Dear family,

It has been awhile since I checked in, so thought I'd best get busy, otherwise I can't complain that no one else is blogging. Steve came down so Peter wouldn't be alone when I was in hosp. Not a good

picture of him, so will try & send a better one later.

Sara, how is the building coming along?? I do hope it has been started, & you can begin living your life again. Don't know how you put up with a permanent guest in the house.

My friend Margaret Harris arrives on Sat., so I'm getting a bit excited! 

She is "doing" Alaska at the moment, then a few days on Van. Island, then flies out here. I just

pray that winter will stay at bay till she leaves, as I want decent weather to show her around.

We will spend Sat. night in Calgary to meet Charlotte & fam., & Steve & fam. Then we will go to the Dinosaur museum in Drumheller, (about 1 1/2 hour drive east of Calgary.) Home via the Brooks Badlands, then we will check out all our local attractions, & go to Kates. We only have 

a week, & lots to see, so no time for wasting. I have planned a dinner for the 12th, to meet our motley crew of friends. I have invited 18, so we will have to use the entertainment room here, as my wee house won't accommodate that many at the table.

Bernice, I did notice your tremendous talent, when you "fixed" the photo, & put Liz in it. I thought you were terribly clever. Also, the beautiful stamps on the DVD were noticed first! 

(And saved.) Australia has the best of all the stamps. The U.S. has the worst. Canada isn't bad, but puts out a lot of dull ones. Cec saves her stamps for me, & has her friends save theirs too.

I missed all the August celebrations, sorry. Rowans' birthday, Marj & Steves' anniversary. Lauren Anstey,Trish Payton, (I did get to ring Trish & Bob.) Asha, Rodney , Oskar, & Patrick & Janes' anniversary. Belated "Happies" to you all. August wasn't a good month.

I have to reiterate what everyone else has said about Oskar. What a gorgeous little man he is, 

& ALMOST shared his dads' birthday. Too bad for Cec & Ray, to live so far away. 

No one has mentioned the Olympics, & how Oz. did?? Needless to say, our papers don't give other countries coverage, & the Aust. web sites were not exactly full of news. The scandals took 

up most of their air time. I'm hoping that ABC has a DVD or some such. Lyn is going to check it out for us. We didn't get a lot of sleep time, because of the time difference. Even then, just events with Canadians were broadcast. The opening & closing ceremonies were very extravagant, but far too long for me. I felt it a bit too, too!!

Families are all well. Steve is a bit "lost", as Grayson has started "big school", & Steve isn't quite ready for that! They just returned from a 10 day holiday in B.C., the day before school went back. Charlotte & crew also in B.C. for 2 weeks, home a few days earlier. Kate & family had a boat trip in June, the boys had a trip to Boston. Otherwise, their time was spent kayaking & hiking. Kate & Doug are avid hikers, & have done nine mountains this year. Makes me tremble just to look at the trails they have taken. They also do a lot of family hiking. You want firm legs?? Go mountain hiking regularly. Drew & Dan still golfing, Dan with the State team. Both quite good. Hockey will soon start, so they will be happy campers with that.

I am wondering how the 21st celebration is shaping up? Who is going? Where will it be held?

I trust Jess has everything under control. With a bit of luck it will be warming up now, so no one will have to freeze if a B.B.Q is planned. (What better way to celebrate a 21st??)

We were glad to hear that Tom is feeling better, ('phone calls to Sara.), as we are all too old to have to put up with the complications of pneumonnia. She sounded good on the 'phone last week. I havn't talked to Mrs. Junie for awhile, so must do that soon.

No news, & I'm prattling  as usual. Mo probably wont be on the blog for a wee while. One of her "constant" patients, & past friends of ours, (when we lived in Crystal City,) died yesterday. Mo has been the family back bone for a few years. The four boys all live quite far away, & the husband is over 90. She may even be asked to do the funeral, although they are not Church of England, but  Uniting Church. Verna has been dying for a long time, but when the time comes, it is hard, & the family rely so heavily on Mo. She has always been there for them & will be now.

We do look forward to your postings, so please busy yourselves, & stop being selfish with your time!! Love to all. Kell