Dinner under the shade on Christmas Day

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Thanks. I hope so too. So many are being kept apart from their families.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (137488)

• United States

28 Dec 21

I'm glad you got together with some of your family, at least. Before Covid we always invited friends who had no place to go for Christmas dinner. We'd eat until we couldn't walk and then sit around telling lies until they decided to head out. I miss cooking for other people and visiting until all hours of the night.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

I guess those days have gone forever. I can't see this pandemic ever leaving completely.

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@DaddyEvil (137488)

• United States

28 Dec 21

@JudyEv Scientists seem to believe the same thing.

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Ptrikha_2

@ptrikha_2 (47064)

• India

28 Dec 21

Enjoy the coolness there. I am in fact enjoying the increased winter chill bought in by the good rains today. I had some local travel today in car. No metro travel for some time as Covid restrictions are increased due to surge in Omicron cases. Delhi had 331 cases yesterday and close to 500 today. A worrying trend but in between people had also became a bit casual. As of now, I am kind of braving the chill in layers! By the way, anything special in Dinner?

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Ptrikha_2

@ptrikha_2 (47064)

• India

30 Dec 21

@JudyEv Yes I did read about the superb 6/7 by Scott Boland. The name also sounds interesting! England were expected to have a tough time in Australia but this is totally shocking. Their players like Joe Root, Johnny Bairstow, allrounder Ben Stokes, Rory Burns and others are simply failing. I think that they can ask Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook to come out of their retirements!!

But seriously, I do not think that Joe Root would be able to retain his test captaincy. While I do not eat non-veg food, I think yours was a thoroughly well made and enjoyable dinner. Have a nice time ahead.

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Ptrikha_2

@ptrikha_2 (47064)

• India

4 Jan 22

@JudyEv Yes England has a tough way ahead!

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Omicron numbers were doubling day by day in our eastern states but I don't think they can stop the spread now. All they can do is keep vaccinating people. Did you hear of the rookie Australian bowler who took 6/7 in the third Ashes test. Poor old England. You have feel sorry for them. For our Christmas dinner, we had smoked salmon entrees then a chicken salad and finished off with a trifle. Very enjoyable.

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Thelma

@thelme55 (77168)

• Germany

28 Dec 21

I hope one day you will be all together again on Christmas.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Thank you, Thelma. It's nice that we can talk as long as we like for free (well, almost free) and see each other on Skype or whatever. Do you remember the old days of feeding the phone box with coins when you rang overseas?

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 22

@thelme55 Thanks for the good wishes. I hope 2022 is kind to your family too.

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Thelma

@thelme55 (77168)

• Germany

3 Jan 22

@JudyEv We are lucky nowadays that we can talk to our kids far from home as we have Skype, phones or messenger app. Yes, I can still remember that phone box when we called overseas. It was a very expensive call I should say. Happy new year to you and your husband,

1 person likes this

Prasun Saurav

@prasuns (1288)

• New Delhi, India

28 Dec 21

Yes, this pandemic is very annoying. it is great that you had a good time on Christmas day and had a chat with your sons. I am fortunate because all my family was reunited on Christmas day and we shared presents.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

@prasuns Somehow families need to find a balance between work and family time. I think the pandemic showed some people how important their families are.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

That's great that you were able to see your family. Such times have become even more precious now.

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Prasun Saurav

@prasuns (1288)

• New Delhi, India

28 Dec 21

@JudyEv very true, people are so busy in their work that they have very little time for family. We can't blame them also because work is also equally important.

1 person likes this

Suryati20

@sinari (4997)

• Indonesia

29 Dec 21

Wow, what a fun dinner, especially in a Christmas atmosphere. Even though it's late, I didn't forget to wish you a Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the joy of Christmas always be with us.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 22

@sinari That's good that the groups all get along well. Mostly they do in our country too but not always.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

Thanks very much for the good wishes. It's never too late for good wishes.

Do you have Christmas celebrations there? What is the main religion in your region?

1 person likes this

Suryati20

@sinari (4997)

• Indonesia

30 Dec 21

@JudyEv Well, we celebrate Christmas in my country. In my country there are various ethnic groups and religions. And we all live in harmony. Thank you

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youless

@youless (112570)

• Guangzhou, China

29 Dec 21

It is very relaxing. I almost forgot that it is summer in Australia now

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youless

@youless (112570)

• Guangzhou, China

30 Dec 21

@JudyEv It is an another nice feeling to experience Christmas in summer

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

Many people are surprised we have a hot Christmas.

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snowy

@snowy22315 (182000)

• United States

29 Dec 21

I am sure there will be. It really isn't the virus keeping people away as much as the hassle I guess in some cases.

1 person likes this

snowy

@snowy22315 (182000)

• United States

29 Dec 21

@JudyEv There have been lots of cancelled flights here, and I presume people being left stranded at least for a time. Traveling just seemed to be a real hassle. I was tempted to fly up to see the family, but not if I had to deal with all that..

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Dec 21

@snowy22315 That's happening here too - cancelled flights, charging people for first class because they're not filling the seats. Such a nightmare for those travelling.

