South of the Border

Dear Great Gran,

Ruth has almost recovered from her great adventure down South. In the city, Ruth enjoyed playing with her "twin" Claire...
...as well as story time with Annabel and Tullio...and she really loved drawing with Vinnie (who's now one years old!)Later, in dank, dark Gippsland, Ruth was obviously more astonished by Polar Teddy wearing Nana's jewellery than she was by all the other characters who came to visit. Finally, at Gran and Pa's place, she was so taken with Jed that she didn't even notice that a local magpie had singled her out as Enemy Number One.
We enjoyed camping at Corowa on the way back but its probably about time we got a bigger tent.
much love
Brendan

Flowers, Friends and Memorials

Dear Great Gran,
here is the stripey nanna sue outfit I mentioned last time. It has become hard for Julie and I to take Ruth's photo when she's smiling, as she is only happy when she is holding our camera. A lot of the blossoms have gone in the wind and rain - not much rain, but enough to strip the blossoms.
Here is Ruth last weekend enjoying Floriade with her cousins and Gran and Pa - the little windmills were a present from Gran. Ruth liked the baby animal farmyard more than the tulips.
And here is Ruth at home with some of her little friends.
Ruth and Maurice, two peas in a pod.
We visited the SIEV X memorial last weekend, which is very moving. It honours the lives of the 353 people who drowned when a 20 m long refugee boat headed for Australia from Indonesia sank in 2001. Each pole represents one of the people who died - a tall pole for an adult and a short one for a child - and they were mostly children. Most of the people on board were fleeing Iraq and many already had some family in Australia, usually the father or husband. The poles were beautifully decorated by survivors, individuals, schools, churches and community groups from all over Australia. More info at
www.sievxmemorial.com

Much love,
Brendan

Spring Fashions

Dear Great Gran,

Ruth has been sporting some great new clobber lately. Last weekend Nana Sue delivered in person the great stripey jumper and hat she knitted - but I don't have a photo of it yet.

Here Ruth is wearing the jumper that Marg knitted for her. They are reading a book that used to terrify me when I was in primary school.
Another view of the Marg jumper below - Ruth is helping tidy up the dead hakea from the front yard. Today we planted a quince tree next to where the hakea was and it was certainly time to plant - as there are lots of plum and wattle blossoms out around the house. The daffodils also came up last week but they were promptly souvineered by our industrious garden assistant!
Finally, Ruth loves wearing the smocks that you made but - be warned! - the next photo is not for any one with delicate sensibilities. You can see the result of Julie letting Ruth feed herself two bowls of borsch and then Ruth deciding it was the right time to sing "Head & Shoulders" with all the actions!
much love
Brendan