Season’s Greetings!
Here we are nearly at the end of 2015 and we hope this Christmas letter finds you well and happy. 2015 has been a year of highs and lows and celebrations.
So, first year into retirement and how did it go? In a nutshell – FANTASTIC. Life truly is good! The old cliché is so true – how did we fit everything in when we worked? We seem to always have something to do or somewhere to go and actually relish the days we can spend at home to do other things we enjoy. Retirement has taken much of the stress out of life of day to day living. We are enjoying the opportunities that are open to us and will continue to embrace life and what it is offering.
Very sadly, Steve’s mum passed away in January after a strong battle. She died in her family home surrounded by Steve’s dad and her children. As painful as it was, it was a beautiful way to go and very emotional. Judith was always there for her family and is missed every day.
March saw us taking a 5-day cruise on the Astor cruise ship to Albany and Esperance. We went with our lovely friends Vicki, Rod, Glenn and Tricia. The weather conditions were perfect - fantastic company, lovely food, brilliant drinks package, nice accommodation, no stress – it was a five-day party and highly recommended to anyone wanting to have a get a way. It is certainly worth looking at the deals that are available to get a really reasonably priced holiday. (More about the cruise can be found here.) (More photos of the cruise are here.)
June and July saw us heading north again to Cape Keraudren and staying there for 6 weeks. We dawdled up the inland road stopping to enjoy the trip rather than rushing through due to limited time. It was actually lovely to be there earlier than we had been before as the water was warmer and therefore the fish we more abundant. We enjoyed fishing in the bay and as usual, Paula paddling off to find turtles. We were lucky enough to be camping with people we had met on other trips to the Cape and made new friends Terry and Wayne. Many wonderful nights were spent with a large group around a campfire eating camp oven damper. (Thanks Terry and Bill!) Steve went mud crabbing several times with Bill and Wayne and caught good sized crabs that were enjoyed by all. It is a lovely place that we know we will revisit on our way up and down the coast. (Especially now Paula has worked out how to combat the sand flies!) (More about our Cape Keraudren trip is here.) (More photos are here.)
On our return from the north, we headed to Melbourne. While we were there we went to the footy to hopefully watch the Dockers win a game, as we had never seen them win in Melbourne. Fortunately, they did! We had also ordered a new caravan being built in Melbourne and took this opportunity to go out and visit the factory, talk to the builders and watch the process. Amazing. Our nephew is now living in Melbourne so we caught up with him for tea. It was lovely. Our accommodation was in Flinders Lane which was fantastic, as you stepped out from the apartment right into the throng of the CBD. We loved it and love Melbourne. Three weeks after being in Melbourne we returned again for the AFL Grand Final. We had hoped Freo would be in the final and had booked flights and accommodation back in May. It was not to be, but we had a great time anyway catching up with our nephew again, Paula’s sister who was in Melbourne and Steve’s cousins who were over from Perth for the final as well. We came back weighing a little heavier after all the delicious eating and drinking. Oh well, back to the exercise routine! We have discovered several quirky bars and pubs and enjoy spending time in them and watching the world go by.
We sold one of our blocks during the year and are in no rush at all to sell the other as we will continue to go to Albany and stay there. We go there camping, kayaking, spraying noxious weeds that are stubborn and resilient and trying to do a little relaxing. It is a very peaceful and serene environment that we enjoy. With some of the money from the sale of the block, we plan to renovate our kitchen and two bathrooms. As neither of us are into home renovations, we find this a daunting prospect. We will probably jump in the caravan and head off somewhere rather than face this job!
Yes, we now are proud owners of a new Lotus Trooper Caravan that was finally ready to picked up in November after a short delay. It is fabulous and although there are a few little issues, all is good and we are happy and looking forward to many trips away. Our first little trip was to Busselton to celebrate our wonderful friend and Ashleigh’s Godmother’s 60th birthday – Vicki Badger. The party was true Badger style! Dress in anything except clothes. There are some very clever and creative people out there! From Busselton we went to Albany and stayed there for several days in the van and inspected some work we work having done on the block. Everything was fine especially the diesel heater on those chilly Albany nights!
David completed his apprenticeship with Nielsen’s Electrical and like others who passed the test and had finished their time, was let go. He picked up a contract FIFO job in Port Hedland during the year which he has since finished and now is with another company on a short term FIFO contract working in Telfer. This concludes on December the 16th and we think David (and definitely Sophie) will be quite ok with this. He would like to stay in Perth rather than continuing with the FIFO lifestyle and will be looking widely for a new opportunity in 2016. Hopefully something will come along. His health is still holding and he takes care of himself. He and Sophie have extended their little menagerie with two bobtail goannas. They make interesting pets. Sophie is now working for Mimco in David Jones Booragoon. She is surrounded by beautiful and expensive glittery things. Quite a difference to Sweetlips. She loves it and has a strong work ethic. She also has a growing number of Mimco products building up at home! She and David have a lovely relationship and are happy.
Mark spent most of 2015 working FIFO for Thiess Mining at Roy Hill out of Newman. He enjoyed the work and opportunity, but when the contract finished, he was offered his old job back at All Type Engineering and took it. Like David, FIFO isn’t everything. Perhaps if the right position came up with a FIFO job he would go, but at present he is happy being back in Perth where he can see Tyler more regularly. He enjoys pottering around his house and always has a project on the go. He and Roxie live in Mark’s house and like Sophie, she is a very welcome addition to our family. We are so lucky to have such sensible headed young ladies with our boys. Tyler is now 4 years old and if it is possible, he is even more beautiful than ever. We love him so much and being a grandparent to him is just the best thing. We love every opportunity to be a part of his life
Ashleigh moved to Hammond Park this year with a permanent position in Pre Primary. She enjoyed her year but is flying out on December 27th on a two-year work visa to England. She is on leave without pay from Hammond Park for a year retaining her permanency. So sometime later in 2016 she will have to decide whether she comes back or stays for the second year. She is a little anxious but excited – so are we! She has picked up a 6-month teaching contract at a school in Surrey and starts working there on January 4th or 5th. This is a huge, brave step for her but something she has wanted to do for several years. Maybe a trip back to England next year for us?
Our children have done well this year and seem happy and content. We are thankful for this.
Steve continues to enjoy delving into his photography. He has been to some workshops to learn new approaches for printing his photos and fiddles around for hours when he can with his camera and computer. We have some lovely images taken by Steve and he has completed several photobooks from our adventures and the results are stunning. He is beginning to compile another photobook from David and Sophie’s wedding. Can’t wait to see it finished. When and where possible he also enjoys fishing in his kayak and will spend hours paddling around. Sometimes it is just the simple pleasure of being out on the water rather than catching a fish.
Christmas is at our house this year. It will be a little different without Steve’s mum Judith there. But she will be there in spirit. Judith was a prolific sewer with an amazing embroidery machine. Paula was overwhelmed when Judith gave this machine to her. So after many hours playing around with it, there will be a little of Judith with us on Christmas day. Paula is sure Judith is never far away when she attempts something new on the machine and is certain she is smiling down at her!
All the best to everyone for a safe and Happy Christmas and holiday season and a wonderful 2016.
