Annual Epistle for 2022

 

 

 

Welcome to our annual Christmas letter for 2022.  In many ways, a lot has happened since our last epistle- and in many other ways – not a lot.

    Michael is keeping well. The second bone marrow transplant seems to be holding! Fingers crossed!!!   His latest is his second hip-replacement which happened on 18th Oct!! Apart from that he is doing well!!

    Jonno started his usual job at the ski-field and has changed jobs upwards mid-season – he is now repairing broken skis etc!!  In a few weeks time (his summer job) he will be 2IC at Milford Lodge– a promotion up the food chain!!  We may see him there either this December or January 23!

Pam is working hard to earn the many dollars we needed to pay off our Bearmobile#2 (currently the bank is owning the last of the 4 wheels – after this it is all ours!!!) Of course we also need the many dollars for the various trips away – our respite care away from all our worries.

    Reinhold of course is a worry as ever. He had an episode which necessitated a visit to the After Hours Surgery – where they informed us of him having CLL ( a chronic form of Leukemia)!!!!  Yikes.  3 monthly blood tests later have confirmed the diagnosis – albeit at a level that is minor and just needs long-term monitoring!! He feels there is a big sword hanging over his head! Apart from that, he keeps himself busy restoring old furniture – and then try and on-sell them (which is easier said then done).

    Our nephew birthed a son – so that makes Reinhold some distant-great-something and my YOUNGER Sister a Grandmother!!  Way to go little sister!!!!

    Covid of course has been a huge disruption to everyone concerned – yes we had lock-downs like everyone else!!  So we have not managed as many trips away as we had hoped – and are thankful that we escaped the worst of it!! 

Despite all of that, we had a lovely14 days away from home late last summer; freedom camping where we did enjoy the sun/ocean/wine and fresh air! Best of all – our “trainer-wheels” we had sold to a couple in the North Island, managed a trip to our shores and visited us - so we had both Bearmobiles on our drive for 2 hours or so!! Suffice to say – both vans are going strong!! You can follow our journeys on MEWE-papabearreinhold!

    Pam did catch Covid – and despite her best efforts and breathing on me all night long – I stayed clean!!  Go figure!! Those extra white blood-cells from my CLL must have been doing a sterling job! Like most countries our Government has since decided to “live” with this virus – so at point of typing we have zero restrictions!! Fingers crossed there!!

Working from home – is hard at times ---->        
        
    
Trust that life is treating you all well. Jade is enjoying her 3rd child – Thomas his first and Sissi her little one and my “little princess” – well – look at you – almost all grown up!!




Have fun!