After an Australian winter night spent viewing the wonderful play by the Australian team against Italy last night, all I can say is that Australia is SOOOOO proud of the SOCCEROOS.  For Italy, the win must be somewhat bittersweet, as the Australians were clearly the better team on the night, despite that penalty goal shot awarded  them in the last minute of (extended) play.  I suspect there is one referee today wondering why he made the decision he did, which left all but the most die-hard Italian soccer fans scratching their heads in disbelief. We all watched and admired the level of top sportsmanship from the Australian team, even in the face of the unbelievable conclusion to their World Cup dream.  Not discounting the Italian effort, it was the Australian team who truly won, both the game and all our hearts! 

Thank YOU Socceroos for making us so proud to be Australians! You have each provided a wonderful role model for the next generation of young Australians, and served as a reminder to adults that the game of life is not just about winning, but on how we carry ourselves and the peoples' lives that we touch along the way.

Christmas cards all sent out, presents bought (and mostly wrapped), and wallet contents evaporated. Wonder if I've been a good girl this year and Santa will bring me a rather large (unwrapped) present?! Thinking that he will have trouble getting that one down the chimney, perhaps should leave the key under a rock instead?

Big day tomorrow, a Christmas bake-off with daughter and her grandma, another lunch...followed by pre-Christmas supper with friends. In this hot Australian December, we expect 36 degrees celsius for Christmas Day, despite which the plan is still to do a roasted celebration dinner (we must be mad, whatever happened to champagne, sliced watermelon and cold chicken at the beach)? Whatever, it will be fun regardless of the lack of snow. Throw a snowball up in the air for us, maybe it will come down here as a small rainshower!