Hi all,
Happy new year, hope you all had
a festive Christmas.
We have had an interesting year
here in Melbourne.
Gemma started her new school in Jan, grade 5 at Minimbah. She has settled in
well, apart from a few friendship fracas- these are important lessons we all
need to learn! Her school work is going well and the peaceful setting is really
helping her concentrate, she scored considerably better in her tests than last
year. Fingers are still crossed… Outside school Gemma does the most of all of
us; Riding, drama and guides being the main things. The TV always scores highly
on her ‘best things to do’ list.
Fraser has completed grade 9 this
year and is becoming a real man- soon to be taller than Pete! He has taken up
piano at school and prefers the Jazz style pieces which he likes to play whilst
wearing one of his trilby hats. Minecraft is still popular with worldwide
domination games like Civ5 also getting a lot of airtime. He has also become a
socialist- much dinner table discussion and argument! Both children are forced
to play tennis with Pete and I regularly- after all, we do have the staff for
mixed doubles!
Pete has had a busy year at the poker
tables - winning a couple of times and qualifying for the state final, where he
finished 4th. His virtual cycle around Australia continues, although
it has stalled a bit- he has been in Darwin for ages… Must be hot. He has also
taken up veggie gardening, the main successes were- strawberries, leaks,
tomatoes, radish, and carrots! Look out, here come the Zucchinis!
I have been working from home for
a gas company drawing pipes and stuff- easy to fit in around the odd school
assembly or sports day. The choir has had a big year. Travelling to Canberra for the National
Convention in May- we came 4th in our size category. We also
recorded for a local radio station and made a Christmas CD- Boy, was I glad
when Dec 26th came around, I had been singing the same songs since
August! Looking forward to a change when we rehearse again in Feb. I have had
my monies worth from the medical system this year- operation in Jan to remove a
rotten wisdom tooth bedded in my jaw. March, a spider bite, and had to have
antibiotics in my bottom, then, after blood tests find I have a thyroid
problem- fortunately ‘cured’ by a tablet each day. The doctor recognises me
now! I am feeling much better and ready to face the next challenge…
