2013: The Year in Review

The Year started in style with a trip to Melbourne for the Australian Tennis Open with Annie & Tony Lower -  long time friends from my days in Broken Hill. It was Annie's 50th - so we went for the middle weekend pass which gave us access to the tennis for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Centre Court plus all surrounding courts.

Later in January along with a group of mates [Sam Hohn, Tina Sullivan, Terry Jones + in Brisbane Janelle Underwood & Sophie Perry] we flew to Brisbane to see Keith Urban in action once again...we also managed to fit in a show at the Outback Spectacular. This year the show was the story of the legendary race horse Phar Lap. Phar Lap’s story touches us where all legends touch us. ‘The ugly duckling that turns into a beautiful swan', 'the underdog who becomes a champion', 'the mythical union of man and beast' and sadly, ‘only the good die young'.

This sign post [picture on the right] outside the venue points to all the major courses Phar Lap raced at during his career. It starts at the top where he was born and finishes where he passed away.

In June I headed down to Perth for a week to have further tests on my hands which had continued to cause me some problems and also to have a lump removed from my lip. All went well and the tests were conclusive I had carpal tunnel - a painful disorder of the hand caused by pressure on nerves that run through the wrist. Symptoms include numbness, pins and needles, and pain.

The big trip this year was to Canada and Alaska.....a separate blog established for the kids back at Clyde Fenton.

Blog: Sandy's Travels

At the end of the year it was time for me to wrap up my life in Katherine and make the move to Darwin. I had been selected as the Principal of Alawa Primary School from the start of the 2014 school year. I had a big clear out, took the opportunity to somewhat de clutter and sell off furniture and gear I had had for a while. My gear then went into storage in Darwin till I found a new place to live.