Dear all,
It has been a while since we the Laws of Casa de Norman have been organised enough to send out Christmas cards to all of our friends and family. It feels like a decade at least since our last Christmas letter. Every year though I read through the letters that we receive and I marvel at the incredible year each and every letter has captured. Equally I look back fondly on the copies of our own past letter that we have kept and regret that so much has happened to us without capture.
So 2020 seems like a year we all won't forget in a hurry. So much chaos and sadness for many. So little joy to record. Somewhere in amongst the tears and worries though there are the hidden gems. For us here are a few...
The Laws saw in 2020 with our usual backyard bash, completely oblivious to what lay ahead. Our spirits were high as we had just around the corner our first ever cruise (shared with family Crook) and for me and the kids our first time stepping foot on Tassie soil. Late February and early March saw us enjoy our time on the ocean and our visit to Port Arthur and Hobart followed by time spent traversing Victoria. We returned to home soil in time for a joint birthday celebration for Tills and Boo when the Scooby Doo bouncing castle moved in to our backyard. Heavenly Hotdogs catered (delicious) and everyone enjoyed a beautiful day.
Soon after our amazing holiday was ended with an incredible birthday bash I returned to work and life in SA continued as normal. We had all heard by now of this dreaded illness that had spread across the world and finally come to Australia but for the moment it seemed we in SA were a-OK...
Fast forward to the end of the month and suddenly our whole world was turned as upside down as everywhere else. Everywhere but those places deemed essential were to shut down! Libraries were to stay open until our State Premier clarified we too were to close our doors. Amazing and confusing to us my wife Heidi was still able to work at our local Big W and we were slightly confused about whether the kids could or couldn't go to school.
Home schooling began (fun) along with my attempts to work from home (more fun). The silver lining was our opportunity to venture into the brave new world of online events. Tim the Wizard and his storytelling sessions discovered new fans at home, interstate and oveseas. It has been so exciting to start exploring the idea of online events firstly with my daughters and then with the Library Team. We also discovered COVID Safe ways to continue to supply a borrowing service (call and collect and email and collect) as well as an increase in our home delivery services that started up only a few years before. With staff only allowed onsite the library undertook a long overdue (pun intended) review of our collection with a challenge set for us to massively reduce out average item age. Couple this with a few pilot programs that I put our hand up for, some library committees I was asked to be on, a couple of digital surveys we asked our community to take part in and it has been an extremely hectic and very interesting working year. One positive that came from state boarders and international boarders closing has been the abundance of South Australian writer and illustrator talent available for events at local libraries. We were lucky enough to host the amazing Monica McInerney for almost 60 community members. It was a real thrill to meet with such a wonderful person as well as such a talented writer.
Speaking of writers I have been seeing some success with my short stories. Since publishing my novel The Eleventh Tome in 2018 I have discovered the art of shorter prose (anything from 100 word drabbles to 5,000 word short stories and everything in between). I have had great encouragement from friends and family and have been accepted numerously by The World of Myth Magazine, Spillwords and Black Hare Press to name a few.
Heidi has been amazing throughout this crazy year. She has picked up extra work with a friend's amazing business (Heavenly Hotdogs), continues to deal with all the wonderful customers at Big W all the while being her amazing, selfless self (mother, wife and friend of the year). Nobody visits Casa de Law on Norman without a full tummy and so much laughter.
Our eldest has had a much better year in high school this year, helped by having an extended holiday at the start of the year and a period of school closure early on. He too has picked up some shifts at Heavenly Hotdogs and we are so proud of his efforts.
Miss 13 has helped out with Heavenly Hotdogs too with a summer job on the river bank. Great feedback from owners Sunnie and Troy means we are hoping next year she will be able to join the team and make it a real family affair. As mentioned we have two teenagers in the house now with a special Christmas in July celebration. Lots of fun for friends and family alike. Such a fun filled and festive celebration. At the end of the year we had a graduation from Primary into High School which COVID made difficult. Regardless of the virus there was still a chance for a jump into the river.
And of course our youngest continues to keep us entertained. I continue to suggest to Boo that once she reaches High School she MUST do drama. She is now double digits and tries everyday to keep up with her sister. Boo is blossoming at school and has such a wonderful friendship group there. This next year will be our last at our favourite little school as 2022 is Year 7 High School for the whole of the state.
With all that in mind we now say farewell to 2020 with mixed feelings. I fear 2021 will start with similar uncertainty (thanks again COVID) with hopes of a little normalcy as the year ahead progresses.
Sending love and well wishes to all of our family and friends.
May your Christmas be merry and your New Year a safe and much happier one
Kind regards,
The Laws
