2016 seemed to be busy with work for me, 4 trips together and being grandparents to two beautiful girls.....and continuing to be parents to Cameron, Stuart and Cherie.
Rick stopped work exactly a year ago.... Christmas Eve 2015. He seems to have comfortably adjusted to retirement, with plenty of things to do, including helping Cameron renovate his bathroom. So many jobs to do around the house as well.
I have been relief teaching again this year. It has been strange to go to work while Rick is home! That has only happened rarely over the past 39 years.
The changed work circumstances for Rick has meant that we could zip away on trips at short notice. I worked in between the trips!
Rick stopped work exactly a year ago.... Christmas Eve 2015. He seems to have comfortably adjusted to retirement, with plenty of things to do, including helping Cameron renovate his bathroom. So many jobs to do around the house as well.
I have been relief teaching again this year. It has been strange to go to work while Rick is home! That has only happened rarely over the past 39 years.
The changed work circumstances for Rick has meant that we could zip away on trips at short notice. I worked in between the trips!
We have cruised the South Pacific Islands...no less than three times this year! February, April and again just recently in November! I had been hesitant because of sea sicknesss but we decided to give it a try. We practised in Asia last year, when we cruised on the huge ship, Quantum of the Seas, for 5 days, during our awesome trip to China.
The cruise we have just been on in November , marked our 39th Wedding Anniversary. We swam at the beautiful New Caledonian beach of Mare.
The cruise we have just been on in November , marked our 39th Wedding Anniversary. We swam at the beautiful New Caledonian beach of Mare.
I (Janelle) am still not the hardiest of sea- faring types, but am pleased to say that I have enjoyed these voyages and managed well. As many have told us, it is such a relaxing type of holiday, involving no planes and no constant packing and unpacking.... and way too much food!
In August and September we travelled for almost 6 weeks to Russia and to many eastern Eurpoean countries. It was a fabulous experience. Hard to name a few highlights, as there were so many.
We have enjoyed having Lois and Phoebe for regular sleepovers throughout the year, plus many family dinners together.
Stuart is working for Optus and doing well. He is writing a book in his limited spare time. This venture saw him take a trip to USA in October for a writers' conference. Cherie has reconnected with her artistic talents and has done some lovely painting and sketches this year. She also sings in the Worship team and has a very busy social calendar.
Lois has enjoyed her year at Pre School. She is now 5 and a half and really ready for Kindergarten in 2017.
Phoebe, who is about to turn 4 years old in January, has had a fun year with Cherie..... at coffee shops, play group, shopping and various other social gatherings. She is about to start Pre School in 2017. They live about 100 metres from the very new school in Bonner, which is very convenient for everyone.
They are hoping to visit Cherie's dad and siblings in Korea next October.
Cameron has worked in various roles in the Commonwealth Departments of Social Services and Health. He says that his current role is pretty good, so hopefully it will continue to be satisfying into the new year.
He has just returned from a week in Myanmar (Burma), where he attended his friend's wedding. In other ways, it was a challenging trip. He and many of his friends got very sick. He is glad to be back where he can drink the water and eat safely prepared food.
In August and September we travelled for almost 6 weeks to Russia and to many eastern Eurpoean countries. It was a fabulous experience. Hard to name a few highlights, as there were so many.
We have enjoyed having Lois and Phoebe for regular sleepovers throughout the year, plus many family dinners together.
Stuart is working for Optus and doing well. He is writing a book in his limited spare time. This venture saw him take a trip to USA in October for a writers' conference. Cherie has reconnected with her artistic talents and has done some lovely painting and sketches this year. She also sings in the Worship team and has a very busy social calendar.
Lois has enjoyed her year at Pre School. She is now 5 and a half and really ready for Kindergarten in 2017.
Phoebe, who is about to turn 4 years old in January, has had a fun year with Cherie..... at coffee shops, play group, shopping and various other social gatherings. She is about to start Pre School in 2017. They live about 100 metres from the very new school in Bonner, which is very convenient for everyone.
They are hoping to visit Cherie's dad and siblings in Korea next October.
He has just returned from a week in Myanmar (Burma), where he attended his friend's wedding. In other ways, it was a challenging trip. He and many of his friends got very sick. He is glad to be back where he can drink the water and eat safely prepared food.
