Archive for the 'General News' Category

Interesting times ahead.

Sue Brooks August 23rd, 2010

Well the weekend is done and dusted and we all now await the result of some more counting. I am sure all of us have our political leanings for whatever reasons. Maybe we prefer a party because of our family upbringing, our student experiences, or make up our own mind based on TV adverts etc. Maybe we like a candidate or maybe we actually take the time to peruse policies but whatever our reasons for voting as we do I think this past weekend has sounded a clear message or two.

The first message to the Labor Party is “we will follow where you lead as long as you deliver on your promises and don’t stuff thinks up.. including your leadership”  I thought that in 2007 Kevin Rudd was offering a chance for change and some real vision for our nation and it’s place on the International stage. I think he was daring and reacted well to the financial crisis that followed his win but the delivery of his promises left a lot to be desired. None of us wants to see our hard earned taxes squandered and we don’t want to see mates of mates profiting at the wider communities’ expense. Maybe programmes failed because of our political and bureacratic systems but at the end of the day, the politicians have to face the music. Sadly Kevin didn’t even get the chance to do that!

The Liberal party had a few goes at finding a leader but settled on Tony. Tony grates on my nerves for many reasons (as does Julia..) but he galvanised the country with his down to earth attitude and he did gather party support behind him. I think we need a Government very separated from religion and I want a National fast broadband scheme. I also worry about the Liberal preference for profit rather than environmental care and concern.

So for me the choice this weekend past was more difficult than at some previous elections. As a small business owner and Councillor and someone contemplating retirement without much of a Super saving, I am worried about how we finance both my personal future and the future of this region that I love so dearly.

 I wish we could do away with the adversarial (predominantly 2 party) political system that we have. Why is it a case of point scoring and who can criticise the other side the best rather than working positively to make our lives better?

So to our future. While I would like to think that the 4 non ALP/Lib reps will put our collective needs first, expereince tells me this may not be likely. I have heard Bob Katter already say ‘what’s in it for me’ or more correctly quoted, ‘my corner of the country’ rather than ‘what can I do to help the entire country’… and shouldn’t that equate to one and the same anyway?

Independants, like Bob Katter, hardly ever have to actually go to work and attend Parliament. You see, in the last term of Government, what Bob thought or voted made utterly no differnce and I’m interested to peruse attendance records and hope I’m proved wrong.

With a minority Government Independants will have to attend every session I believe. Now I can’t help but wonder if their own future workloads will influence what happens next. Will they all buckle down and work hard to Govern in the best interests of all of us and possibly this could see the country benefit enormously or will we all be trotting off to the polls again some time soon?

I hope that our political leaders can cease the bickering and the ’she said he did’ rhetoric which I find so off putting, and concentrate on making decisions that they believe are in the best interests of the majority of us. In other words truly represent us and get on with governing us respnsibly, efficiently and effectively.

A Busy week

Sue Brooks August 14th, 2010

Howard Progress Association – Monday evening saw us at the Howard Progress Association. A well conducted meeting and residents thankful for improved communication with and the activities of Council locally. Several questions were raised including queries about entrance signs, rating categories, mulch surviving the wet weather etc. Information was provided to the president in the following days in response and I wish to congratulate the residents on their progressive attitude and for their hard work in raising funds for their local community. Council is hoping to use community newsletters such as the highly successful Burrum River News to improve its communication with residents across the region. But don’t forget to subscribe to the Council enews also.

Meet the candiates Tuesday evening saw a poor turnout to listen to all the Federal candidates for Hinkler at USQ. I was impressed and surprised with the Greens candidate who was articulate and down to earth sensible. I was upset with the Family First candidate whose grasp on what it means to be a ‘non  traditional family’ left me cold. He simply recited a series of beliefs with no evidence of how the Family First party would ever be able to implement any of their policies. I was a single mum for a time and have children who survived bumpy patches but are now living successful lives so I don’t enjoy hearing my own family being labelled as somehow insufficient or undesirable. Paul and Belinda recited party rhetoric mostly, but I was pleased to hear Belinda speak passionately about issues like abortion and the proposed Aldershot mine. Paul spoke more negatively as per party lines and promised more money for yet more studies….. but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down with age and sounds keen to carry on. I think by the time I reach 70 years of age I will be putting my feet up! Maybe I am slightly biased but I want to hear what politicians can actually do for my neighbours and I, rather than a repeated litany of  how everyone else is terrible and they are the best!

