Friday 15 December 2017

Christmas 2017



   Merry Christmas 2017
Hello Folks,

The festive season has crept up on me again.  This happen every year, however it's always 
interesting to recap what's happened throughout the year and to read what we got up to last year.  



The last month of the year has been very exciting for us with the birth of our first Grand daughter, Ruby Burns, born on 14th November.  Her parents, Emma & Karri are very proud and are coping well with the delightful intrusion into their lives.  Marvin, their dog, seems to take it all in his stride.  Karri is still managing Flemington Bicycles and Emma has taken maternity leave from her speech pathology position at Royal Talbot.

Another thrilling moment occurred just last week. James and Lauren announced their engagement.  No immediate plans to wed, but it gives us all time to prepare ourselves for a wonderful celebration.  James continues to enjoy design & engineering at Tricycle xxx and Lauren is still Graphic designing for Bates & Smart.  They bought a lovely unit in Coburg earlier this year and Yusuf, their cat, seems to have settled in well. James can ride his bike to work in North Melbourne, and Lauren has a short tram / train ride into the city.

Henry, the eldest grand child, started school this year and took to it all very easily. Thoroughly enjoying the enlightening world of reading.  His younger brother Finn, turned one in April and is just beginning to make his babbling understood.  It delighted both of his grand parents when he learned to say their names.  Claire's Osteopathy practise in Ringwood continues to occupy her two days a week.  Mick is enjoying teaching at Pembank on the Peninsula.  They plan to renovate their house over the summer months, to give them a lovely north facing family kitchen area and another bedroom.  

Life for the retirees continues to involve golf, music and travel with friends.  Keysborough Golf club is the place our car directs us too several times a week, to the vagaries of good golf.  The expert golfer in us only plays irregularly however the company of people we play with and the outdoor walking keeps drawing us back to play.  Robert had success recently with Warren Low.  Together they won the morning foursomes event.  Neither of them thought they played that well and were surprised to see their names at the top to the leader board.  They win a glass with their name on for their effort.  Hope it's a wine glass! 

I played in the Australian Masters again this year, participating in the 65+ age group.  The competition was held in Newcastle in October.  Unfortunately we had several injuries that caused gaps in our attack and ability to score.  However we had great fun running around with friends made on past trips.

A holiday in Vietnam in August with John & Rita Handley was another highlight of the year.  Great food, friendly people and very, VERY HOT!  So hot one and a half metre square ice blocks were added to the Hoi An hotel pool each day.  The "cooling" effect lasted a whole five minutes before water temperature climbed to 30 again!!

Hope your Christmas time is filled with the love and laughter of family and friends.  Celebrate well and we wish you every happiness for the year ahead.

Love always
Robyn & Robert.

                   

   
  


                                                                                                                      
Photos in order:                                                                                                                                     
Ruby Burns 3 weeks old.  Born 14th Nov. 
Finn helping with the vacuuming!
Henry walking our new dog Jack. 
In the sin bin.  Not allowed to talk!!  
Robert enjoying a family BBQ
Emma, Karri & Ruby 
James & Lauren 
 Henry, Mick & Claire
The Blue Boys. Henry, Finn & Mick
Claire, Lauren, James Emma, Karri & Ruby. 
Robert's garden looking  fabulous  Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy the summer wine. xx

Thursday 15 December 2016

Christmas 2016

                    Merry Christmas 2016
 Hello everyone,


Hope this finds you well and gearing up for the fun, laughter, and joyous company of good friends.  We've had a mixed up year this year and can't wait for the new one to herald good tidings.
Sadly we lost my dear mother in April.  Although she is no longer with us, her songs and laughter remain with us every day.
Henry began Kindergarten this year, or as he always corrects me, "Nursery School, Nanna".  Barbie had to go too of course.  He took to the place with enthusiasm absorbing information like a sponge.  He floored us the other day while we were playing Old Maid. When asked how many cards he needed to deal, he picked up the box and read out the instructions!  I don't think he'll have any troubles at school next year.  Claire and Mick continue to work on their lovely place in Frankston.  It's amazing to see how much their garden has grown in two years.  They are currently enjoying their bathroom renovation that brings the toilet from the far end of the house to the bathroom opposite their bedroom.  Mick has enjoyed his year at Pembank school teaching year 6.  Claire will return to work at her Osteopathic Clinic in Ringwood next year.
 The arrival of Finn Francis Bourke on 17th April, a very welcome addition to the family.   Henry is quite besotted, as are all of us.
    

