Dear Friends,

2011 is drawing to a close.  What has happened since I last wrote?

I will begin with our activities during Christmas 2010.  I arranged for all the members of the Gamble and Barnes families, who were in Adelaide, to join a Westlakes Christmas Dinner Cruise.  Jim was visiting at the time, so he joined me with Barbara, Bob, Toby and his Grandmother, Jean.  Toby plays the guitar in his church band, but was able to play at the early morning service, and so joined the cruise.  We had to be on board by 11.45 am.  The meal is served with all the trimmings, the alcoholic drinks cost extra.  The weather was fine, the water was calm, so we had a wonderful day.  The best part was that Barbara did not have to cook, just sit down and relax.  I would have liked to repeat the cruise again this year, but circumstances are a little different this time around.

Jim only stayed until just after Christmas holidays were over, but long enough to enjoy New Year's Eve with me.  Balmoral put on a BBQ lunch with an entertainer.  So we said farewell to the old year in style.

I went up to Sydney for a couple of weeks in February, we had planned to visit friends and relatives, as well as visit a few "old haunts".  Well the best laid plans can go astray, as they say!  The first evening we were going to sit outside to watch the sunset, as the property extends down to the river edge, with a lovely view of all the water craft plying the river.  Very unfortunately I did not lift my foot high enough and stumbled on the ridge of the sliding door, luckily falling inside onto the lounge room floor.  I put out my hand, but landed heavily causing my wrist to swell.  We found a bandage to apply, but did not watch the sunset.  Neither did we go visiting, instead invited our friends and relatives to visit us, bringing their own food.  Jim managed to look after me very well, but had to do all the shopping, cooking, as well as helping me in and out of the shower.  I really did feel sorry for all the work and worry I caused him in particular, and everyone in general. 

You are probably wondering why we did not call the ambulance, to take me to the local hospital.  Well there are steps from Jim's Unit, which is on the lower level of a 5 storied building.  I felt unsure about negotiating the steps up to the entrance, and even more unsure about coming back down.  The fall certainly made me very unsure of my footing and consequently my balance.  It is not good at the very best of times.  I decided to simply put up with the discomfort, and "go with the flow".  We did not have the holiday we had planned, but all in all we saw everyone, and enjoyed their company. 

When I came back to Balmoral the first stop was to my GP.  He sent me off to the local hospital and a week later was admitted to have a steel plate implanted in my wrist as they discovered 3 fractures.  The surgeon made me stay until they could hire me a "gutter walker".  If you have watched the TV programme RPA you will have seen patients using this type of walker.  This is a contraption with only small wheels at the front, and gliders at the back.  It was rather unwieldy; I then graduated to a 4 wheeled walker.  This does not collapse as neatly as my dear old 3 wheeler, but is obviously a whole lot safer. 

This year I have been part of the Supportive Care Social Committee, comprising Rosemary, Stanley and myself.  We were elected in late Oct 2010.  Stanley volunteered to join the Committee, as only Rosemary and I were nominated.  This entailed organising the Melbourne Cup Sweep, selling raffle tickets in a monster raffle last Christmas, then organising a few coach trips and engaging some entertainers.  Stanley acted as treasurer, so in charge of the finance, Rosemary, who acted as hon. sec. organised the coach trips, while I organised the entertainers and acted as chairperson.  I was unable to go on the first trip on a Dolphin Cruise, as that was when I was in hospital, but managed the second to Pryers on the Peninsula, where we had visited before.  They provide morning tea, then a revue type show, in which The Pryers, Peter and Rhonda, perform; they are amateurs who just love to entertain; all this is followed by a BBQ luncheon.  The last trip was to a most interesting house at Carrick Hill.  It was the home of a prominent Adelaide couple.  They had owned a large department store.  However being wealthy they honeymooned in England where they purchased the contents of a large home, which was duly transported back to Adelaide, where they had their home constructed to include all their purchases.  We enjoyed a very comprehensive tour of Carrick Hill, explaining how all the treasures were blended into this extraordinary home.  Then were escorted to a marquee situated on the top of the hill, with a splendid view looking over toward the sea, where we had lunch.  I felt that Rosemary had done a wonderful job. 

