Hi! Holger,   
      
   On 28 Dec 18 09:56, you wrote to me:   
      
    HG> Noticed in the news that it had become quite hot in the western/middle   
    HG> parts of your land/continent.   
      
   Yes.  For about six months we have had a persistent pattern of hot air being   
   funneled from the northwest coast near Papua, down across the center of our   
   continent (and re-blasted by the furnace of desert air), to then end up in   
   various places on the southeast parts.   
      
   Interesting fact: of Australia's population (23 million?), 85% live in a 50km   
   strip around the coastline.  Since we are near the coast, can enjoy cooling   
   breezes from the Pacific Ocean roughly 50% of the time.   
      
    HG> The eastern part of Australia seems to have enjoyed nice temperatures.   
      
   After suffering bush fires at many & various places, then flooding rains.    
   It's incredibly beautifulhere at present.  28C max temps, marvelous winds &   
   gusts up to 30kph (when we hardly have any breeze).  And mixed (50-50?) cloud   
   days keeping us warm and still cool.  Beautiful.   
      
    HG> You see, we don't wait for Santa to come in the morning of Christmas   
    HG> day   
      
   Same here, though not by custom.  I have a present from my favourite   
   sister-in-law that she gave me last weekend.  I knew what it was without   
   ripping into the wrapping.  :)   
      
    HG> My son has always preferred to celebrate Christmas within his family   
    HG> and I don't blame him. After all, he is living 30 km from the city and   
    HG> after all, I wouldn't have space for four additional guests around the   
    HG> table.   
      
   That's how this house used to be.  It gives me a ghostly feeling moving around   
   what was once a thriving and raucous home, with just me & my two house-bird   
   animal friends now.   
      
   OTOH, I had a wonderful Xmas.  My youngest daughter (Michelle, who works as a   
   nurse in an outback town) came to stay with me, and on Xmas days we both went   
   to my eldest daughter's home (Katherine), to enjoy a festive lunch with   
   Kathy's partner and his two brothers.  It was great, catching up with everyone   
   in one place.   
      
    HG> Have a good end of the year and a Happy New 2019 year.   
      
   You too, big feller.  ;)   
      
   Cheers,   
   Paul.   
      
   ... Whenever I get a grip on reality, the handle falls off.   
   --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20130515   
    * Origin: Quinn's Rock - Live from Paul's Xubuntu desktop! (3:640/1384)