Jon and Lesley Richards
PO Box 280
Uraidla 5142

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?, ie celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary

The year began with a small hiccup when Jon spent a couple of days in the RAH with chest pain
Thankfully no lasting problems emerged

February is local (Uraidla) show time with Lesley convening the Art and Jon the Photography sections for the 15th year

We are still involved with the East Torrens Historical Society, with a three day field trip, open garden displays, local show, working bee’s and collating our historical records
We held our positions as Secretary and President

The new church kitchen mentioned last year was finally opened in April and came in under budget which has enabled the church to sell its pews and buy chairs
Both of us still lead the singing two weeks in six, and we are also involved with Choir Cecilia, based in Mt. Barker

Lesley’s involvement with the Chapel Craft & Café, Meals on Wheels continues as does Jon’s with café and the football club

The highlight of our year was a trip in August and September to Europe for three weeks on a Danube and Rhine cruise visiting Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam and Paris plus a host of spots along the way followed by a two week self drive tour of England, Scotland and Wales after spending five days in London
We have 1800 photos to prove it

One special occasion was arranged by Lesley for Jon before we left Australia, in that he was able to sing with the Blaenavon (Welsh) Male Voice Choir
As miners they make pretty good singers

On a very sad note we had just arrived in Frankfurt when Fiona rang to tell us that our sister-in-law Anne (brother, Knowlton’s wife), had died from the affects of chemotherapy treating her Pancreatic cancer
Our children represented us at her funeral
My other brother, Laurence, was also overseas on a cruise and did not know of Anne’s death until he and Christine arrived home a fortnight later
His children represented him

Great Ma (Loreyce) (90 in April) is still in her unit but in the past twelve months has lost ground and we await a place at L.H.I. where Tom was
Lesley looks after Mother every Tuesday

Eirona (33) is still nursing at the Repatriation Hospital

Grant works for a welding business five minutes from home

Bridget (6) has just completed her fifth term at school and is in Grade 1

Samuel, 22 months, brings all the pleasures of that age

Marc (31) took a leap of faith in March and is now working at Argyll Diamond Mines in far north W.A. (send order forms to us)
He works 12 hour days, 14 days on, 7 off
His knowledge of planes and airports, not to forget frequent flyers points, is mounting

Chrissy and James (7), Ashleigh (4) and at Kindy, seem to cope with the routine
Chrissy has passed her second year of nursing studies with good results

Paul (25) Spa sales and service and Jemma, 2 years into a four year teaching degree have just moved back after spending six months house sitting in Piccadilly Valley

Paul and Jemma both played-off in Grand finals this year in Football and Netball
Unfortunately both lost
Jemma was her league’s best and fairest and Paul picked up best club player and best in finals

--and love to all and God's richest blessings on your lives in 2008