Christmas is not a season - It is a state of mind.

Dear Family and Friends,

In our thirty ninth year of marriage we have managed to have another busy one full of family, activity and events, here are some highlights:

We had a great family holiday at Anglesea in January (Point Road Knight) the weather was warm and the swimming and beach superb. Holidays at Mansfield in March and to the Buckland, Mitta Mitta and Eucumbene in November complete the fishing holiday theme. We also visited Canberra where we donated my late Dad’s (Jimmy) war Diary to the War Museum and found Maureen’s Great Uncle George on the honour roll; he was killed on the Western Front at the age of eighteen. Very poignant moments indeed. The Condliffe boys continued their get together in February at The Barham Fishing Comp it was a great weekend we are doing it next year. The Condliffe girls this year went to Guildford in June for their very enjoyable weekend, and the Healey’s Grand finale get together was a grand occasion at Jenny and Brad’s.

We are occupied by family, work and community (John works part time at the Northern and does some contract work, Maureen retired from permanent work in April and helps Janice out in her cleaning business) John’s hobbies of writing, fishing, music and gardening and Maureen’s of books, gardening and family, and of course our grandchildren keep us travelling to many places and events. John’s Book Daughters…is being published by JOJO Publishing from Melbourne it should be out in the middle of next year, very exciting.

The highlight of the year of course was the arrival of our eighth grandchild. Leo Hawker

Condliffe Prowse on the 10^th of September, to Alison and James. Our family are well: Katy nurse/midwife after having her thirtieth birthday in February, travelled to Kenya as a volunteer co-ordinator (Nurses in Action) and is now in New Guinea with partner TK. We will miss her this year but have a reunion planned in April. Angela and Matt are busy at Tylden with their five children (Terry, Ebonie, Hannah, Lily, Denver) Terry and Ebonie are both in High School. Angy is a Doula and Matt an Arborist and Captain of Tylden Fire Brigade. Janice lives in Kyneton just down the road from us (with Josef and Marlee) and is nursing and running her own cleaning business. Marlee starts kindy next year. Alison and James are in Castlemaine thirty minutes away, Alison is on maternity leave from St Mary’s Primary and James is at Castlemaine Bacon.

 We look forward to a Happy Christmas and New Year surrounded by family and friends and anticipate another happy and eventful year ahead. Happy Christmas and Joyous times for you and your family.

 

Christmas is not a season- It is a state of mind.

 

 

John and Maureen                                                                                          Christmas 2013