Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. The Bible, Hebrews 13:2

My parents are visiting the Philippines for a week or so. My younger beloved brother decides to take this opportunity to DYE HIS HAIR LINDSAYLOHANLIKE RED.

*shakes head* And that was worth a 2 am phone call, my darling readers.

In other news, I have moved.

Moving into a house has shown me I have a lot, no really, a LOT of growing up to do, in terms of domestic living. I am used to living with students, students who are spoiled, students who cant cook, barely clean, students student students. Not with a couple who didnt attend university and therefore didnt get the memo that university students generally:

1) Need to be told about things like house alarms and how to turn them off. My fancy uni hostels never had them! And you guys really need to give me my own keys. I dnt care that you've lost my copy. Because I am a uni brought up person and I am used to getting home and leaving home anytime I want and Id like that priviledge and not have to call one of you up to make sure one of you is home so I can be let in.

2) Need not to be mocked when I prepare my 'meals' in the kitchen. Because I have survived 4 years with my atrocious kitchen skillz, I think thats SOMETHING to commend me on. Im sorry my nutella on toast and egg making skills are laughable. If you want to, you can teach me. You really dont have to laugh.

Heh :P

They have a dog, called Griffin, and another guy from Brazil, who lives here too. Theyre generally very nice. I love the house and Im so glad I was able to move in here.

Have I told you guys about New Years and Christmas? About how I went for a Christmas Eve service at a church which allowe dyou to pet animals and carry baby ducks rabbits and their excited male horse? About attending Christmas midnite mass with 3 non Catholics who were so sweet they kept asking me when the best times to sit/kneel/stand were? I didnt realise how very proper Catholic masses were until I attended a lot of Christian services. More in depth discussion on this next time.

Have I told you guys about marvelous Patrick, who had to go and bewith his family, but we had an amazing Christmas of our own on the 22nd, complete with a 'cooked' meal and presents. One of my best friends ever, and I am blessed to have him in my life.

If I havent told you about these, I havent told you about my amazing Katie Brooks, who I love/adore, who shared Christmas with me, and had her family shower me with presents, from her mom and step dad, to her brother, to her dad to her aunts and uncles, to her housemates...she gave a me a beautiful Christmas, complete with waking meup at dawn with Christmas music playing on vinyl outside with Christmas champagne, the very western tradition of opening presents by the tree with her mom's family (she has the most gorgeous siblings..tho they kept calling me Lizzie!), indulging me with a great lunch at her aunt and uncle's place (yay to her uncle to kept peeling prawns for me!) which had that boiled coins in yummy pudding tradition, and topping it all off with a great after Christmas day extravaganza with her friends and housemates, drinking and eating and playing ball on the grass.

Thank you, my Katie.

Christmas 2006 was truly one to remember.

I also joined another friend's family, Andre, for the day after Christmas dinner. I met his family and saw his family home, and we had a great meal. It was truly wonderful, and I didnt have to lift a finger. Australians are so laid back, its amazing.

I will never get used to this whole business of calling adults their first names tho.

A present for 2006 was having Stephanie over. From Gloucester Park to a great buffet ( I think I ate my weight in seafood! No joke! Mussels! Prawns!!!!!!! Desserts!!) at the Hyatt, to Northbridge street parties to Burswood, I must admit she is a trooper and a half. If she could take me everywhere, she would have. 2007 was cheered in with drinks and dancing, hopefully a good omen of things to come for 2007. I love you, Steph!

Lorraine is another darling who made sure January 1 2007 was to be one to remember and remember it I shall!

And thats probably the major highlights of the whole 12 days of Christmas. I could tell you about other instances, like my flatmate drink ups of absynthe and fairy bread haha, and of other strange reckonings, of my work parties (yes two!! i love my job!), of Kings Park BBqs and Cottlesloe beach and Fremantle touring with MATT. But for now, this will do.

It was all interspersed with calls/texts/emails/friendster messages/hi5 messages/facebook et all wishes that had me all teary and nostalgic.

As you get older, I think you cut away quantities of friends.

You cut away the fair weather friends, and the friends who are with you only for the gossip or the friends who are really just there when its convenient for them.

Lord knows we all have those.

I raise my glasses to my angels in Patrick, Andre, Katie, Stephanie and Lorraine. Thanks for sharing your lives with me.

Youve made the last few moments of 2006 and the beginning sparks of 2007 so beautiful.

And I have a good feeling about 2007.