For Lindsey and Eric

Yeah ???? This better be GOOD !!!!!

Kaye and Bob

What a great get together with Kaye, Bob, Val and Reg !
Kaye and Bob spent all day Friday and Friday night with friends who a few years ago lost all their possessions in a house fire. I don't know them personally, however I feel as tho I know them up to a point from Kaye's conversations over the years.
They (Kaye and Bob) arrived at our home around three Saturday afternoon in their gorgeous vintage fully restored V8 Austin Healy white sports car. The interior is red leather and the leather soft top is black. It was Bob's 60th birthday present a couple of years ago. They have known all about the car since a friend bought it in Port Moresby (New Guinea) after it had been recovered from a field and had a tree growing thru it !!! Long story short....many thousands of dollars later it is now in their garage and makes a trip every now and again....usually up this way. Noisy as heck...but sooo cute. When Val and Reg arrived a few hours later and saw it under our carport....Reg said.....what's this???? I want to be a car when I grow up ????? Much ooing and ahhing over it by us, the neighbors etc.
We had a really great night. Val and Kaye hadn't seen each other since 1957! Recognised each other immediatley. It's weird that we are all so verrryyy much older, but their is still the young person there and....recognisable.
Perry did steaks on the Weber....I did the rest....baked potatoes, shrimp salad and a wonderful round soft bread loaf that I heated. We all just pulled pieces off it and buttered it.....love hot bread! Danish Strudel with ice cream for dessert. Much fasting will take place around here next week. I love entertaining ....so much of it is outdoors on decks and under trees etc. I know I rave on about the climate....but it really is sublime.

Anzac Day

I don't think this movie will play...however this is a picture of me taken two weeks ago when I was practising bowling. My game is really improving. It feels the same as when you have been playing golf for some time and you start to reel in your high handicap.....you feel as tho you "get it". Wednesday bowling consisted of two games. The second game I played was with my team which consisted of Perry, Richard (Canadian) and myself....the opposing team was made up of three men who are the most talented three bowl male team our club has. I play lead and outplayed my opposite on the opposing team ....I was thrilled and also SHOCKED!!!!!! Perry had a bad day that day, but today he had a WONDERFUL day playing pairs with Ric. I stayed home and did a bit of catch up around here. Caught the last of the second game when I drove over to wait for the guys to finish their game. It was another beautiful day....weather wise.
Now....catch up with the ongoing medical problems around here.
All I have to do at this time is "drink lots and lots of water".....Mom Davis attributed her longevity to "drinking lots of water"!!!
Went with Perry to find out the latest results of blood tests. (Knee stuff comes later next month) He is under the care of a Renal Specialist who is highly regarded....we find his manner rather testing. Not very good at explaining things...sort of talks to you, but seems to be thinking out loud. Anyway...Perry is still severely anemic, and for the time being has escaped an iron infusion. Other tests show his kidney function is good for his age....sugar levels great....cholesterol fantastic.....blood pressure too high ...STILL. The injections that he has to give himself three times a week have been backed off to twice a week and BP meds adjusted once more. He also had a consultation with a dietitian who only made minor adjustments to his diet. Next is a Podiatrist to evaluate the condition of his feet. These consultations are to keep a record of his diabetes. To do with being a "senior" and getting meds almost free of charge.
Perry had a filling replaced last week and another next week....then a consultation with a plastic surgeon to set up an appointment to redo the removal of a cyst on his arm that had two surgeries performed and after each procedure skin cancer was showing as still present around the perimeter of the wound. All this sounds as tho he is teeter tottering all over the ship....the man looks "GREAT"....suntanned...still weighs the same as he has for many many years. Looks can be very deceiving !
What else is news.....Kaye and Bob are visiting tomorrow afternoon and staying the night. Val and Reg will come over for dinner. BBQ baby lamb chops, baked potato and salad, dessert of some kind. Neither Perry or Reg drink alcohol....Bob, Kaye, Val and I will probably have a couple of bottles of wine. Hardly anyone smokes anymore. I stopped smoking about 28 years ago even tho I really didn't smoke very much. Perry quit about 14 years ago and wishes he had never ever smoked.
I must send birthday greetings to Jeannie Osborne...one of our nieces. I'm not sure of her age now....must be getting close to 50 years old. I think she was 14 when I first met her and I was around 34....I think! I always remember her birthday as today is ANZAC day here. A day in which we remember all our war dead but especially those that were in a memorable battle at Gallipoli during the 1st World War. Today is a public holiday and there are commemorative marches and laying of wreathes at thousands of places all over Australia.

