SKYPE Ahoy!

On my travels I have a magic little eeePC, about the size of a thin library book. Learning to manage a tiny keyboard and juggling data between a 4gb hard drive and a USB flash drive has not been easy. I turned on my tiny PC with wireless internet connection and I heard a voice say "Mea, are you online?" There, in a little window, was John and Fran Hewitt from Hamersley, WA. He had walked past his computer as I had come on line. After exchanging our suprised greetings,courtesy of SKYPE, he said he and Fran would be leaving in a few days to visit New Zealand on the way to England via America and Canada.
Martine picked John and Fran up from their hotel in central Auckland and took us up to the top of Mount Eden, the highest of the extinct volcanoes surrounding Auckland. After driving through other gardens we had afternoon tea at St Heliers, overlooking a beautiful bay with Rangitoto in the centre.
A few days later I received another call from John and Fran in their hotel room in Canada. Fran and her daughter-in- law will celebrate their birthdays in early April in England and then celebrate Jim's retirement before returning home.

Land of the Long White Cloud

After a pleasant flight across the Tasman I was picked up by Martine and taken home to her tiny flat with a view to die for.
Breakfast on the balcony, watching the sun rise over the Tamaki river.......sheer bliss!

I spoke to Philip by phone and am now collecting bits and pieces to take up to Russell, saucepans, sheets, battery lights from Bunnings (Hurrah for the big B) and should be away next week.
There is crayfish in a freezer awaiting my arrival and I reckon I should be off next week by bus.

Mitch will join me when the school holidays start.

He is 13 in a couple of weeks and is a BIG 5'10".

First Flying Gran

After the dreadful heat in Melbourne May Jean Croll (nee Buzza) was hospitalised . She is now recuperating in Victor Harbour with her daughter, Jan Hanger. Jean is my mother's cousin.

This redoubtable lady made her first flight at the age of 93!!

To honour the occasion an air hostess took this photo, with her mobile, of the pilot and Jean in the cockpit

In Montmorency Kay and Peter moved into a new house closer to Michael and Maria.
While Mlelbourne was not as cold as Tassie, I was still glad of the trackpants and fleecy tops I had bought.

Starting in Tassie

At long last I am on my way ! During a long wait in the Airport in Melbourne I made a contact with a member of LETS..... to be investigated shortly.

Tasmania was unchanging in it's unique beauty (and cold weather). I had to buy trackie pants a a warm jacket with thick woollie sox.

There was an art show in Evandale.... just like a small English village.

Steven and Bev took me sight seeing to some of the early settlers homes. Above is a picture of Clarendon, built by Steven's great grandfather (I think).

Bev and I spent a lot of time remembering our mothers and grandmothers, the yards we played in and the changes in East Perth since we watched the brewery horses delivering beer to the Grosvenor Hotel and her mother bullied the drivers into caring for their horses in the hot sun.

The Western Tiers and the mountain country was spectacular. For an old tree hugger it was heaven.

Now I am being fed by my cousins..... they are taking such good care of me that I know that I am stacking on weight. Maybe on leavingMelbourne the excess baggage will be on me.

My little eeePC is working with the scanner attached and rellies will soon be bailed up to contribute to the expanding tree.

Bye for now.