SUMMER 08/09

Mike from Newton Iowa came to visit us for a few days. He sure enjoyed the surf. Not a lot back where he came from!

Ian and his tribe popped in for a few days. Great to have he and Rozzy and the 3 Muskateers.

LJ is normally quite clean around the face.... but with ice cream, all rules are broken!

The lovely E.R. enjoyed a break from the English winter to appreciate our summer. Great to see her once again.

Well, summer’s been spent so far mostly at our Retreat. It’s a small caravan and annexe in a caravan park at Cudmirrah, not far from Sussex Inlet. For any O/S folk, we’re talking 2.5 hours south of Sydney. We’re here for the best part of 2 months (Dec and Jan).

It’s the cricketing season too so we watch a fair bit of cricket (I'll report on Hayden's retirement shortly) as well as wander on the beach and swim in the lovely clean surf. Other critters around are roos, possums, bandicoots, colourful parrots and a regal sea eagle or two.

Christmas in Australia is a time when families congregate. We have been fortunate to have daughter Deb and Brendan and their 2 kids here, son Jeremy, our mate Ian and his family and now young Mike from Iowa. Of course not all together! We missed daughter Peta and her Jon and also brother Bill who lives in Canada.
We’ve been kicked out of Dubbo by Josh and Belinda! Actually they got married and wanted somewhere to live for a few months. So, it seemed like a good idea to let them have our house. That’s why we’re here in Cudmirrah and will wander round the countryside for a few months.

BIG PROBLEM: I’ve committed myself to do the BFB bike ride in April this year from Cairns to Melbourne…. 3,000 km (nearly 2,000 miles). I should be doing serious training. I’ll give you an update on what’s happening in this regard shortly. UPDATE: I'm going as a roadie now.
Heading to Sydney next week as a volunteer at the NSW Tennis Open at Homebush. 10-17 January. Then we thought we’d go visit some places further south eg Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma.
If anybody wants us to come visit, just give us a yell. We’ll see what we can do. (Hope Wendy doesn’t give a call from Perth eh!)

[As expected, Wendy did give us a yell!. Dunno if we can get there at this stage Sis.... will keep you posted.]