Hi All

[Guest guest]

Hey there CEDA Folks!!!

I'll bet you thought you had seen the last of me? <raised eyebrows>

Well... don't groan too much. I am not back for regular emails. So

I won't be filling your email inboxes up with dribble.

But ... as promised I thought I would drop in and say a BIG G'Day!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ G ' D A Y ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (big enough for ya??)

Its been nearly a full twelve months (I think) since I had to sign

off, because we were leaving Sydney to head for a new life down " ...

south of the border. " and we would be super mega nuclear busy.

But here is the Year in review...

I wrote you all with an update on what was going on when we first got

down here. Unfortunately things were not the best when we first

arrived here in . There were stresses of every shape and

variety with staying with the Host from Hell. However shortly after

we moved into our own place, life picked up considerable, as there

was a large altercation and we haven't spoken to them since.

Mike (my Husband) had some stress with his father. We didn't end up

working for him, as his company was insolvent we later found out.

(Just as well we didn't move, just on the work aspect.) It's a long

sordid story, I will spare you the details. But we think that caused

another MS exacerbation for Mike, in July. But other than that we

have had very few problems ... just the usual life crisis's. <smile>

I have been back up to Sydney twice. Once for two weeks in

March/April. to get some paperwork signed for my daughter to change

her name officially to the Sempel family name and again in

August/September for my Mum's 70th Birthday celebration. Both were

lovely trips and I had a great time catching up with friends.

Although I couldn't have been more happy to come HOME again. And

became quite overwhelmed to the point of tears, when during the

return of the second trip, we came over the Mountains/Border and I

felt like I was home again. I realise now that I have found a place

where I truly feel, I belong.

Thankfully on the health front, I can happily report that I am

happier and healthier than ever! Doing rather well indeed with fewer

dislocations than I have ever experienced in my entire life. Since

being dragged out of the cradle. I have only had two elbow and two

knee dislocations ALL YEAR!! WOOOOHOOOO!!! <Smile> Although to be

totally honest. I have not done nearly the amount of horseriding

that I would have liked. <frown> Especially considering this is such

a horse friendly / sport friendly state. But that is another story.

My horses are both gimps, at the moment. They are going through

transition to being permanently barefoot.(Shoeless - I will explain

off list, if anyone is really interested.)

had a duck for a few days, around the middle of the year.

Her class hatched them, as a project. And she was so excited about

bringing it home. Then about three days after the duck arrived, she

trod on it and broke its neck. Sadly I was out at the time, and came

home to a brain dead duck, a distraught child and the horrible

development of having to tell her that the pet was not going to

survive. She made the right and responsible decision to put the

ailing duck out of its misery. And a few days later we buried the

duck and built a rabbitary for her show bunny. She is happy again!

<Smile>

I had a bout of asthma around September and went onto Prednisone for

a week and the downfall to all that was that I have gained 15 extra

kilos and feel that I look like the Goodyear blimp. OK... So I know

its not " really " that bad... but I don't like what I see in the

mirror. And when you can't fit into any of your clothes without

elastic waistbands - you KNOW there is something wrong!! So I am now

in the process of doing something about it. Salads, walking,

planning a camp, chasing the horses around the paddock, all that sort

of thing... <Smile>

All this and moving again too. Yes. We are on the move again.

<frown> We were suppose to ... (and assured that we could...) stay

here for 2 to 5 years. However, the landlord has decided to build a

house on the paddock where we have the horses. This will effectively

cut off the access we have to the other paddocks, as well as not

having a way to get the horses out to ride them. So essentially WE

can stay but the horses would have to go elsewhere. Our lovely

neighbours offered to put a gate in for us to access them, but I

don't want the horses cutting up their backyard. And with that in

mind, we have decided to move out further, with a bit more acrage.

Mike and I have just missed out by a whisker, a couple of promising

properties. One with 12 acres for $150 and another with 1.5 acres

for $150. So they are out there, we just have to find one. I know

that something good will come up. But well wishes and good vibes

sent our way would not go unastray.

Anyways I have tried not to be too funny. .... I don't want anyone

laughing and busting their stitches. (I know I nearly choked the odd

person [plenty of odd people here <snicker>] with their morning

coffee's) You have no idea how often I have thought of all of you,

<reflective smile> I wish I could come back on a more permanent basis

but I just wouldn't be able to do it justice. Not to mention ...

Noone would really be interested in my drivel! <Huge Smile>

Anyways....... HUGZ TO ALL.... Just know that I am thinking of you.

Helen Sempel