Bob's Xmas Card 2020

Merry Xmas One and All and a Happy New Year wherever you are Bob 2020 News Letter

Well it’s been quite a year.It started quite well, my friend John and I travelled to Australia and New Zealand (February 18 to March 5) and managed to catch up with Donna and Brent, we stayed at Donna and Paul’s place in Balwyn Melbourne and had a few days on the Mornington Peninsula, Brent came across from Adelaide for the occasion.

Phillips Island We managed to see the Penguins on Phillips Island and stayed a few days at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula John and I then had a few days in Mooloolaba on the Queensland sunshine coast John got acquainted with driving in the “proper” side of the road and the roundabouts in fact did quite well, he handled most of the driving for the rest of the trip. After a day at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo we departed for New Zealand via Brisbane, Auckland and then Wellington.

Stayed a few nights at the Brentwood Motel we new it as the .. Had a good visit …with Kerry Montgomery, then off to dinner with Ray and Carole Grant in Churton

Park, good to hear how the clan has grown etc. The next day we dropped in on Peter and Barb Clarke in their new digs in Paremata for brunch, Jamie is staying with them, the Ohakune plantation is no more. Then it was off to see George and Eileen West in Levin. George hasn’t changed a bit.………..Whilst in Levin caught up with the old house on Arapaepae Rd. etc. Then off to a visit with Tim Brook in Foxton to review our facebook posts and catch up.

That night we stayed at Nick and Joan’s station “Tangarewa” near Takapau. Nick was recovering from a bad fall but his general demeanor hasn’t changed. Then it was off to Napier to drop in on Pete and Vi in Taradale, Pete had just recovered from a bout of cancer but was doing well, good to see Vi and Suzie and catch up. We also had an afternoon at the pub with Lindsay Butterfield and Denys Carpenter, strange to be with Pete at the pub and he was drinking lemonade. Enjoyed meeting up with Lindsay, we both are contributors to the Union Company facebook page.

We set off the next day via Taupo to Rotorua visted Te Puia and that evening a Concert Party (Hungi) next to Rainbow springsOn the way out of town the next morning we visited the AgridomeIn Hamilton we stopped in to see Kathy Jones then off to Auckland.

Did the usual in Auckland, the tower. Maritime museum, visit to crankcase corner (No one about), Kelly Tarlton’s and really good fish and chips on the Devonport Pier. The next day (March 5 ) we departed Mangere for LAX via Papeete in Tahiti. thWe had been following the Covid thing but it struck home when we were thoroughly examined at Faa’a (Papeete Airport), LAX was dismal and we got back into Campbell river just under the wire (Before lockdowns and self isolating became in vogue). On 5 of May we lost Garry. thhttps://gardenhill.ca/tribute/details/4542/Garry-Hillier/obituary.htmlHere are some memories of him. https://sway.office.com/pss86qtBYm3Ke5ek?ref=Link&loc=playHe apparently had a massive headache and drove himself to the hospital in Pit Meadows and collapsed in the admissions area, he was transferred to Royal Columbian in New Westminster in a coma, he tested negative for Covid but had a huge brain aneurysm and never recovered from the coma, after 6 days and discussion with the doctor and other medical professionals, it was decided to remove life support. His good friend Phil attended the hospital. It was a bitter blow. We have been observing the Covid Protocols ever since, still do the weekly walk but no Tuesday and Friday bridge sessions, no “happy hour” at the condo etc.

We have managed to decorate for xmas https://online.pubhtml5.com/hhtj/uybl/I Have also been active online “zooming” with the elder college (North Island College) and have proposed to present my International Affairs course again this next term, all by remote learning from my computer. Some other projects I have completed this year include scanning all available Union Company memorabilia into flip books and have posted them to the Union Company facebook website. https://www.facebook.com/groups/751883584867483The library is at https://pubhtml5.com/bookcase/rkgfI took a writing course with the intent of printing my memoirs still a work in –progress https://pubhtml5.com/bookcase/alep Well everybody have a good and happy Christmas and a safe and successful New Year. Bob