Sunday 21^st October

Happy birthday dear Dad!

88 today and still out and about, playing bridge, going to concerts, plays, movies, dinner.  I think he and Fleur have a more active social life than Pete and I do.   A great role model for all of his 3 children 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren!!

When my parents arrived in Australia with me in 1950 we were the world’s smallest family – look at us now, spreading across the continent…and all of us, as he is proud to point out, still on happy terms with one another.

Yesterday I had a lovely long chat on speakerphone with Leanne, our lovely catamaran-sailing friend from Devonport.

She and Peter had just got back from Vanuatu.  They had been commissioned to sail a boat back from Espirito Santo to Bundaberg.  I don’t think either of them had been outside Australia before.  They certainly hadn’t sailed in South Pacific.  I asked which islands they went to and Leanne said ummm…not sure…didn’t write down the names… I do know what she means; the islands are all so lovely, and all very similar, from the sea – blue water, coral reefs, thick lush forest, lovely smiling people in small canoes.

They spent a week in Port Vila, in a motel.  Pete spent all day every day bum-up in the engine, fixing things in his clever Mcguyver-ish way, and Leanne – well, of course, she lay near the swimming pool reading and sipping cool drinks.  Both of them found these pastimes very pleasurable.

Peter will be sailing Plan Four in the Three Peaks Race again next Easter, so he is very busy getting the boat organized for the event.  Leanne is back in Devonport, thinking longingly of the warm sun, the pretty pool, the cool drinks…