Our previous post of September/October probably didn’t reach you by email, as we were busy migrating our website from a UK host to an Australian host. That post is on our main page, if you want to catch up with our earlier news.
November and December will go down as my left knee month. After surviving 75 years of use and abuse playing squash, climbing, walking, sailing and tearing ligaments in the process, it finally gave notice. Slowly but surely, walking to the local shops, gardening and house chores became very painful.
Karen suggested I have X-rays taken and as she is not allowed to treat her family, referred me to her colleague, Matthew Jones at Westmead Hospital. A MRI scan confirmed loose fragments, very little cartilage and arthritis. He said an arthroscopy would be pointless and suggested a total knee replacement asap.
The “Conformis” customised knee implant is being manufactured in the US as we speak and the knee replacement is scheduled for the 12 th January 2023. In the meantime, anti-inflammatories helps a bit. Quite a busy medical year!
Word from Fiji is that Michelle has settled into her new apartment and bought a small Suzuki 4WD, with which she is bashing the bundu. She is enjoying her new job and apart from Fiji, is also serving eight other Pacific nations in her role. Kristian her beau, visits frequently from his base in Singapore.
Karen and fiancé Evan announced their wedding for the 1st April 2023. Apart from seven family members from each side, the rest of their guests are friends and colleagues. They have decided on a low key affair in a Newcastle art studio with catering by a food truck from OzHarvest, a charity that collects food for homeless people. The proceeds go towards providing meals for the homeless. Cocktails and desserts, will also be provided by food trucks for the event.
During the month of November, I had a vaccination against shingles and another against pneumonia, provided free of charge for old farts like me, by the NSW Government Health Department. Annie’s garden in the meantime, has gone from strength to strength. We are eating lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes from her garden every evening at dinner.
We will be flying to New Zealand on the 18 th of December to visit family and friends and will be back in Sydney on the 9 th January 2023. So, here’s wishing you a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Cheers for now.
Hi Dirk and Annie, Greetings from a busy Cape Town. It looks as if the world and Gauteng is descending on the Mother City. James and Lauren in Erskineville are expecting their first child end March and we plan to visit end May through June. We will make contact closer to the time. Graeme and Bianca are off to freezing cold Europe tomorrow to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with Bianca’s family and their friends. Gerda and I will have Christmas Eve with our extending family and Christmas with Gerda’s Ma who is a bright and bubbly and will be 98 next month. Otherwise in between unseasonal thunderstorms, welcome summer rain and Eskom’s loadshedding all is well. Merry Christmas and best wishes to you all for 2023. Your new knee in Jan will surely make a huge difference.
Hi Jeremy 7 Gerda
Thanks for your news and season’s greetings. We look forward to catching up with you in May/June and have a room and bed ready for you.
Best wishes for 2023 and enjoy the festive season.
Dirk & Annie
Hallo Julle,
Dankie vir die nuus en soos julle se “retirement is fun”. Voorspoed met al die “aches & pains” Dirk, maar met al die mediese vordering deesdae kan alles reg ge-panel beat word. Ja, solar installasie is ‘n moet en met al ons kragprobleme het ons al by die kantoor en huis battery stelsels in Feb 2022 laat installeer. Die stelsels was baie duur so die sonpanele is op die kaarte vir volgende jaar. By die kantoor hou die batterykrag vir 5 ure en by die huis 10 ure en alles is daarop. Hier is ons is dit al baie warm en die weer snaaks, donderstorms en moers baie reen met oorstromings in Kaapstad, Overberg, Boland, Suidkaap, Weskus, Namakwaland, ens. Die noorde het vroeer al verspoel. Ons sluit vandag die kantore vir ‘n welverdiende vakansie met familie wat oor kersfees kom kuier. Jack is besig om die boot agtermekaar te kry vir ons om ‘n bietjie vis te gaan vang, as daar nog vis is bygese. Verder jol die jongklomp maar met die boot op die lagoon, Kraalbaai, ens. Ons hoofslagaar (Oostewalstraat) is amper klaar oorgedoen en is ‘n enorme verbetering op wat dit was. Verder is Langebaan en omliggende areas steeds besig om geweldig uit te brei, baie kopers van die noorde. Nouja, geniet julle feestydperk en hou die blinkkant bo! Groete, Jannie, Liesl, Liz & Jack.
Dankie vir julle nuus Jannie
Alles van die beste vir die feesfety en die nuwe jaar!
Dirk & Annie