DECEMBER DIARY

 Well December, you were the best of times and the worst of times.

I was on tender-hooks those first few weeks of December, and I was not in a good way. I was waiting to hear if I still had a job after having to apply for my own job during another part of this long long restructure. AND I had to head into hospital for 2 small procedures, nothing too major and all routine stuff, but when you've had the health problems I have had over the past few years anything health related sends my anxiety sky high, so add in the work stuff and well, you can imagine.

Also my 50th and Christmas was looming, and with my life in such a mess that last thing I felt like was celebrating. Which is really wrong, because as a friend so beautifully told me, Cathy, you are here and alive, and you have been through so much, you HAVE to celebrate. 

And so, like those movies from the 40s that I love so much, my life turned around just with a few weeks to spare. I kept my job, transferring permanently to our Belmont Branch, and procedures went well. It was crazy, I had a day to clear out of Windale and then commenced at Belmont mid month. I work with a wonderful team, and the community are lovely, and there is much to do. It was awfully bittersweet as so many colleagues are no longer with us. But all I can do is move forward and enjoy myself and do my very best, which I will.

Things went fast once I commenced at Belmont, it was busy and there was much to do. We had some amazing displays put up mid month too, so come on down and check them out!

During this I did manage to do a little bit of out and about. I had my final radio gig of the year at ABC, doing the book reviews. And for the first time in the studio, as Covid restrictions had lifted.

Chrissie headed up from Sydney and we had a lovely picnic in King Edward Park, and a night out at the Junction Inn Hotel.

I also caught up with some ALIA friends at The Kent.

We also celebrated Dad's birthday with a huge surprise of my sister from Melbourne coming home earlier than expected. So wonderful, and another Christmas miracle, it would not have been the same without her.

We also headed to the pub on Dad's actual birthday for more celebrations.

And Choir headed back to Wednesday nights, but outdoors. What joy to sing with others again, if only once! It was a stunning evening at the foreshore.

I even fitted in a hair cut and colour, and went a bit short and red!

Jayne was a super star at a special event at Lizottes, so I headed along to this evening for women. It was great and Jayne was exceptional, talking about her specialty, sexuality. So was professional and knowledgeable, cute and sexy. The rest of the evening was fun too.

I caught up with my gals for Christmas at Son of a Gun Diner.

Because I had been largely ignoring Christmas, I then had to squeeze in some decorating of Club Cathy along with shopping and wrapping, but I got there!

Christmas was wonderful, spending Christmas Eve and Day at my sister's property with the entire family.

And I turned 50 and it felt fabulous. I had a lovely lunch at the Newcastle Yacht Club with the family and Thai and Wonder Woman 1984 with friends that night. I am planning more celebrations for 2021, the year of 50 lol...COVID pending!!

I caught up with Jayne twice, once for Breakfast at the Autumn Rooms - amazing and highly recommend - and lunch at Hippos.

The time in between Christmas and New Year was very quiet which was great. Plenty of rest time, reading, catching up on little projects and I finally finished cataloguing my vinyl.

I of course continued to read, listen, watch etc, my reviews for December are here.

And the usual markets.

And photography.