Dear Friends,

Hopefully you are all keeping well and have enjoyed all that life has given you throughout the year.  We have had a quieter time, so my newsletter should be shorter this time around.

We celebrated Christmas last year with Barbara, Bob, Toby and Bob's parents at a local hotel, which was very nice, but Barbara decided that this year she would be the caterer so Norman and I will be spending the day with 'the Barnes Family'.  I do hope that you will all be happily spending this special time of year with your own families.

Although I have been here in Adelaide for 4 years now, until February this year I had not been for a trip on the Murray River.  We had the opportunity to go for a weekend cruise on the MV Expedition, with 4 other Residents from Balmoral.  The pick up was from home, travelling to our departure point at Murray Bridge, and we were looked after royally.  Norman had chosen a cabin near the dining room so there were no steps to worry about unless we were boarding another form of transport.  Just as well as the steps on board were steep.  The vessel moored at night so we did not miss out on the scenery. 

Norman took a few photos, to keep our memory fresh.  Each morning we were taken by coach to see local points of interest.  The water level is of course suffering because of the drought, which I guess is seriously affecting us all.  On Saturday afternoon we were taken in a smaller boat to have a closer look at the river banks. In the evening there was a BBQ on the river bank.  There was a huge flock of corellas settled into the trees, amid a chorus of 'chatter'.  As the sun set the staff cooked us a BBQ, and we sat around a huge fire, a local entertainer came with his guitar, so we could dance a little and join in a sing-song – it was a wonderful evening; luckily we had the aerogard handy.

Sunday the vessel turned around to return to Murray Bridge.  On the way back we passed a large paddle steamer, taking us mentally back to an earlier era.  The catering on board our vessel was excellent.  We are very well looked after at Balmoral, but they also did a wonderful job.  There was almost a full complement of passengers, mostly from interstate, Victoria, Queensland, even a couple from the central coast of NSW.

the Murray Princess (the opposition company)

Kangaroos at the doorstep  & eating Chinese dinner at Darwin Casino with family (L-R) me, Kay, Norman & Michael

Again this year we visited Darwin.  Kay and Michael very generously invited us to spend 10 days with them in the wonderful warmth during their 'dry' season, which of course is during our winter, so the change of climate is very welcome.  Since they are redecorating they set us up in their bedroom, where the have a glorious morning view of the property.  A few kangaroos come in to drink from a little waterhole which we could see from the bedroom, which was lovely for us city dwellers.

Last year both Norman and I joined the Tea Tree Gully Probus Club.  It is a mixed club, and Norman has undertaken to organise a coach trip for some time in 2008 to go to Hahndorf and from there to visit a Dog training school.  We have had some very interesting speakers throughout the year.  One spoke about the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the wonderful work they do for the outback community.  The other outstanding speaker had suffered as a stutterer all her life, until attending a lecture 6 years ago.  She is now 64 years old.  After attending a 4 day course she was cured of this affliction, and since has become a mentor for other stutterers.  Now she has also qualified as a Marriage Celebrant.  She brought along a video of her speech before undertaking the course.  The improvement was certainly dramatic.  They taught her some breathing techniques, but there must have been more to it than that.

This year I celebrated my 80th Birthday.  I didn't want any fuss, but Barbara, Bob and Toby came for dinner bringing balloons and a big cake.  We could not eat it all, so asked the chef to cut it up for all the other residents to share.  A couple of weeks later (unbeknown to me) she arranged for Neil and Jim to come over from Sydney, and we spent the weekend with them.  While they were here Neil made a video for me to play on my computer, and he also brought me videos of Rex and Roger giving me their birthday wishes.  It was such a novel gift … the wonders of our electronic age! 

 

My 80th Birthday Cake at Balmoral		I received a surprise gift (with the note) from my old friends the Sinclairs; seen here with (Left-Right) me, Toby & Barbara   <----
My Surprise 80th Birthday Dinner - (Left-Right) Barbara, me & Norman	Everyone was there - (Left-Right) Barbara, Neil, Jim, me & Kim (in spirit)	Me with Norman

 

The Old PLC Girls meet four times a year.  There are only about a dozen of us, but of course we seldom see everyone at the one time.  Early in December this year they are going to have a special day at Mary Minchin's home to which the husbands and partners are also invited.  We will be bringing along salads for an informal luncheon.  This is particularly pleasing to Norman, and we are looking forward to that day.

In April Kim Hawksford and her friend Rolf came to stay in Adelaide for a few days.  They made time to have a couple of meals with us.  We all went to a very nice restaurant 'Windy Hills' one evening where we had a table with a magnificent view.  As the sunset and the evening darkened we saw all the lights below, I have not been to such a lovely place since coming to Adelaide and was proud to be able to go there with Kim.

Family News

Kim is still living in Armidale, Tory and Tristan are still in school.  Alister has spent the year working at a school in UK, apparently enjoying the work and the novelty of living close to Europe, he is due back in early January, and expecting to enrol in University in 2008.

Greg has sold his business and joined a Jim's Mowing Franchise.  He and Heather have been working together on that enterprise.  Around October Heather joined a few other women on a trip to China.  She surprised herself, coped with the vaccinations, and even when travelling into higher altitudes to Tibet was free of sickness!  Congratulations!  Now it is time to settle back and enjoy the memories.  Christina and Bon have bought their own home, so with their work and their home to look after plus a menagerie of animals to tend, are really, really busy.

During this year Neil moved with his family from New Zealand to Sydney, settling in a unit in Mosman, so he now commutes via ferry and train to Burwood whilst the boys are in school in Mosman.  Roger is in High School, and Rex in Primary.  Usa is busy learning about Sydney.  They are able to visit Jim on a Sunday for tea, so this brings our Family much closer together.

Kim remains in San Francisco, where she is busy as a marriage Celebrant, and a care giver as weddings do not occur every day.

Barbara Bob and Toby are all working in their business, 'Barbs Delights' which they started 12 years ago,  They now have 9 vans on the road daily.  I am very happy to report is going along nicely at the moment.

That is all my news for the moment.  With my heartfelt greetings to everyone for a very memorable Christmas season, Peace and Goodwill to all.   

Very Happy to be Eighty

Cheerio, Gwen.