Christmas Letter 2018

1/2 Magnolia Street
TANUNDA SA 5352 AUSTRALIA

Dear Friends,

Sooner than you realise, Christmas pops up and you wonder where another year has gone. You also recall you're a year older, not always good to dwell on until you consider the alternative. We are both still glad to be here and in good health!

Our main focus in 2018 was our move to Tanunda. On January, 25^th we moved into our new house. Since then we've set ourselves up comfortably, had a 5m x 3m patio erected and began establishing our garden. We've only recently begun to hang our artwork on our walls to brighten up the place – maybe we'll finish it before Christmas.

Our car has learned the way to Bunnings Hardware and Dan Murphys in Gawler and Spotlight at Munno Para (who dreams up these names?). We have lovely similar vintage neighbours in our cluster of eight houses and get together for occasional cheese, biscuit and wine evenings. The gardening and maintenance teams from Barossa Village have become friends as they call in to mow the lawn and carry out small maintenance requests. We don't even have to change our lightbulbs.

Christina fills her time attending several embroidery, sewing, knitting, craft groups and also volunteers at the Barossa Village Aged Care facility cafe on Thursdays. She has also volunteered to be the treasurer of the local RSL Club of which we are both management committee members. Robin is a Legacy volunteer, plays golf at the Barossa Valley Golf Club in nearby Nuriootpa, attends the local Men's Shed where he has built a couple of planter boxes and is currently working on several bird feeders and houses. We both attend the gym conveniently located a few hundred metres from us, at least three times weekly and the rest of the time is filled with the usual housekeeping, socialising, relaxing, wine tasting (Robin only), and occasional trips. We've a lot to see yet – there are 70 odd vineyards here and dozens of restaurants and other attractions. 

How did we ever find time to work!

Recently we registered our Toyota and surrendered our Northern Territory driver's licences, so now we feel as though we've really made the transition from Territorians to South Australians - good sad.

Both of us had cataract surgery this year so our outlook on life is less blurry but unfortunately, we can now see dust on artifacts about the house that previously went unnoticed. Damn.

Meredith, Tory (17 this year) and dog Max are coming south to spend Christmas with us. Unfortunately, Dale has to work, so he won't make it until next year. All are well. Dale expects to get a cochlear implant in 2019 which should improve his quality of life as his hearing has deteriorated to almost zero, even with one ear aided. We now only communicate via chat - audio is out of the question.

We have a nice second-hand car sitting here waiting for Tory for Christmas. He and Robin will drive it to Alice Springs when Meredith and Max return after their Christmas break. Robin will then fly back to SA after a short break. 

In 2019 we are taking a 37 day Princess cruise from Singapore to Southampton, UK and plan to visit southern UK and Ireland before flying back home. We also plan some time in Bangkok en route to get some dental work done and visit the sights. We may also visit a friend at Siem Reap in Cambodia who is setting up a guest house ex a lengthy career with the Northern Territory Police.

We hope this finds you in good health and humour and trust that you will enjoy the festive season as we plan to. Stay well and safe and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Love, Robin and Christina