Some links...

Today I'm including 2 links in my post. The first one is a link to the Etsy shop, but more specifically to those craftspeople who are selling items as a fund-raising effort for the Floods Appeal. There are some lovely items that would make great gifts.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AusDisasterRelief

The second link is to a newspaper obit in the Santa Monica Mirror, which pays homage to my husband's cousin who died recently. We were due to finally meet 'Thellie' in March when we travelled to the US. We had hoped to help her celebrate her 98th birthday, but it wasn't to be. Thelma was actually Bruce's mother's cousin and family legends are many and varied about this US war bride. She was a real character right up to the end. DH's brother and his wife travelled to the US in 2009 and met and stayed with her. She always enjoyed relatives and friends from Australia visiting but sadly meeting up with us was not meant to be.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=147950640
 We still plan to visit Santa Monica and we will definitely visit Huntington Beach where Thelma's daughter lives. In the meantime the Aussie relatives are having our own Celebration of Thellie's Life, complete with Fosters, on January 30. Oh how those memories and tears will flow...