Thursday 29 June 2017
From Melbourne : 27.12.90
From Melbourne
27.12.90
Dear Lorna and Alan,
Thank
you for the lovely table cloth. Pamela said you were apologizing that it wasn’t
perfect. The flowers weren’t all from the same group. As if it matters and how
many people would know anyhow. Pamela reckons that Alan knows more about
Australian flowers than I do. I am not at all surprised when you get older it
is much harder to remember. Well that is my excuse.
She
also couldn’t remember whether you said to come in the holidays or not to come
in the holidays.
We were
thinking about early autumn but we would plan our holiday around Tassie just to
be in Hobart at the weekend. It’s just an idea. Bring our car over go down on
East side slowly Hobart at weekend week
spent at Port Arthur, Huon Valley & Central then back to Hobart for weekend
then following week back to North through center & Queenstown. This way we
don’t stay with you while the children are at school and you are busy. The
weekends would be very easy on rushing about for anyone.
This is
just an idea but as I said Pamela forgot which way you suggested. Think about it then let us know as we haven’t done
any booking or enquiries yet but I don’t think there will be much trouble. The
biggest worry will be booking the car on the ferry.
Pamela
seemed to have a good time. She was only home about one hour then we took her
to stay at Clare’s place for about 10 days. Clare is away and said Pamela could
stay there but she still has to go to work and Clare lives much further from
the city then we do. But a good bit of the time will be holidays &
weekends.
We took
Auntie Grace & Win out for afternoon tea yesterday. We went to the
homestead at Point Cook & sat under the large trees. They just enjoyed
getting out as Auntie Grace had another turn on Saturday & didn’t go to
Evelyn’s for Christmas dinner. She wasn’t bad yesterday.
Love
from Dorothy
From St Albans : 27.12.90
From St Albans
27.12
Dear Alan and Lorna,
I
am sorry about buying “boring” presents for your girls but I could not think of
what else to get them that was light. Mum suggested the underwear but I think I
might have bought it too big. I am not sure.
The
books I have bought Jolene are, I think, a bit “trashy” but girls her age love
them and it encourages her to read.
We have
the opposite problem here- trying to get Ben out of a book e.g. on Saturday we
said he could go to the cricket Christmas party if he cleaned up his mess in
the loungeroom.
He
chose to read a novel about the Civil War – so no cleaning up was done and no
party (Ben plays for Albion U12’s)
He did
clean up on Sunday so he could go to Dennis’s family party. Ben & Peter collected
several presents each – none too expensive which is the way I like it e.g. a
sleeping bag, a t-shirt, a truck and a walkie-talkie.
On
Christmas Day we had dinner at Mums along with Uncle Ray. I am sure it was much
quieter than other years (except for Ben & peter fighting). Mum gave Ben
some cricket books and a jigsaw puzzle from Auntie Grace. Peter got some
playmobile and a book about a tram. Dennis and I got a chair each which are
just perfect for sitting in his garage in the evening.
This garage
has a side door as well as a front tilt-a-door. It is big enough to easily fit
2 cars.
Auntie
Grace had a turn on Friday night but I think she is alright again. They stayed
at Westhaven though for Christmas Day.
Alan,
your cousin Iain had a boy on Christmas Day and according to Auntie Laurel they
have called him Roy. (no comment!) Dennis and I have yet to agree on names
though we are getting close.
We
still have no idea what it is. It does move a lot more than the boys and the
head is very low and in a good position, (I have just been to the doctors). It
is due about the 20th Jan.
Ben
starts Vicswim on the 31st (my birthday) for 2 weeks at the St
Albans Pool.
I hope
you all had a great Christmas and I am grateful to Pam for taking the presents
over,
love
Anne XXXXXX
From Italy : 3.12.90
From Italy
3.12.90
Dear Alan,
Well
yes – what can you say? Over a year I have been away and it is not until now
that I put pen to paper. Mum says you always ask about me. Well I believe part
of that.
Life
here is extremely variable. Particularly at the moment. Today for instance I
worked from 7:30 am -9:00 pm with lunch & dinner stops (mind you they are
long enough to eat and that is all). Doing various things – preparations for
lunch, helping with clean up afterwards, not a minute to myself until now.
(Watching
“Top Gun” with Italian dubbing!) Other days I have hours to myself and find
myself wanting something to do. Never satisfied.
My
first white Christmas (hopefully). This house is big and a room in December we
started to decorate for Christmas. They have put lights on the trees outside
the dining room and lounge room. Lovely.
They do
everything big.
So thin
is how the rich live. Not for me, well not in thin fashion. They never relax,
always on the go, everything in the house has to be perfect. Not a speck of
dust allowed in my room. To begin with I simply couldn’t understand why? (still
don’t) but I suppose I have adapted (not changed) and three months have already
passed. Probably another six to go.
The
family have another house in the Alps on the Austrian side and usually spend a
few weeks there after Christmas. Inches from the ski slopes. I think it will be
worthwhile for the opportunity to ski.
