Christmas
Greetings for 2013
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| With Santa at North Pole, Alaska - July |
This
Year started with a trip up the coast to get mum’s place ready for sale.
Fortunately it sold fairly quickly and dispersal
of the estate is now completed. We came
back to Yass for another house sit and enjoyed 5 of David’s 20 performances as
Jean Valjean in Les Mis with friends and relatives in February. He was great
and later in the year he was awarded the Canberra Critics’ Circle Award.
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| David, as Jean Valjean - Feb/March |
So
then in April we set off to LA, collected the RV in Vegas, visited friends in
Texas, then headed for Alaska up the eastern side of the Rockies. The Americans
“do” their National Parks well and we really enjoyed the Rocky Mnts NP, Grand
Tetons NP, Yellowstone NP and Glacier NP.
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| The Tetons from Lookout along the Snake River |
There was plenty of snow and the
scenery was breathtaking. Then into Canada and followed the Alcan Hwy through
The Yukon to Anchorage. A most wonderful trip.
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| Bear and cubs fishing for salmon in Alaska |
Before
we came home we joined a group of Rotarians on a friendship exchange to
Indiana, another great experience.
The
RV is back in Houston. We’ve decided to sell it – other places are beckoning
us.
The
kids are all well and healthy.
Ali and JP celebrated their 10th
wedding anniversary and are still enjoying their music, bands and concerts. They
went to Cyndi Lauper and Van Halen concerts during the year. Ali does volunteer
work in Penrith and JP is studying accounting at TAFE .
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| Alison and JP |
After seeing Malta, Edinburgh
and Paris earlier in 2013, Carolyn and Gavin returned to Australia from London
in October. They are setting up in Canberra and planning a wedding in August.
Carolyn has returned to her passion, early childhood education, and has
accepted a Senior Educator position in a beautiful centre in the Toddler room.
Gavin has enrolled in a course with Charles Sturt Uni doing Master of Security
studies, and is working hard at it.
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| Carolyn and Gavin in London |
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| Dave and Kirsten in Philadelphia |
David (Les Mis) and Kirsten (Hair) - shows this
year. Kirsten completed her Bachelor of Arts (majoring in creative writing) Dave
auditioned unsuccessfully for Aust Opera but sang his arias beautifully at the
recent Christmas concert. They had a great month in USA in April/May, Philadelphia,
New York (Shows) to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
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| Kirsten and Dave in Washington DC |
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| Huong and Luke |
Huong and Quang had a much wanted beautiful baby
boy in August and named him Luke. Jenny and Emma are enjoying having a brother and
both are doing well in school. Huong is thinking about returning to work early
next year.
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| Jen, with Jenny, Emma and Luke |
We are all heading for Charlotte Pass in the
Snowy Mountains, for four days over Christmas at the ski lodge with Kirsten’s
parents (Adele and Brett) and brother (Brian) – away from phones and email – and
hoping to have good walking weather and maybe another trek to the top of
Kosciuszko.
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| Ready to walk to Mt Kosciuszko |
We have a busy year ahead and are planning to move back to Blaxland
later in the year.
We wish you and your families good health,
contentment and happiness for 2014.
Our Best Wishes from Jen, Garry and Family xox
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| Merry Christmas from Coxe Glacier, Alaska |
