Letters to Ann

Dear Ann,

It was Sunday the fourth of December &, although it was the day put aside for the annual Christmas lunch with the ex-Tupperware Staff, I had opted to give it a miss this year because Philip & Greg were arriving here instead of me going over there. This was largely due to them being in their new home, which is not yet ready for visitors.

Philip had emailed to say that Greg’s parents were picking them up from the station & they would arrive about 4.30 p.m. I was excited of course & very much looking forward to their arrival but as I had most of the day to fill in before they arrived I just did the normal things.

So I slept in until late & went up to Michel’s for lunch, did the crossword puzzles etc. It was still only early in the afternoon, so I did quite a bit of shopping as I needed some groceries for dinner that night. I also needed to get a carton of coke as a gift for my friend, John, who does the garden for me.

I was at the car transferring the shopping & was actually thinking I would need someone to put the carton of coke in the car for me because it was too heavy for me to lift. At that particular point I heard a man say beside me “Can I help you” & without looking I answered “Yes please”.

Then when I turned to look it was Philip with a grin from ear to ear. I did get a surprise at them arriving much earlier than anticipated. He had made an error in his calculation of time on this side of the world.

I am very predictable when people are looking for me as that was the second time this year that my guests have met up with me at the supermarket when arriving here as that’s where I was when Josefine & Tine arrived from Denmark.

However, it was wonderful to see Philip & Greg again & we were soon on our way home with Greg following in his parents’ car.

The boys travel very lightly so it didn’t take them long to unpack & make themselves at home, after which we just sat & chatted catching up on the latest news, having dinner & relaxing.

I was so happy to have them home again, although to be more accurate I should say ‘on a visit’ as their home is now in Chatsworth, California.  One of their latest bits of news I hadn’t heard was that Greg now has his Green Card & deemed a Permanent Resident of the United States. This is going to make things a lot easier when they travel & was long awaited as Philip, after eight years on a Green Card, traded it for Citizenship in March 2016.

The following day I had my usual luncheon appointment with Pat & Judy with the absence of Pat who was away on a relaxing holiday with husband, Colin. I asked Philip & Greg if they would like to accompany me to see Judy again.

Philip, Greg, Jun and Dawn at Micheles for lunch

I don’t think the boys had seen her since they went to America, but they had known her all the years we were in the pudding kitchen when Philip was managing the business for us. He & Greg opted to come for lunch saying that it would be nice to catch up with Judy again. Indeed, we did have a nice time together & I was sorry that they missed seeing Pat. However there will be other opportunities.

That night was our fortnightly family dinner at David & Lauren’s when the boys easily fitted into the groove again catching up on them all. As you would imagine there was the usual chatter & natter, a great deal of laughter as we wined & dined.

When Charley is around there is always a lot of chatter & laughter & also with Riley too. At times they were all doubled up with laughing.

Charley, Philip & Greg at David’s place.

A lot of it goes over my head with the problem I sometimes have with my hearing, plus also I have found that I miss out on a bit when they talk so fast. However, I am very content to just sit back, listen, join in with the laughter & enjoy watching them all enjoying themselves. It was a lovely night.

It doesn’t take long to slip in where you belong, everyone was happy, particularly me as I looked forward to the week ahead with Philip & Greg with me. Not only that but their stay was for a whole month & it was going to be great.

Heaps of love to you Ann & God Bless. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

It was well into the latter part of the evening one night in early November & I remember thinking how tired I was when the phone rang. It was my dear friend, Ursula & she sounded calm enough, but somehow I detected that something was very wrong.

I quickly queried, “What has happened?” When she told me she had experienced a flood in her home my tiredness quickly flew out the window! It happened like this:

The local council had advised the householders in writing that the Water Board in Ursula’s area needed to turn the water off the next day at 9 a.m. to replace some pipes. Ursula had appointments the next day so the night before she filled up some tubs of water in the laundry.

When she got up the next morning & went to her ensuite for a shower she found the water had already been turned off. However, she hoped that there was enough water in the pipes to give her a wash down, put the plug in the sink & turned the taps on.

Nothing happened so she went to the laundry to fill the kettle to get enough water to wash with. She then left home to get to her appointments & did not arrive back home until after dinner at night.

