Hello again after a long silence. It is now just over 8 months since we returned from our Estonian odyssey, and in addition, it is coming on to Christmas once more. So, I thought I might take the opportunity to write again.

Firstly we would like to send you our greetings for this Christmas season. Christmas is after all just one day in the year and one reoccurring event in our lives. What we hope for you is that your whole life and each day of the coming year will be encouraging, challenging and wrapped with the warm humanity provided by your family and friends. Health is always a major player in our experience of life and we trust you will enjoy good health. If, as we all experience from time to time,  that is not the case,  then we trust that you will find the strength, help and resilience that will carry you through such experiences. We hope too that you, and us as well,  will be able to use those difficult "questions" that often confront us all to keep examining, growing, welcoming and, if necessary, changing, allowing life's experiences to fashion in us a deeper, more complete and compassionate humanity.  If the holiday season presents the opportunity for a visit down our way we would be overjoyed to see you, to share a cuppa, a coffee and a chat.

So what has it been like to be back home in Oz again? As you can imagine it has been quite "normal" again. No snow, no minus temperatures, no language barriers, no daily encounters with culturally new and fascinating events. Sounds boring!!!! Life has settled down to our particular routine and we have enjoyed being back in those familiar surroundings, with family and our friends here in Newhaven where we live. Nevertheless less we are constantly aware of the impact our year in Estonia has had on us and the many "residues" left behind that pop up into our consciousness regularly. Remarkably, there are moments when we feel something akin to home sickness for that "other home" in that far off land. As December and Christmas approaches we miss the white snow clad landscape, the warm fires, the many Christmas lights and, of course, our Estonian family and friends. For whatever reason, in contrast to other travel we have done,  it is not easy to leave this experience behind. Some deep connection is there, and how that will work out in our future we do not know yet. As always we will endeavour to keep an open mind and be ready to respond to each situation as it arises.

One thing that is clear to us is that we live in a great country. Our geography, our cultural outlook and our environment are often the envy of other parts of the world. We should be more grateful for what we have and for what we are. We should also value these things and resist those forces that seem to be pushing us towards a less egalitarian society, where wealth and personal wellbeing is often achieved at the expense of someone else. The old Greek philosophers talked often of the foundation of a good society being " the common good ". I am hopeful that we will not lose sight of the importance of this ancient and yet potent observation, not only in our national life but also, and perhaps more importantly, in our private lives as well. It seems true to us that we are only fully human in community, and that the trend towards individuality can only lead to a greater degree of inhumanity where power, wealth and safety is assumed by the few at the expense of the many.

Meantime, Estonia has come to us. In November two young Estonian girls (in their 20's ) arrived here on a year working/travelling visa. Maarja and Reti are friends who both live in Tartu and have studied at university together. We met Maarja whilst in Estonia through her family, her father being a bee keeper just north of Tartu. When she mentioned her desire to visit Australia we of course invited her to spend some time with us. Reti was able to come too, so we now enjoy their company here in Newhaven. They have both found work almost immediately, Maarja at a bakery in San Remo and Reti in the Salt Water restaurant in Newhaven. It is a real joy for us to have them here, and good for Helve to keep up her language and me to practice mine. In addition we also have Isaac our grandson here to access work over his uni holidays, so we are a real backpackers community at the moment. Just before the girls arrived we had a wonderful friend from Sweden visit us for three weeks. Birgit lives almost on the arctic circle in Northern Sweden and has entertained us on numerous occasions at her lovely farm stay resort called Nivagarden.  All these visitors have brought lots of fun and enjoyment to our otherwise "mature lifestyle".  We expect that Maarja and Reti will be with us till around the end of February when they will likely travel on to explore more of Australia. We have added then to our growing number of Estonian and Swedish 'grandchildren'.

Our own family continues to inspire us and to spoil us with their love and care. Is there anything so rewarding as watching your children and grandchildren grow, develop, take on challenges, face disappointments, overcome obstacles, enjoy their lives and maintain their relationships with one another? We think not. Whatever else life has been for us, this is the ultimate reward. Currently all our family lives in Warragul and surrounds, but soon that will change as Geoff and Jocelyn have sold their house and plan to move to Tasmania. This has been a long time desire for them as they both love  open space, bush walking and nature generally, so Tasmania is a good choice. Maybe we will be able to help them if they decide too build a home down there, as,  (contrary to some of the family's opinion,)  I am still in good building shape!!!!! We will see.

So...thanks for your friendship throughout yet another year. What will happen this year....well none of us knows that in full. Whatever it is for you or for us we trust we will be able to celebrate the good things and help shoulder the load of the demanding events. As we have said before, you as our family and friends are the most valuable "asset" that we have and we look forward to further deepening and maturing of the friendship we share. Have a ripper Christmas and a blast of a new year!

Helve & Neville