Questa è la vita: December 2010

Off to gumpy tomorrow to pick up lee's dad's new car...the pars have been up this week lending a hand which was nice .... a week of mixed emotions ...

* had to go and pick up Lee's dad from the GC to bring back to live with us in his final few weeks?, months?, we don't no ...to depressing to think about .... on the way back he saw a car in gumpy and decided he wanted to buy it and so we back track to pick it up in the morn ...

* my little brother and his wife were blessed with a new baby boy yesterday... congrats little bro!!!

* dad's having a hard time with his prostate !! ...just wonder how long before its my turn ??

* the kids are all upset, being there last day at school before staring a new school next year ....

to what extent can the human brain handle such a gamete of feelings and emotions I ask you !!!

big love

I'm a rather additively contributor to a land rover forum and have been for many years now .... an extension from this is a liking to ex military Land rovers of which Ive had a couple and sold over the years...and part of this is a registry to track down and register all of the missing military Land rovers used buy the armed forces in austraila...(weird kind of thing to get into but a total bloke toy fest).... thought id add a very clever Christmas Interpretation rewritten buy one of the contributor of the forum .... the names are those of members of the registry and the situation are one relating to the addiction but you get the gist ....but very cleaver

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the shed
Not a creature was stirring, (again the battery was dead);
The panels were leaned by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the new ones soon would be there;

I was nestled all snug in my bed,
While visions of shonkys mini land rovers danced in my head;
And the missus in night clothes, and I in my jocks,
Had just settled down for a long sleepy nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the gum trees brightly shone down
and lit the old land rovers, parked all around,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Dinty’s lightweight, (sounds like its in low gear),

With a nimble driver was a dog and a bowl,
I knew in a moment it must be the poodle patrol.
More rapid than walking, the man had no shame,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called friends by name;

"Now, Phoenix! now, Rob hay! now, Ellard and ‘Ho!
On, Zulu Delta! On Diana! on, Numpty & Missus and Shonky let’s go!
and Master Chief, with JohnE, and Tommy K, come on all”
There were so many there and so many he led,
I only heard some and others that he said!
And Im sure I have missed more and to them I say sorry
But I couldn’t concentrate it was such a worry!

To the edge of the porch! to alongside the wall!
He yelled Now GS! Now FFT! Now Ambo and LRPV!"
then 88, and 109, and wrecker, then fire engine lets see!”

the yard was quite full, from the shed came a rattle
those REMLR guys are in my shed, oh my gawd, sounds like battle!
With the tray full of toys, and Santa driving too
came a workshop a purring (a late series 2)

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of parts he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as snow;

The appearance he gave was one drunk to the teeth,
and the smell of good scotch was around him like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his workshop, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all drove like a train with a whistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
So I raced to the stocking to see what he’d left,
And what in there greet me, left me without breath,
A bow set, new bar treads, a can of drab paint,
And most importantly, some photos so faded so faint

They showed me some diggers in a land overseas
They were celebrating Christmas all resting on knees
They were all under canvas, and in the picture I saw
Out the back was a land rover and my rego it bore

Then I felt greedy to worry about gifts
When these blokes were out fighting, shift after shift

So my vehicle was there, in the midst of it all
It was with them, those soldiers as for us they stood tall
I know it’s a car, and to most its not much
But knowing its history to me makes it such

I know it’s a car, a combination of metals,
And it rattles and boils (well nowdays it’s a kettle!)
It keeps me alert and decisions I must make
(like do I park on a hill, even though there’s no handbrake?)
Or do I park on the flat, the even roadway
Although the starter hasn’t worked at all today?

I know it drops oil, it seeps grease over drums,
And I know it is old and ugly to some,
But to me it is solid, an olive drab link
To the service of heroes, yeah that’s what I think.

So I shall keep and care for the link
I shall bring it to reunions and marches I think
And, drive it and nurse it and then,
the heroes that knew it can see it again

So to all that have served us and to all serving now
A thankyou I send out, any way I know how.
Keep safe and come back quick
You’re heroes and more,
And I hope Ol’ St Nick,
Can find your tent door.

Merry Christmas and a Happy (and safe!) New Year!!