Christmas 2007

Well, here we are in December again, and yet again we have to say that the year has flown!!

Sue, regretting leaving her job and the lifestyle in Hong Kong, moved to Abu Dhabi almost exactly a year ago. But she has found it equally easy to live here in the Emirates. Kevin left his job with Hyder (after 26 years) about 16 months ago to work for Cardno – and is enjoying the challenge of building a business presence almost from scratch here.

Sue has still retained connections with the theatre company in Hong Kong and so has returned for three separate months during the year to tour with Peter Pan. As Head Chaperone for the children from Hong Kong, she spent January in Manila, June in Hong Kong and November in Kuala Lumpur. Hard work but fun to be involved with the show...the plan is to be in Taipei in Feb/March.

Because Kevin now works for an Australian Company, this has meant more opportunities to travel back to Melbourne. In April, Sue enjoyed seeing the boys (on her own as Kevin didn't make it this time). In September, however, the whole family was together for a few days. (Sophie spent some of her summer in Abu Dhabi and Australia.)

Sue and Kevin have also travelled back to the UK a couple of times – in July for Sophie's graduation from Keele, and then for the Menai Straits regattas. Kevin only managed a couple of days of this so Sue and Sophie were very pleased with themselves when they sailed 'Alice' for most of the fortnight. They had one or two hair-raising experiences but came home with trophies!!

Sophie has now returned to Keele to do a research 'Masters'. She has spent this semester in Keele but from January 9th she will be in Nijmegen in Holland.

The boys are all well in Australia. Tom continues to work for the taxi firm and Sophie and I were delighted to accompany him to Aiden's school concert in September. Aiden is now 7. Dan also continues to work for the company he joined a year and a half ago. He is fine but I regularly check facebook to read of the most recent escapade. He was in a neckbrace earlier in the year because he fell out of a bunk bed. Then a few weeks ago he broke his arm falling off a motorbike in the bush, had to be airlifted by helicopter to the nearest hospital, and now has two plates permanently in his arm... Matt is still teaching outdoor education – and spent the Summer at Camp Carolina in the States teaching predominantly white water activities. Nikki has been part of the family for several years now and we are very excited to announce that she and Matt are expecting a baby in June.

We had hoped to have all the family together for Christmas – but what with differing work commitments it was decided that Kevin and Sue will travel to the UK and see everyone there – and we will see the Australian contingent at Easter. Last year didn’t work out either – instead of all Renshaws and Brienses meeting up in Byron Bay, Australia, Sue, Kevin and Sophie couldn't get flights – so the three of us spent New Year in Istanbul! 

What do we do here in Abu Dhabi? – well Kevin does not spend every minute at work (quite). He and Sue sail most Fridays in a Kestrel. This means that Sue has to don harness and hang out on the trapeze... At the moment they are both assisting backstage with a pantomime at the Club. They also swim and gym. Sue has done some supply work but is quite happy being an expat wife most of the time – coffee mornings, lunches, book and movie clubs... She has had time to 'craft', making all this year's Christmas cards amongst other things. After Ramadan in September, Sue and Kevin spent a long weekend in the Oman on the Mussandam Peninsula – very interesting to see rocky desert and go on a dhow trip following dolphins. Sue has been trying to get the photos on here up to date – so if you have time do have a look...this year's pics are on pages 6 & 7. The older photos are proving to be a mammoth task

All the best for Christmas and 2008!

The Renshaw family