Dear family and friends,

As the years draws to a close it is easy to say ...hasn't it flown by.  Well, as we haven't written a Christmas letter for at least two years I'm thinking well - hasn't the last few years flown by!

Out three wonderful children continue to grow up very quickly.  Simon is rocketing through the "you can't see my undies" stage and fast approaching the "let's compare poo's in the toilet" stage.  How fascinating parenting has become!  Danielle is well into her "I can't wear that Daddy - it doesn't match!" stage and I got a glimpse of the impending future she got made-up for her first tap-dancing concert.  Lea thought she looked wonderful and I was thinking up reasons she shuld never trust boys - or their intentions aat the very least!  Samuel is the old soul of the house and is past the early childhood stages.  He is now well entrenched in the "if he/she has it - I deserve it" stage which he will be through (if he continues to develop quickly) by the age of 35-40... like most blokes.

Lea has managed to perform with aplomb the amazing feats of motherhood, volunteer and wife (in that order).  She has actually managed to spend a small amount of time on herself.   We as a family recognise the demands we place on her and we will ensure that in the future she has absolutely no time to herself what-so-ever... just the way she likes it... oww... perhaps not!

I have moved jobs to IBM - my old company was getting sold so I decided I preferred to exit on my terms.  The timing turned out quite well - I joined the company a few months after it started and left a few months before it was bought.  I have been coaching and playing hockey again this year, and, apart from the painful knees, ankles, back and hamstrings, it is all working out very well.  I recently scored a black eye and torn ITB (knee ligament) in the name of "Masters" hockey - who said the more mature atheletes can't contribute to competitive sport!

Lea has also been excelling on the sporting field.  She recently ran 4th in her age-group at the Masters games over the 21km of a half marathon.  She warmed up with the cross country (8km) and came in 2nd.  Nelson, our Standard Poodle, appreciates her running far more than my hockey as he regualrly joins Lea of a morning.  After two half marathons and one full marathon last year they are both looking very fit.

As we head into 2004 we are still in a constant state of flux... but we will try to keep you all up to date as much as we can.  Merry Christmas to you all and a wonderful and prosperous new year...

Andrew, Lea, Samuel, Danielle and Simon