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See you on the other side
The subject is what I heard someone say to a shopkeeper today. I did my last food run before that general shutdown known as Xmas. Claremont is generally a very busy suburb, but has approached 'end of days' chaos now. It's also a generally wealthy area, except for certain outposts such as Saint Andrews, aka this apartment block. So I suspect a LOT of $ is changing hands right now as last minute present shopping gets done.
This celebration seems to have become quieter for me personally, especially after pandemic. People got out of the habit of socialising. Even though I don't get to do much of it, I rather hope we can get back to the keeping of the tribal rituals. I haven't had anywhere to visit on Christmas for several years now, and now gaming appears to have entered a hiatus, it could be awhile.
Of course, I have an extra load of parental wrangling this year, since I will be doing the public holidays. The aged care system recently underwent a major overhaul, which means everything seems to cost more. If you have a professional carer visit your aged parent for one hour on a public holiday, it will now cost you approximately $300. Slightly under, but that's loose change. Even if all that person does is give medication, make them a sandwich and stand by while they have a shower! Wasn't going to do that on Xmas Day anyway, even if M couldn't give a stuff, but I'd been going to let Shine do the visits on Boxing Day and NYD before I learned the above. It would have gone over the budget of M's health care package.
Still, we're headed for another heatwave when I wouldn't be travelling outside during the day anyway, beyond that wrangling. 40^C on X Eve and 41^C on X Day. Even here on the coast, we tend to get less reprieve when it's that high, because there's often no sea breeze at all.
M doesn't want to do the hot lunch thing and I don't have much interest myself, so I will get some fresh cherries, Camembert cheese and whatever else catches my eye from that very expensive IGA at our corner, which is open on Christmas morning. Though to be fair, you can shop there and not be gouged, so long as you don't shop in the fresh produce area. Things like lactose free milk, which I have to use, are as cheap or cheaper than other places, because they get in a cut price brand. Ditto most processed things. They make their money on the fruit and veg, and also the hot dinners smorgasbord, where you can get curries, pasta, baked veges and so on. Each container full costs $14, whatever you put in it!
The one remaining ritual is M's Christmas hamper, which my brother and sister-in-law send over. M can't physically wrangle it, so I get to do that and then we divvy up the contents. Some of them are such exclusive little nibblies I have trouble working out what they are, but so long as they involve chocolate or cake, we're good.
This celebration seems to have become quieter for me personally, especially after pandemic. People got out of the habit of socialising. Even though I don't get to do much of it, I rather hope we can get back to the keeping of the tribal rituals. I haven't had anywhere to visit on Christmas for several years now, and now gaming appears to have entered a hiatus, it could be awhile.
Of course, I have an extra load of parental wrangling this year, since I will be doing the public holidays. The aged care system recently underwent a major overhaul, which means everything seems to cost more. If you have a professional carer visit your aged parent for one hour on a public holiday, it will now cost you approximately $300. Slightly under, but that's loose change. Even if all that person does is give medication, make them a sandwich and stand by while they have a shower! Wasn't going to do that on Xmas Day anyway, even if M couldn't give a stuff, but I'd been going to let Shine do the visits on Boxing Day and NYD before I learned the above. It would have gone over the budget of M's health care package.
Still, we're headed for another heatwave when I wouldn't be travelling outside during the day anyway, beyond that wrangling. 40^C on X Eve and 41^C on X Day. Even here on the coast, we tend to get less reprieve when it's that high, because there's often no sea breeze at all.
M doesn't want to do the hot lunch thing and I don't have much interest myself, so I will get some fresh cherries, Camembert cheese and whatever else catches my eye from that very expensive IGA at our corner, which is open on Christmas morning. Though to be fair, you can shop there and not be gouged, so long as you don't shop in the fresh produce area. Things like lactose free milk, which I have to use, are as cheap or cheaper than other places, because they get in a cut price brand. Ditto most processed things. They make their money on the fruit and veg, and also the hot dinners smorgasbord, where you can get curries, pasta, baked veges and so on. Each container full costs $14, whatever you put in it!
The one remaining ritual is M's Christmas hamper, which my brother and sister-in-law send over. M can't physically wrangle it, so I get to do that and then we divvy up the contents. Some of them are such exclusive little nibblies I have trouble working out what they are, but so long as they involve chocolate or cake, we're good.