Christmas is Coming ...........

[Neferti]

How to avoid food poisoning this Summer .........

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/h ... 6516372331

[mantra]

How many warnings do we get regularly about cross contamination, yet people still poison themselves through their own carelessness or from takeaway food.

[Neferti]

How many warnings do we get regularly about cross contamination, yet people still poison themselves through their own carelessness or from takeaway food.

There is, apparently, a "tummy bug" going around at the moment.

I can't recall ever having a "gastric" attack.

GPs must get fed up with patients presenting with a "pain in the tummy".

Although, since I had a burst appendix way back .. long story ... nausea without the other obvious symptoms could prove to be more serious, as in my case, at Hornsby Hospital. They were neglectful and I could have sued ...... but why would I?

[Aussie]

No, it's not....

[Neferti]

Thought I would drag this one up, again. Since it is now December.

Who has put up the Christmas tree?

Who has bought the cards? Written the letters, posted the cards?

Who has started buying presents?

I have done a bit of each.

The tree is up but not decorated, yet. The cards are now written and ready to post. I have bought a few presents but more to go.

Here's my favourite Christmas song. Johnny Mathis and When a Child is Born.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Haven't had an Xmas tree in years but put a small live tree today. Sent a couple of Xmas cards and will send a couple of more (like Xmas trees, I don't do cards much anymore but am doing a few this year) and my Xmas shopping is mostly done. I liked living in Japan all those years b/c Xmas day is a working day so Xmas is no big deal I tell this to people and they don't seem to get what I mean but I liked being away from all traditional notions of Xmas.

[Neferti]

Haven't had an Xmas tree in years but put a small live tree today. Sent a couple of Xmas cards and will send a couple of more (like Xmas trees, I don't do cards much anymore but am doing a few this year) and my Xmas shopping is mostly done. I liked living in Japan all those years b/c Xmas day is a working day so Xmas is no big deal I tell this to people and they don't seem to get what I mean but I liked being away from all traditional notions of Xmas.

Christmas is the ONLY time in Australia when we all feel compelled to contact long-life friends and rellies we never think about for the rest of the year. Amazingly enough, I still have some contacts that do not have the Internet.

America has Thanksgiving. Another family gathering and probably stronger than Christmas over there?

Christmas, in my estimation, is still for little kids. However, even some older kids get excited about it.

In Australia, unless you have been here recently AiA, the ONLY days when the supermarkets (and everything else) closes are:-

Christmas Day
Good Friday

No trading. Looking for a loaf of bread or milk. Nope, nothing open.

And Australia isn't even a religious country. I think America still operates on these "religious" days.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Doesn't seem that long ago that most everything in Sydney closed at 5pm ... Perth wasn't much different, maybe worse. Things have changed.

[Neferti]

Doesn't seem that long ago that most everything in Sydney closed at 5pm ... Perth wasn't much different, maybe worse. Things have changed.

You would be surprised if you haven't lived in Australia for a while. Where will you spend Christmas this year, AiA? If it isn't too personal.

Do you miss the Magpies?

[AiA in Atlanta]

Oh, I'll be here in Atlanta. Nothing special. Last year I went to St. Augustine, Florida which is the oldest city in North American so it has some charm (Florida is a state with little charm at all so that is saying a lot). Last time I was in Perth it seemed that they were behind the rest of AUS in extending store hours but that isn't something I really keep up with ... American stores used to close down but it seems everything is open most all the time now ... Sunday liquor/beer/wine sales have just become a reality in a few places here in Georgia so things are still changing here as well ...