2 Mauldon Street,
Chifley ACT
2606
Hello! A Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year
The big event of the year, Timothy and Sheri’s wedding
in February; everyone looked beautiful
and it was a magical, fine but hot day for it. We all
had a great time with families and old friends. The gold fish in glass bowls,
with a candle in the centre, were the centre pieces on each table which was the
talk of the night. Timothy and Sheri have bought a three bedroom house in
Conder not far from Hilary’s house; they have Sampson, the dog and now Saber the
cat with them. Saber comes home with fresh hen’s eggs and eats them, so they
have to keep him inside the house at certain times of the day. Timothy and Sheri
are expecting a baby on the 6th May 2008 and so far, Sheri is doing
well. Please click any picture for a larger version.
I feel as if we have been away for a long time this
year but we have had three holidays consisting of 32 days in total. John and I
went to the north Island of New Zealand for another family reunion in March; it
was great to renew our friendship with some of John’s relatives, and to meet a
few 
new cousins; we stayed with
three of his cousins round the North Island. We went round the East Cape to
TeKaha Bed and breakfast and could see White Island smoking on the horizon in
the Bay of Plenty from their front door. From Napier we took a tour to Cape
Kidnappers to the Gannet colony on the plateau of the Cape; The chicks were of
all ages, some flying trying out their wings and coming in for a comical
landing, some still with down on their bodies waiting for a parent to bring them
food. The smell of their excreta wasn’t the best but you got used to it. We
stayed with a cousin in the middle of the Island before going to the glow worm
caves and on to New Plymouth and another Cousin’s house. Mt Taranaki was hiding
in cloud for the next few days; I kept looking at it and was waiting for a photo
opportunity, which never came. While in Wellington we spent a morning at Somes
Island in the middle of Wellington Harbour; it used to a quarantine station for
Dog, cats, cattle, sheep etc but now is a scientific and historical reserve.
Back in Sydney we spent the day at Darling Harbour and enjoyed the fantastic
Chinese Gardens with live dragons sunning themselves on the warm paths. We took
a Hair Raising water taxi tour of Sydney Harbour in between ferries and sailing
racing boats.
Hilary is still nursing but she is now doing her
Masters degree, part time, for sexually diseases. Amanda turned 21 years and is
living with her father and is doing well in a child care course. Tamara became
engaged a few months ago but that is off at present; she is working and doing
accountancy course through her work. Emma is at high school and living with her
father. Jessica is also at high school and doing lots of tap dancing. The three
youngest of Hilary’s take part in the Scout’s Gang Show each year and this year
it was really a good show.
Penny is still teaching at the C.I.T. and Terry at
Tidbinbilla; Rachel and Emily
are good kids and enjoy school and trampoline. Their
dog, Sam, likes to jump on the trampoline with them; he is a standard poodle
cross and is totally black so it is hard to see his eyes.
Catherine and Michael are enjoying their nursing and
having overseas holidays. Samantha and Andrew are doing well at school, and they
enjoy the Scouts, too.
Floriade was beautiful in Canberra this year; I went
several times and swans with their cygnets and Pelicans also came to Nerang Pool
to check out the tourists and flowers; they also wanted a bread crumb or two.
My Sister, Joan, turned 70 Years this year so our
families had five days together in her daughter’s house at Blairgowrie on the
Mornington Peninsular in early October. We had a great time going over to
Queenscliff in the ferry, for a day. Point Nepean National park to Fort Nepean
with tunnels, and 
gun
placements in strategic areas looking out to Bass Strait and into Port Phillip
Bay, and a memorial to Harold Holt who was lost in the ocean; Ashcombe Maze
where they have the oldest and largest Cypress hedge Maze in Australia plus rose
maze, and a lavender Labyrinth; the lavender was out in flower, only a few roses
were out; Blue bells covered the ground in a small forest which led to a lake.
Many ponds and fountains beautified the area. Cape Schanck Lighthouse was also
interesting with a long stair walk to Pulpit Rock down to the Cape. John and I
went to Point Cook museum on the way back to Canberra.
John and two of his other colleagues, who worked with
him at the Honeysuckle tracking station, were presented with Space Stamps
Collection celebration 50 years of space at Tidbinbilla; at the same time round
Australia other space workers were also presented with stamps. 
Late October, John and I went to Lord Howe Island for
our Wedding Anniversary; the flight on to the island was hair-raising and heart
stopping but it was good to feel the land under our feet. We did a lot of
walking and even rode bikes one day. The coast line is very rugged on the ocean
side and a beautifully coloured blue green Lagoon on the other side. The two
mountains, Lidgbird and Gower were always in cloud as they create their own
weather. We had rain most days for about a minute or two but it didn’t worry us
as it was quite warm with 100% humidity. The glass bottom boat tour was
wonderful looking at the colourful fish and coral in the Lagoon. At Ned’s beach
we feed the king fish and many other fish at low tide; one Asian had a bit of a
fright as a fish got too close to his groin and took a bit while he was feeding
the fish. The wild flowers were out, yellow, blue, pinks and white ones on
cliffs and in 
the
forests. White Terns, Sooty Terns and many other birds are breeding on the
island. You have to watch where you walk because you may step on an egg or two.
We climbed Malabar Hill and Mt Eliza and had lovely views of the Island and
beaches. The Banyan trees were amazing one extends over about 3 acres. The
Kentia Palm seeds are harvested and the small plants are sold overseas. The
Woodhen was nearly extinct but they have been breeding the birds and some say
there are about 500 living in gardens and the forests all over the island. The
Mutton Birds came into the land each night and into their burrows; they cried
all night while courting and kept me wake most nights with the noise; thank
goodness for ear plugs.
John is still busy helping people with their computer,
and sometimes me too when he has time. Our Garden looks great at present as we
have had a bit of rain and the flowers are in bloom and the grass is green; our
rain water tank is full. I have been doing our photos, diaries and gardening;
the beginning of the year I did a lot of crocheting and sewing for the new baby
to come. I have some more sewing to do for Christmas.
Well, I hope you all are well and enjoying life. We are
reasonably fit for two old folk.
All the best for the New Year
Love,
and it was a magical, fine but hot day for it. We all
had a great time with families and old friends. The gold fish in glass bowls,
with a candle in the centre, were the centre pieces on each table which was the
talk of the night. Timothy and Sheri have bought a three bedroom house in
Conder not far from Hilary’s house; they have Sampson, the dog and now Saber the
cat with them. Saber comes home with fresh hen’s eggs and eats them, so they
have to keep him inside the house at certain times of the day. Timothy and Sheri
are expecting a baby on the 6th May 2008 and so far, Sheri is doing
well. Please click any picture for a larger version.