My
Italian is coming along. You may be surprised to hear. It is such a sensible
and beautiful sounding language.
It
would be much better if I had to speak
it with the family. But I speak English with all the members. The children are
virtually fluent in English with American accents.
Most
Italians I speak to who know English speak it with an American accent.
They
can’t pick that up from TV or the cinema because everything is dubbed.
The
food is okay. I like the pasta their meat dishes are large lumps of meat.
Gross. I usually don’t eat them. I eat what I want as one serves (takes) their
own choice. Every meal has salad and fruit which is nice.
And the
coffee of course, cappuccino with a freshly made (still hot) pastry. Yes I have
this on my day off when I go into the local town (I live in a village) for my
lesson.
So how
is life in Hobart? I have never been to Tasmania. Shame really. Perhaps when I
return?
All
this way and I haven’t been to Queensland, New Zealand… King Island!
Have a
lovely Christmas.
I will
be thinking of you as I speed down the slopes!
Take
care,
Love
Bev
From Southbroom : 4.10.1990
From Southbroom
4.10.1990
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Note when I started this letter - anyway we are at
Jenny’s. She is at Winterbottom teaching & Daddy is helping Jimmy to put
the Cressida back together, as they blew the engine about 3 weeks ago & Jimmy
has had it all done up – now it must be assembled then put in the car. Jimmy
has taken 10 days leave to sort it out.
Dad is being a misery as usual , because he came with me to
town to go shopping & we first had to get money from the Y.B.S. & she
had no money being too early on a Monday morning & he get so fed up & wouldn’t wait so
I waited on my own then went shopping on my own & I have just got an ear
full from him – also because it is boiling hot (30 C) & I asked him to come
down for a swim with me & he doesn’t want to – then when I said I would go
on my own I got another ear full – so I am sitting in the music room &
writing. I’m at it again as Dad could see I was mad, so he came & took me
for a delicious swim – now I am making bread rolls for lunch - as the kids won’t
be in until 3p.m. –actually it has just started to hail & rain –so I think
we must go & fetch Tara from school – as I am sure the tennis will be cancelled.
I’m ducking & diving as I have the bread rolls in the oven.
Debbie phoned to say you phoned her & she was very
excited about it. Jenny has one more exam to doo then she has to sit & wait
for her results. I had a lovely weekend with the kids. I took them to the river
on Saturday & Sunday & yesterday we took the kayak with us & the kids
really enjoyed themselves. It brought back memories of 2 little mites sitting
in “paddle me” & drifting towards the wall at CragieBurn –we haven’t been
there for ages as Daddy moans as the last time we have been there the wind has
blown gales & we have had to come
home early – it is a long way.
Well we are home again & have worked in the garden for 2
whole days & it is starting to look nice.
We have family day here on the 10th so I am trying to get
everything ship shape. Debbie, Lionel & kids are going to Jenny for the
weekend. Vanessa has just phoned she is working at Makro on the switchboard ½
day. I am pleased as she & Neal were not getting along too well with her
home all day & doing nothing. Two of the sheep have lambs & Dad has
gone over to see if the 3rd one has produced yet.
Tons
of love,
Mum,
Dad & family
From St Albans 17.9.90
From St
Albans
17.9.90
Dear Alan, Lorna, Melissa, Jolene &
Stacey,
It
sounds like from dad, that you are very settled in your new home and the girls
are settled in school. Dad says Stacey starts kinder today. The house sounds so
close to everything.
Things
are going well here. I will be 23 weeks at the end of this week. I have had an
ultrasound and everything is fine. I insisted that they did not tell me the sex
of the baby as we want it to be a surprise. I hope to be able to work up to
Christmas. School is alright at the moment as many students have either left
school or just don’t turn up! This is very typical of Braybrook.
We
have ordered a garage but have been waiting weeks for a permit from the
Sunshine Council. This is normal for them. We are getting a Garage Place to
build it when the permit comes through.
This
will give Dennis somewhere to store all his “junk” and somewhere to work out of
the weather. He is still working at Preston Motors in North Essendon and likes
the work.
The
usual things are happening here in September –The finals – I hope West Coast
don’t win and the show – will go instead of giving Ben a birthday party (28th)
This was his choice.
I
am looking forward to Auntie Laurel’s 70th birthday party. It is on
the 7th October. It will be interesting to see how much the cousins
have changed over the years. Darryl & Sue won’t be there because Uncle Ray
& Darryl & Sue are going to Japan for a holiday.
Bev
wrote to me and has a job teaching a rich girl English in Italy. It sounds
great and she should pick up Italian in the 10-12 months she will be there.
Please
let Mum and Dad know what your plans are for Christmas when you know what they
are. I will be having a very quiet Christmas as the baby is due on the 22nd
Jan. However both the boys came early so it could be born early January.
Alan
have a great birthday on the 24th
love Anne XXXXXXX
&
Dennis, Ben & Peter
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