The boys enjoying a cappuccino.  Something that happens regularly Henry loves the accompanying edible delight best.

A trip north to Port Macquarie for some R&R. Not too bad really.  We also played some golf.

Golf is a large feature in our lives due to the lovely friends we've made.  Regular trips to Corowa, on the Murray, with Sue & Paul Arnts, John & Rita Handley and Warren Low, involved drinking, playing Dolly and of course golf.  The kookaburras were an added delight in these adventures.
Being competitive guys, a Corowa cup was introduced into these holidays.  Warren won the inaugural one and Paul & John shared it the last time we travelled North.  I'm sure there will be many more chances to win this coveted trophy.


In July Emma & Karri travelled overseas for the wedding of two special couples in their lives.  One of these wedding was in Wales, the other in France.  Their cute dog Marvin stayed with us while they were away.  He waited patiently for their return.
They had a lovely time except Karri broke his ankle and it is still causing him grief as it didn't knit properly when first set.  Emma  continues to achieve accolades and success in her work at Royal Talbot, and is doing a lot of beautiful art work for people.  They are beginning the search for their own home.  

James and Lauren are living in Brunswick and beginning their search for a home too.  They are still avid Carlton fans and luckily went to the only game Carlton won this year! All three were very pleased that day.  James works for Tricycle design company in North Melbourne and rides to work each day. Lauren's work, Bates Smart, is in the city.

 Robert continues to work avidly on his lovely garden and Spring is always such a delight when it all comes into bloom.
Our first daffodil was a lovely harbinger of the warmth of summer.

A trip north to catch up with siblings and old friends in July.  A lovely time was had with his sister Margaret, brother Andrew and families. 
We moved up to Marcoola to stay with Tony & Pam Mason.  Our time was extended by a week as Robert suffered a stress heart attack climbing Mt Coolum!  Nambour hospital became home for a few days.  Recuperation in Hervey Bay was our next stop.  Staying 
with Greg and Susan Chislett.  Robert's Uni mate and groomsman.  You can see how the rehabilitation went whilst there.



Upon returning home, Robert partook of a fabulous Cardiac Rehabilitation course and received a graduation certificate.  He now has to  focus on maintaining his exercise and diet program.  So far all progresses well.


A trip to even further north in September for Tess Handley's wedding was a highlight of the year.  The ceremony was a lovely relaxed affair on the beautiful banks of the Mary River.  After which we continued south to Batchelor to catch up with my brother, Russell and wife, Linda. A wonderful bonus to that trip.
Another sad time in our year was the passing of our lovely nephew, Mark Hamblin.  While it was wonderful to catch up with all the relatives up north the reason for our visit was extremely sad.  He will be loved and missed every day.

Another golf trip in November, while the Americans were wrestling with electing Hilary or Donald, was definitely a highlight.  Robert, John & Warren somehow managed to play golf in Thailand's 32 degree heat with 95 percent humidity.  Rita & I relaxed 
for two weeks.  As you can see the golf was pretty exciting despite the heat.  A trip to Kanchanaburi took us to the Bridge over the River Kwai and Hellfire pass.  This couple of days sobered us up somewhat.



Upon our return we travelled to Ballarat to view the Archibald. As you can see it was pretty cold, especially after Thailand.  

Jenny & David Molan, Fiona & Bill Morris were with on that escapade.
And now it's Santa season.  Robert had to be Santa for the local Kindergarten and then the street party.  He was a big success.

So that about winds up our year folks.  Be well, safe and happy.
Ho Ho Ho and all that.   Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.