Council meeting and Aldershot Mine

On Wednesday Council did decide to reduce the footpath dining fees as a result of queries from Maryborough based businesses among other things. Council is undertaking drainage works on the Hervey Bay foreshore and a long list of resolutions to be discussed at the upcoming LGAQ Confernece were discussed. All the minutes are available on the Council web site so feel free to check them out for more details.

I attended the AADAM meeting in Aldershot on Wednesday evening and yet again was totally impressed with the hard work being undertaken by the residents to demonstrate the negative impacts of the proposed coal mine on their back doorstep. A very progfessional and sobering DVD has been made and I expect that the group will pop it up onto facebook for everyone to see. I can’t see enough economic benefit to our region to support this mine. Jobs will be few and far between for locals and at what cost? The proximity of the site to Aldershot and the RAMSAR listed Great Sandy Strait and the wonderful natural ecosystems found on the site combine to make one wonder if any corner of our planet will be preserved and saved from the hungry jaws of the mining machines and the need for more of us.

A night at the Opera

Graham and I attended The Merry Widow at the Brolga on Wednesday evening. This Opera Queensland performance with a live orchestra was superb. The Opera was in English which made it very easy to follow the story and the beautiful costumes and staging complimented an entirely talented cast. Well done to all the sponsors and our Governments for enabling regional dwellers to experience such a wonderful evening out.

Fishing Zones

Lastly I am receiving a hammering about a comment I made via email to a group of recreational fisher people. My comment was along the lines of the opposition to ‘no fishing zones’ generally speaking but primarily to the focus in this election of fisherpeople saying that they will only vote for the party that promises not to close any areas for fishing.

I tried to argue that I only support closures based on scientific evidence based research, but that I do believe the ocean should be treated like the land and have some areas preserved or kept free of fishing like we do on land by way of National Parks. My inbox lit up with an influx of passionate opinions against anything that stops recreational fisher people from fishing. This disappointed me and I do believe there are many fisher people out there that can see the benefit of protecting some areas of our waterways into the future.  This morning as I walked my beach I saw 18 boats out on the water. When I moved here 13 odd years ago there would probably have been less boats. If in another 10 years there are 40 odd boats and so on and so on, how will we ever find fish to catch? But some recreational fisher people tell me that there would be heaps of fish for them if the Commercial fishers were more restricted. I don’t agree with this argument entirely. I believe we all should take responsibility and demand our governments undertake proper research and listen to the locals about their experiences. Only then can we make informed and sensible decisions to ensure the ocean is full of fish for generations to come.

The sun is shining it is too nice to be stuck inside so enjoy your weekend and maybe I will see you at the Walk Against Warming tomorrow. Cheers, Sue

Community meetings, moving shop and babies.

Sue Brooks July 4th, 2010

What a busy time of year this is turning out to be. On the personal front I  travelled to Melb 2 weekends ago to share Dad’s 84th Birthday with him. Even though direct flights would be good, using Qantas and connecting through Brissy is a breeze, the whole trip taking no more than 4 hours both ways. Melb was looking greenish which is a good sign and they had some rain while I was there which is badly needed still.

Last weekend and most of last week was taken up by moving our shop. We have relocated to Pialba Place so our shop ‘Mind Games’ now has a much bigger shop and we have all our fingers and toes crossed that existing customers come with us and that new ones find us. I’m not sure if moving a shop is better or worse than moving house but it sure is tiring and Graham is only just starting to look normal again after some very exhausting and stressful very long days. I’m also now back in my proper role as a visitor rather than a removalist and shelf stackerer.

Council conducted the first 3 community meetings also last week, The meetings are part of the consultation process to decide on our future for the next 20 or so years. Both the Community Plan and new Planning Scheme will evolve as a result so now is the time to contribute if you are keen to shape the future of this region. 

I attended the Maryborough and Hervey Bay sessions last week. Attendance in Maryborough was a small but very thoughtful and keen group of concerned residents more than willing to have their say on the future of their region and more specifically Maryborough. A larger group in Hervey Bay spoke about a range of issues with the usual topics getting a good going over. The themes in common included caring for our environment and not letting it degrade, managing growth carefully with associated traffic movement catered for. Alternative transport including public (possibly trains) and buses and cycle ways etc were high on the agenda. Both groups want to live in a region where our communities appreciate and embrace cultural activities and they want venues that can cater for this. Much more was discussed but I will await the results of the consultation phase before talking more about what people do want for their future.

