Welsh Greetings

Hi All,
Thanks for the Christmas list. As always, if you have a particular request for a gift (Joan & Lucy), please let us know.
Lucy, hope you are recovering OK from your operation. Great excuse to eat ice-cream!
Annie, Had a listen to the podcast. Well done. Was a bit weird listening to you but was a great interview.
Mountain Isos, glad you are all safe post bushfires. Must be a very worrying experience.
News from here then. As some of you are already aware, We have had an offer on a house accepted and are awaiting confirmation of our mortgage so we can progress. Unfortunately, this means our arrival in Australia will be delayed until the purchase is completed. It is a good house (we hope) for renting and we can't really let it pass us by. See you all soon, but not as soon as we thought. Will keep you all updated as things progress.
Had a great weekend away with my friend Louise and two other girls last weekend. The only bad point being the rugby score. Hopefully we will get better results in the weeks that follow. Doing well in the league world cup though. Went to the opening ceremony and saw the two opening games (Aust v Eng & Wales v Italy). Was a great day.
Weather is getting colder and I am looking forward to leaving it behind to get to the warmth of Aus.
Hope you are all well and happy.
Love Moo xxxx

News from the capital

Hello all. Lucy had her tonsil and adenoids out today. She will be home tomorrow. All good when I left her, except the fact that she was worried she was going to bleed to death!! She is a bit of a wuss! Also the big news is that Jo Green found me again after almost 20 years- through this blog. She is in France and has been trying to find her- I thought I was pretty easy to find- been living in the same house for over 20 years. Anyway as she read through the blog she picked up that I worked at Melba and found the email address and emailed the front office. She rang two weeks ago- great to hear from her again after so long. and she will be back in Australia and Canberra in December.
the other news I have is a friend of mine, Matt Barry who I used to work for has a podcast called the Chattering Classes. I am on the latest episode. If you have facebook it is easy to find, I think he may have tagged me in a post about it. For those of you who don't, I am going to attempt to paste the website address here now. Hopefully it will work, other wise I think if you google The Chattering Classes podcast you may get it. Anyway here we go:
http://www.thehowlingfantods.com/chattering_classes/
Not sure if it will work, by clicking, you may have to cut and paste it into the address bar. Kate, you may need to help Dad with that- I'm sure you know how to do that!!
Anyway I have had an exhausting day, time to put the electric blanket on as it is getting down to -1 tonight. We have a saying in Canberra- never plant your tomatoes till after Melbourne Cup Day (so they don't get killed by the frost). Moo, looking forward to seeing you and Jules when you get here. Bye for now. Love you all, Annie

Christmas List

Hi All Kate has done great work in contacting all re the Christmas List and the consensus is to include the grandchildren. Pulling the names from a hat,we held our breath, hoping that the draw would give a good spread. And so it did. The following is the result. Kevin buys for...Martin Joan buys for ...Connor John buys for....Hazi Fran ............Claire Tom ............Anne Liam ............Clare Connor ..........Kevin Martin ..........Kate Claire ..........Fran Kate ...........Tom Hazi ............John Anne ............Maureen Lucy ............Liam Clare ...........Julian Maureen .........Joan Julian ..........Lucy Where and when the exchanges occur will be an interesting exercise in itself, with Kate and Hazi overseas, Martin and Claire who knows where, Liam in America ...The Joys of Christmas holidays. Love to all Grandma and Tjilpi.

news from the capital

I had no problem- apart from forgetting my password, once I reset it, it let me sign straight in. Not much happening here- am finishing off my last 2 assignments for my Cert IV in Career Development- not too complex but very time consuming! If I don't finish it tomorrow I may need to take
Monday off to finish. Then I can have my life back and can clean the house and weed the garden, and other things I have not had time to do. And the bastard insurance company isn't going to pay... maybe I will start a social media campaign, seems to work for other people.

greetings from the south coast

Hi all, What the hell is going on with this blog. Moo cannot get on and now I cant put photos on. I am scared we are going to lose it all. Should we download it all,print it all and start again or what. Any ideas from anyone?? I cant bear the thought of losing it all!!! it has been such a great way for us all to connect. Actually I should discuss with Clare and Lucy, they will no doubt, have a solution. Love to you all, Zak

News from the capital

OK Kate, you have guilted me into writing something. Just returned from the Blues Festival in N Narooma. After 3 years of being away, the organiser realised he had made a big mistake and brought it back. Beautiful weather and some great music. Clare came with me, and we also had Michael and Tina, Kate, Lisa, Terry and their 14 month old, Bridget as well as  two of their friends. Clare had a great time, I think we have converted her to a blues fan. It was tough without Steve there as he always enjoyed it so much and he was really looking foward to going back to Narooma this year. As Kate said, Lucy's 21st was great, though it was another tough time for us. Thanks to Michael who helped get the yard ready, came around on the day and got things organised and cooked for me. Don't know what I would do without  Michael and Tina. Nice to see the Isaksens represented as well. Looking forward to a visit from Mum and Dad tomorrow, and Claire as well in the next few weeks. Will have to stock up on champagne!!  Nothing much else is happening, downhill run from here till the end of the year.

greetings from the south coast

Hi anyone out there, Spring is definitely here. The garden is looking pretty colourful. Im happy to say Annie's is looking pretty good as well. Hopefully we will get a few more plants in at her place in the next month before summer kicks in. What a great few days I had with Annie Clare and Lucy, celebrating Lucy's 21st.She looked so amazingly beautiful on the day of her birthday. I know she's always beautiful, but her eyes that day were extradinary, the most amazing brilliant colour, and her skin was flawless and glowing.I hear the celebrations kicked on for a week, and a few more of the family got to celebrate with her. Unfortunately I didnt have my camera, as Hasi took it to Germany, but hopefully there are a few good shots around taken by others. So what the hell is happening to this blog, or has everyone gone to facebook. I get that Annie mightnt be in the mood for writing, but what is everyone else's excuse?? I have to say Steve was always a great contributor to this blog, always with a few photos thrown in. Well I suppose as no one is reading it, I might stop here. think I will just go and move some furniture. Anyone got a great colour idea for a repaint of a kitchen dresser? Stripping it back is not an option. Far too much work, and too much brown anyway. Of course, unless Moo or Jules need a project when they are here. The 2015 Elvis festival accommadation is in the pipeline, but I dont think much will happen till half way through next year. Im emailing Ray White Parkes about it, they are the ones that do the house rentals. They obviously didnt read the email very well, as they have sent me an application for 2014. Maybe they have never had anyone so keen, as to apply17months early. I will keep you posted. Im also supposed to be doing this years christmas draw, but need someone to assist, so maybe I wll wait till next time Im with mum and dad. Anyway that my lot.Love Zak