ROBERTS' GRANDCHILD

Dale (Read) Roberts and her husband Graham have announced that they are happy grandparents, at long last. Dale and Graham graduated in 1964. Derryn, their #2 daughter and her man Brian (pictured) are responsible for a 7 lb girl, LILA. Gra and Dale live in Sydney while Derryn, Brian and Lila live in England. The Roberts will be heading across the water to check things out pretty soon.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY

Well, you can guess Santa got his hemispheres a bit mixed this year. Seems he came a bit earlier than the usual December. He noticed a heap of collambience and .... bingo.... next thing he's floating round Kenthurst of all places! With 2 very helpful elves (I have it on good authority.)
Well done Santa (Ludwig?) and his 2 helpers. Believe there were a goodly number to keep an eye on the bonfire... again. Well done all.... but especially Marion and Sue.
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Pretty soon - next month - a bunch of caravanners will head to Qld via Narrabri etc. Hopefully it'll include Fitzpatricks, Hughes (with new avan), Keasts, and possibly Beth & Barry Robertson in their new avan. Yep, the damn things seem to be breeding! Do give us a yell if you're interested in coming for about 3 weeks - keasty446@gmail.com - ta!

VANCOUVER to VANCOUVER ISLAND

Vancouver is a beautiful city. One of the most beautiful cities in the world in my opinion. So, it was quite sad to read about the riots and vandalism after the Vancouver Canucks were defeated in the Stanley Cup recently. I have photos of boarded-up windows still, smashed windows yet to be repaired and examples of the outpouring of emotion by way of messages of apology and love for the city. I've chosen not to post them. I prefer to remember the beauty rather than the damage. It's still great to be back in Vancouver.

From there, we ferried to Vancouver Island; a trip which took 1:40 hrs in a comfortable large vehicle-carrying ferry. Brother Bill lives here in lovely Nanaimo and it was good to catch up with him once again.
In fact, there are four Keasts now on the island! Is this a record? Could be. Margaret from Sydney is with Bill, Fay and I having a great time. The 3 visiting Keasts are here to help Bill celebrate a "special" birthday. Of course he won't tell us the actual figures... but I've been doing the sums! In the meantime, we're having a beaut tourist wander round the island.
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I note that the weather for today is as follows: Maximum temps in the following places:
Sydney - 16, Narrabri - 15, Cudmirrah - 15, Pooncarie - 13, Cairns 26 and Nanaimo - 18 (and cloudy!) Still great to be here. Even if their summer is comparable with our winter ... well, not really.... but close.

VAN TURNS 125

Fay and I departed Seattle and headed for Vancouver (Van) on Sunday. Bus cost about $60 each for the 4 hr trip. Pleased to report that Fay (about the same young age as Mario Biasutti) has finally come of age and I am able to get a discount for her!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT VAN:

• Teachers are taking action - they want 10 days paid leave for death of any friend or relative ("paid bereavement leave").
• Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Will & Kate) have been touring PEI, Quebec and now NWT. They even had a go at dragon boating - Beth Robbo at Sussex will be pleased.
• "Vancouver is clearly a pricey place to live. Beauty comes at a price." Jack Jedwab. [In today's THE PROVINCE.] Quebec reported to be more livable.
  
• Cyclists are supposed to wear helmets... but they are slack, police don't enforce and cyclists and pedestrians are being bowled over (and killed!)
  
• Vandals and rioters caused 4 to 5 million bucks worth of damages here in Van. Shop windows smashed everywhere, and windows boarded up still. Quite disgusting. Very frightening. Glad I wasn't here then. Just cause they lost a hockey game! (Photo shows just some of the "sorry notes" all over the place.)
  
• You can buy a new Chev Silverado pickup for $20,000 CAN. (Even cheaper in the States!)
  

Other than that, we love Van. Today we're due to ferry across to Van Island - a 1:40 hr trip. Will be good to catch up with brother Bill (WWTC 1960-61).
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Report on Smarty in Nowra, he's busy playing bowls and fishing, but due to have more chemo treatment shortly which will have crook side effects.
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Party at Marion's on this weekend. Neat. Missing will be Forsythes, Keasts, Smarts, Curetons, Helen Smith, Team Lucas as far as my info is concerned. Have a good one guys!!! We'll be home on 17 July.