Darling Grandson Christopher

A lovely surprise today. My son Glen's ex sent this lovely picture of my American grandson Christopher. Can't wait to see him again. July sometime. I'm told to expect a letter from Chris soon. Last one was at Christmas. The last time I saw him, he was 6 years old and "got" it....that I was his father's mother and therefore his grandmother, but it doesn't sink in really at that age. Recently he has been asking all about his family "down under".....I hope he gets to visit us sometime in the near future as he will fall in love with his cousins...their ages are pretty close and they are all NICE people. So many families are scattered now.

My sister Barbara and husband Ray

My daughter Pam 2007

This picture of my daughter is not recent, but I can't find another !
I spoke to her yesterday and was very happy to hear that the work she is doing at Kew High School is very satisfying. Her hours are just what she wants at this stage of her life. She gets home almost the same time as the children and at the ages that they are...it is very important.
Today was another great bowling day for us....we won....AGAIN! Our names will be in the paper for the third week running.....brag brag brag !!!!!!
REALLY GOOD NEWS.......Phil and Sherrene are back on track....better than ever (in Phil's words).
Doctor and dentist visits tomorrow. Results of my exam...and Perry's Xray. His left knee gives him hell. There has to be help for him.
A couple of fillings for Perry...my turn July sometime. Our dental work is FREE. Another reason for living in this wonderful country of ours. Shhhh.....word has gotten out....immigration is at an all time high.

Judith was my bridesmaid 1960

Judy....
What a fun person. Her husband Mervyn also has a terrific sense of humour.......Judy describing their recent move (downsizing) was soooo funny.
My mother was one of four girls and one boy. The girls ages were very close and they had 16 children....only 4 were boys. So my female cousins are all close in age.....and we all love each other very much. Frais who passed away just over a year ago was Jude's half sister.
Had a lovely long chat to son Glen yesterday. He is well, but lonely. Where is the right woman for him? He tells me dating these days involves the internet... A LOT!!!!
I gave him info regarding my nearest international airport....I will be visiting my boys in July for Christophers 11th birthday...July 4 and my 69th birthday July 11. Probably visit for about two weeks. I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY looking forward to seeing them. It will have been 5 years. Way too long....I sometimes get a real ache in my heart missing Glen. I don't really know Christopher.....Glen tells me he is the same height and one pound lighter than he was at the same age. Just signed up for Pop Warner football. Glen played a lot of football....right through High School....now it's motor cycles....particularly his Harley which he rides as much as possible. I would like one of those cute small motor cycles that seem to be everywhere these days....however I shall resist !

ISN'T SHE LOVELY.....

This beautiful young woman is the only daughter of my cousin Kaye whom I visited last weekend. The picture was taken last October at the 90th birthday party of her grandmother....my aunt....(my mothers youngest sister!) Nancy. As a small child Helen and my daughter Pam spent a lot of time together as we lived about 10 minutes walk away from each other. Helen now has a daughter Sophie aged 12 and a son Christopher who is 9 years old. I find it hard to believe that she is now 42 years old...Pam 43.
We played bowls again today...3 bowl triples. As an inexperienced player I am the "lead"....two other people make up a team who play against another team of three players. My team were the overall winners today....$15 each ! Every time we play it costs us $8 a game and we always buy a couple of raffle tickets which are usually for a meat tray....or a couple of bottles of wine...maybe a bottle of scotch whiskey. We have won a meat tray which usually consists of ten T Bone steaks. Yum!!!
Tomorrow a bus load of firemen will compete against members of our club. We're not playing. Perry played Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week. He is playing very well and would happily play every day....(almost anyway)!
I'm wondering how Phil and Sherrene are doing. I .... think or rather I hope they have just been having problems with anxiety etc. Anyway....whatever will be will be.....the future is not ours to see.....hold on....I think they are the words to a song! OOPS.
God the weather here is sublime. This morning the sky was totally blue and the sun sparkled on the water....boats of all sizes gliding by....kids having fun in the water which is warm all year....like Hawaii. Crabbing is in full swing as the season is drawing to a close. They are prevalent all months that contain the letter R. Lots of shrimp also...
I am getting sleepy...time for bed and a bit of a read. I have four books to read that are all written by the same author. I really enjoy reading....however if I am asked did I read such and such....I have to have a bit of a run down on what it was about...even then I can say if I enjoyed it or not......but don't ask me too many questions about it ! Same with movies. This isn't a new phenomenon....unless I see a movie twice, I really can't say a lot about it, as the first time I am busy taking in the sets....scenery etc. Next time...if I REALLY enjoyed it I pay lots of attention to the story. All of Bill Bryson's books are terrific. I would love to have him over for dinner !

