mikeandkerrynsblogspace

2008-07-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

Have already done this once but must have deleted the text inadvertantly.
Pops and I returned on Sunday night, got home late Sunday night and Mum had prepared a hot well deserved spa which was really appreciated as I had been travelling since 4.30 am that morning.
Pops had a great time, laughing, joking, drinking, golfing and eating a little. Even had suckling pig, (percy) twice! Being away for 2 weeks was a tad challenging as his mobility is not as good as what it used to be, but he enjoyed it and that was the only reason that we did the trip.
He has been back a couple of days and has already been to the oncologist paliative care doctor Romain Holmes yesterday. Mum took him and whilst there were no new developements it was a "monitoring" visit and she wants to see him again in September. I think it's fair to say that he would have done all that he set out to do whilst there and that he will now perhaps accept that it was best to do the trip at that time as he may not have the opportunity to go again, certainly not with me as "H" has already started his new job.
Speaking of which, I hope that you are all supportive of the way in which Harley has deveoled in the past 12 months, the way in which he has conducted himself, learned and matured has been very helpful to me and I can say that he has been the very best of employees that I have had since being here in the last 7 years. Well done "H", if I haven't told you before, let me tell you know that I am extremely proud of the man you have grown in to. Your Mum is to.
I could go on and say the same of all of you, we as parents are very fortunate that we have children that are responsible and mature and have done us proud, you should patt yourselves on the back and I am sure that it won't be too long before Owen and Ash of all, learns how important it is to have hopes and aspirations that your children will grow into caring, responsible and good hearted people.
Guess you all know now that Mum is going into hospital 6 August. Has a torn shoulder muscle that is preventing her from doing all of the things that she needs to do on a daily basis. While the operation will only see her in hospital overnight, the recovery is likely to be as long as 6 months. Hopefully she will be betterfor the operation.
Shall close here saying that a picture is usually worth a thousand words so you judge for yourselves what you thoughts are re. the way that pops looks. The trip did take alot out of him as he has shown signs of fatigue since being away.
Mum today represented our family at the funeral of my mothers step mother Esme. She passed away last week at the grand old age of 99.
Hope all are well, love to each of you and come on my grand child!
Dad

2008-07-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

I'm back and will try to get some photos on blog tomorrow, Pops ok but has seen very much better days, is ageing quickly
Hope all of you aqre well.
Love,
Dad

BIGM here

2008-07-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

KB here learning how to use the blogsite, bear with moi

2008-07-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

GOT SOME NEW PHOTOS OF G.B.'S AND MY TRIP TO QUEENSLAND.
STARTED IN MELBOURNE WEDNESDAY 24TH JUNE, DROVE TO COONABARABRAN, (SOME 1000 KM STAYED THE NIGHT). THE NEXT DAY DROVE TO MILLMERRAN CEMETRY TO SEE IF WE COULD FIND SOMETHING RE. BOSSY. (G.B.'S FATHER) NO GOOD BUT FOUND 2 BOUGOURE'S.
THE NEXT NIGHT DROVE TO TOOWOOMBA, SPENT THE NIGHT THERE, DINNER AT WEIS'S RESTAURANT AND G.B. HAD 6 DOZEN (AND 1) SYDNEY ROCK OYSTERS. I HAD 7. (DOZEN THAT IS)
NEXT NIGHT TO BRISBANE TO CHECK OUT WHERE HE USED TO LIVE, THEN TO SURFERS, SPENT THE NIGHT THERE AFTER A NICE CURRY (THAI) THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO MAMA'S PLOT SITE AT ALAMBEE, THEN TO MT TAMBORINE TO SEE A MATE OF G.B.'S FROM SINGAPORE CALLED JACKY. (JACKYS TRANSPORT) HAD LUNCH WITH HIM , THEN BACK TO TOOWOOMBA. SPENT THE NIGHT AFTER WHICH WE DROVE TO DALBY, SPENT THE NIGHT THEN DROVE HOME THROUGH DUBBO (WHERE WE STAYED THE NIGHT)
IN ALL, A QUICK TRIP, 6 DAYS AND 4000 KMS.
WE LEAVE TOMOOROW (FRIDAY) FOR THAILAND. MUM WILL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED. HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL.
LOVE DAD.

