Journal. David Letter.

26 Dudley Ave
Huntly, 2191
New Zealand

17 November 2004
Hello David and Moira,

Well the manuscript arrive safely, you will be pleased to know 2 days ago. I will probably start it in a few weeks around Xmas time to write it up. I am at present transcribing some old genealogy records, it is a slow business and I would like to get it out of my hair. I have been slowly writing up my journal notes too of our trip to the UK and I am just coming to the end of them.

Glad to hear news from you but I was sorry to hear of Elaine’s problems. Oasis Park near Penrith, that would have been before my time there so I will look it up on the Internet, most places seem to advertise on the net now. I do hope that you go out to Ullswater and have a look at the old place. It hasn’t changed much, just the people. Most locals have left the district (Howtown side) and all the farms and houses are tied to the tourism business. David, remember Waterside Farm where the summer tents and caravans were just before you get to Sharrow Bay? The Lowis’s lived there, we as children often hired the rowboat for an hour or two if our pocket money would allow. Strictly against my Mum’s orders, but what the eye doesn’t see…..

A nephew now runs the farm and camp and they were pleased to hear of the old days when I called in.

Not sure what is news from us. John’s daughter Jennifer has had a baby… James George about a month ago premature at 28 weeks and 3lb. but doing well and still in hospital. Jennifer is home but visits daily. Maybe John has told you?

Ian our eldest son and his wife Vicky were due to arrive here in NZ on Oct. 30th for a 6 weeks visit but at the last moment had to cancel. Vicky, on a routine visit to her doctor mentioned as an afterthought a nagging stomach problem. On inspection and a referral to the hospital for diagnosis it turned out to be a tumor together with a futher problem showing up on the scan. An immediate operation was required as so the visit was postponed.

After a 10-day stint in hospital and successful surgery, she was discharged last weekend and now comes a long recuperation. Initially the specialist thought the growth was cancerous, apparently they usually are but treatable. This one was benign which was a blessing. The other problem was cysts on an ovary, the ovary had to be removed. The growth was caused by the ovary problem, unusual but not unknown. Vicky will need to wear an external bag for a few months and them come a futher operation to rejoin the bowel intestine.

Well that was our worrying “highlight” for the year.

I haven’t got any highlights good or bad; life just goes along and with complete retirement now giving me plenty of time to do the things I used to put off for lack of time. I spend a lot of time in the garden and growing things in the greenhouse. Not just veges, I take lots of cuttings from trees and shrubs and seeds from plants. We have almost half an acre and the steep bottom half is mainly in grass and up to recently mown by a goat. So I am filling the bottom half with tree and shrub cuttings. Things grow quickly in NZ, many continuously all the year round so soon it will be like a small wood. I hope.

I wonder if the Oasis is at Lowther village just down the road from Penrith? If it is, that is where Norman and Vera Brough lived as children. Once, John and I went to stay with them as children for 6 weeks or more. Mum was in hospital with an abscess down inside her ear. We were packed off to stay at uncle John Brough’s at Lowther and we went to the local school at Hackthorpe for the period.

I babble on. I must get this in the post to you this afternoon to let you know of the manuscript’s safe arrival.

I will David, try and lay the pages out similar to your part 1 of “Thanks for a Life” with the same or similar fonts and page heading style and then use your journalized style for the text body.

Yes Moira, we too often talk of our stay with you and hope maybe that we can do the same sometime in the future for a longer spell. I would like to visit England again especially up north both Cumberland and South Shields and of course Ponteland. We really thought it was a lovely place to live.

All the best to all of you and I do hope you enjoy your Xmas break.

Oh, and a pat for Lara

Eric