Reunion part 1

The first half of the reunion happened at about 12:30 today when Dad, Mom, Gran (these titles may suffer from generational confusion), Chanel and Paige flew in from South Africa.

What the airline couldn't do Dad managed to and we're hoping his book will arrive before he leaves.

Claudia is the one in the middle faking a grin - she's half dead with the dreaded lurgy but we hope for a speedy recovery soon.

Don and Eva are on another one of their skiing holidays - Switzerland this time. I feel like I'm related to the jet-set!

There is a great feeling of excitement as we look forward to having the rest of the family arrive between now and Christmas.

I held a little baby last night - a one week old chap called Lewis. I missed having someone so absolutely dependent on me. Corbin is getting big fast and Rachel now only laughs at my jokes to be polite.

Rachel performed in her school pay - "The Evacuees" about children sent off to the countryside to avoid being bombed during the second world war.

They sang a lot of war songs like "A long way to Tipperary" and "The Quartermaster's Store".

It felt good to be allowed to feel like I had a history that was legitimate to celebrate. In SA there were very few reminders about the second world war almost as if that part of our country's history was not worth remembering.

I worked long hours last week but was able to launch a desktop version of my systems building software at the end of it. I was rather pleased about it!

Happy Birthday Dad

My Dad, Peter Bowen the first turned 100 yesterday. OK, probably not 100 but I actually don't know how old he is - he just seems to have been there always.

Here are some of my memories:

• I remember "Wilson Toffee Romps". He would come home from work with a pocket full of toffees and whoever could get them out of his pocket could have them. I was 13 or 14 at the time so Don must have been 12 and James about 10. He must have been crazy or very strong - I've given up wrestling with Cheryn and Zeek because I get battered and bruised and they're only 11 and 10.

• How about "Swimming Pool Surprise"? A meal made with hard-boiled eggs floating in a greenish yellow curry sauce. I have never eaten a hard-boiled egg since.
  

• I guess patience when someone dropped a hammer on his head while we were building tree houses.

• How he kindly carried me home from the shop after I caused us to crash on his bicycle by accidentally putting my bare feet into the spokes while he was giving me a lift on the carrier.

• The romantic things he did (and hopefully still does) for Mom. Cooking a surprise lunch for her on a camping cooker in the garage. Going on dates and eating ice-cream.

• Studying the scriptures. I didn't see him reading too much else but scriptures and church magazines every day. Usually in the morning in his bathroom.
  

What do you remember most about Dad?