Photos for David

Today I selected a few photos to give to David when we next see him. Before I inserted the photos in a little photo album, I scanned them all. I want now to share these photos with my blogger friends. David did get to know Gaby while she lived in Ferguson Lodge which is a place for disabled people in a wheelchair. In this place people were well looked after. However it was institutionalized care. Gaby was very happy when in 1989 David made it possible for her to move into her own home. She was 32 at the time and Davidwas 40.

The picture of Peter holding baby Caroline was taken ca. March 1979, visiting Gaby at Ferguson Lodge with friend Ron Bates.

Next to Gaby is David’s father, on the left David’s mother, on the right friend Coral

Gaby has a birthday cake in front of her, David is on the right, David’s mother left

David and Gaby

ca. 1973 when Gaby still lived with us: Mum, Dad, brother Martin, sister Monika

David and Gaby came to visit for Christmas celebrations. David is Father Christmas and Caroline, who just turned 6, and the twins (5 1/2) have fun. Behind Gaby is Monika, the twins’ Mum.

Caroline and friend visit Gaby at Ferguson Lodge

July 2012, Diary

Peter and I just had breakfast. I had made scrambled eggs with salt and some parsley.

I added to my eggs extra spices: Curry powder, ground nutmeg, Hungarian sweet paprika and chives.

We’re awaiting our daughter Monika’s call. She offered to go with us to Gaby’s house. We have to work out which day she can make it. She might have to take a day off work again. David is still in the house but feeling very depressed. His life is very disrupted now. What can anyone do for him?

There are still some things in Gaby’s house that our daughters Monika and Caroline would like to have. The hundreds of Gaby’s photos are at our house at present and need to be sorted out at some stage. We promised Dave he could have some of the photos.

Gaby’s Funeral Day, Celebration of her Life

Give thanks to the

Lord, call on his

name; make known

among the nations

what he has done.

Sing to him, sing

praise to him; tell of

all his wonderful acts.

Psalm 105; 1-2

In Memory of Gaby

Gabriele unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, 15th July 2012. She would have been 55 on the 28th August.

She lived her life to the full. She showed much love to everyone who got to know her.

Family and friends are very sad about her departure. We will always remember you, Gaby.

Diary, July 2012

A few weeks ago I gave up walking with Irene. I just couldn’t walk as fast as she any more. I felt I was holding her back. In the meantime Peter offered to walk with me at my own pace. We’ve done this now a few times in the morning soon after breakfast. This morning we were lucky: The sun came out. We saw everything in this wonderful light. Peter took the above pictures this morning. They show parts of our walk. Later on he snatched a photo of me catching some sun at the front of out house. Since our place is at the back of the complex we feel pretty private sitting in front of the house. In winter we often have our morning tea there to catch the beautiful warm sunshine. Here in Australia we’re still in the midst of winter!

Viva la Difference

Men and women are different. So be it. John Gray puts it this way: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. I read this particular book of his in the 1990s. Looking at it today, it probably still makes quite a bit of sense to me. He calls his book:

“A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND GETTING WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP”

I just picked at random one page, and the following statement caught my eye:

“Men are motivated and empowered when they feel needed . . .

Women are motivated and empowered when they feel cherished.”

I remember in the 1990s, after my mother’s death was still fresh on my mind, I felt there was not much communication between Peter and myself. Peter must have felt a bit like this too. One day, when he had to see his doctor for some reason, I think he mentioned something about difficulties in the marriage relationship. What did the doctor say? He urged Peter to buy me flowers.

Peter then told me, he would definitely not buy me any flowers. Maybe to him it didn’t look as though I should be rewarded with flowers! I didn’t complain. But it took a while before he finally bought me flowers. He still loves to buy be flowers on special occasions and sometimes on the spur of the moment.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I used to often cut out articles from the Sydney Morning Herald. Two of these newspaper cuttings I found in the above mentioned book. Both of them are from 1998. I still find both articles a very good read. I thought maybe some bloggers would also like to read these relationship articles from the 1990s. So I scanned them.

Larry Beinhart said in 1998 that Bill and Hillary are an enviable match. Do you agree and does it still apply?

Helen Trinca wrote in 1998 what a mutually beneficial partnership is. Do you agree with her?

Here now are the two articles.

. . . . . . . . . . . . ..

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Laurie Baymarrwanga

Laurie Baymarrwangga – Senior Australian of the Year 2012

Diary, July 2012

From the first of July to the fourth of July daughter Caroline stayed with us. It was so good to have her at our place for a few days. Matthew had booked into Wollongong University for a daytime Winter Seminar about philosophy. In the evenings he stayed with us. Caroline had always cooked lovely meals for our dinner. She also baked a wonderful cheese cake for desert. Unfortunately we didn’t take any pictures at home.

On a cold windy day we went for a walk with Caroline along the lake. I asked Peter to take some pictures with my camera. I really like these pictures. I also like the pictures with Gaby in Merrylands. These pictures were already taken two weeks ago. Doesn’t Honey look sweet with that coat on? You can see it must have been a cold day:

On a cold day Gaby always lets the dog wear this warm coat.

Here now are the Merrylands picture

Update on Bulli Beach

Bulli Beach

We live south of Wollongong and Bulli Beach is north of Wollongong. From where we live to Bulli Beach is a fifteen minutes drive by car. So why did we book into a cabin at Bulli Beach when we can drive there from where we live any day really? The answer is simple. We need at least thirty minutes to go to this particular beach and back home again. Would we do this every day? No way. Most people don’t go to the beach regularly even if they live within walking distance. It is really quite different if you rent accommodation right next to the beach.

We had been staying at lots of other beaches before in different parts of Australia. Last year I had booked into hospital for a day-only procedure (biopsies on tongue). I had to leave the admission forms at Bulli Hospital. On that same day we went down to the beach to stay in that little cabin for three nights. I was happy we could do that. I found the place perfectly good for a little vacation. Why travel long distances for a three night stay when you have a beautiful beach close by?

Of course there are lots of other beaches all the way up and down the coast. Australia is blessed with numerous beaches. And all the beaches are open to the public! We spent lovely holidays at other beaches too. But last year, just a few months before my operation, we had this lovely time at Bulli Beach. Can’t wait to do something similar again.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

In October 2010 we stayed at this cabin at Bulli Beach for three nights

I am going to republish now a few pictures from our stay at Bulli Beach.