlying joy and comfort, really, that comes through in your posts now that you're settled back at home. I guess I shouldn't say it, since I'll still hold out hope that you'll be back in the states someday. It's not that you weren't happy or taking full advantage of all that the US had to offer when you were here (the Turtle Dance sounds profound and beautiful), but there's just something about the rhythm of your days, your time with family and friends that's different and so right (it sounds)! The trek sounds incredible and I'll look forward to hearing the walkers' reports through you. Meanwhile, happy new year and best of everything to you~~

Anonymous said...

Well 10 years since the big drama of 2000 and things are moving along so quickly. Thanks for the blogging Lesley and all your great stories you remind me to be involved in life, with an open mind and heart and to enjoy all that comes your way, so thanks for that. Yes, I have been thinking , all day, about this is the decade we all turn 60!!!!!!! Well done Les and Happy new year Cheers Shelley x

Anonymous said...

Happy new year to you and good luck to those campers - I hope they're not too hot out there!

Fairlie - www.feetonforeignlands.com said...

Happy New Year! Lovely to catch up with you recently. Melbourne next time?

Looking forward to reading the post-walk report!