Newsletter 2012

Hello Family and Friends,

The Charities Card Shop in Civic, in response to my complaint enquiry regarding their diminished range this year, explained that it related to "increased costs" and "People are not sending cards so much these days". So perhaps we're a generation or two behind the technological forefront (as usual) by insisting on paper-based rather than texted self-indulgent greetings …

Our family has been funeral-free this year, but several members of friends' families have passed away, and others have had medical crises and physical decline.  However, we have seen many births – particularly of course, Karen and Wade's little Jack (Kennedy), born 22nd June.  So Chris and Claire's Eloura (28/08/11), and Adrian and Alycia's Lily (14/11/11) now have a cousin to keep the Family Tree nice and symmetrical.

We've also rejoiced in the births of Frankie Grocott, Ella Arcidiacono, Theodore (O'Brien), Emily O'Brien, Bailey Auld and Oscar Davenport. Of course, we're delirious with excitement over expectations for the Duchess of Cambridge, but try not to show it ...

Karen & Wade have been joined by Jack, born five-weeks early but keen to get on with his life, and doing very well. So we now have a son for Wade & Karen, and grandson for Jeanne & Robert and Dennis & Di, a nephew for Glenn and Chris & Clair and Adrian & Alycia, and a cousin for Eloura and Lily.  It's interesting how we take on so many roles at an early age!

                      

Karen loves her full-time motherhood, sharing insights and experiences with other families.  She plans to return to her work in disability employment consulting in March next year.

Wade continues to work just across the road, which is really convenient for child-care. Wade's bro Uncle Glenn lives nearby, providing a good local family contact. Jack has acquired a junior golf set, and is preparing to get started on course any day now.

An address including the word "Beach" makes an attractive destination for visits by friends and family, so Jack should have a good opportunity to meet his cousins!

Adrian & Alycia, now replete with toddler Lily, love their new parenthood role.  Lily celebrated her first birthday in style with a beach picnic party, and has now become highly mobile.  She recently met her Uncle Wade and Auntie Karen, Cousin Jack, and great-Auntie Kathy and families.  So her socialisation skills are growing apace.

     

She loves straw-bale houses, wood-fired stoves, bushwalking and camping, community gardening and sampling new foods; not quite sure yet about long car journeys.

Alycia has made a partial return to high-school teaching at Phillip Island, and will resume on a fuller basis next year.

Adrian plans to change from his outdoor-education work away from home, to more local employment with better access to Lily-minding and home-care.  You can see here what the Postman brought for AJ:

        

Alycia's parents Janet and Tony and sister Giselle have been a huge help in A&A's home-making on the Island and is assistance with Lily.

Chris & Claire "live life to the full", with a high-energy mixture of parenting the rather-mobile Eloura, and their multifarious endeavours. Chris has gained broad experience relief teaching, but now seeking full-time teaching work. Mummy Claire is back teaching and performing in schools.

Jeanne, Robert and Adrian were privileged patrons at their cabaret "The Alluring Rose" in August – a highly professional and ambitious performance conceived, created and delivered to an appreciative audience in the sumptuous Marybrooke Manor at Sassafras.

   

Their participation in the Eclipse Festival north of Cairns (visiting R&J's friend of decades), Island romping, skydiving, liquorice sales and high-wire frolics are "just the tip of the activities iceberg".   I occasionally submit a plea for careful consideration of the balance between passion and pragmatism … but then I'm just a father …

                          

Jeanne has had a year of joyful focus on the new and almost-new grand children, with the birth and development of little Jack, and the growth of Lily and Eloura. Our greatest joy is seeing them grow, and their parents' pride and joy in their new families. Our corresponding sorrow is their remoteness from the ancestral nest at Watson.

JJ continues in relief and special-needs teaching, specialising in work with children with autism and learning disorders. She seems to manage their complex communication challenges skilfully, making her sought-after by schools needing a relief teacher.

Jeanne sings with two choirs (Gospel Folk and 2CC) for weekly practices and various public performances. This activity brings physical, emotional and social benefits. Her weekly yoga classes seem to be a big help, and she has had great success with "yoga in the classroom"!

We share some activities - church roles, Jung Society (JJ Librarian, RJ Treasurer), General Semantics Soc (AGS) monthly seminars in Sydney etc, Initiatives of Change contacts, Ted's "Hub" gatherings, art shows in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, and activities with friends.

We spend many weekends visiting Karen & Wade (and now Jack) at Forresters Beach, Uncle Frank, Laurie, Phil & Lyn, Gav & Pauline and other friends in Sydney, Chris & Claire & Eloura at Sassafras (Melbs), Adrian & Alycia & Lily at Phillip Isl. and my sis Kathy & Bob & family at Glenbrook.

Robert has reflected upon a comment from our friend and mentor Ted, regarding the balance between a structured, "rhythmical" pattern of life, as opposed to one that emphasises creativity, risk and exploration (not naming any names here!) When I hinted at possible regrets at the former option, he suggested, "Well, sometimes it's worth throwing it all up in the air and see how it lands, under God's guidance!" I'm not sure about "throwing it all up", but maybe an "incremental review process" may be in order every decade or so.

I continue to sell my IT project management and truck-driving services to DFAT, and engage in activities with Jeanne (as above), Prisoners Aid Soc, Jungian Discussion Group, Canberra Interfaith Forum Environment and Meditation Garden works, "See Change" organisation, maintaining various websites etc.

As a ménage a deux with no local family, Jeanne and I do focus somewhat on the extended connections. A friend once asked “Do you think that you live your lives vicariously through your children?” I said “No, but it’s something to watch-out for!”

I had a rather unusual experience when in New York for a GS symposium just when Hurricane Sandy visited ... details are on our AGS web site.

Bibs is not getting any younger (as they say), but I'm sure she's accumulating wisdom. She still loves our midnight romp before beddie-byes, darting about in search of the elusive Higgs Boson (as she has explained to me). I learn from Bibs that there is value in enjoying the journey of life, even if the destination is not clear …

Have a jolly-good Christmas and another resolution-filled new year.
We hope to see you all again soon.

 

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