Author Topic: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021  (Read 6096 times)

Peter van Es

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Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« on: December 20, 2020, 13:58:34 »
Dear friends,

It is that time of year again that I produce our annual Christmas card, with a nice family photo and a bit of Photoshop (or GIMP). Usually taken during vacations, or other highlights of the year.

This photograph was taken in January 2020, in the Dolomites, Italy. No-one had heard of Covid-19 yet, or even fathomed what a weird year this would become. We have lock-downs, no further vacations. In 2020 we had trips planned to Vietnam, Singapore, Greece. A PagodaFest in south Germany.

None of those trips took place. Our Pagoda only went to the North of France with my daughter, Christine and her boyfriend Jonathan. We did a few "corona-proof" one-day rallies, but that's it.

I realise our demographic is such that many of us are careful with Corona. Social distancing and small Christmas celebrations only. I hope the vaccine will become widely available soon, and that all of us may be able to travel freely again, and enjoy our cars, and each others company in 2021.

Until then, be careful and be safe.

Peter
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

johnk

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2020, 14:15:27 »
What a wonderful picture Peter!

Merry Christmas to you.

John k
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
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ja17

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2020, 17:02:32 »
Thanks Peter, Merry Christmas to you and your family also! Also Hoping for a much better and happy New Year!
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
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1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
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JamesL

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2020, 18:29:04 »

I know it's tough and we're all having our struggles with issues with shielding, maybe not seeing (or losing) relatives, staying safe, changing Government advice, not having "normality", working from home/losing work etc. It's been a  shitty year for all of us in so many ways.

On Friday, I had reason to help pack and deliver some little food/gift parcels for some families in my area (my area is one of the ones being helped by a UNICEF grant to feed kids this Christmas). I've been trying to find positives and count my blessings all year. Friday really made that easy

Happy Christmas (for those who celebrate it) and hope 2021 is better fro us all
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2020, 19:43:56 »
As said in previous posts (above) it has indeed been a terrible year and for some of us there will be a loved one missing this Christmas. Like many of you the plan was to travel a bit this year and attend some events with friends, it did not materialize. We managed to go on small outings with local Pagoda owners. They say the second wave appears to be stronger then the first, so be extra careful everyone so that we may meet again when all this is behind us.

Meanwhile, enjoy this Holiday
as best as you can wishing you
and your Family all the best this
Holiday season from our House to
Your House a Healthy and Happy Holiday

Marry Christmas and a better 2021 for you all
[/size][/i]

Dieter
« Last Edit: December 21, 2020, 05:46:05 by Rolf-Dieter »
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Pawel66

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2020, 20:39:25 »
Merry Christmas and a Better New Year!
Pawel

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john.mancini

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2020, 00:22:16 »
Merry Christmas to all.  Arrivederci 2020.
John
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RAY

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2020, 10:18:38 »
Merry Chrismas to one and all.

Stay safe out there and here's hoping for a better New Year

Ray

Garry

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2020, 10:48:00 »
Merry Christmas and thanks to all our members that have supported the Group during this a most difficult year.  It’s been great to see we have had a lot of new Full Members join us this past twelve months and look forward to 2021 to be a better year than this one.


We are going from strength to strength and early in the New Year will be putting together some ideas and Member products that the Committee have been working on this year. Announcement to be made soon.


Thanks and stay safe where ever you are in the World over the festive season.


Garry
Membership Administrator
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
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Merc_Girl

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2020, 18:45:29 »
As said in previous posts (above) it has indeed been a terrible year and for some of us there will be a loved one missing this Christmas. Like many of you the plan was to travel a bit this year and attend some events with friends, it did not materialize. We managed to go on small outings with local Pagoda owners. They say the second wave appears to be stronger then the first, so be extra careful everyone so that we may meet again when all this is behind us.

Meanwhile, enjoy this Holiday
as best as you can wishing you
and your Family all the best this
Holiday season from our House to
Your House a Healthy and Happy Holiday

Marry Christmas and a better 2021 for you all
[/size][/i]

Dieter

Dieter

Think ‘Mrs Clause’ may get the flu as inappropriately dressed for the weather conditions



Have a fab Crimbo everyone, let’s hope 2021 is MUCH better. Good news is, that as this year has been so ghastly and no one was able celebrate their birthdays , the UN have agreed that any birthdays occurring this year do not count towards your annual increment in age.

😁
230SL

MikeSimon

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2020, 13:30:20 »
I Wish You A Merry Christmas
I Wish You A Brave New Year
May All Anguish, Pain And Sorrow
Leave Your Heart
May Your Road be Clear
[/size][/color]
1970/71 280SL Automatic
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Jonny B

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2020, 16:08:51 »
I will add my best wishes to one and all for a great and safe Holiday Season.

Jonny B
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GM

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2020, 17:03:57 »
Best holiday wishes to all for a safe and healthy season! Looking forward to things settling down to what used to be normal next year...
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 16:33:23 by GM »
Gary
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FGN59

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2020, 18:53:09 »
Best wishes for the Holy Days and the New Year from the south of France.
François

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mdsalemi

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2020, 19:26:36 »
It is that time of year again that I produce our annual Christmas card, with a nice family photo

The Dolomites, yes. I didn't think it was Mt. Valkenburg (as only the Nederlandische would understand)

Best wishes to all, good riddance to 2020. May we never see the likes of anything like this again. As soon as they allow me, I'll be lining up for any vaccination offered here so that 2021 can be better--we can get back to visits, to travel, to hugs and kisses, to taking off the *&^%$ masks, to club meets and driving events and movie theaters and restaurants...and living life like it should be lived. I miss my 98 year old father whom I have not seen in a year, as well as a lot of friends and other family too.