What a difference a day makes.

One day all news is good....next....bad.
Lucy lost the baby she was expecting early October.
Phil and Sherrene are not going to tie the knot after all.
What can one say ?
I thought I was to have an IVP done yesterday to find out how my kidneys are doing...bit of an ongoing problem. IVP too harsh, so I was "fitted in" to have an ultrasound and a C.T. scan. Had to somehow drink eight...did you get that...EIGHT glasses of water.
We were lined up to bowl with a guy at 1pm....had to find his number....phone him...
Home after 4 hours....I was wiped for the rest of the day.
Perry had an xray done on his left knee same time. Had an arthroscope done about three years ago....new knee ? Thank heavens we have the health system that we do in his country. No cost to us for any of the procedures. Perry has severe anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes (mild) severe restless leg syndrome, severe sleep apnea....the drugs he takes would break a bank if we had to pay for them. As it is we have a "safety net" system...pay a few dollars per prescription and when we have had 50 prescriptions filled ...free till the start of the new year. We are probably out of pocket about $1500 a year and that includes the cost of importing the drug he uses for RLS. The injections alone would cost $1600 a month.
Anyhow.....life is wonderful....warts and all.

Phil, Josh and Sherrene

Took a mini break and visited my cousin Kaye and her guy Bob at their home in the hills of Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
Their home is a never ending project...it is a large house and the latest addition is the glass panels at one end of the pool which is set in the front of the house, which is a cliff hanger. I think Kaye will be over it in a couple of years as she seems to be developing rather debilitating physical ailments. Bob is 62 and has his own successful metal work business.....makes all kinds of things from stainless steel restaurant kitchen fit outs to hospital trolleys and has done all the beautiful fencing and outdoor seating for their home. Kaye is 68 and has retired recently after spending many years travelling fairly locally getting accounts and servicing them as well as established accounts at varied stores that carry trendy gift lines. She did very well for the company she worked for and made quite a lot of money in the form of commissions. When the time comes for them to downsize.....a bit of a worry..... the house is almost overflowing with the things Kaye sold. Lovely stuff....but none of us around my age need more STUFF !!!!!
School children in this state have just commenced the autumn break...the roads were pretty busy, but luckily we seemed to pick a good drive window. Only two hours south of where we are. The Gold Coast is a mecca for tourists from all over the world. Beautiful beaches, resorts, theme attractions and wonderful scenery. Kaye and Bob's place is just a couple of miles inland and the hills are very lush and serene. I love the semi tropics.
I am an avid reader as is Bob who told me to help myself to any books I would like to read....I am set for a couple of months.
Another cousin, Judith and her husband Merv who live nearby were also guests...we had a great night. Judy and Merv have just moved into a "unit"after 16 years in a house and separate apartment that they shared with one of their sons, wife and granddaughter. what started out as a five year plan finally ended. The drama of securing a buyer and the protracted escrow was enough for both of them to lose 15lbs each and involved a hilarious recounting of the past three months which included the involvement of one of their neighbors.
They are both terrific story tellers....especially Jude. The family who bought the place was from Tasmania....had a large family and had some sort of business that sounded like it was on shaky ground....some financial institution gave them the loan they need to buy the place which requires repayments of $5800 a month. These figures blow my mind. Home buying in this country is going the same way as in the U.S. foreclosures are quite prevalent. It is a poor climate for raising a family. The kids are quite happy in any little home that has happy parents....however ...".happy" parents are forever chasing more and more STUFF.

Great news......Lucy just phoned to tell us that she is expecting her first baby early October. Chester is over the moon as they have been trying for over a year and Lucy had a couple of miscarriages. Love to them both.