"twas the night before Christmas, 40 below..."

Hey there folks,
well the year runs on down like an old clock and thoughts turn to pressies and fat guys in suits. But I'm leaving my suit here and we are off to snowier climes. Next Saturday we are winging our way to sunny New Hampshire for what will prove to be, I am sure, a liver busting exercise in over-idulgence. Can't wait.
Highlights are looking to be some snowboarding (though i think I'm going to try those short, short skis out, snowboarding is so 1994), a stroll down to 'Philly to see Nics cuzzies and try out those cheese steak doodads (and a sprint up the Rocky steps if I have my way). Some good old fashioned family time and plenty of just plain old sitting.
I wish you all well, wherever you may find yourselves. Seasons cheer and all that carry-on. Certainly miss you all.
Have top times people. I'm off to Tokyo for a few days for work and then we hightail it outta here so won't be updating until well into the new year I suspect, until that time, adieu.

bits....

Not much to report on the home front. Nic has finally found gainful employment (woohoo) and as of today is working for "the man". She is working at Elementary schols here in town so its right close and all looks to be fine. ($uper!).
In other news I gave a speech yesterday to a bunch of folk from around the city. Not so unusual I guess, there was the usual questions about how long the bridges are between Sydney and Auckland and if I had a kangaroo for a pet, but still it was fun.
It got even better when, to show their appreciation for the natter the organiser dashed off while I had my recovery green tea when I had finished and then proudly presented me, fresh from the local butchers, with 2 kgs of seasoned chicken cartilage and some deep-fried pigs intestine (YUM!!!!). She told me not to eat it all at once. I told her I'd try.
Yours, making no promises,
berin.

In breaking news:
A letter addressed to the Mayor of our city has just come across my desk. It is a plaintive tale about two young chaps, Michael and Nicolai, who hail from sunny Ukraine. They have deep interest in Japanese culture it seems ("we tasted the sushi") and have even taken the time to congratulate the Mayor personally on Japans' observance of Labour Day (some habits die hard). These two chaps are keen members of their local recreation centre in Lugansk, Ukraine. In particular they seem to like nothing better than a belting good game of table tennis.....

Now when I first opened this letter I expected it to be coming to us from Nigeria via the Ukraine with some poor chaps tale of millions (billions?) of USD/Swiss Francs/Pounds Sterling/Superman #1's trapped in a development account that needed us to access it with our bank account details...(honestly, people, if you get ripped off by this you don't deserve money).

However poor old Nicolai and Michael are far more modest. What the have asked for is four (4) table tennis (I prefer to call it Ping Pong, it's got a better ring to it) paddle rubbers. Not the paddles themselves - they seem to have those a-plenty. It's the coverings they want. They have gone on to detail the best ones available and written their design numbers to help us out. What cracks me up is they have said that if four is too tough, then they'll be happy with two....

Yours, bemused,
berin.