Happy New Year

Two days after the new year starts and I manage to get enough energy to drag myself to the Internet cafe and actually write something.

Christmas was Great, big lunch with all our friends in Oz, presents and lots of wine. Sparkling red wine in fact, unfortunately Moira was wearing a white lace top and this was an accident begging to happen. It did, when I uncorked the bottle it sprayed everywhere and guess who was closest....

Still the rest of the day went very well. Turkey and all the trimmings for everyone, we supplied huge prawns (Australian starter at least) and they went down well, except for the singular person who would not touch something that looked like an animal. Every party has one. Anyway we drank and didn't disgrace ourselves too badly.

NYE, Moira was working so I said I would meet her after work. I had some tasks, cooking a huge pot of chilli for the evening and getting her Birthday presents sorted. I also found out the my Brothers ex-wife's sister (janyll) was in Melbourne and thought it would be a nice thing to say hi and catch up. The last time we met was my stag night when we bumped into them in Blackpool.

Met Moira, the plan is to meet Janyll in her hotel and have cocktails during happy hour (6-7pm). Then see the 9:15 fireworks then home for Chilli and wine on the balcony. Civilised!

We had a drink and made our way to the hotel. There we had a couple of cocktails each and Jan mentioned that she and her boyfriend were meeting Crystal, the daughter of the family I stayed with briefly when I was last here. We agreed to accompany them and meet her, then go to the fireworks and then home.

At the pub we had to pay to enter ($20) but in fairness we were given a free drink and a Rubik's cube keyring. Fair deal. Then things got out of hand. Jegermiester! Beers with shots in round after round. We saw the fireworks at 9:15 but didn't leave to go home afterwards....Oh NO!! More beers and a hell of a lot more shots and we found ourselves dancing in the pub. Even Moira was dancing.... Drunk and Drunker.

We left sometime in the morning, after midnight, tanked up. Along with 500,000 others we tried to get a tram home. Complete chaos. We were together for about three seconds before becoming separated in the throng of people. Good that we had our phones with us. I got a tram and so did Moira, I got it into my head that everyone on the tram should sing happy birthday to Moira over the phone (I know it wasn't her birthday but they didnt') and, to the credit of the Melbournians, alot of people joined in.

The next day we stayed in the flat! Only ventured out to get some nibbles. Our fizzy is still in the fridge, the chilli was cold (didn't stop Moira from eating it when drunk though). Head was ringing all day. So bad that couldn't face a beer till nearly three in the afternoon. I am getting too old for this s**t.

In my pocket is a scrap of paper signed by several people who were on the tram, each of them wishes Moira a very happy birthday!

Still, it is the new year and we do hope that everyone has a special year. Grab hold of every opportunity and you never know where they can take you. If they do take you half way round the world then please, please look us up!

All the best for 2009

Our love
Peter & Moira