2012

2012 Letter

Dear Friends,

With Michael retiring at the end of 2011 this year has been most pleasant and relaxing with life taken at a slow pace. Michael's last PhD student successfully graduated during the year, but with budget cuts biting hard his old School of Technology at Bond was terminated making most of his previous colleagues redundant. He was relieved to go a year before the axe fell.

We took the opportunity of lack of time restraints to have an extended stay of six weeks or so in Tasmania over the festive season and beyond. In total we stayed in 7 locations mostly in the north and west. Our friends Bev and Dud stayed with us in our last week at Port Sorrell and we crossed Bass Strait and drove back home over an inland route back to SE Qld.

There were many highlights but one worth mentioning was the start of the Launceston to Hobart yacht race. The photo is taken from Low Head as the lead yacht was reaching Tamar Heads. At this point the recently restored foghorn, originally built by Margot's uncle's company Chance Bros in 1929, was sounded at the lighthouse.

Other memorable times included Cradle Mountain National Park (twice), Stanley and The Nut, Strahan, West Coast Wilderness Railway, Gordon River and a most enjoyable, unplanned 10 days in industrial Burnie with a 180-degree elevated view of Bass Strait. Overall we had a great time and intend a shorter repeat in 2012. Indeed being gluttons for Tassie punishment we returned for a 2-week mid-winter August visit staying at the seaport in Launceston for Michael's birthday. It was chilly but mainly bright and cheerful conditions and the spectacular brilliant yellow wattles raised the spirit.

Margot continues to fill out the family tree as usual with a great deal of effort being expended on refining and increasing the accuracy of the 80,000 names or so. She is proud that Isaac Newton recently popped up his head on her side of the tree as well as the Quakers of Barclays Bank. Princess Diana and Kate Middleton are there two.

Michael has continued with his involvement in radio controlled yachting although he suffered a major setback when he cut his thumb badly with a scalpel building his Micro Magic. He was on the point of giving up in disgust when one of the club members offered to finish the build for him. He now realises a boat builder, even a model, he will not be.

In the meantime he bought a 1-metre RC Laser (scale model of the Laser dinghy sailed in the Olympics) which comes ready assembled. After only a month of ownership he came 5th in the South Queensland RC Laser Championships north of Brisbane which gave him some encouragement. The Micro Magic is now also on the water and he alternates between the two classes each week. His fellow sailors are good, easy going company, but the IOM (International One Metre) group include several Australian champions whose overbearing and sometimes abusive behaviour has caused dissent in the club. Who would have thought radio yachting would have involved such political antics? A breakaway new club may be in the offing.

Although we suffer from the minor ailments expected for our age we are generally keeping reasonably fit. Michael rides most weekday mornings taking in his Table of Knowledge coffee group at Emerald Lakes. We still get a beach walk in most weeks usually including a farmers market visit to support the local produce growers and artisans.

As always we hope that you enjoy your festive season, and send you our very best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

Margot and Michael

Written by Michael December 2012

Leading yacht approaching Tamar Heads seen from Low Head

At Bridestowe Lavender Farm (NE Tas)

The Nut at Stanley, our rented house on the beach at far end of the beach

The Seaport, Launceston, from our apartment balcony

Michael with Laser at Emerald Lakes