The entertainers were varied, firstly came a lady who wrote her own comical poems, mostly about events in her life – in a similar vein to Pam Ayers.  Then a married couple, the wife was a soprano, and her husband, a very talented keyboard player, they entertained us very generously, next an Italian tenor, who unfortunately was held up by a booze bus blitz, so he was a little rattled by the time he arrived, to say nothing of Rosemary, Stanley and myself who were waiting anxiously for his arrival.  He tried to make up by performing longer than we had expected.  Then we invited our second guests again.  They provided a very different programme, even including some community singing which went down very well.  I had also arranged for a group of entertainers, "The Strolling Tones" to come, but the earliest date they could give us was 5^th Nov.  This was after our 2011 AGM.  Neither Rosemary nor Stanley stood for re-election, I did, but at the same time 3 other residents (who are more physically able had nominated) so I withdrew my nomination.

To get back to the earlier part of the year, Jim came back to visit for 2 weeks in late July, when he visits I have a fold out foam mattress for him to sleep on.  He really found this difficult to get up from, and I found it difficult to make each morning.  We were able to go to the pictures up at Tea Tree Plaza, and Barbara took Jim off on the Sat. afternoon, as this gave him the opportunity to see Bob and Toby in their new home.  I had a date to go to lunch with a group of friends who all went to the same school in Croydon.  After Jim returned to Sydney I suffered yet another infection; this second one caused me to become very giddy, so had to rely on my walker even around my apartment.  One evening I was getting ready to go down to dinner, & had parked my walker outside my front door, but missed grabbing the handle, falling very heavily!  Luckily there were no bones broken, but goodness me was I sore!  My neighbour called our night manager, and she called the ambulance, although there was no real need for them to do more than lift me up and set me on my feet.  My bottom, and the side of my back were worst affected.  The giddiness has been a problem ever since this last fall.  My walker is more necessary now than it has ever been.  By the way during this year our Manager has a third automatic door installed, this time at the service entrance.  The automatic doors are a special boon for those of us who need to use walkers as it opens just by pressing a knob.

The upshot of my misadventures has resulted in a major rearrangement of my bedroom.  I have traded in my single bed for a double bed, and sold my large chest of drawers making enough room to move around.  That made it necessary to have a set of drawers installed in part of my wardrobe for the underwear I use from week to week.  All the excess clothing had to be bundled up to go to the Op Shop.

Strangely, and unknowingly, I traded my single bed for a double bed, while another of our residents, Graham, traded in his double bed for a single bed, as he had bought a computer, and needed to rearrange his apartment also.  I have since seen his cast off bed, and am very glad that I bought my own, as it is quite different to his previous model.

Only today, 9^th November, I have managed to walk without an escort up to the local shopping centre.  One of our younger residents often walks with me up there.  David is a great help, willingly accompanying me while I regained my confidence.  Recently David has been suffering from a persistent bout of asthma, and has unable to walk with me.  Barbara usually escorts me there each Sunday morning when she visits, often we have to go up to the chemist, but usually we just post letters, or buy some fruit at the local fruit shop, then have a coffee at Subway before returning in time for Balmoral's lunch, and for Barbara to go off to go with Bob to visit Jean, or catch up with her washing etc.

Jim is visiting again during the Christmas Season, arriving here on 18^th Dec. and staying until 8^th January.  Also this year Neil is able to visit from 22^nd Dec. staying until 27^th Dec., and bringing his younger son Rex with him.  They will be staying with the Barnes Family.  So this Christmas Day Barbara wants us all to gather at their home.  During this year Bob and Barbara moved from Wynn Vale to Modbury Heights to a house with a granny flat attached, which gives them room to accommodate Toby in his own little flat.  This is a grand arrangement, and we are looking forward to a very special Family Christmas celebration.  Of course Jean will be present as well, as she always makes shortbread to give us all a treat.  We are looking forward to a really special time.  Just to reassure all our friends, we certainly will heat the Christmas pudding in the microwave … no more exploding pudding this Christmas!

