Oh, and I meant to give you all Christmas love too.

Merry Christmas!

I'm heading off to see the whole family for Christmas tomorrow morning. Woo!

Hope you and yours have a good one too and see you after New Years =D.

I've Had My Drive Now

I was just reading The Wishful Writer's blog, and the most recent post made me laugh. Because it was a funny story, but also because the way she tells it brings home how alien our experiences can be.

Heather (the Wishful Writer) was amazed by her driving 'lesson' - but to me that was part of growing up. I still remember my Dad sitting me on his knee and letting me steer. I first started driving by myself when I was about 8. I wasn't very good. In fact I think I'm why Dad finally got rid of 'The Suzi.' Damn I loved that old paddock basher.

I think my slalom style of driving in and out the hay bales may have scared Dad. Damn it was worth it though, even if I was banned from driving for a year.

I've never seen my big macho cousin look so pasty. Well, except for the snake incident. Oh, and that time with the spider. Actually, now that I think about it he really was just a big girl. *waves*

Or it could have been baby bro's first drive that did it. I was 11 and Brad was 9. We were both driving, and Alastair (the 3 year old 'baby') was pestering Dad to let him drive too. Poor boy, it wasn't fair. One day at morning smoko Dad hears a vehicle start up. Then stop. He stands to go see what's up, when in walks Alastair, pleased as punch, "I've had my drive now."

Mum and Dad exchange fear filled glances. Nearly falling over each other they rush outside to see the damage. Thankfully not much. But Dad did stop leaving the keys in the ignition.

These are my growing up stories. It takes someone from outside looking in to make me realise how very rural I am. It was like the time I lived in Japan. The thing that really brought home that I was in another country wasn't the different language, foods, or faces. It was a simple thing that happened during one of my large group lessons.

The couldn't get their heads around lunch boxes. I mean lunch boxes? I took my lunch in one to school everyday. But they found them exotic, eating sandwiches everyday was weird. They asked questions in the same way our kids might ask "they eat with sticks? That's when I realised how different our experiences were.

Thanks Heather for reminding me of those stories.

PS Remind me to tell you about the snake incident some time.

EDIT: I've just worked out why this tastes familiar. Remember poptarts?

We are Family!

To be honest I don't know that many gay people, but the ones I do know are generally legendary *waves* My mum, dad and two brothers are more legendary though (sorry guys, but they are =)).

Yay Mum! Short hair, classic style (more stylish than me, but at least I'm presentable now mum. In fact she dags out more than I do these days =p). Not at work, a TAFE lecturer. She loves all of us, even me, and I used to be a bit of a prickly pear too. Most importantly she's a nice person (Personally I think being a good person is the best thing you can do with your life - everything else is trimming really).

Mum knits. One of those funky middle aged knitters (God they're everywhere now - bring back the little old ladies with knitting needles I say, they're the best defence this country has =p). She makes socks! I have the best sock collection in the world! Check out out her blog for some of her funky knitting.

Dad rocks too. He's one of those mellow dudes that are everywhere, and really don't get enough credit, because it's blokes like this that make the world go round They're the ones that always say g'day and have a smile for everyone. Who just do their job, and live their life. He can't cook for beans but (well, maybe beans, but he'll feel the need to add carrots and peas and probably curry powder as well =p).

I have two brothers. Despite the fact that I was a bossy bitch of an older sister they speak to me. I still try to boss them sometimes. But they generally just ignore me =). Things never change =p.

Diving Bro is two years younger than me. He works as a diver for one of the fish farms down on the coast. He's just like dad. Always had been a hard worker with his head on straight. His girlfriend a Wholesome Girl (she doesn't even drink *shakes head in disgust*) is a secondary science teacher. She's OK even if mum and dad do love her more than us now =p. They're both disgustingly nice and well adjusted actually - but that's OK, the rest us (both families - hehe) make sure we give them hell for it.

Communist Bro (well, he's more of a socialist and anarchist really). What can I say. I love him to bits, and for a 20 year old opinionated little brat he can be pretty wise. His girlfriend, the Viking Barbarian is currently visiting. CB managed to charm her while he was in Finland on exchange. He managed to charm his way onto the exchange too. In fact I personally think he's missed his calling as a grifter. Though he's currently studying aquaculture at Uni he may give that up and follow my advice =p.

Since it took me so long to write this post about my family I'm going to write a second for my friends and acquaintances. Be afraid. Be very afraid. =)