skyring

We're now residing in a boutique hotel in Brisbane, Christmas morning before the grand family gathering later on today.

We had a grander one last night, a Gold Coast yacht club for nephew's 21st. All the descendants of MIL were there, a rare occasion nowadays. A happy evening full of cheers while the children scampered around chasing each other and reappearing for food, including a piece of a big icecream cake.

The evening air was heavy and mellow, just enough breeze to give it a cooling effect. We sat outside as the sun set in a great orange glow and a blazing Venus ruled a velvet dusk. Champagne and toasts, iced water and mounds of food. Many cameras in evidence, and I'll upload one or two when I get a chance.

Finally got a chance to offload the youngest nephew's gift - a giant radio-controlled car which has been dominating our boot in its merry Christmas wrapping. You should have seen BIL's jaw drop when we hauled it out and he realised he'd have to find space for it!

And then we drove up here, rousing the night manager and tumbling into bed.