Christmas Letter 2015

Dear Friends

Well, what a year! Where do I start?  It’s been one of real ups and downs (literally), but instead of using lots of words, I’ve decided to make this a visual letter.  Some of my FACEBOOK “friends” have decided they don’t like my posts anymore – I am too boring, or at one stage in the year I hate to say it but a little too negative.

We are still with the circus – most of the year spent in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. I am still teaching and Mark, who at the end of last year thought he would have no work, has been busy with his little horses -  on and off stage. He also tried his hand at a bit of clowning – sort off!! Who knows what will be in store next year?          

   

I had the pleasure of teaching ESL classes to

some wonderful young performers from

 Brazil and Russia.  I enjoyed it immensely, though

except for a couple of young men,

they all WANTED TO LEARN; and were a pleasure to teach.

Earlier in the year, our son Aaron released his first short film and we went along for theviewing.    See how proud his daughter Kaylee was of him; and

his wife and Mum of course.

Around Easter I had a fall down my school (caravan) stairs and landed in hospital.  (had pictures, but too goory). It was just a small injury, but infection led to a longer stay in Sydney, while the Circus moved on. The up side was that we got to spend time with Aaron, Emily & Kaylee; before joining the circus again in Parkes; and heading on to Port Augusta. The down side was that when we returned,  some of our friends had left the circus; and for me, it seemed the beginning of another bout of depression.

But I won’t dwell on that.  It also began the next stage of our trip. Although the big towns like Alice Springs, Port Augusta, Broome and of course Perth were nice; my favourite places were the little towns along the way, like Mataranka and it’s Thermal Pool, near Katherine; and Karratha in Western Australia, where I was able to enrol my students in `real school’ for two weeks. They had a ball, making lots of new friends, and yes even learning too.

 

But let’s skip forward a bit – to the highlight of

 every grandparent’s year. The birth of our

 second granddaughter.  Those who have

 been following us on FACEBOOK or

receiving emails now and then, will have

 seen me doing lots of bragging about Kaylee. 

At the moment I am sitting watching her doing jigsaws and playing games on `Nanna’s IPAD’.  It has been so fun spending the past 7 weeks with her. 

I came early for Christmas so I could be here for the birth of her sister Zoe, and I am sorry, I will not stop the bragging, as she too is extra special. She was even a `star’ at the Carols by Candlenight Dress Rehearsal – but then her Dad was a Camera Assistant.

 Meanwhile Aaron and Emily and the girls also moved house. So I think my being here has been a help. Mark arrived a couple of weeks ago with Kasey and Shadow – their first flight. We will be spending Christmas with the `kids (big and small)’, and then Mark returns to the Circus for their holiday shows. I will be returning in January, after going to Melbourne to spend extra time with family before school starts.

 Well, I guess I can’t help myself – it’s the teacher in me – words just flow!  It has taken me all day to write this letter, and now I really must sign off, as Emily’s normal cooking is smelling beautiful – and  I believe I am HUNGRY. 

So to finish off, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and as always our prayers and thoughts will be with you in the New Year and beyond.

God Bless You All

Love & Hugs

Ruth & Mark.