Hi from this old couple as Ken would say! Life is ticking along and we have so enjoyed responses to our Christmas letter which I have to say was "bland" and all about us rather than the usual about the family. It was rather "done on the hoof". Receiving your responses has had us laughing and tearful.

Tomorrow Ken has his appointment with the cardiologist (subsequently cancelled for Wednesday 23), not the one we have seen before as he is on holiday, but his colleague. Hopefully he will see sense about Ken "recuperating" in the UK!

Last week we had a great time. We met with John our out going VSO colleague who trained with us and is an IT expert. He brought our laptop which has been great and he showed us how to send our Christmas letter which we had been having difficulty with.

Last week we took the boat to Green Island on the Barrier Reef. What can I say??? Too many tourists for us but boat trip good. To see people snorkelling right where the boats came in was bizarre! The glass bottom boat was a much better option and beautiful to see the coral and fish. Boring snap shot of pictures on the BLOG!!! Had a great lunch to "fill in the time" and it was Australian portians! We didn't eat that night!!

Today Ken had a tooth removed and did some Christmas shopping for me!! First time without help???

So what will happen next is any ones guess. I am sure that VSO will close for Christmas and we could end up here for Christmas and New Year [it is lovely though!].

Wrote this late last night and already need to change bits! Ken's tooth extraction? As usual all healed and he's himself!! Just had a nice lunch out in his favourite spot. So many of the girls working in the restaurants are from the UK!!

Been thinking about what we can do whilst "stuck here" over Christmas and New Year which is our 44th wedding anniversary!! [We still like each other as well!] Think it will be Church at 9am [not my sort, too big and VERY casual!!] then breakfast. Had hoped to volunteer to help with the lunch for the homeless [fit in there!! JOKING!] but nothing was said on Sunday as to needing more helpers but we'll see. Open our presents and read emails. Were going to go out for lunch but nothing exciting so think I will cook Christmas lunch in our microwave and two ring burners!!! A long walk by the sea, leisurely pace not my usual 6 kms at a pace that makes me feel breathless but good. Ken is going out each early morning for a good brisk walk which I'm really grateful for.

So his cardio appointment was postponed whilst I was doing my "walk" and it will be tomorrow. There is no way VSO in London will make the decision about our future before the New Year. So my feelings are that we plan what we'd like to do in the next two or three weeks, take the laptop and check when a decision is made and act accordingly!! As we learnt in Guyana "Too blessed to be stressed"!

I have to say that this Christmas has seen me tearful. Singing carols for one. Missing family, you know buying presents [which is not all that Christmas is about] and the uncertainty about the next step. Lovely email from Margaret's daughter today offering Margaret's home to us. So lovely. [Margaret was our lovely "over the road" from us in Rowhedge, Wonderful friend]. I do miss saying goodbye but that gin and tonic before we left early in the morning to fly to PNG Ken reckons was her farewell to us. She will remain my role model as I go towards…..Old[er]age just like my Mum.

Our saddest news is that my sister Chris is not too well and the tumour has grown. She also ended up in hospital after this round of chemo. She is bearing up and I'm pleased that my kids have been able to visit/contact in our absence. Stephen our oldest nephew is also undergoing chemo which must be difficult for his wife and children as well as him and my sister and husband. Obviously they are in our thoughts and prayers daily.

Odds and ends to finish on an up beat note!!

Cairns is beautiful. We're quite taken with it. Could easily live here. I know we'd said that before. There is so much to see and here there are so many memorials to World War 2. Some lovely "statues" that I must take my camera out to show you! War memorials are different and in some ways more meaningful.

There is a beautiful lagoon swimming pool, huge, right by the sea which is free and looks great and it's so nice to see families swimming [I have my "own" pool, no-one seems to use it!] and enjoying the sun. Another lovely feature are the BBQ centres by the sea and free to use! You see youngsters, oldies, families cooking together. So great. OK the hotel here has a BBQ area [free!] [can't even work the microwave!] sous and BBQs!! Roger we need you here!!

My morning walk takes me right along the sea front but even at 9am OK I leave not before 9:30am it is warm, Ken would say HOT! I have seen so many features each time I walk even though it's NOT a slow walk!!. Pelicans and Herons and numerous other species I have no idea what they are. Today I noticed that there were so many little birds lined up by the waters edge. Fledglings? I know not!

Also I noticed a strange tree with beautiful flowers so I did stop and read the plaque. It is called a cannonball tree!! And the flowers were so delicate. Need to take camera on next walk! Bit heavy though.

Have a lovely meaningful Christmas. Count your blessings and look forward to 2010. We are……. And there are/will be challenges for us!