FAMILY TIME

Well, things have really hotted up since I turned 64! (Even if Dana thought I was 44!)

Fay and I drove up to Ipswich (near Brisbane) to spend a couple of days looking after Logan Jack. He's 9+ months old now. This allowed his Mum, Deb, to work on some mining equipment before it gets put into operation. It was a great time taking the little man around the sights of the city of Ipswich.

Then we drove back to Dubbo via Narrabri (bro Alan and his family live there.) It's about 800 km from Ipswich to Dubbo. Deb and Logan came with us. We were only in Dubbo a short time and then off to Yeoval for a weekend Bike for Bibles ride around the district. I am not up to cycling as yet thanks to a crook back. But my chiro and I have high hopes that I'll be back on the bike pretty soon. A guy like Cadel Evans inspires even old blokes like me! At least Debbie rode the BH for me! (See above photo.) And loved it!

Now, another sleep here in Dubbo and then off to Cessnock for a week at the Pokolbin Hill Resort in the Hunter Valley. Our kids are going to join us there which will be great.

[Don't worry, the BH is back in the bike shed under high security despite Jim's efforts to get it relocated to Sydney!!]

NOW I'M 64!

From SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

WHEN I’M SIXTY-FOUR

When I get old and losing my hair, Many years from now

Will you still be sending me the Valentine,

Birthday greetings, bottle of wine

If I stay out till quarter to three

Would you lock the door

When I'm sixty-four.
You'll be older too,

And if you say the word I could stay with you.

I could be handy mending a fuse

When your lights have gone

You can knit a sweater by the fireside

Sunday morning go for a ride

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,

Who could ask for more

Will you still need me, will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four.

Every summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight,

it's not too dear

We shall scrimp and save

Grandchildren on your knee

Vera, Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line

Stating point of view

Indicate precisely what you mean to say

Yours sincerely,

wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form,

Mine for evermore,

Will you still need me,

will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four.

eWell I'm still here! Certainly the lights have dimmed somewhat... but I'm still here.

I think a message I get from this song, is that I should get out and visit a few folk who are older and maybe not as agile as I am.

The good news... I was able to get out of bed and dress myself this morning and now think I'll go for a walk. Thanks Lord for your many blessings to me and to my family.

It's just 4 years now since I finished up with the Dept of Education!

CELEBRATION TIME

Well... who'd a thought it?

Our PJ (Peta) has announced that she and Jon Eke are getting married, probably February next year! They've been a strong item since late 2005. Indeed as we travelled through South America with our kids, Pete was continually sussing out email haunts so she could sit and "chat" with her man. I guessed then that things were pretty serious. The time in Sth Am which synchronised with Jon's time back in Oz was something like midnight! So at midnight (or whenever), Pete would wander off to a computer she'd found and have a "chat" with Jon.

Of course there is a problem - who buys the Chinese feed? Is it Pete because she's announced her engagement or GK because his daughter is engaged?

In the Keast family traditon, you have to shout Chinese for any of the following reasons:

• got a new job


• got a raise


• bought a car


• going overseas


• lost a job


• bought a house


• changed jobs


• retired


• bought a house


• got married or engaged


• moved towns


• bought something significant
  
• etc
  
  
  Indeed, I think the only time you don't get to shout Chinese is if you die, and I think the constitution committee (Margaret) is hoping to close that loophole! The tradition started with my Dad, Jack. So, I've included a photo of Dad taken in 1992, some months before he died at the age of 79. Brother Alan and sister Margaret and I are in the photo, but not brother Bill as he was in Canada at the time.

How do I feel? Chuffed! Quite chuffed! PJ has my personality... I feel very close to her. She is one special dude! Good onya Pete!

SUNSHINE COAST

How cool is the date today…. 07-07-07!!!! And seven is my lucky number!
Every year in July a whole bunch of people from Victoria and New South Wales make the pilgrimage to Queensland. Why? The temps here are a very presentable 20+ degrees Celsius while further south it’s not as pleasant. It gives a bloke the chance to wear his shorts and T-shirts rather than be rugged up the whole time in winter garb.
Fay and I are at the Sunshine Coast here in Queensland. Very aptly named! 25 yesterday and 21 today (roughly.) Maroochy Palms to be exact. We are staying in Matilda, our Avan. Brother Alan and his family are here also in their new caravan.
There are a whole bunch of things you can do, but we’re not getting too involved, just happy to be in the warmth.
I played tennis last Friday before leaving Dubbo, and I’ve had a couple of bike rides since being here in Qld. I’m afraid both activities seem to aggravate my back injury at present. So, today I was very good and very quiet. Hopefully the back will recover so I’ll be able to take up normal activities. I feel like a cripple, and certainly don’t like being on pain killers. So, feel free to pray that my back recovers.
Another person who needs prayer is Lyn in Sydney. She’s had shingles, which by all accounts is a bugger of an illness. Sure hope you are able to rid yourself of that quick smart Lyn.
While in Newcastle enroute to Qld, we had a look at the Pasha Bulker. It’s a gigantic tanker which ran aground at Newcastle just north of Sydney during a huge storm. Fortunately they’ve finally got the Pasha off without too much damage to ship or harbour. Think it was stranded there for nearly a month.
Fancy our daughter Peta turned 30 while we were there! Unbelievable! She's the one on the left in the photo... Debbie on right. Peta and Jon are enjoying living in Newcastle but not appreciating the wet weather they’ve had to endure of late. At least many parts of our country have benefited from the recent rains and the farmers are much happier as a result.

New plans are for Fay and I to head to Dubbo where I've been lucky enough to get an appointment with Andrea my chiro on Monday arvo. That should straighten me out eh? Pain is something I don't do well!