getting on a bit - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · for my birthday in...
TRANSCRIPT
2017
Hi folks, thanks as usual for your various cards and well wishes during the year. We hope that you are keeping
well, though we realise only too well that may be increasingly difficult…
It has been an island-y sort of year for
us. For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary on the Reef.
It is really only a place for bird lovers, though its resort accommodation was
comfortable enough and swimming is very safe. There are also plenty of tropical fish and turtles to be seen
amongst the coral reefs close to shore.
For Joc’s 70th birthday. which was a bit of a milestone on a couple of counts,
we spent a week on Lord Howe Island, a lovely World Heritage listed location in the Tasman Sea, though still in NSW.
There are some more island photos and info at: holman.id.au/personal
As Joc’s birthday is only a few days away from both Arlo and Lucille’s we had a big combined birthday picnic by
the sea, attended by lots of their school friends, followed the next day by a birthday lunch for Joc, family and some
close friends at a nearby winery.
Granddaughter Sinead and former brother-in-law Gabi drove up from
Melbourne again for the kids’ birthday party - this is obviously shaping up to be a tradition as they really enjoy it.
Grandma Joc reached 70 this year
A SOOTY TERN AT LORD HOWE ISLAND DISCOURAGING ME FROM STRAYING TOO CLOSE TO ITS NEST - A SINGLE EGG LAID ON THE SAND ABOVE THE HIGH TIDE.
MY INDOOR TREE FROG JOC ’S BLUE TONGUE LIZARD ARLO’S FRIEND WITH CRAB
GETTING ON A BIT
SOME PARTY PHOTOS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: EXTENDED FAMILY - MARGOT, LUCILLE, PERRINE AT THE PARTY
SINEAD DOWN BY THE CREEK AT LOW TIDE
COME TO UNCLE SIMON
IT’S EVEN MORE FUN WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN
ARLO’S DOLLS, CLEMENT AND CLOVIS
ARLO AND LUCILLE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE BIG BLOW
MISS JEKYLL
MISS HYDE
OPENING PRESENTS IS FUN FOR EVERYBODY
ARLO ASSEMBLING A BIRTHDAY TOY
Mostly grandchildren, it seems. It does give me a bit of a respite from all the work that needs doing around the
place, so I am not complaining. The spa extension for Joc is nearing completion, next job is building the spa pool itself.
All work and no play not being very good for me, I also found time to construct a couple of large planted
aviaries for more varieties of birds.
Arlo wanted to see a 'real' cave, so we made a short trip to Buchan, about four hours away, and stayed there overnight.
He was pleased enough with the caves and took some creditable photos for a five year old, but was more impressed
with his first stay at a motel, being fascinated by the minibar and all the little packets of goodies provided. There
are other caves around, so we might make this an annual event for a while.
At school Arlo took such a fancy to a French doll called Clement that Leah commissioned another one for his
birthday, and concocted an elaborate letter from France wherein Clement’s cousin Clovis was looking for a place
to stay in Australia...it was even in French and needed translation, which seemed to suspend Arlo’s disbelief very
successfully. Good fun for all.
Zac's birthday is also part of the October cluster, so Joc went down to Melbourne for his 40th party, which
was by all accounts a happy event - with one exception, Zac being in pain and discomfort from a nasty spinal infection
whose origin still remains a mystery.
It may be that he will now need a career change from installing air-
conditioning equipment, as there will possibly be ongoing complications.
Sinead is working and studying, but still has the travel bug and is investigating a
great-sounding uni exchange scheme whereby she gets to go to Tokyo for six months, with all fees and air fares paid.
Holidays, grandchildren and a bit of building this year
PAINT & C AKE
ARLO TOOK THIS WITH HIS OWN CAMERA DURING OUR VISIT TO THE CAVES AT BUCHAN IN VICTORIA
AND A FEW MORE PHOTOS
With the death of Aunt Quita this year
that generation is now gone and we are once again reminded that life is short and should not be wasted. Despite
regular illnesses and complications, Joc’s children still remain addicted to smoking, which troubles her a lot.
Joc herself still manages gym and aqua, I
still manage to install roofing and skylights but it gets harder to get out of bed in cold weather and we need that
mid-Winter break in a warmer climate.
We are fortunate in that we have only to get in the car and drive hard for a
couple of days to get to Queensland, although most of the interesting islands are much farther North. We might try a trip to Magnetic Island next year. We
will be driving down to Melbourne for
Xmas at Gabi’s again, though we won’t
stay long even though Melbourne is almost tolerable when everybody has left on holiday - quite a lot of them up
here, it sometimes seems in Summer.
A week is about the longest I like to stay away from my ever-increasing aviaries and birds which are also much
enjoyed by the children, especially Margot, who thankfully still appears to have some interests apart from boys
and social media. There are chicks and ducklings hatching right now, and the birds are often the first thing the
children ask to see when they arrive.
Okay folks that’s about all our news for the year. Enjoy your Xmas and we hope you have a happy and healthy New Year.
XXX, J & J
We are a bit slower and more tired, but life is still good
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT 1. JOC AND KIDS ON THE
LAWN
2. BEN AND CAKE AT ZAC’S PARTY
3. SAME THRUSH AGAIN, NESTING IN THE SAME NAIL BOX AS LAST YEAR
4. LORIKEETS ON THE LAWN
5. LULU ON A CRACKLING FROSTY MORNING