There are more meetings scheduled this week at Tiaro, Boonoroo and Howard and I encourage anyone interested in our future to attend. If you can’t attend personally don’t forget that you can have your say online via the Council homepage.  

I missed the Brooweena meeting due to a combination of exhaustion and a knock on the door just as I was exiting the shower. A neighbour handed me two little balls of fluff! It seems our missing old lady Guinea Fowl hadn’t gone to the paddock in the sky but was in fact busily sitting on eggs somewhere. We now have a small total of 5 little fluff balls resident in our bathroom. They are growing and thriving and I hope we can find new homes for them when they are a bit older. If you want any do let me know.

5 baby guineas

5 baby guineas

Party politics at work

Sue Brooks June 24th, 2010

We start today with a new PM elect. While there is much talk about the fact that Julia Gillard will be our first female PM I can’t help but think how fickle is the world of the politician. Do we all feel cheated that Kevin won’t be judged again by the Australian people? Will it really hit home that we vote for a party and not for a person when we vote for a member of any political party at election time?

I am becoming more and more jaded by the whole entire process and even more worried and concerned that our country is actually run by many, many people that we don’t actually elect. The spheres of influence run deep and I believe it is many many people, other than the politicians themselves, that actually influence the decisions that we all have to abide by. I personally experience this at the local level so I hate to think what occurs at the higher levels of government.

The media also plays a huge part by directly influencing public opinion. The personal beliefs and allegiances of our media owners and the business and corporate CEO’s and their board members as well as Union reps are all very powerful and pull many strings.  I worry that the general public are fed the stories that support the interests of everyone other than the general public.

So will the change in Labor leadership help the Labor Party to continue to lead our country? I doubt it. I think the change will make us all feel less secure about the political system itself. The challenge for all of us is how do we help to make our system of government more open and transparent and more representative of the majority of the people. Do the majority of the people properly understand how the country is run? I’m not sure I have an answer I’m sad to say.

Baby boomers still rock

Sue Brooks May 31st, 2010

Sat night at Seafront Oval saw a large crowd enjoying some excellent live music. We arrived at about 6pm just in time to settle in and listen to Joe Camilleri minus his female backing singers. Joe was great and his music still excellent after over 30 years of entertaining us. Next we listened to Shannon Noll and although I didn’t know a lot of his material he was an energetic and charming performer. Next of course was the ever loud Jimmy Barnes. Jimmy can still belt out his songs and we listened to nearly an hour of newer material followed by his hits of course. I was glad it didn’t rain and also found it very enjoyable to hang out and rock along in a mosh pit with such a mix of people. Many grey beards mixed in with young school children. The concert was an enjoyable family affair. It was well organised, sounded great and I hope we see more acts here in the future.

Fraser Coast 2031. The future of our region is up to you! http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/fcrc2031-have-your-say

Council is asking for your input now to help us decide the future footprint of our region. If you do or don’t want more high rise along the foreshore or you want development to grow in a certain direction or not at all or you want to see certain types of industry encouraged to come here this is the time to have your say. Decisions will be based on community input so I can’t emphasise the importance of taking the time to engage and be involved in the process. There is heaps of information on the Council web site and there will be hard copy forms and brochures available at Libraries etc. If you fill in the questionnaire online there is weekend away at Kingfisher to possibly win!

Also there are some sign boards up and about asking for your input about developments. The Maher development cnr Beach Rd and Esplanade is a multi storey building and submissions are open now. Many of you have received letters from the solicitors acting for the Braith Vidler, Anson’s Rd, Dundowran Beach decision. The developer is appealing the Council rejection of this application so Council will have to defend its decision in Court. Main Roads will also have to defend as they advised Council to say no to the development. I encourage you to all to be involved in what is occurring in relation to development. Your voices matter and it really is too late to complain once a building is starting construction or a telecommunications tower is being erected or a housing estate is going in down the road! If you require more information about how to become more involved don’t hesitate to ring Council, peruse the web site or ask a Councillor.

Jimmy rocks the Seafront Oval

Building fences, showtime and birdsong.

