MORE OF THE HUNTER

Haven't had too many comments so far. Maybe it was a bit too much!! Fay and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks Graeme and Susi.

GOOD FOOD AND WINE

What a great place to have good food and good wine! The Hunter!
Our gathering was extremely successul (as usual) with about 20 folk present. Some drank wine and some...... yep, you guessed it.....

Sat night was beef and burgundy! Gorgeous! Graeme & Susi did a great job. This meal took place out in the paddock... in amongst the cowpats! Gramma pie and ice cream! To die for! More photos in a few days.

Brunch Sunday and GOB was on fire again! Thanks mate! Sorry we couldn't stay to help you finish the paving. He was certainly in line for man of the match when we left!

It's always good when it's the hostess who spills the red wine!! She still looks beautiful. Helen looks on admiringly.

Some of the team on a garden tour on Saturday morning. A very pleasant way to spend a morning - checking out beautiful gardens in the Hunter valley. Thanks Pam Wright.

This was one of my favourites. What is its name Graham? Would it grow in Cudmirrah?

More collambience opportunity. Can you pick out the players?

Merv and Bernie admire the arrangements of the furniture for Saturday night.

" We could perhaps put a few roses just over near that tree," advised the rose connoisseur, Graham W.

FORTY ODD YEARS AGO...

Some of you may remember the other photo which was the front view. Well here's the back view!! Way to go Buuna men!!

Looks like Johnny Kember and Rob Hughes.

Hhhmmm... sorry it's so small.... any guesses???

This is Barry Clark who lives in Wyong. He's hoping to catch up with other ex WWTC folk and their partners in coming days. Looks after his Dad which restricts him a bit.

Looking forward to catching up with you Barry.

Hope to see a bunch of you folks at the Hunter bash in March. (see further below).

SO, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Yep, I can ID everybody here! How about Marion or Van tell us what was happening. OK?

Fay having a chat with Joy (Diehm) Griffin. They are both 63-64 folk. Griffins moved to Batemans Bay from Canberra. Great move. You should see their house!!!

Should I have borrowed a suit from a bloke who is 6'2"+? Maybe not. Thanks John Griffin. Really great to catch up with you again.

This is one of Gra and Dale Roberts' daughters. (Name withheld due to security reasons and I haven't been granted permission!!) Lovely young lady who has spent a fair bit of the last 10 years in England. Looking a million dollars at present. Still unattached!!

Fay and Gra. GK ready to funeral held in Junee. Temp was 41!!! No, I didn't wear the coat in that climate!!! Thanks again John.

Think Jan and Jim Smart head off on their cruise pretty soon. Guess somebody has to do it!

HUNTER VISIT IN MARCH

Programme (Proposed)

Friday March 27
Depends who and when you arrive - local tavern for dinner

Saturday March 28
Open Garden in Singleton - lunch
Tuff Truck - for the male rev heads
Wine Tasting - lunch at a vineyard
Baiame Cave
Evening Dinner Under The Stars at O’Brien’s

Sunday March 29
Brunch at O’Brien’s
HV Gardens

Monday 30
The stayers - we will work it out

Will work out the cost of the evening dinner and the brunch and let you know

Vintage – grape harvest, tasting the juice, concerts

Pokolbin
Hunter Valley Gardens
Wineries
HV Chocolate Factory
HV Cheese factory
Restaurants
Golf

Singleton
Australian Open Garden Scheme
Museum of the Royal Australian Infantry
Historical Museum

Bulga
Tuff Truck Challenge
Baiame Cave (aboriginal site)
Bush walks
Wollemi National Park
Tennis
4WD driving

Broke
Vineyards - Catherine Vale, Margan, Krinkelwood and more
Restaurants

Accommodation (near Broke – 15 to 20 minutes from O’Brien’s)
Starline Alpaca 8 cottages 4 to 8 people each
Hunterstay
Serenity Grove Cottage – up to 10 people
Tara Cottage 6-8
Carrs Macadamia Farm
And others

Chez O’Brien
Good company, bad jokes, park your van, there will probably be a couple of spare bedrooms, hospitality

When?
Friday – Sunday March 27-29 2009

PS Is it true that Dougie is painting "AVAN" on his caravan so he can get the AVAN discount from the O'Brien Camping and Caravan Resort? So, what are you gonna do Merv?

SUMMER SEASON

You can't take a bad photo at Cudmirrah. A beautiful spot.

Jim and Jan Smart relaxing. They are off on another cruise in Feb.

Barry Robertson and his son Dan (an engineer in Perth).

Also seen at Cudmirrah.... Beth Robertson (Barry's wife) and Jan Smart.

They seem to be enjoying themselves and are fairly relaxed.

Fay and I are still at Cudmirrah, except for when we're in Sydney for the NSW tennis or having a short romp down to Batemans Bay etc. Then in Feb we are heading to Port Macquarie for a Reunion of the 1961-62 group. (I know a number of these folk.)

Sorry I can't chat... gotta get back to the water. (Actually this Sydney weather is a bit warmish eh?)

Send me a Christmas photo I can put in the blog!

UPDATE ON VAN

I am enclosing some comments from Marion and Gerard who have been in to visit Van during his first week at Royal North Shore Hospital. No doubt he'll be there for a bit longer yet.

Marion: Van was taken for a scan today (Friday) and it appears that he has done some damage to his kidneys, no details. He is likely to be in hospital for a "matter of weeks", however long that is.

The doctors are concerned that Van is not getting enough quality rest - and so Van's mum has suggested that friends postpone their visit to the hospital for a week or so. Apparently there is a steady stream of people thru his room. (I think he is really surprised and quite moved by this.)

# # # # # # # #

Gerard: A young haemotologist was visiting Van when I arrived so I quietly waited outside. I was delighted to hear a very strong voice questioning the doctor about his treatment. She assured him that the decision not to have him undergo any surgery was right and that the eight breakages in amongst his spinal vertebrae and the four broken ribs and all the torn and bruised tissues would heal in good time, given the right medication, diet, exercise and tender loving care. A close scrutiny of his kidneys today did not reveal any problems.

We had a good chat. Van's looking much better and was quite alert. The self-medicating painkilling gadget is gone.

The brace brought to help him has so far been too uncomfortable.

In his profound grieving for Jennifer, he's also thrilled that they had the chance to speak to each other over the phone on the Friday night to comfort each other and were not totally isolated in the two hospitals.

As usual with Van and me, the conversation soon turned to our contrasting philosophies of life. His questioning was as sharp as ever. The soon-to-be Dr Vanlyn Davy is still in very good cognitive form despite all his current predicaments!

Re Jennifer's funeral: Family & friends are warmly invited to attend JENNIFER-ANNE'S funeral service to be held in the West Chapel at Northern Suburbs' Crematorium, Delhi Rd, North Ryde on TUESDAY, 2nd December, 2008 at 12:45PM - from SMH.

Anne Wilson Funerals
[02] 9971 4224