FREEDOM after COVID...life is returning to my Aussie backyard.

2020 Annus Horribilus
America is hopelessly divided, so everything is political, especially in an election year. 90% of Americans are complying with the CDC safety rules, but are pushing back against the lock downs, which apparently don't work but cause much harm to people and businesses. At least one of Trumps predictions came true with a vaccine available by the end of the year. So there is light at the end of the tunnel on the health front and hopefully the travel and other fronts. Linda and I will spend our first Christmas by ourselves in 38 years. Our daughter Tamara and family were to be with us, but upon returning to California they would have to self quarantined for two weeks. Since she is a teacher, she would miss teaching during those two weeks, so they had to cancel. Then last week her son, our grandson, Liam tested positive for Covid. They got tested again and tested negative, which was a relief! We intend to get the vaccine by April and travel to California for Will and Mercy's wedding, which they couldn't have last August due to Covid restriction, and to Scotland in June. I hope this time the trip is a go. I hope your travel plans work out even if it is to visit family. We wish you both a very Merry Christmas and a much, much better 2021 New Year!

Mother Nature is in charge!
Yes, you nicely summed it up Dave! No matter how much we brag about the advance in science and technology, a micro-nano virus has brought the humankind to its knees. And of course, I will be blunt, Trump in the U.S. has failed to do what a leader should do. He proved himself that he is not a leader, no matter how much he brags about pocketing 60 or 70 million votes. Enough of Donald Trump. What about the people in the US and and in my home country Canada who carry out anti-mask protests in the name of freedom? What about the freedom of the people who would be infected by these idiots not wearing masks. Frustrates me! I rather would listen to the kookaburras sitting quietly in your Aussie backyard than battling these naysayers. Some one in India once told me "After walking thousands of years opposite to Mother Nature what we gained today, we love to call that 'civilization' . I certainly hope year of 2020 should be our wake up call! Happy Holidays and all the best in the coming years, Dave!

Let's put 2020 behind us
Fires, COVID, isolation, masks and a changed world..... we will never return to normal but getting back to a sort of normal would be nice. You know how I feel about what happen here in the U.S. Your backyard is a great place to enjoy nature. Thanks for sharing some beautiful things. Trump still hasn't signed the recent stimulus bill but he is enjoying a round of golf.

Happy New Year
Happy New Year from us to you. /Ake