Yes, I am still here.  It has been a very busy start to the year and a lot of time has been spent painting the exterior of our house.  There is still a lot more to do but it looks better every day.
Tonight I thought I would pay tribute to my parents-in-law:  50 pound poms they were known as, those migrants from the uk who were encouraged to come here in the 1960s.

Maurice and Margaret left the little village in Cambridgshire where they lived with their son Michael and daughter Christine.  The family was settled there with family and friends nearby and work and schools in the neighbourhood.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to pick yourself and your family up and move to another country, remembering that in those days very few people traveled by plane and they would probably not have the chance to go back for a visit and having a telephone in your home was a luxury.  The phone calls to overseas relatives were expensive and reserved for special occasions (Christmas) or bad news. 

There was no email or facebook or blogging.  Just thousands of miles between home and family.

Maurice and Margaret did this primarily to provide their children with more opportunities for the future and I am privileged to be a part of that future.

The photo above shows Maurice who is now 88 years old and some pics of his great grand children, Ally, Ben, Michael, Matthew and baby Chloe.  Sadly Margaret is no longer with us but I know she would be pleased with the decision that she and Maurice made so many years ago.

As a third generation Australian I have no idea how anyone could willingly leave the country of their birth but of course Australia is made up of just such courageous people.

I know this is way off topic but I wanted to share these thoughts.

Hopefully I will be able to write about stitching soon.