A Glimpse of January

Very Interesting Read

First 2 Pages of My RV Magazine Article

Gerard, Dympna & Gemma

Final Hymn at Birthday Mass

Some Friends at Birthday Picnic Under the Tree

Pottering in our Patio Garden

Murray, Trish, Dympna, Bill Take Sunset Walk on Boardwalk

Another month has passed, full of enjoyable outings, activities and meeting new people. We went and saw the movie 'The King's Speech' on Saturday, and thoroughly enjoyed a refresher on that part of history and acknowledging the contribution that a down to earth Aussie made to the British Monarchy. I have read two amazing books this month. One was recommended to me by a friend and is called 'The Brain that Changes Itself' and the other, 'Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life', was passed on to me by my brother. The first book shows how people can be helped after years of suffering paralysis and other impairments due to strokes and other brain dysfunctions. The second book is mind boggling (both books were International Best Sellers). The blurb reads that we can all take something from the book, including "tools to tackle cancer alongside conventional treatments - or, better yet, to help avoid cancer altogether." It is written in such an easy to read yet very interesting way, that it was hard to put down, despite the seriousness of the topic. Our thoughts are with our Louisiana friend Dianne, as she recovers from a recent serious cancer operation. I hope she gets to read this book and can take hope from its content.

My youngest son Mark was chatting on the phone with me the other day and asked me if I was getting bored with retirement yet. I was able to truthfully say that my days were very full. but filled with pleasurable activities and all of my own choosing. Just take yesterday for instance - we left home at 9.30am - spent a delightful 5 hrs in the country (45 min drive from home), celebrating my aunt's 87th birthday with about 20 family & friends at a private mass followed by a picnic in the church grounds. We got home just in time to put the kettle on to welcome a couple who live just north of Brisbane, who had driven 4 hrs down to meet us and learn about motorhoming around USA. They had come across my blog and made contact with me, and have now also read the article I wrote for our local motorhoming magazine, about buying an RV in America. They now plan to fly over in April and buy an RV. We chatted on our patio for 3 hrs before heading to a local Indian restaurant for dinner, where we had a table overlooking the river. After another 3 hrs chatting at the restaurant, at 9pm they went back to their motel and Murray packed our car for his coming week up at the RAAF Base west of Brisbane (2hr 20 minute drive from here). He is doing 4 weeks' work on a project for the health services wing and is enjoying the diversion. He drives up there early each Monday morning, and returns to Ballina on Friday afternoon. The best of both worlds.

The weather has been very pleasant. I have enjoyed pottering in the garden, and most days we have a cool breeze. The evenings seem perfect for a walk along the beach or a sunset walk on the boardwalk along the river. My sister, aunt & I have even managed to get in two ocean surfs this month - the rain, floods and strange weather roughed up our seas a bit for a few weeks, and so swimming wasn't very appealing then!