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

Airfares are outrageous here for one thing and, if you go outside the state and then they close the borders it would be the pits. At the moment, if you come in from overseas, you have to quarantine in a hotel at your own expense.

1 person likes this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112962)

• El Paso, Texas

2 Jan 22

That looks so inviting. Makes me think I should try to set something like that up for me here.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (112962)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Jan 22

The only problem here over the last 6 years has been those blasted little biting gnats that have been cropping up, I haven't figured out how to battle those yet but I'm working on it.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 22

@rebelann The midgies and mosquitoes sometimes drive us in too.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 22

We have such nice weather for sitting outside that many people have outdoor settings like this or similar.

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Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (51485)

• Canada

28 Dec 21

I can almost feel the coolness while looking at the photo. It must have been wonderful to hear from your younger son in Ireland. I am afraid that many family traditional gatherings may never be again as new traditions have been started because of the pandemic. Time will tell.

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Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (51485)

• Canada

28 Dec 21

@JudyEv We would like to buy a cottage in the northern part of our province, but due to the pandemic we have put that potential purchase on hold. They don't like people here going from region to region like that and up north there are fewer hospitals.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

You are right. I don't want to leave our state in case something changes and I can't get home again.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

@Juliaacv Our whole outlook has changed in many ways. People's priorities have changed and in some cases for the better. Some families are spending more time together than they once did.

1 person likes this

Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (19588)

• London, England

28 Dec 21

If it wasn't for the fact it is December, that could be a summer scene from over here! I, too, am looking forward to the pandemic's passing. Another year gone by

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

On a hot day, it was a very refreshing scene. Some chilled drinks and nibbles and we were set to go. Two years of the pandemic and really no end in sight.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

@Ronrybs The vaccine and boosters don't seem to stop the spread but the symptoms seem to be much milder in most. But there are still some who succumb.

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Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (19588)

• London, England

29 Dec 21

@JudyEv Hopefully it will mutate itself into a harmless form

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@dgobucks226 (35721)

•

29 Dec 21

What no snow there!

We had rain on Christmas where I live. Glad you enjoyed your outside weather. Yes, I've heard about your lockdowns and arrests. Sad, when all people are not trusted to behave in their best interest.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

The Omicron strain has got away from them in the eastern states and is running rampant. The same will happen here when we open our border to the east. At least, our vaccination rates are now quite high.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (35721)

•

31 Dec 21

@JudyEv It seems the news about this virus and its treatment has been improving. Thank goodness for that!

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Arunima Singh

@arunima25 (87855)

• Bangalore, India

28 Dec 21

That sounds like a good way of having dinner on a hot Christmas evening. Many around the globe are waiting to be reunited with their family and friends for festivals and celebrations. We can just hope that it will happen soon.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Yes, that's true. We could leave now but I am worried that we might not get home again. Or at least get stuck somewhere and not be able to come home.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

@arunima25 And airfares at the moment seem to be outrageously expensive.

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Arunima Singh

@arunima25 (87855)

• Bangalore, India

28 Dec 21

@JudyEv That's the biggest concern. Many are limiting their movements because of that. Countries might close their borders at short notices and airlines might cancel the flights. Things are so unpredictable with this virus

2 people like this

Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (65277)

• Serbia

29 Dec 21

I believe that next Christmas you will all celebrate together. It's always weird when I hear it's warm for Christmas.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

Thanks. I hope so. A lot of myLotters have said it's really weird thinking about a hot Christmas.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 22

@Nevena83 Of course, it is normal for us but for many years the only Christmas cards you could buy showed scenes with lots of snow.

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Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (65277)

• Serbia

1 Jan 22

@JudyEv Yes, it was weird for me when you wrote about it last year.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317249)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

28 Dec 21

I'm glad you had a shady place to eat and get out of the intense heat. I hope one day you will all be together for Christmas.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317249)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

29 Dec 21

@JudyEv You're welcome. I hope you do.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope we get together again one day. That would be my greatest wish.

1 person likes this

Gabby Bugwadia

@Gabugs (1895)

• United States

28 Dec 21

@JudyEv Wow! Apart from the cozy dinner get-together with your sis-in-law, you enjoyed a warm conversation with both your sons on the same day. How wonderful! May you soon be all spending the next Christmas together with your whole family.

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Dec 21

Thank you. That would be such a special time for us all.

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Gabby Bugwadia

@Gabugs (1895)

• United States

29 Dec 21

@JudyEv You sure have raised your sons well enough for them to call you no matter how far. Kudos!

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26777)

• United States

29 Dec 21

Indeed. Sounds like a nice party!

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@JudyEv (341826)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 21

There were only four of us but we did have a nice time. Our son rang from Ireland and we had him on speaker phone so the five of us could chat easily.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26777)

• United States

29 Dec 21

@JudyEv Marvelous! A nice Christmas to remember!

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Rashna Gandhi

@Rashnag (30592)

• Surat, India

28 Dec 21

Glad to know that you enjoyed your meals outside. Nice picture. Ya rightly said many people's lives are disrupted due to pandemic. Luckily we are staying with my mom

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