As usual, our Christmas card was left far too late (and then, it was only after we had taken delivery that we noticed a typo - oh well too late...) but they should be in the post this weekend...The rest of our Christmas preparations are equally behind - but I never really get organised until after Kevin's Birthday, which was yesterday...He's the one on the right by the way. He shaved his head for charity in October and hasn't got around to growing it back yet! To celebrate his 52nd , after work yesterday, he and I went to an excellent restaurant on Southgate, overlooking the Yarra River. This was after the usual Friday night drinks at his office. Kevin is still busy at Hyder, usually in Melbourne, but he did come on a flying visit to the UK in May , and has also made a couple of trips to Vietnam this year. Last weekend was the Hyder family day - a picnic in a park, where Kevin did Santa's job again. Tom managed to turn his ankle playing football with Aiden and spent the evening and part of the next day in casualty. Luckily it wasn't broken, just badly bruised!
I am now working full-time for the Bank of Melbourne, and gradually taking on more responsibilities. I am now entitled to a Time Away Day each month which makes up to some extent for losing my Mondays off! I am still doing Tupperware, and because I decided I wanted to go to the Manager's conference in New Zealand in March 2003, I have made a BIG effort recently! My order a couple of weeks ago amounted to 13 cartons of plastic. That's an awful lot of Tupperware - complicated by the fact that we recently downsized our car from the 4 Wheel Drive to a Renault Clio Sport! It took 2 journeys to collect it from the warehouse! It was nice to earn some extra money just before Christmas though... and win some prizes! Kevin and I went to the Tupperware Break-Up last weekend which was a meal and disco out in the Dandenongs. We also went to the Bank dinner out and the Bank family day. It has been one function after another! I suppose I ought to mention that in April I reached the 50 milestone.....I celebrated in style for a good week. Of course I don't feel 50...well apart from the multi-focals, aches and pains, hot flushes...I am now on the committee for the Friends of Black Rock House which is a heritage property in Black Rock. This takes up quite a bit of time what with being Treasurer and Membership Secretary and also giving guided tours of the place on odd Sundays. It was 'Carols at Twilight' on the lawn there last Monday. Last year this was the day that Liz and Pete and the Burnetts arrived for their Australian Adventures! Liz and Pete managed to make the carols that day - they would tell you that it is an experience! This year, octagenarian Dorothy again led the carols...Sophie and I were in charge of the tape/CD recorder...I am also treasurer for the Bayside ex -pat group. Kevin and I went to a local RSL club for a jazz evening with them last Friday.
In May Tom and Bec decided they couldn't live together any longer. Tom came home (and of course we had downsized the house when we moved here!) which means we have Aiden to stay at least one night per week. He is a lovely little boy, now 2 and a half, and we enjoy his company, although Kevin gets a little bored with the 'Nanas' (Bananas in Pyjamas) web-site. Every time Grandad gets on the computer, Aiden says "Nanas" and that's that...Tom has now finished his apprenticeship and is still working for the taxi firm. He has been taking a Mechanical Engineering course and now has to decide which course to go on next.
Dan decided to have 'time out' this year - he has been working for Bunnings, a DIY warehouse, in the tool department. (Kevin is exceedingly jealous!) and spends a lot of time and money on his mini...He returns to Uni in February to finish his last 1 and a half years in Business Studies.
Matt finished school this time last year and applied to do Outdoor Education at college. Unfortunately he didn't get in so he went for accountancy (Some difference!) He lasted one semester and then decided on 'time out'. He has earnt a little money washing up in the local restaurant and also doing some labouring which helps keep his ancient Holden on the road. He has just been over to Adelaide for a week to see the eclipse and join in the RAVE. He came back with half the desert - red dust on everything. He starts his Outdoor Ed course in February.
Sophie has just finished year 11 - one more year to VCE and leaving school. Her reports are always good and she enjoys a wide variety of subjects. She takes music lessons in guitar, piano and drums. This year she was given the opportunity of working with the scientists at the Phillip Island Penguin Sanctuary for a few days. She insists it was a lot of weeding but she was actually investigating the effect of polygala on the penguins' habitat. Kevin and I took a holiday that week and enjoyed all that Phillip Island has to offer in the way of wildlife, walks and history. We stayed in a friend's holiday house which provided Sophie with a base too. She also was involved in a project to design a solar car which Kevin would probably have liked a bigger hand in....next year!
Anyway that gives you a quick thumbnail of each of us...
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and 2003
Think of us here enjoying a festive barbecue in the heat!
The Renshaw Family
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