Now I have brought you all up to date with my year.  I hope you have all enjoyed an accident free and healthy year.  I am looking forward to a much less complicated time, too.  All that remains is to wish you all a most enjoyable Festive Season, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.  May God bless each and everyone.

P.S. There are no photographs this year, as I have not had access to a camera, but Neil will take some Family photos when he comes at Christmas.

News about the Chamberlain Family

Greg and Heather had a very traumatic year.  Heather's Dad had developed Alzheimer's Disease.  Heather was officially his carer (a difficult job) and he was admitted to a nursing home, where he settled fairly well, but his condition deteriorated a little while ago.  He passed away quietly, but knowing our loved one is not long for this world and actually coping with the reality is quite another thing.  I was sad to hear of his death, but it must be a great relief to know that all his cares are a thing of the past.  Christina went up to stay a little while with Heather and Greg.  She is back now in Brisbane and getting on with her Uni studies, which are going pretty well.  She is making a huge effort.  Being a little older than the majority of students may work in her favour I think, as she has had time to develop a greater appreciation of the opportunity.  I wish her every bonus tertiary education can be and I certainly wish her every success.

Kim and Rolf are in the process of selling part of their business, but it is taking time.  Alister is still at Uni in Brisbane, while Tory is living in Sydney studying nursing and combining this with additional studies.  She hopes to go with her friend to Chile where she will study Spanish then return to Sydney to complete her Nursing studies.  She has achieved credits in her tests and has extended her course.  Tristan is using his "gap year" to work and travel a little; I wish him well for the future.  He was working as a salesman at one stage and doing very well at it, so he may well take after Bob.  He has decided not to go on to Uni.  Whatever field of work he takes up I do hope he will find it fulfilling in every way.

News about the Gamble Family

Neil has been working for Bank South Pacific up in Port Moresby.  He has had a very, very busy year with not many breaks down in Sydney.  The boys have had to keep their noses down, as Roger sat for his HSC, finishing only last week.  On Monday of next week the school are holding their Formal, which Roger is looking forward to attending.  It is to be held at a hotel in Sydney, quite a special occasion and one I guess he will long remember.  This turned out to be more "special" than planned, as the company employed to organise the Formal abandoned the event – as they apparently did with multiple other schools.  It was even reported on that fine investigative journalism programme (ahem…) "Today Tonight".

Rex is in year 9 and his exams are still ongoing.  When they finish the students get started on work in preparation for the next important years.  We are looking forward to seeing him during the Christmas holidays. 

Then in January 2012 Usa will be taking Roger and Rex for a 10 day stay in Bangkok.  Usa has worked hard running her café, working at home baking extra goodies for sale as well as just running the café.  This year she has managed to take one day off a fortnight, so that gives her a break, also allowing an employee the opportunity to become used to being in charge.

Barbara and Bob have moved this year and are much happier that Toby now has his "own" flat, even with a separate entrance.  Bob is now on the permanent staff of Hilde Hemmes' Herbs, the factory is quite near their home.  Bob enjoys working there and they are training him in many areas of the production of their herbal remedies.  Both Barbara and Toby are working part time.  Toby has an application in to join the Police Force, but has not had an interview as yet. 

Kim remains in Ashland, Oregon, in USA.  She was to start a course of study to enable her to register to work as a radiographer in Oregon.  Each state in USA has different certification criteria, very different to years ago when all radiographers could work throughout the world.  She has not worked in her field for some years, so hopefully it will all come back to her easily.

Love to you all. 

Cheerio, Gwen.