126) The last of our holiday

Before going back home Jonny wanted to show the ball-throwing machine to people in the cricket world. He made an appointment to demonstrate it to a man who was well known and influential the cricket community. Maybe trying to do business so close to the Christmas holidays was a mistake but we did not think of that at the time. They unpacked the machine and took it to the local oval for Jonathan to see it work and to check that everything was working well. They were using bright orange practice balls at the time and I remember how much Lauren enjoyed it. She was just a little tot, but she was sitting in her stroller watching the balls being fired and when she saw them hit the ground she got very excited and called out “ook, ook ook”

Jonny and Jonathan took the machine into Sydney to do a demonstration. Unfortunately the gentleman concerned had been invited to a Christmas lunch that day and got back to the office over an hour late. He was also rather full of the Christmas spirit and not really in a business mood. He did like the machine though and thought it had a great future. As it was not 100% finished he suggested that Jonny contacted him when it was.

At Christmas we had the fun of watching Claudia and Lauren unpacking their stockings and were able to give them our gifts. Over the New Years holiday Siân’s Mum and Dad, Judy and Peter Kenvyn came to visit from Canberra. They brought Judy’s mom Ivy with them so it was quite a full house. Siân’s brother Chris and his wife Nicky were also in Sydney at the time with their little boy and Nicky’s mother. They did not actually stay with us as there was no room for them. As it was, poor Jonathan and Siân had to sleep in a tent on the back veranda. Siân’s training as a chef stood her in good stead as she managed to feed us all well without seeming to turn a hair. It was good that we met Siân’s family then as her Mom died of cancer about two years later.

Siân, with her father Pete, Claudia, Siân’s grandmother Ivy and mother Judy,
then me with Lauren and Jonathan

One other outing I remember just before it was time to go home was a train trip into Sydney. Jonathan had gone back to work so the rest of us decided to go into the city on the train. We had a stroller for each the girls as we planned to do quite a bit of walking. Siân arranged for us to get off the train on the north side of the bridge so that we could walk across the bridge and get a close up look at the bridge and a lovely view of the harbour. As we walked over Jonny was fascinated by the engineering of the bridge and thought it was wonderful. He also rather worried Siân and me by pointing out where he could see missing rivets. But I suppose as it had been standing for the previous 66 years it was not likely to fall. We watched the people on the Bridge Climb and I did not envy them. One can, for a fee, arrange to climb across the top of the arch of the suspension bridge. Everyone assures me that it is very safe as you have to wear safety harnesses and it is just like climbing a stair case but I was very happy that I was not up there. We went to the Department of Immigration to collect forms for Dominic and I remember that there were lots of steps to negotiate in that part of the city. Siân was very adept at getting the stroller down the steps but we were not used to it and I suppose that was pretty obvious to passers by. One young oriental woman saw Jonny struggling so she quickly took the front of the stroller and trotted down the steps with us. When we got to the bottom she did not wait to be thanked but just waved and ran on her way. We were always impressed with her kindness and the kindness of the Australian people.

On 21st January it was time to head home. We had had a wonderful time and really appreciated Jonathan and Siân’s kindness to us but all good things come to an end. I could not help but think as we left them at the airport that maybe it would be the last time we would be able to see them, air travel is not cheap but I was wrong about that as you will hear later in my story.

Goodbye (for now)