2004

Edwards Family Xmas Letter 2004
(late final end of January 2005 edition!)

Dear friends and relatives

The highlight of this year for David and Kerry was their trip round the world. Kerry's three months started in Los Angeles, then Alaska and back to Rock Island before joining David in Dublin. We thoroughly enjoyed the Egan Clan Rally, catching up with lots of old friends. We visited our favourite places - Inish Mor and Cahir, and discovered a couple of new ones like Cape Clear and Newgrange. We toured Scotland for three weeks, visiting Findhorn, spending a week on the Isle of Mull spinning and knitting and enjoying the magnificent scenery of Staffa and Iona. Moving South, we spent a delightful few days with John and Debbie New on their narrow boat, enjoying different canals, this time around Peterborough, which served to make David even more determined to spend some of his retirement floating around England at 4 mph. Kerry celebrated her 50th birthday in London, being entertained in style by old friends. While David headed west to North America, visiting Len & Liz Zedel in St Johns, Peter & Lise Dickson in Flint, Corinne Potter in Rock Island and Steve & Glenda Clift in Thousand Oaks, Kerry spent time in Oxford, London and The Hague arriving home three months after she left and a few hours before David.

Kerry stays sane and busy with her spinning and knitting, quilting and dress making as well as caring for the numerous chickens, cats and the garden. Her continuing interest in the Sandy Bay Historical Society is very satisfying and the occasional work assignment helps pay for the travelling. Kerry is happy to assist David in his community work, this year appearing as an expert witness in a Tribunal hearing and doing much research to support the positions taken by the various community associations. For 2005, Kerry hopes to accompany David on more of his business trips. She did make it to Canberra for the Engineering Excellence Awards in November 2004, and also managed side trips to Sydney and Newcastle. She also intends to make a celebratory quilt for Phillipa's 21st birthday.

Photo of Kerry and David at 2004 Engineering Excellence Awards, Canberra

Photo of Kerry and David at 2004 Engineering Excellence Awards, Canberra

David & Kerry Spinners and Knitters on Mull

Our big news is of course that Alexander and Alicia are expecting a baby girl at the end of April 2005. Congratulations!! This is the first grandchild on both sides and there is much clucking over the tiny size of the of baby clothes in the growing collection. Alex is enjoying his work at Vodaphone and there is always work to be done on their house which is on twelve and a half acres. They have 3 horses, 2 cats, 2 chickens and 2 dogs. Alex is still enjoying soccer, being the leading goal scorer. He has also taken up golf.

Christopher finished up his second year apprentice chef position in Newcastle and headed off for two months surfing and touring in Indonesia. Arriving back in Sydney, stony broke, he got a lift to Newcastle and landed a job as second chef in his old restaurant now under new management. Within a few weeks he was the head chef. We are encouraging Chris to finalise his formal qualifications as he has only a few TAFE units to complete. Chris is talking about a round the world trip in 2006 including surfing in Indonesia and Mexico and working in the UK. In the meantime, Chris is enjoying the lifestyle that a small city offers, living only minutes from the surf, his work and the city centre.

Phillipa has had an extremely busy year. She has completed third year Law with distinctions and credits and has built up enough points to be awarded honours. Phillipa continues with basketball and soccer and on a less strenuous level, goes swimming with Mum. She played in the Premier League Soccer and this year was awarded Best and Fairest. Phil has done a lot of casual work this year and may be able to cut down her shifts and put a lot of time into her last year of study. Over the last few weeks we have all worked on redecorating one of the bigger rooms for Phillipa, who has chosen the colours and furnishings with excellent taste. Mum and Dad , while they enjoy her company, hope that she won't be so comfortable that she won't eventually want to move out.

Alexander Edwards at the Billy Cart Derby

Alexander Edwards at the Billy Cart Derby

Alexander with Alicia and Kerry Victoria

Victoria started 1st year Science (Biotechnology) and deferred after one semester, having gained excellent results. She is now working for Telstra so that she can qualify for a student allowance when she returns to study in July. Victoria is living in a flat in York St Sandy Bay, enjoying her independence and she hopes to be able to stay there upon her return to university. Victoria plays soccer for the university team and also lacrosse.

David and Christopher The Chef Phillipa and Nick

David has been lecturing again at UTas Engineering, as well as working on his Italian Job project. He is still involved with Engineers Australia, and is currently the national Chairman of the ITEE College. His big effort on that front this year was to create and organise the inaugural IREE Neville Thiele Award for an electronic engineer. This was presented in Hobart on Friday 10 December 2004 at the tenth Radio Foundation Day Celebration which David also organised. Again, we were successful in contacting Len Zedel and Joe Craig in St Johns NFLD by radio, mobile phone and internet.

After finishing work on Phillipa’s new room, David commenced on the front verandah. So far he has managed to repair all the posts and to install a new floor. Next step is to reinstate the lower wall sections and replace the bum tops! The Morris Minor Traveller is still going strong, and is being slowly prepared for the 12th National Morris Minor Rally, to be held in Hobart over Easter 2005. David is still playing with fast billy carts - this year he managed to get close to 50 kph down Baskerville Hill and collected a trophy (as well as some sore hands) for his pains. Alexander enjoys this mad sport as well.
We wish all our friends and relatives all the best for 2005!