Sue Brooks May 23rd, 2010

Firstly a huge thank you to Kristy Martin from the Chronicle. It was Christy that single handedly organised a group of small business owners and volunteers to build a fence. Craigs’ fencing, Dundowran Demolitions, Byrne Bros concreting, The Howard Sawmill, Dale and Meyers Hardware and Sunrise Rotary all combined their products and services to do a very good deed. They built a back fence for the lovely Marie. Marie lives adjacent our mobility corridor in Hervey Bay and while this corridor makes it easier for many of us to get around it also attracts the odd undesirable member of our community who thinks breaking into an elderly ladies home to steal her belongings while she is asleep in bed, is somehow an OK thing to do! I can’t express my gratitude to Kristy and to the workers who have helped build a new fence for Marie so she can now sleep much more securely and peacefully. Times are tough right now for any small business owner so I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating the contribution that these business owners have made. We really do live live in a caring and happy community.

I spent 2 hours helping out on the Council stall at the Show yesterday. The sun was shining the weather was superb but the lack of crowds was disappointing. Maybe everyone that wanted to go to the show did so on Friday as there weren’t many people around yesterday. However everyone I spoke to was pleasant and positive and even the odd complaint was made in a cheerful and positive manner. It was such a relief to have happy chats with families and elderly folk who were out and about enjoying themselves. The day was a timely reminder that just because I read a daily paper that reports on a lot of bad news, blogs that are often a forum for complaints and personally receive many complaints about Council activities, that there are many, many other people living a quiet and contented life, They take the ups and downs of daily life in their stride and get on with things with a smile. My hat, if I wore won, is lifted and tilted in your direction.

But.. I would also like to support Maryborough State Member Chris Foley in his grumbles about QBuild and the cost to change a light globe in his office. In a previous life I worked for TAFE. The thought of having to use QBuild to get anything of a building nature done at Wide Bay TAFE used to send shivers of fear into all the staff. Quite simply the prices quoted to fix anything or paint anything etc were astronomical. There is definitely something wrong with this system. Either it is is bureacracy gone mad or some local suppliers are making a killing at the expense of their fellow community members who pay for their windfalls via taxes. I do believe every layer of Government needs to closely examine how they procure services and ensure that costs are competitive and not a rip off!

While the nights and mornings are turning chilly the prolific bird numbers in our neck of the woods are amazing. Lorikeets fill the air with their noisy chattering and feast on the blossom prevalent in our gum trees. My native bees are busy as ever as soon as the sun starts to shine and we have a new friend visiting. Bruce the butcherbird has decided to spend enough time on our pool fence or our BBQ to warrant a treat or two of minced turkey. The cats are already used to him and simply ignore him now but he has visited for the last 4 days  perching quite happily near us and letting us hand feed him.  I wonder if he will find a mate or if in fact he is a she! While I don’t usually feed the native wildlife he is so persistent that we simply can’t resist.

Structure Planning, petitions etc

Sue Brooks April 10th, 2010

Last night Graham and I enjoyed the opening of two new exhibitions at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery. I am continually amazed at the depth of talent that we have here within our very own community and I recommend that you all pop in and view the exhibitions and in particular the works by local artist Mr Ben Gerdsen. http://www.herveybayregionalgallery.org.au/26/Current+Exhibitions/191/Beyond+Decorative

After leaving the Gallery we decided to grab a bite to eat at Thai Diamond at Scarness. It was approx 8.30pm and we were sad to note that many of the restaurants we drove past were all but empty. Retail sellers also are telling us that times are tougher than last year. Our own business has not had as ‘good’ an Easter as we have experienced in past years. I haven’t noticed as many interstate licence plates on cars on our roads either and note that accomodation establishments are reporting that times are tough with higher than desired vacancy rates.

So I ask that if you can possibly afford it please do patronise our local small businesses. While small businesses can tighten the proverbial belt they still have to pay staff, rents and ongoing overheads etc and it is very sad to see businesses fail. By just going out for a meal now and then and spending our hard earned dollars locally we can do our bit to help these businesses survive so that our community continues to thrive and prosper.

