The first half of 2017 was a relatively busy time for us.
We had an extended trip to the USA visiting New York and South Dakota as well as a short road trip through western Iowa.
May ∕ June seems a good time to go to the USA as all the bad winter weather has gone and the worst of the summer weather is yet to happen.
Our next trip is planned for 2019.
The co driver continued on with her quilting having success in the local show with a number of awards, ending up most successful exhibitor.
Vintage 2017 was a mixed success with the Semillon being very drinkable and in much demand from neighbours and friends.
The reds were a bit of a disappointment.
So far, the 2018 vintage is looking reasonable.
Politically, our conservative government blundered along getting little done. A major distraction was finding numerous members of the upper and lower houses were dual citizens which is illegal under the constitution. Even the deputy prime minister was involved. This lead to resignations and by elections.
The same sex marriage debate took over the country during the last quarter. The Marriage Act had been changed under the Howard government in 2004 preventing this.
It would have been easy enough to change it back in about 30 minutes but the conservative right as part of a delaying tactic insisted first on a plebiscite (which was never going to happen), finally relenting to a non binding postal vote costing the tax payers $115 million. 80% of the population took part with the result 60% for, 40% against.
The Parliament finally did the right thing, with only 5 dissenters and a small number of abstainers, and legalized SSM to unprecedented scenes both on the floor and in the public galleries of the lower house.
Meanwhile our treatment of refugees confined to offshore facilities continues to be a stain on this country's reputation.
When Donald Trump praises our PM for doing well in that area it just shows how bad the situation is.
Another blot on our landscape was the resultant report following the wind up of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
This inquiry had lasted 5 years. 16,953 people who were within the Terms of Reference contacted the Commission. They heard from 7,981 survivors of child sexual abuse in 8,013 private sessions.
Unfortunately our major religious institutions did not fare well under the microscope.
But they were not the only ones who should hang their heads in shame.
2,562 matters have been referred to police.
In sport our national Rugby team ran hot and cold, our cricket team as usual did well 'at home' but not away. At least they already have regained the Ashes from England in the current test series which will run into 2018,
Locally our Rugby team, the Waratahs, were just awful. But we will persevere again next season.
We enjoyed watching the WSL from many of the great surfing spots around the world with a local woman, Tyler Wright from just up the coast becoming world champion the second time in a row.
No big celebrations from us as usual this year. Our valley is quiet as a mouse.
So it's a warm welcome to 2018.
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