It was when she walked into her ensuite & found water completely covering her shoes & over her ankles that she realised what had happened.

Can you imagine the shock! The poor girl. She sat on the edge of the bed for a short time to take in what had really happened. There is no doubt wondering how she would get on with the insurance company as she had, that year, changed from the company she had been insured with for many years to the one she is currently insured with.

It must have been horrible & sometimes insurance companies have reputations of finding loop holes so that they don’t have to pay out too much. I know, I worked for ten years as a young girl for a reputable insurance firm & at times was appalled at their outlook on a genuine claim. For instance when one side of matching curtains got burnt they only paid for that when you had no hope of matching them up!

So I felt very much for Ursula from the moment she told me.

Needless to say, damage to Ursula’s home was considerable. As it was in the evening when she discovered the flood, there was little she could do about it until next morning when she could notify the insurance.

In the interim all she could do was find towels, sheets & anything else she could use to mop up some of the water.

Ursula reads the card from ‘the little man’

All this took place in early November, which is not a good time for a major thing like this to happen when things are hotting up for Christmas. All the carpets in the en suite, hall & lounge room were completely ruined. When they were removed it was found that the floor boards underneath also had to be replaced.

In addition to this quite an amount of furniture was also ruined, but the Insurance Company involved are going to replace it all which was an immense relief to Ursula.

I am not sure how she got on with the cost of the water lost as the Water Board would expect payment for that plus the cost of all water lost from the hot water tank. These are some of the smaller things that are possibly not covered by insurance.

As a close friend to Ursula I have been aware fore some time that she is totally reliant on her pension & I was wondering how I could help her in some small way. The opportunity was put in my lap when she told me she had her family of ten coming to stay with her from Queensland for a family wedding to be held in late November. It was then I had a bright idea.

I often call on Rachelle at Micheles for cartons when I need them, so Rachelle gave me a huge carton that I filled up with lots of different items from Coles supermarket where I do my weekly shopping. At that particular time they had lots of items on special that I thought Ursula could use like nibblies, biscuits etc.

I regifted heaps of tinned & cartoned chocolates I had been given for Christmas; some home made cakes; & of course some Christmas puddings. I can’t remember all that I put into that carton, but it was very heavy & full of all things she could share with her visiting family that I thought might relieve her burden.

Then when our other friend Jean arranged to meet Ursula & I in November to give each other our presents for Christmas it provided the ideal time to present Ursula with the carton of goodies.

I was at a market that morning, but rushed off early so that I could get the huge carton in place on a side shelf at the patisserie, so that it was right near to me when I needed it. In actual fact I had a truly busy & quite an exciting morning that day that I will tell you about later.

The carton needed to be in place beforehand!

So I was all ready when Jean & Ursula arrived, even though I felt I was huffing & puffing. They were both wondering why we weren’t sitting at our usual table but that all came clear as time progressed.

Before we started on our lunch I told Ursula this story with what you might say was a poker like straight face. I said:

“I had a very strange thing happen at my place last night. I had a knock on my front door & when I went to answer it I found a little man there & he WAS a little man too. He was also dressed rather strangely in red & green & seemed very agitated.

He made sure I was Dawn Hodgetts & also that I was a friend of Ursula who had had a trauma recently. When I confirmed this he gave me this letter to give to you & also this huge carton wrapped in Ho Ho Christmas paper & made sure that I was seeing you today.

Then he left in a great hurry so here is the letter from ‘whoever’ & here is the carton. Don’t ask me any questions as that is all I know”.

I handed her the letter & carton. The letter was a card from the North Pole & this was plain to see on the front of the card it also said ‘Merry Christmas from Santa’s Village’. Inside the card it read:

‘My Dear Ursula, My elves heard of your recent disaster & were very upset. As you know it’s a very busy time for the elves, but they put their heads together to see what could be done to help you & your family.

Even though it’s a bit chaotic at the North Pole at this time of year I am very pleased at what they have done for you & your family. We hope you enjoy it.

So from all of us at the North Pole we wish you a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year. With kindest thoughts from Santa’.

Ursula examines all the goodies from the North Pole.