May all of you have a better 2021 than 2020, and may you enjoy all the season has to offer. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Noel, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, enjoy your Festivus and let's all open our eyes to a new horizon on January 1, 2021...
Michael Salemi
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Hugh

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #15 on: December 24, 2020, 04:58:10 »
Peter, thanks for you Christmas Greetings!!

What a great picture of your family enjoying the great outdoors with no fear of Covid. Christmas greetings back to you all and hoping this vaccine gets us back to the days of doing activities with friends & family without fear!!! Bring on 2021! Hugh
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Merc_Girl

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #16 on: December 24, 2020, 07:25:56 »
T'was a week before Christmas,
And all through the town,
People wore masks,
That covered their frown.
The frown had begun
Way back in the Spring,
When a global pandemic
Changed everything.
They called it corona,
But unlike the beer,
It didn’t bring good times,
It didn’t bring cheer.
Airplanes were grounded,
Travel was banned.
Borders were closed
Across air, sea and land.
As the world entered lockdown
To flatten the curve,
The economy halted,
And folks lost their nerve.
From March to July
We rode the first wave,
People stayed home,
They tried to behave.
When summer emerged
The lockdown was lifted.
But away from caution,
Many folks drifted.
Now it’s December
And cases are spiking,
Wave two has arrived,
Much to our disliking.
It’s true that this year
Has had sadness a plenty,
We’ll never forget
The year 2020.
And just ‘round the corner -
The holiday season,
But why be merry?
Is there even one reason?
To decorate the house
And put up the tree,
Who will see it,
No one but me.
But outside my window
The rain gently falls,
And I think to myself,
Let’s deck the halls!
So, I gather the ribbon,
The garland and bows,
As I play those old carols,
My happiness grows.
Christmas is not cancelled
And neither is hope.
If we lean on each other,
I know we can cope ❤💚
🎄🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼🎄
230SL

Neil Thompson

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #17 on: December 24, 2020, 08:01:55 »
Merry Christmas everybody, Cheers for next year!

Neil
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JamesL

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #18 on: December 24, 2020, 08:25:47 »
That rework of the Night before Christmas is lovely. Our scaled back plans were blown apart Saturday afternoon by new restrictions and I’ve shared that with my family, with much joy and gratitude.

Thanks for posting
James L
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DaveB

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #19 on: December 24, 2020, 12:50:42 »
I miss my 98 year old father whom I have not seen in a year

That is distressing,..then to think how many others must be in that situation.. I hope you can be reunited asap.
DaveB
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DaveB

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #20 on: December 24, 2020, 12:51:38 »
T'was a week before Christmas,

excellent!
DaveB
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Rolf-Dieter ✝︎

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #21 on: December 24, 2020, 17:56:04 »
Merc_Girl,

Excelent post/poem/expression of feelings for our (hope) temporary situation. I fealt just like you described about putting up a tree this year. In normal times a tree it is festively prepairad by December 6th, I procrastinated til December 19 in finaly puting up our tree saying to myself no one will take the Christmas Season from us.

Let us all I do hope 2021 will return to somekind of normal.

Thanks for sharing this nice write up with us here!

Let us all try to be happy as best as we can and be thankfull to all the "Front Line Workers" that keep us and others safe as best as they can.

Marry Christmas to one and all and your families and all the best over the Holiday Season.

Dieter

PS. As to your comment about the lady in the picture of the red Pagoda not being dressed properly for the Canadian winter, I asure you the photo shoot was very brief and she had hot chocolate to keep her warm  ;) the moment was very brief and she did not even take a sniffel away with her  :) from the moment it took for this brief photo shoot. 
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 20:10:09 by Rolf-Dieter »
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49er

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #22 on: December 24, 2020, 18:16:34 »
I echo what all of you have said and congratulate Merc_Girl on such a wonderful (and so true) poem. Just the two of us here at home with our daughter near by and son and family in Seattle. This will be our first Christmas alone and away from our children in 41 years but FaceTime will bring us together( as long as our rickety internet stays up) tomorrow to see what Santa has brought our three grandchildren. We also put up our tree and lights outside as many of our neighbors have who we see and wave to at a distance these days. Please stay safe everyone and I wish you all the very best for the coming year.

John
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Pawel66

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #23 on: December 24, 2020, 18:53:20 »
Due to a smaller scale of our family event, I could spend more time in my garage over the last couple of days as I was sure that my assistance during the preparations of this small scale event will not be required.

There is always a bright side...

I also think: the more we miss them now the happier we will be when we re-unite. Looking forward to it.
Pawel

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Merc_Girl

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Re: Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a better 2021
« Reply #24 on: December 24, 2020, 21:04:14 »


PS. As to your comment about the lady in the picture of the red Pagoda not being dressed properly for the Canadian winter, I asure you the photo shoot was very brief and she had hot chocolate to keep her warm  ;) the moment was very brief and she did not even take a sniffel away with her  :) from the moment it took for this brief photo shoot.

I would dress like that for a hot chocolate! 🤣🤣  however me dressed like that would not have the same affect I’m afraid to say 😔
230SL