So to Council -

STRUCTURE PLANNING

This Monday evening there is a community meeting scheduled to inform interested residents about the Structure Planning process that is being undertaken for land between Dundowran and Eli Waters as well as land at Doolong Flats and Ghost Hill. This planning process is to decide where we want our major connector roads and drains etc to be located when this land is developed. I am very pleased that Council is committed to this process as forward planning our development should mean much better road connectivity and drainage and other service provision than has occurred in some areas in the past. The public meeting is at The Hervey Bay Hotel, 249 Esplanade, Pialba at 6pm. Council has a new web site and more information can be found there rather than me copying it all here. If you visit the web site and click on the Latest News link you should find the detailed information. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Council can now be followed on twitter and I encourage those that don’t want to tweet to sign up for the electronic newsletter. There is much information about Council and many opportunities for community participation so do visit the new web site and have a look around.

Lastly I thought I might take a swing at the petition doing the rounds. I am all for public discussion and public communication but please ‘think before you sign’ may be a worthy motto. The petition currently doing the rounds is calling for Council and the CEO and the administration to be sacked! Now if the petition included evidence and grounds to support the call for a mass sacking I would take it seriously but it doesn’t. I understand people are dissatisfied with Council as I hear the constant pleas for Council to fix everything today and to somehow do this while not putting up rates and fees and charges.

In other words I’m a tiny bit cranky. Council has faced enormous challenge to make the best of a change the majority of us didn’t want. Council is not perfect and we don’t get everything right all of the time but from where I sit things are constantly improving. Customer service has improved, financial management is excellent and I believe the leadership of staff under our CEO is aligned with Councillors  expectations and we are delivering a good standard of service to our community.

I hear moans that we are losing development. Well from reading widely I find that this is the case nation wide and we are in fact better off than many other cities and towns. I definitely won’t be voting to support development that is not of good quality and in line with Planning Scheme requirements as I don’t want cheap low quality inappropriate development within this region. While I support a period of discounting of infrastructure charges to provide a buffer in this tough economic climate, Council cannot comtinue to subsidise development unless we raise rates. At the end of the day someone has to pay for our roads, our rubbish collection and disposal, our drains and our bridges and everything else that the community demands and desires.

I hear calls now in the local paper for more events. Council spends hundreds of thousands of dollars currently on events and tourism related activities and if we are expected to spend more then I ask that someone looks closely at our budget and explains to me where we can take the money from. This is but one example of requests made to Council and I shudder when I think of all the road and footpath works we need to do and the simple lack of funds to dedicate to these works. The State Government has reduced funding which exacerbates our problems.

So Mr Primavera if you want the Council ’sacked’ can you provide me with some solid evidence that Council is broken and beyond repair please?

Weekend musings

Sue Brooks March 21st, 2010

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the USQ production of Twelfth Night at The Brolga theatre. The evening was very enjoyable and the students can be proud of the professional manner in which they presented Shakespeare to us. A shame that we couldn’t sit on the grass on a balmy warm evening and enjoy an outdoor production but I was just as happy indoors. The evening marked the start of our Fraser Coast cultural week with the festival swinging into gear throughout the week. Next weekend will see the festival on the foreshore at Scarness and the Harmony performance at The Brolga. Both events should be a must see. http://www.frasercoastculturalfestival.org.au/

This week Councillors met with the new board members of Wide Bay Water Corp and I am personally very pleased with the personal experience and skill that these individuals are bringing to our region. I expect that our community will reap the benefits of a new very well experienced and independent board. We have challenging times ahead with less financial assistance from the State Government, in terms of monies for infrastructure, so it is good to know that our new Board members are very keen to work closely with Council to bring about positive results for our community.

Interesting coverage in the Chronicle about our Councillor Blackberry use. I am primarily an emailer rather than a ‘chat on the phone person’ so my charges are reduced as email costs less than talking does. It is essential for Councillors to have quick and easy communication tools at their disposal however so the list didn’t surprise me.

So to wind up the weekend with some pool news. I visited the pool yesterday unannounced and chatted to some pool users and watched the activity there. For a cool morning the pool was busy. It is a small piece of land without too much room to spare and the changing rooms etc have obviously passed their use by date, but the complex is obviously well used and cared for as it was very clean. I noted the fact that no one sunbakes these days so the need for expansive lawns seems much less essential than in my youth. It would be nice I thought, to have more room and space for trees and shaded lawns, but it seems functionality is the primary concern of the community.

An elderly gentleman was slowly swimming lap after lap (I was told he is in his nineties..amazing) and some women were doing water aerobic training also up and down the 50m length of the pool. The learn to swim classes were in full swing in the smaller pool and the sight and sound of all those little bodies enjoying their time in the water with mum and/or dad was uplifting. Maybe there is a future Olympic champion in the making amongst them?

