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GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in...

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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
Transcript
Page 1: GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary

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

Page 2: GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary

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

Page 3: GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary

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

Page 4: GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary

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

Page 5: GETTING ON A BIT - holman.id.auholman.id.au/newsletters/2017newsletter.pdf · For my birthday in April I got a trip to Heron Island, a tropical research station and bird sanctuary

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


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