Well I guess the photos I am sending you will tell you the rest of the story. Ursula was tickled pink, as the saying goes. So were all the patrons who were in the patisserie at that time!

I briefly told them about the flood & everyone felt for her. I think they were rather pleased to be there for lunch that Sunday & learn that a real Santa exists after all!

My Fondest Love Always. Dawn X O X O

Dear Ann,

I am missing my sister more than ever now that she has returned to live in Tasmania. It’s not as if we were in constant touch when she lived in Forster, but she seems so much further away now that it’s not just a two hour drive up the highway.

However, we stay in touch by emails & the phone & I read the legacy she left me in the beautiful calendar she gave me twelve months ago. The verses therein are a constant reminder to me of her love & so it says in:

SEPTEMBER.

You Are One Of The Strongest Women I Know
Strong women are those who know the road ahead will be strewn with obstacles, but they still choose to walk it because it is the right one for them.
Strong women are those who make mistakes, who admit them, learn from those failures & then use that knowledge.

(The next bit Joice has underlined).

Strong women are easily hurt, but they still extend their hearts & hands knowing the risk & accepting the pain when it comes.
Strong women are sometimes beat down in life, but they still stand up & step forward again.
Strong women are afraid. They face fear & move ahead to the future, as uncertain as it can be.
Strong women are not those who succeed the first time. They’re the ones who fall time & again but still keep trying until they succeed. (Another underlined bit).
Strong women face the daily trials of life, sometimes with a tear, but always with their heads held high as the new day dawns.

OCTOBER.

How Do You Tell A Sister how wonderful she is?

A sister is someone more special than words can begin to describe. She is love mixed with friendship & with a million favourite memories that will always last.
A sister is a hand within yours enfolded with hope & understanding. She is a warm hearted soul who always knows the most innermost things – your secrets & wishes & worries & dreams – when no one else comes close.
And every day of your life she gives you a feeling which makes you feel what you would ever do without her. Because no one is loved so dearly & no one is appreciated so much.

NOVEMBER.

When I Look At You Sister…

I see a remarkable woman with a kind & caring heart who is beautiful in every sense of the word.
I see a smile that lightens up the room & laughter that is truly contagious.
I see strength & wisdom beyond anything I have ever known.
I see love, pure & true compassion & thoughtfulness.
I see a woman who walks through this world with gentleness & grace.

(Again, this is underlined by Joice)

I admire you for all that you are & all that you do. You are everything wonderful in this world & if I had just one wish it would be that you see what I see when I look at you,

DECEMBER.

A Sister Like You Is Such A Wondeful Gift

There have been a thousand times when I have thanked my lucky stars for you.
You are the good standard that all sisters should be measured by.
You are such a wonderful example of how to live a life that brightens the days of everyone around you.
You are a steady stream of support, a reassuring feeling that is always with me & a gift whose value is unmeasurable.
You are beautiful in more ways than you know & always will be.

And that is the calendar of lovely words from my sister to me. Although it may not all be true, but I know it comes from the heart. It makes me feel good to know that I am thought of so highly & loved so much.

On the other side of the fence a lot of what is written is iterated by me for Joice also. She was the baby sister I prayed so hard for & God granted my request. We have had a lifetime spanning over eighty years of loving & caring for each other.

Joice has been more than a sister to me, she has been my best friend & what can I say more than that.

When I was told I had terminal cancer, Joice asked could she have my wind chimes so that when they rang she would feel I was talking or reaching out to her. That was a lovely thing for her to say.

She may have to wait a long time for the wind chimes to go her way,

My love to you dear friend & God Bless. Dawn X O X O

JoDear Ann,

I can’t remember all that I did back then but I did pull, cut, & uproot, working hard at making a transformation.  It was no mean feat & resulted in a huge mass in front of me to dispose of.  I hired a chipper to mulch it all up & with the help of my friend, Pat & her husband, Colin we had a mountain of good mulch to use.

Dawn’s garden in early 2012

He & Pat came to help me for weeks on end & Colin would go to the hardware store with his station sedan & trailer to get soil & whatever else was needed to give it a good face lift. Colin showed me how to plant a hedge with fifty plants I had purchased for that purpose & twelve years later that hedge has grown to make a sturdy outline around the garden.