I’m glad the cyclone has passed with no major damage and that we are receiving soaking but not flooding rains! Take care and have a cosy and safe Sunday. Sue

PS There has been one or two comments recently that I have either edited or trashed. The first time really that I have decided not to publish a contributed comment. I have attempted to email the contributor with no success so if your comment doesn’t appear on this blog it is because I have deemed it unsuitable. I detest censoring your comments and mostly refrain from doing so but simply calling people names and saying derogatory things about a community is not worthy of publicity in my opinion. So can we keep to fair criticism of myself and each other but include suggestions for change also? While there is a benefit in being able to comment anonymously I believe there is also a responsibility to remain polite, respectful and truthful. Cheers, Sue

Arkarra, Council Meeting and Guinea Fowl travels

Sue Brooks March 1st, 2010

It was great to see the Chronicle writing about Arkarra Tea Gardens on Friday and Saturday as I still fear for the future of our little local icon. But the story on Friday is a great example of how journalism these days seems to believe that facts shouldn’t get in the way of a good story. The story began with the assertion that I was on record as voting against development applications in relation to the former owners of the Tea Gardens. This statement wasn’t even remotley true it was just wrong. I did enquire directly of the editor as to where they obtained their information from but I was advised that this was confidential (of course) but possibly I had debated against an application? This was grasping at straws in the extrmeme but just proves to me yet again not to believe much if anything that I read in the media these days.

So yes Graham and I would purchase the Tea Gardens and did in fact attempt to buy them, but the price went up after we had been told our offer was accepted by close to a hundred thousand dollars, and no matter which way we look at it we can’t see a return on the necessary investment. The land is potentially subdivideable which terrifies me as I believe it would be a great shame to lose the lovely local business. The existing conditions relating to the use were the result of a development application to extend the business and not, in my opinion, why the business failed.

Council meets this week to discuss sport and recreation issues and opening hours for the waste sites at Granville, Tinana, Yengarie and Bauple. A hard one as the survey shows across the board support for all hours so I am still undecided as to how best we provide a good service that will suit the majority of users. We discuss our Complaints process and review complaints received and check out how we are travelling financially. In confidential we will have the opportunity to see information from our airports land use review. A hot topic for sure. The agenda is available now via the Council web site.

Our Guinea Fowl went walk about last week escaping to the greener (well browner really) forest at the rear of our property. After a couple of days with no sign of them we discovered them wandering around at the end of our street. They didn’t want to follow me home but wandered in on Friday evening so life is back to normal. They are being noisier than they should be so I have threatened to leave the gate open and let them fend for themselves!

Take care, Sue

Happy Christmas to everyone

Sue Brooks December 23rd, 2009

What a busy time of year this is. I’m still rushing to get things done but am happy to report that our shop Mind Games is trading well which is a huge relief after a very stressful year. Many retailers that we speak to have been hit hard recently so it is pleasing to hear some good news stories from our local small business owners. I trust you all trade well during the holidays and have a relaxing day off tomorrow. My daughter is visiting and helping out in our shop so that has taken the burden off me somewhat although Graham continues to work long hours.

I have decided that what I haven’t caught up with in relation to Council business by now can wait till after New Years Day. I have tried to respond to all my outstanding queries and questions so if I have missed you I do apologise and will catch up after I have a bit of a rest.

The last week of Council was a busy one with our final meeting for the year and several Christmas functions to attend. The Mayor has received the final report in relation to the reported bullying accusations and I am very pleased that this report resulted in no allegations being substantiated against any current Council employees. It is always best to take the positive view when possible and I look forward to 2010 being one of renewed confidence in our Council team and a year when we consolidate our programmes and future plans. Much public discussion will be invited as we move forward with these processes and I look forward to this stage of our evolution as a region.

So in closing I wish you all a happy, safe and healthy Christmas and new Year and trust that you enjoy the rain and sunshine as I hope we get a fair share of both over the coming weeks.

For a thoroughly beautiful online Christmas experience I highly recommend Jacquie Lawson. After sending and receiving her cards in the past I joined up as I appreciate the care and detail and lack of advertising that abounds on her site. www.jacquielawson.com

Serenity (Holiday Version) animated Flash ecard

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