SYDNEY

We have just returned from Sydney catching up with Anthony, Megan, Nick and Tim.

We left Mebourne, Tuesday, Jan 20, accompanied by grandsons Tom and Joe, who have been staying with us, while Carolyn and Brandt had a short overseas holiday to celebrate their 20th Wedding Anniversary.

Having decided to spend a few days driving to Sydney, we took the coast road and stayed overnight at Merimbula and Mollymook, before arriving in Sydney early Thursday afternoon.

Weather was extremely hot, 35 degrees plus, which made it rather uncomfortable outside the car, thank goodness however for air conditioning.

Bondi Beach (Tom, Joe, Nick and Anthony)


Arrived home via the Hume Freeway, (903km/10hrs 5 min), to be faced with the three hottest consecutive January days on record, Wednesday 28th 43.2 Celsius, (109.76 Fahrenheit), Thursday 29th, 44.1 (111.74), Friday 30th, 44.3 (113.18).

A cool change, 37.0 (98.6) was forecast for Saturday 31st, with another hot day, 43.0 Celsius, (109.4), forecast for Saturday Feb 7. Saturday Feb 7 however had the temperature rising to
46.4 Celsius 115.52 Fahrenheit, (Melbourne's hottest day since temperatures were first recorded in 1850), and the state on fire with a multitude of bushfires raging of control on many fronts, resulting in Australia's worst ever national disaster, with a known 210 people tragically losing their lives on what will be forever known as, "Black Saturday". The sadness of the loss of life will forever be marked in our national history, with an annual day of mourning every February 7.

46th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Today, (January 12), is the day that Lyn and I celebrate our 46th Wedding Anniversary, and would you believe, not a cross word in all that time. (No, I didn't think that you would).
Lyn and I were married at Our Lady's Catholic Church, Ballarat Road, Maidstone, with our wedding reception held at 26 Nicholson St Footscray.
My brother Brian was my best man, with Lyn's sister, Carol, Bridesmaid. Best friend Brian Leonard was my Groomsman with my sister Janet, Bridesmaid.
If my memory serves me correct it was a particularly hot day, (over 100 degrees in the old scale), and as luck would have it, there was a brewery strike on with a resultant shortage of beer. Notwithstanding we somehow managed to scrape together enough bottles to complement the standard "niner", which I have absolutely no idea of how or from where it was obtained.

Despite January 12 being such a hot day, Melbourne registered it's "STILL" highest ever January 24hr Rainfall On Record of 108.0mm and it's "STILL" highest ever January Rainfall On Record of 176.0mm, against an Average January Rainfall of 48.0mm. What's that they say about Melbourne weather?

The years have been kind to us in many ways, not the least having been blessed with three children, Carolyn - (Brandt), Julie - (Justin), Anthony - (Megan) and six grandchildren, Tom & Joe, Georgina & Susannah, Nicholas & Timothy.

Our son Anthony and Daughter in Law Megan, also celebrate their Wedding Anniversary on this day, however their year was 1996.

Carolyn and Brandt who also married in January, will be celebrating their 20th Wedding Anniversary on January 21.