Hi and good morning

I'm up and racing after attending my friend's (Ruth AndersonSmith) funeral at Como Mansion yesterday. John and Hooch came too, of course. Imogen and Ned were unable to attend.

The service was held in the garden with her children, ex partner and longest best friend talking about different aspects of her and her life. At the end her son William sang solo. This was a great tribute to her. After, we had a party with beer and wine, tea and coffee etc in the gardens and ballroom. It was a great reunion of colleagues, past students, family and friends.

Then, some of us went back to her house where the party continued and we all met each other and new each other through her. This was very special and it was weird to finally leave her home and know that it will change forever.

The girls have gone to Harmers and will head off to the Pyramid New Year's rock festival on Phillip Island today to avoid the crowds that will be piling onto the island tomorrow.

Love to you and Nana from Helen and John, and Happy New Year to all the Dear Pa bolggers!!!

Thank You Family

Dear Family,

Thank you to Julie, Tony and family for hosting such a lovely Christmas Day in their home and to all members of the family who contributed with food, drink and presents to this festive occasion. Nana and I enjoyed and appreciated very much the day and having so many of the family and grandchildren with us.

Love Pa
XX OO

SEASONS GREETINGS

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL THE FAMILY

LOVE FROM NANA AND PA

Oaks Day Fashion Parade at Arcadia

Herewith Nana wearing a "fascinator" together with Nurse Meka at the Oaks Day Fashion Parade held at Arcadia last month. The fascinators were made by some of the residents who do craft work.

Congratulations again to Hooch and Imogen on such brilliant results and also to Ruth who got all 'A's for her year 9 subjects, and was elected house captain. Melanie did well in her subjects partricularly in drama , Nicholas got high distinctions in all subjects and was admitted to the double engineering science dgree course and Christopher successfully completed his year. Kendal got an excellent rating in her subjects and Alex together with Iona will be going into year 7 at Princess Hill Secondary College in '07. Patrick is joining Hugh at Essendon Grammar next year and both have done well. Phoebe will soon be following Ruth to Penleigh.

Congratulations to all for a good years work.

Nana and I look foreward to seeing you all at Julies on Christmas Day

Love Pa

HI

Contrary to your initial intuitions that the above title is an informal greeting, it is in fact 'aitch one' - meaning that I've just got my Honours mark back and it's 81 - which just scrapes into 'HI ' the highest catogory for honours marking. :)

My thesis got 76 (out of 100), and my two coursework units got 89 (Linguistic Theory) and 82 (Indonesian Special Reading Course); all of which averages out to 80.75, which they have rounded up (yay for me!).

Thanks Pa, Nana, and all the family for your support and interest in my topic throughout the year.

Anyway, I have to go now to help clean up the house for Imo's party...... see you soon.

Look who I found!

We have been going through our family photos for Imogen's 21st photo board and I came across this one; it was too irresistible not to share. Enjoy...

Congratulations

Dear Imogen,

Congratulations on a great result. All the best for your future.

Love Nanna and Pa