Christmas Message 2022

 Dear Friends

We often discuss how fast our years seem to be travelling. It seems only yesterday that the new Millenium came in with much fanfare and astonishment by some that the world didn't end because of the so-called Year 2000 Bug.

As we now know, two decades later, nothing eventuated from the expected crisis. Humanity has a way of resolving challenges - and creating new ones too.

But not to worry, we at the Henry household don't get distracted by crises when they are fictional or not directly affecting us like the floods interstate (we do feel for those poor people affected). Our only crisis is wondering why time goes so fast and how we ever had time to work five days per week back in the days of necessitated labour, pre-retirement.

Of course, retirement means we have opportunities to do what we couldn't do before: Our last major tour out of Tanunda was in 2020 so we are itching to travel again in 2023 and have booked two Princess cruises and will no doubt get out and about in our caravan.

Christina attended a Quilt Encounter residential at Glenelg and is heavily engaged in several craft groups involving embroidery, knitting, and quilting, and is now learning to spin. Her latest craft interest. She was also treasurer for the Tanunda RSL sub-branch for the past four years, but passed the job to another member at our November Annual General Meeting. More time for craft? She is still on the RSL Management Committee and does most of the organising for sausage sizzles and other fundraising activities.

Robin attends the Barossa Men's Shed most Thursday mornings and plans to attend on Mondays or Tuesdays in the new year to complete some special projects and be more involved in turning beautiful pieces of timber into ... something else. He attends a fortnightly Men's Group run by the Barossa Village, volunteers with Legacy, and is heavily involved in the Tanunda RSL sub-branch as webmaster, assistant secretary, grants manager, and occasional barman.  He also turns up for sausage sizzles, ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day event planning and organising, like Christina. 

Both of us had a short bout of the dreaded C19 virus but neither of us got too ill. The hardest part was being housebound for five days! We've had our full battery of vaccinations plus the flu vax so we hope that we are now well-equipped to cope with almost anything.

When we were considering where to retire, Bargara outside Bundaberg was one place we considered. There is a retirement village there, a golf course, and a beach and it's only a hop-step-and-jump from Bundaberg with all its shopping. We love Tanunda and the Barossa, but it's done nothing but rain for most of the year. And it's cold. We often comment that we should have retired to Bargara but the friends we have made here and the way in which we have been accepted by locals means we are very happy in the Barossa. The photo of us is at Kellermeister Wines.

The Family

Son Dale is working at the Alice Springs Hospital as a groundsman/cleaner and seems content with his lot. He is still on the list for a second cochlear implant which will probably be done during 2023 as it was delayed in 22 because of COVID demand on the hospital at Darwin. All elective surgery was suspended. He says in a couple of years he wants to leave Alice Springs and probably head down our way. 

Meredith is still working for the NT Government managing housing and infrastructure programs in local communities. She is purchasing an investment property in Perth and is doing up her house so that she can also move out of Alice Springs which has become overrun with feral children who destroy property, break into houses, steal cars etc, with apparent immunity. Meredith will not consider moving until Tory has completed his electrical apprenticeship and she'll also have to find a job.

Tory is in his third year of apprenticeship and tells us he loves his job and gets on well with the people with whom he works. He now has one of the company's work vehicles to home garage, so he feels as though he now belongs to the firm, and of course, it's boosted his self-esteem being trusted with a 'personal' company vehicle.

We are so happy to see him doing well.

We look forward to having Dale, Meredith and Tory move closer so we could see them more often. We miss our ad hoc breakfasts and lunches and spending time together.

We travelled to Alice Springs on 19 November to help Tory celebrate his 21st on 24 November and on the day had a family dinner at Hanuman Restaurant, one of Alice Springs' top restaurants which was chock-full of diners. 

Our Small Family

Returning to The Alice was a bit sad since there had been a wind storm a few days earlier and broken trees littered the streets. Our once house had suffered no structural damage, but a lovely tree Robin had planted years ago had grown to about 6 metres and was broken off during the storm.

Our return trip on 5-6 December with an overnight stay at Coober Pedy was uneventful although extensive road works between Port Germein and Port Wakefield had us driving at ridiculously low speeds for ridiculously long distances which is annoying when all you want to do is get home. 

Arriving home safely with no damage to our Prado is always a bonus after travelling 3,000 km over four days.

We hope this message finds you happy and healthy and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Robin and Christina