News from Penshurst

Hi All
What a month we have had since Joan was diagnosed with the dreaded Parkinsons. You all know the details. Mum is now on 2 1/2 senimet a day and the physio has been three times and the neck/back is showing some progress. Saturday, Sunday and Monday we have been down to the boatramp for a walk.
Kate and Moo organised a new sofa bed for the back room. Mum is very happy with the colourand I had an hours sleep on it this afternoon. I'm going to put a couplemof photos of it here (I hope)
Congratulations to Tom, Liam and Connor who have finished the HSC, SC and Primary.
Lucy is all set up for her Yr10 formal; no doubt the photos will appear on the Blog.
The Bog has been pretty silent for a while but I'm sure it will pick up over the holidays especially when the Glenbrook push log on. Set about it Marty!
Best Wishes to all. Kate and Hasi are off soon. GoodLuck!

News from the capital

Hi all. Just returned from the Narooma blues and rockabilly festival. Had a great time. three days of blues. We were lucky enough to jag a place across the road (we got it on a cancellation), and so could go across to the loo, change if weather changed etc. the music was great. they had three tents and with music in them all day. Heard some great music. Marty, I thought of you and how much you would have loved it being a blues man. Only problem was, everyone we loved we raced out and got their CDs bought about 10 in all, so are now broke! The music started about 6pm on Friday night, and about 12 on Saturday and Sunday which was a good thing as it didn't finish till 12pm. Very tiring for someone like me whose bedtime is about 10. 30, Marty, you would have had to have a kip during the day to last that late! The girls stayed behind in Canberra, Clare stayed with Steve's sister Clare and Lucy stayed with a friend. Clare would have loved it, as she really loves a broad range of music, Lucy would have liked it for the first hour, then would have wanted to know where the shops were! Next Monday I go back to a brand new music room at the senior campus with my staffroom being about 10 steps away from it. I have practice rooms and a recording studio. Still plugging away at my course. It's hard going to the other side of town every week for a three hour lecture. If school wasn't paying for some of it I think I would have dropped out by now, although the sound stuff has been invaluable, the midi side is very hard as I have never used apple macs before and am basically computer illiterate. Even if I fail the midi side and pass the sound part I still will have learnt lots. will try to post a few photos of the blues festival when Steve shows me how! cheers for now, Annie

Must be my turn

Hi all

It has been a hectic few weeks since moving into Wanguri. We have had Guido and Esther staying with us for a few weeks. They are a couple of Swiss motorcyclists that are traveling around the world. It's been a bit of a hassle for them to get all the paperwork to ship their bikes to East Timor and then for the rest of Asia. Then had to build a crate to ship the bikes and get the crate to the shipping agent. However everthing is going to plan and they leave tomorrow to continue on there adventure. We have really enjoyed having them stay.

This photo was taken as they were taking their bikes to be crated and freighted.

We have started cleaning up the yard at the house. I have dug up some metal posts that have been cemented into the ground and we are chopping down a heap of african mahogany trees that are coming up all around the yard. They are a big shady tree but they fall down in cyclones. Joe brings the kids around often to swim which is good as he points out things that need to be done and possible ways of doing them. He is a very handy friend. We haven't taken many photos yet as wehaven't unpacked everything yet. I'm not sur that the blog is the best way to show pictures so over the next few weeks I'll take a heap of photos and burn them onto a CD and post them down. It is a great house though as it catches the afternoon breeze and we live on the balcony. Will catch up soon.

Love Marty and Claire

Christmas List

Hi All
Having discussed and got an agreement from Katie and Moo Mum has authorised me to post the Christmas List.

Kevin buys for Hasi
Joan John
John Julian
Fran Joan
Martin Fran
Claire Anne
Kate Steve
Hasi Maureen
Anne Kate
Steve Martin
Maureen Kevin
Julian Claire

I hope everyone is happy now that we all know.

Kate and Hasi called in today on their way home from a few days camping at Myall Lakes with their friend Melissa. Kate was looking foward to a good bath as there was no water on the camp site.
Moo had some good luck with the RTA but has not been so lucky on the work front.
Annie and Steve are off to Narooma to the Blues Festival.
Marty has a few days to work on the new house.
Tom has his head buried in books.

Holidays are wonderful!

Love to all Dad.

Christmas List

The Car

Hi All ,

Here we go again to get the photos on!

Moo's Car

Hi All

We have had an exciting few days culminating in Moo and Jules securing a car on E-Bay. They put in their final bid with just seconds to go. Moo has a job interview tomorrow so we'll see less of her over the next month or so.

School holidays are on. I so loved them years ago and it's great to see you all keep up the excitement of them. These are the last for Tom. Good Luck in the HSC, Tom.

I'll put some photos of Moo's car on (if it works). ......This is definitely not Moo's car. It's back to Ron's party. I'll try later.

Love to all....Dad.

ii