I am not a good gardener & most of my efforts have been trial & error but I have enjoyed it.  Over the years I have had some success with roses & azaleas which, at one stage, brought positive remarks from people passing by who would comment on the results.  It did look very pretty back then.  

However, ultimately it started  to fade, some of the plants were beyond their use by date & needed some TLC.  Then the garden took on a new look as my very dear & young friend, Narelle, brought up from her garden in Sydney, heaps of Cliveas & Agapanthus & planted them in & amongst the Roses & Azaleas.

After Narelle and David’s update

However, with my setback in health two years ago the garden became overgrown with weeds & looked so uncared for it became an eyesore & had the resemblance of a jungle again.  However, one door shuts & another one opens & in this case it was Hammond Care who talked to my son David & myself when I was in hospital.

It was decided that I should no longer do my housework & my life changed. I cannot praise this firm highly enough for what they have done for me in the past two years.  They have been amazing in taking care of my needs, not only in the house but in many other ways also.

Rebecca is an Executive on the committee of Hammond Care who calls on me frequently & has become a friend as well.  When she mentioned to me a few months back that I had so many hours banked & would I like a gardener to help me in that area, I virtually jumped at this proposal.

The result being that John, the gardener, came to see me.  He was just so nice telling me that he looked after his Gran for ten years & if I liked he & his wife would bring me cooked meals. That was back when I was still recuperating after weeks in hospital.  This was totally off his own bat & not from Hammond Care.  

I didn’t need to accept his kind offer as I was getting well quite quickly & able to look after myself with the cancer not taking over my life – as was expected by the medical team – but I couldn’t help think how there is so many good people in this world who go without any accolades into what they give of themselves.

Dawn’s Old Garden. 29/10/2016

 The outcome of John entering my life was that he would take over the garden; remove all the Cliveas & Agapanthus that Narelle had so lovingly put in the ground for me & totally revamp the whole garden replacing them when it was all done.

Basically the whole the garden was uprooted. Trees that I had inherited when I moved here were completely removed & discarded, as was most of the azaleas which had seen better days.  

John brought in fertiliser to help the poor clay soil that I inherited.  Then he brought in loads of chips for the whole area as well as replanting the Cliveas & Agapanthus, which he had carefully put into pots until the garden was ready to accept them again.

In it’s place the whole area sported, as a centre piece, my pedestal holding a plant which will flow over & fall down giving a great effect.  The only other thing there at the moment is a border of mondo  grass, one Clivea & two stones which my niece gave me years ago saying ‘My Garden’ & ‘Enjoy’.  All this is on a setting of white pebbles.   I was absolutely delighted with the transformation.

Dawn’s new Garden outside the lounge room window. 25/9/2016

Then as the main garden was transformed I was equally as delighted & will never tire of drinking it in.  The Cliveas & Agapanthus were all restored with other exotic plants put here & there that were taken from my bush garden (another very large part of my garden) & it was looking lovely.  

I had a huge orange blossom tree in one section of the garden that I brought here twelve years ago in a pot. When it looked pot bound & sorry for itself I shoved in the garden thinking if it survives well & good & if it doesn’t, so be it.

It grew & blossomed & now provides shade in one area. John suggested that a little seat would be good there as it was in the shade & would provide a lovely spot for me to sit, read & maybe enjoy a glass of wine.  

I mentioned this to David & the same day he came down with a seat that he had discarded.  John took it home, applied oils etc. bringing it back to take pride of place in a gorgeous spot above the stepping stones.  David also supplied some blue cushions for my garden seat & with the blue agapanthus it looks charming.  

My new garden seat in the shade.

Greg & I had a wine or two one evening there to christen it & it was magic.  The world can be a beautiful place, my garden is part of it & I intend to enjoy it to the full.

My new garden. Nov. 2016

I have today changed some of my house cleaning hours so that John & his team, can visit the garden for two hours every fortnight to take charge of unwanted weeds & anything else that needs some TLC.   He will also be able to tidy up my ‘bush garden’ which is another big area which is full of this & that: things I have put in there from time to time including a plant which has suddenly taken off after twelve years & reputed to be the last plant on planet earth that the Dinosaurs ate.  I am thrilled about that, it has taken a long time!