xmas post-mortem

Another xmas over! The gift & food shopping, the house cleaning, the food preparation, the organising, all behind us now. It was another 'killer' marathon for the eternal procrastinator, since I never do today what can be put off forever! I'm convinced my procrastination is a genetic trait about which, it seems, I can do nothing. I promise myself every year will be different but, alas!

Nevertheless, when the day rolls around, barely able to stand with aching back and feet, I have a great time. The family arrives - bearing food & gifts - and I am reminded of why I love it. I'm not one of those people who think gifts are a waste of time and money. I love them! The giving and the getting are great. I love to see the unwrapping, the laughter and joy at receiving and I love to experience it as a recipient. I'm far from a Scrooge about xmas, despite the fact that I'm an athiest. I figure, if there has to be religion in my society, I should get something out of it :). The main thing I get is the family together and, with everyone living such busy lives, it's great to have an occasion that brings us together at least once a year. And, of course, the public holidays! I've been taking annual leave over xmas for the last few years so they're not as vital as they once were but they do maximise the number of days leave available which is great too.

The food!!! As someone with a quite small capacity at any one sitting, I excel myself at xmas. I don't know where I put it but, despite being a 'one meal a day' woman, with one course (if I have soup or dessert I can't eat the meal as a rule) on xmas day and the 3-4 following, I usually have comparatively huge meals, with multiple courses. There's xmas lunch, then nibbling during the arvo, then 'left-overs' supper about 11 or 12 that night. Then there's boxing day lunch. Then there's dinner at Kaz's parents' place the next day, then there's food exhaustion and little if anything for the following few days, LOL. All worth it!

Now I just have to figure out how to use some of my gifts and all will be perfect, LOL. I got a personal voice recorder with 5 instruction packs - all in foreign languages! Chinese I think. I kid you not. I went online, thinking to get the manual there but they don't appear to have one there. More work needed to get me up and running with this one but it will be fabulous once that's done. I got singstar for my Playstation3, which I've had about 9 months but have only used the blueray player on previously. Xmas day hilarity as a few of us mangled some truly dreadful songs. Fortunately, the kids showed me how to download others with which I might be more familiar and sympathetic, LOL. Kaz got me all linked up online, so I was able to download a game Ezz showed me once - Age of Booty - which has immediately become one of my many compulsive behaviours.

I have a new pancake maker - not fully unpacked yet - to make me my perfect food perfectly; really looking forward to that one. I got a book - "History's Worst Decisions and the People Who Made Them" does sound like THE book for me, doesn't it, LOL? Pleased to see my mini-xmas-hamper, from brother & sister-in-law; with lots of little bits and pieces - in an environmentally friendly shopping bag this year (usually a little basket) - Lynne is keeping me in good tea towels, so I never have to buy them; this is so great :). Never underestimate the value of practical gifts. A wonderful set of pyrex dishes - freezer to oven to table, love that stuff - so I'm all set to cook up a storm if I ever get the energy to do so, LOL.

All in all, another stellar xmas for me :). Now, if only I can buy the 'mother-of-the-groom' outfit for Ezz & Kaz's wedding in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS, I'll be a happy little vegemite. That procastination gene is going to be the end of me!

Happy 60th Birthday Human Rights Declaration

December 10 is notable for being the anniversary of one of the major ways in which humanity demonstrated it had humanity: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1948 (the year of my birth) the fledgling United Nations justified its existence by adopting the Declaration, putting people at the forefront of world concern. Then, as now, it was not universally implemented (as evidenced by Human Rights Watch) and that is shameful, however, it remains our aspiration and informs the goals and work of human rights activists everywhere.

The document is a great read and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet read it. In a complex world, where it's often difficult to decide which is the side of 'right', it's useful to have a guide to underpin thinking. If the rights in this document are being breached, the perpetrator is NOT right, no matter how just the cause; simple!

Australia played a crucial and leading role in the birth of the Declaration, under the Chifley government and through the passionate commitment of Doc Evatt, so we have history and responsibility in the continuing fight to see human rights for everyone a reality. The Human Rights Law Recource Centre has some ideas on how Australia can participate.

On a personal level, we can all contribute by participating in actions promoting human rights. Not everyone can get into the trenches but most can join a group, donate even a small amount to relevant work/activities and/or join email, letter or phone campaigns (see some links for action groups in the 'links' section on this page).

There's no better feeling than knowing you're doing something and it's never been easier to 'stand up and be counted'.