Hi Everyone,

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. Our family are lucky enough to celebrate twice! As I married into a Chinese family we celebrate not only the western New Years Eve on the 31st Dec but also Chinese New Year (according to the moon). This year, the first day of the Chinese New Year of the Ox started on 26th January. Lots of feasting, drinking (I stick to the soft stuff), laughing, family times. It's great AND it lasts for two weeks. I particularly like watching the lion dances with all the exciting drumming and acrobatics of the "lions". These are often seen at the various Chinese restaurants and shops.

I haven't been making any fractals in Apophysis lately. Most of my spare time has been taken up researching an unsolved double murder that happened in 1885 and presenting all the info on a new website I made The Roebourne Bank Murders It's an ongoing project, so not all the site is complete yet. Researching it has become a most fascinating obsession. Along the way I have learnt a lot of background information about the social history of our pioneers, Aborigines and Asian workers in the north west of our state, Western Australia. Who said history is boring?!

Hopefully, as I have the time, I will get back to Apophysis, but until then I will just keep watching all the wonderful art that is being produced by all the talented people here.

Well I knew something was up! I logged in and saw over 1400 messages waiting for me in my inbox. Nearly fell off my chair in shock. Usually I may have just one or two. Maybe a couple more if I have just uploaded a new image.

As it turns out rocamiadesign nominated my image "Mirkwood Magic" and it was featured as a Daily Deviation. WoW! I'm so chuffed.

Normally, I personally thank everyone who favs me or leaves a comment but with such a deluge, I just don't have the time to do that. My inbox is filling up by the minute. I'm reading all the comments and favs. So please accept my very big thank you, here, to all those who have made comments on my work and faved images. It's all very much appreciated.

By the way, can someone please tell me how to make links in this journal.

Well it's the 6th July and my birthday. I turn 45 but I tell everyone that I am actually quite young but have these very old children! LOL. As I look back I'm very grateful to have had a good life so far. I have a wonderful family, a peaceful life and live in a great country (Australia). I think I must have been born under a very auspicious planetary alignment (just joking) but it gave me the idea for the title for my birthday fractal "Planetary Alignment".

After a long, hot, dry summer that never seemed to end, I am now enjoying a nice, cold, rainy winter's day at home. I don't have to be anywhere or do anything (unless I want)- bliss!

I haven't put up any fractals lately (that is until today). I do have some more, but just haven't had the time to adjust the final colourings to my satisfaction.

Oh well, off to eat my dinner now.

Ah! The popular images of Christmas! Santa and his reindeer, snow and its gentle flakes cascading down from the sky to gently blanket the earth. Families sitting by the fireside opening presents, drinking hot toddies. Even our Chrissie wrapping papers and cards commonly depict these European images.

Of course, in the Land Down Under things are a bit different. Here in Perth, the capital of Western Australia (a 4-5 hour flight from Sydney on the opposite side of this great continent) I see crystal blue skies with not a cloud in site. There is a breeze and I can feel the rising temperature. The airconditioner is on to keep our house super cool. The forecast for today (Christmas Eve) is 35°c, Christmas Day 38°c and Boxing Day looks like it is going to be a corker at 40 °c. For our American friends those temperatures are 95°F, 100°F and 104°F respectively. Yes, just another typical Christmas.

Families here will be gathered in many places to celebrate. Either at home, in parks, down the beach, by the beautiful Swan River, in Church. Our meals may be traditional, with the hot roast turkey and pork with vegies, but typically there will be barbeques, or meals with cold meats and hams, seafood (lots of it!), salads. Fridges and eskies will be overflowing with drink both of the alcoholic and non alcoholic variety.

For some here, the experience will of course be a great religious celebration, for others its just a holiday. For me personally, I celebrate peace and goodwill to all mankind....a time for all the family to come together, to be able to experience that wonderful feeling of giving to others. My thoughts will also be with others who are not so fortunate or are destitute.

So where ever you are in this big world, I truly wish that you have a happy and peaceful Christmas and if your circumstances are not so great, remember the ancient saying "this too shall pass" and I hope that good things will come to you in the future.

Fran