Christmas Letter 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, we are starting to feel old, with five of our grand kids now having completed Secondary School.

Joshua is a qualified diesel mechanic; Cameron is completing an apprenticeship in glass showers and splash backs; Hayley is studying Theology and Religious Studies at University in York; Troy is in the first year of an Electrician’s Apprenticeship specializing in air conditioning; Jonathan is studying Environmental Studies at Victoria University. Jeremy is in the last year of his secondary education; Amanda will enter year 12 next year and Spencer will enter year 11 next year.

Margaret and I did a lot of travelling this year.

In April we cruised the Pacific. We enjoyed that so much that we have now booked two other cruises for next year. We went on the Pacific Cruise with Margaret’s brother and sister-in-law, James and Janice. The cruise took in Noumea, Mystery Island, Dravini Island, four ports in Fiji and Mare. For Stephen though the highlight was the ship - with lots of entertainment, and great restaurants included in the fare.

The ship moored at Mystery Island

We escaped Melbourne’s winter with a trip to Europe via Russia. We spent a week in Moscow before cruising up the river system to St Petersburg. There were many highlights but two in particular stand out- the colourful churches and the Moscow underground. One of the underground stations

St Basil's Cathedral at Red Square

We visited Philip, Bev, Hayley, Jeremy and Bronwyn in England. We toured the south east of England, but the highlight of our Europe tour was Amsterdam with its wonderful canals (see pic at right.) We enjoyed Amsterdam so much that we will be returning there for four days next year.

After we arrived back from our overseas tour we were invited to two important events in Australia, Stephen's Uncle Bill and Aunty Joan's 60 Wedding Anniversary and our friend Jill Cooper's 60 birthday

Bill and Joan live in Adelaide so we used the Anniversary Party as a short holiday, taking three days to drive to Adelaide. It was great to catch up with some of Stepehn's cousins and his brother, as well as with Bill and Joan. We also shared our memories of the wedding that took place 60 years ago.

Jill Cooper lives in Yepoon, Queensland. When we stepped off the plane at Rockhampton airport the temperature was 43 degrees Celsius, and the air was smokey from a bushfire south of the town. Conditions on the coast in Yepoon were much more pleasant. It was great to visit Jill and her partner Edward, and to catch up with Jill's children Dannielle and Evan. The other highlight of the trip was a visit to Great Keppel Island. The photo shows Margaret and Jill at the party.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas,

and all the best for 2019,

from  Margaret and Stephen