Christmas Greetings to You ……
My Christmas email is
normally sent to you on Christmas Eve, but because I know I'll be very
busy over the next few days and you probably will be too, I thought it
advisable to send it now. My Year in Review shall be sent to you next
week, as I need a little more time to ponder the year's events and then
to welcome in the New Year. The last of the mail that's going to be done
went today, unfortunately, some will have to wait till after Christmas,
though they're not presents, so that's acceptable. You've had me run off
my feet this week with all the mail and the wonderful response to the
Christmas Specials we've offered. It has been unbelievable; obviously
many are going to have wonderful Christmas presents under the tree. Some
special offers extend to 31st December, so do take time after Christmas
to check out the Specials page on the website. I'll be in "wind down"
mode from now on until New Year, but still here if you need to email for
help. Staff are on Annual Leave and the week between Christmas and New
Year is my only "my time" all year. So, Punch with Judy is "open" every
day 24 hours a day but orders may not be processed as quickly as normal.
Why will I be busy over
the next few days? Just like you, last minute preparations to celebrate
Christmas with the family, but more exciting will be that I'll have Rowan
arriving on Friday with Jessica from South Korea, introducing her to our
family. Rowan flew into Sydney Thursday morning and is catching up with
his friends for a day before driving down to our farm. Melinda and Joe
with my three darlings will arrive on Sunday and we're all celebrating
Christmas this year at Sharelle and Andrew's home - showing off their
new house extensions and outside additions. They live only 50 minutes
drive away from us so I get to see those three grandchildren a lot more
and we have some very special times together. For our new subscribers,
Sharelle, Melinda and Rowan are our three children and I often refer to
them.
So, my Christmas this
year is bound to be wonderful as it is "our year" for the family to be
together and those times are precious, as the older you get the more you
realize to grasp every moment together you can. Australia has lost so
many noted people during the year and some have been very young. A few
members of my beloved Internet Quilting group "Scquilters" are no longer
with us and I know some of my customers have lost loved ones this year.
So, our thoughts are with you this Christmas. Two of my close friends
are having a lonely Christmas Day this year, so I want to cherish every
moment I can with all our loved ones gathering together.
 Last year I said I wanted a true feather
duster for Christmas and didn't hold much hope of getting my wish so you
had to track one down for me. True to form, one dear customer did so allowing
me to have a belated Chrissy present. In my last Newsletter I mentioned
I was having some pavers around the Warehouse as my Christmas present
for this year and another customer got in touch with how to save money
by purchasing end of runs or discontinued ones from her son-in-law's business.
You people never cease to amaze me. I did check it out, but it was going
to cost too much for transport from Sydney to here. 1.8 ton on a truck
and to hire a forklift! So, we opted for our local supplier and here's
the photo of the result. Judy's Christmas Present 2006! This is different
to the photo in the last Newsletter; notice the pavers and the guttering
too, very professional. Doesn't it look great? Those who have been here
for Retreats this year will appreciate how much better this will be…..no
more little stones being carted into the Warehouse!! John and my nephew
Brian have slaved all week in the very hot sun and horrible winds to complete
this. Bet you don't get such a pressie! Oh well, it's better than black
underground pipe to take water down to the back paddock that I got one
year for my present.
 As you know, 97% of NSW is in drought
with Government support and some other States are just as bad, so we are
hoping for some rain this weekend that is forecast, but we've grown used
to not holding our breath, waiting in anticipation. I feel so sad for
those being torn apart by the horrific bushfires during the last month.
The smoke from bushfires nearby and from Victoria has been very thick
even here most days.
So many of you have
already sent us Christmas Good Wishes and I do treasure the warmth and
regard for which you hold us both. Each one has been very welcome and
it makes the time and effort in keeping the Newsletters going all worth
while to know how much you appreciate them. I laugh to myself when I receive
an email giving a new email address for me to update so as "I don't want
to miss out on receiving any Newsletters" plea in with the bargain. Both
John and I thank you for your loyal support and certainly for the friendship
bestowed upon us as we travel and visit your locality. We are a great
bunch, you and us!!
Get out the tissue box,
for here's a real treat to appreciate that the thought behind the present
is much more important than the frantic shopping we all are guilty of
trying to please everyone on our "list". Thank you to my customer for
sending it to me. I remember the days when I used to make ALL my gifts
and would start sometime mid year just to have everything completed in
time. I was always sewing till all hours of Christmas morning when I'd
have to slip into bed before the kids woke and excitedly joined us.
Gold
Wrapping Paper
The
story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five-year-old daughter
for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.
Money
was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold
paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next
morning and said, "This is for you, Momma."
The
mother was embarrassed by her earlier over-reaction, but her anger flared
again when she opened the box and found it was empty.
She
spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. "Don't you know, young lady,
when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside
the package?"
She
had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses
into it until it was full."
The
mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her
little girl and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.
An
accident took the life of the child only a short time later and it is
told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed all the years of
her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she
would open the box and take out an
imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In
a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a golden
box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family,
friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.
May you all share a
very happy and peaceful Christmas and we wish you all the best for the
Season's Festivities and ask you to take care in travelling if you are
holidaying.
Can I leave you with
a lovely place to visit and take the time to think about the serenity
of the good wishes it portrays? The message is very important in our continually
troubled world. Sit quietly and enjoy a "Silent Night". http://www.asilentnightmovie.com
Best Wishes & Merry Christmas,
from Judy, John and all the staff at Punch with Judy
Punch with Judy
P.O. Box 62
THE ROCK (near Wagga) N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA. 2655
Website: http://www.punchwithjudy.com.au
Email: judy@punchwithjudy.com.au
Phone: 02 6920 2238
Fax: 02 6920 2021
International Phone: 61 26920 2238
International Fax: 61 26920 2021
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