2008-06-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST I THOUGHT THAT I HAD SET UP A BLOG SITE FOR KERRYN AND I, BUT, ALAS, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN YOU GET OLD? THINGS TEND TO GET AWAY FROM YOU WITHOUT YOUR EVEN REALIZING THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. MUST BE A SIGN OF ELDER STATESMANSHIP? MAYBE JUST A SIGN OF JOINING THE SENIOR GENERATION.
THE ONLY REASON FOR THIS SITE IS SO THAT KERRYN CAN (ONCE IT IS SET UP) COMMUNICATE WITH THE KIDS OVERSEAS IN ONE RATHER THAN SEPERATELY WHICH TAKES HER ALOT MORE TIME, MEANING THAT SHE SPENDS LESS AND LESS TIME CLEANING THE HOUSE OR DOING SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE. (ONLY KIDDING WIFE)
BYPASSING WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN PALM COVE 'CAUSE YOU ALL NOW KNOW THAT WE WERE THERE AND MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE ON.
TOMORROW, YOUR GRANDFATHER POPS AND I ARE MAKING A GB PILGRIMAGE TO DALBY AND TOOWOOMBA IN QUEENSLAND. HE WANTS TO SEE THE OLD PLACE ONE MORE TIME BEFORE HE IS UNABLE TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP. WE PLAN ON LEAVING HIS PLACE AT 6.00 AM WEDNESDAY MORING AND DRIVING MOST OF THE DAY. HOPEFULLY WE'LL MAKE DUBBO IN NEW SOUTH WALES BEFORE TOMORROW NIGHT. HE IS NOT TOO KEEN ON STAYING THE NIGHT THERE AS HE SOMEWHERE OR SOMEHOW HAS BEEN TOLD THE ABBA DIG INEES, (THANK YOU WALLY) ARE PRETTY BAD THERE. (AS IN ALCOHOL INFUSED) LAST TIME WE STAYED THERE WE WENT TO AN INDIAN RESTAURANT WHICH WAS AN EXPERIENCE IN ITSELF. ( THAT'S ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER TIME) I WANT TO STAY THERE AS IT IS A LARGER TOWN AND SO THE MOTELS WILL BE MORE COMPETETIVE AND ALSO OF A BETTER STANDARD THAN IN A SMALLER TOWN. SAFER, I THINK TOO.
BRINGS TO MIND THE QUESTION. WHAT IF WHEN I AM YOUR GRANDFATHER'S AGE I DECIDE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO A ROAD TRIP? WOULD ANY OF MY KIDS BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE TRIP? THINK ABOUT IT?
THE NEXT DAY, (AFTER LEAVING DUBBO) WE WILL MAKE DALBY AND TOOWOOMBA MOST PROBABLY BY 4.00 IN THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY. WHILST THERE, POPS WANTS TO SEE ROMA AND DESLEY, (COUSINS) AND ALSO GO TO HIS OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL (NEWTOWN PRIMARY) WHERE HE WILL NO DOUBT TELL ME AGAIN HOW HE USED TO CAPTAIN THE SCHOOL RUGBY AND CRICKET TEAMS WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG BOY. MUST HAVE BEEN A GOOD ALL ROUNDER SPORTSMAN. HE ALSO WANTS TO GO TO BRISBANE TO SEE THE OLD AREA WHERE HE USED TO LIVE WHERE HIS FATHER TRAINED HORSES BACK IN THE LATE 1930'S. WE WILL NEED TO LEAVE QUEENSLANDFOR OUR RETURN TRIP TO MELBOURNE ON MONDAY 30THY JUNE TO BE BACK IN MELBOURNE BY WEDNESDAY 2ND JULY. I'LL NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST THE ONE DAY AT WORK BEFORE HEADING OUT TO HAT YAI IN THAILAND WITH POPS ON FRIDAY NIGHT OF THE 4TH JULY. ( INDEPENDENCE DAY)
WE WILL SPEND 2 WEEKS IN HAT YAI AT POP'S HOTEL CALLED LEE GARDENS WHICH IS NOT QUITE THE RITZ BUT IT SEEMS TO SUIT HIM. GOLF EVERY DAY PROVIDING HE IS ABLE AND THEN AT SOME STAGE BRIGITTE IS COMING DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE ARE BOOKED TO RETURN ON SUNDAY MORNING 20TH JULY, GET BACK IN TO TULLA AT 8.00PM IN TIME TO START WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 9.00AM. ALL VERY RUSHED BUT POPS WILL ENJOY.
AM CLOSING HERE HOPING THAT ALL OF YOU ARE WELL AND THAT ASH N OWEN ARE VERY CAREFULLY CARING FOR MY 1ST GRANDCHILD AND THAT THE 2 GIRLS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE BIG MOVE BACK HOME.
LOVE TO ALL,
DAD. (MIKE)