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Published: December 5th 2012
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A picture of health
hair is growing back Blog 26 - A picture of health
In our haste to get a new blog out before the Christmas holidays, we pressed the “publish” button instead of the “preview” button. We have now included some more news and pictures to get everyone up-to-date. Thank you to those of you who commented on the previous broadcast.
Wow, it’s been exactly 6months since the previous blog, but as you can appreciate, there have been other things on our mind and we haven’t done much travelling anyway. We have visited Singleton a few times to do the monthly market there, been to a couple of weddings in the southern highlands and the Hunter Valley, and spent a couple of lazy days by Lake Liddell with Wendy’s sister and her husband. We also had a week at Shoal Bay so we could do a 3 day market there. So we guess we still did get around a fair bit after all! We also had a 5 week stint at house-sitting at Holgate here on the Coast and one week atMangroveMountain. At Holgate we witnessed the blooming of the wisteria where a pair of willy-wagtails built a nest, produced 3 eggs and viciously protected
a great place for a market
Nelson Bay "Tastes of the Bay" Festival their 3 babies. We were only trying to make a photographic record! The hens at Mangrove Mountain were more obliging with their daily gift of 4 eggs for our consumption.
After 3 years of doing markets, we have decided to give it a rest for a while. We have had lots of fun days out and about and we have met some amazing, lovely people. If you would like to purchase an ironing-board cover, peg bag, pegs or wash bags from us before we send the stock back to our supplier, please give us a call BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
Peter had his last dose of chemotherapy on 5
th September and has not looked backwards. His health, stamina and physique are continuing to improve. Looking at the photo on his drivers’ licence, which was renewed in July, we realise just how far he has progressed. He gets tired if he has a big day or does too much work, but he is much stronger and more active than before, and his hair is growing back like he has been standing in a bucket of fertilizer.
For those of you who were not on our medical update list, we are
Anouk Estelle Hockings
Our 5th grandchild was born on 11th September, 2012 in Lismore NSW proud to announce the arrival of grandchild number 5 - Anouk Estelle Hockings was born on 11
th September 2012 in Lismore. We took our first long-distance train ride to be in Lismore for the happy event. It was only 2 days after Peter’s last Chemo treatment and he was not feeling the best. Therefore, we travelled back on the train first class which was a much quieter and more comfortable trip than on our forward journey. We had 10 days of sight-seeing, geocaching, child minding and fun times.
We have discovered Bikram yoga. The room is heated to 40ºC, the class goes for 90 minutes, and there are 24 postures to achieve and 2 breathing exercises. We love it and know it’s doing both of us the world of good. It’s more a younger person’s activity and we are more often-than-not the oldest students in the class, and one teacher kept reminding the class that it’s the toughest yoga in the world! Some people have been quite shocked that Peter has taken on Bikram due to the heat, but he is doing really well. It’s a great way of detoxing.
Last Friday we took the motor home up
Our house-sitting assignment at Holgate
The beautiful setting for a few weeks of "rest" .... if only we could slow down to enjoy it to the Wattagan State Forest where Tim, Matilda and Gabrielle came and “camped” overnight. It was a lovely time, and we have never seen two more excited girls. (We were pretty excited about it too). We made damper and the girls showed us a bower bird’s nest complete with lots of blue decorations. It’s amazing that the birds can find all those treasures in the middle of a forest.
This Christmas will be very special, as we have our kids all in Australia and on the Coast at the same time, so we have decided to stay here on the Coast for Christmas. Melanie, Gareth, Maya and Anouk are coming down from Lismore, and Shannon and her fiancé Michael are currently living on the Coast. Boxing day will be a very special family celebration, especially after such a challenging year with Peter’s illness, which is now in the past.
We hope to get away for some short trips in January, and in February/March, we are house-sitting here in Jilliby while James and Judy travel to Antarctica and South America. When they return we will all have another new grandbaby to spoil and to love. Tim and Georgina are
expecting their 4
th child.
Also from March until May we have another house-sitting assignment at Matcham (here on the Central Coast) and then …….. who knows where? One thing for sure; it will be a long time before we return! And another thing …. It will be a long way away. We’re thinking Northern Territory, the Kimberley, Broome. By then, Peter will have been for his check-up with the doctor and should be well on track to being back to “normal” (whatever THAT is?). 2013 will certainly be a very different and more adventurous year for us.
As this is our Christmas blog, we wish to express our deepest thanks to all our wonderful family and friends who have been there to support both of us during this challenging year. We want you to know that to everybody who has sent well wishes and their love and support both directly and indirectly, it was gratefully received and put to good use. Thank you! If we haven’t caught up with you during the year we hope to in 2013 on the road or where ever you may be. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email at any time.
What are the 6 key things have we learned this year?
1. Life is meant for living now, don’t delay doing what you really want to do.
2. All the material things in the world will never replace the love of your family and friends.
3. Despite what medical professionals tell you, you still have to decide in your heart what is right for you.
4. There is always somebody worse off than you, so never complain about your lot.
5. God often has a different road for you to travel than the one that you planned.
6. We are more than just a physical body. It is always important to love and care for the mind and spirit.
May you all enjoy a Christmas season that is full of love and joy and gratitude and fun, and we trust that 2013 brings you everything that you wish for.
All our love and best wishes
Wendy and Peter
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John Corcoles
non-member comment
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Hi Wendy and Peter Glad to see peter has come out of it in better health. he seems to be getting more hair than he had before. have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Wish we could travel with you. All the best John and Josie