Hi Emma,
Well, 2009 is almost over and it will soon be 2010! I hope you have had a good year Em. It has been really hot here the last few days but just now the cool change has come through and we have some lovely rain - hope it lasts!
Thinking of you Miss Em and wishing you all the very best
Lots of love,
Aaron xxxooo

Dear Emma,
I hope you are fine and that you are enjoying Christmas day! I have bought some presents for you Miss Em - just the usual type of stuff but I hope you like them

(As usual too, I still need to post them - should be soon!!)
I have had a nice day this Christmas. I was at church this morning and there was a very good service with Rev Stan Bannon. Stan is our Supply Minister at St Andrews for the moment because Rev Keith Ellisdon is not able to work and will take early retirement due to his very bad back. It is really sad about Keith - he was only our minister for a short time but he was really good. After church this morning I went home, made some lunch (spicy noodles & vegetables, and some tropical jelly I had made the night before ) and then picked up Nancy Lyne before going to see Alex Lyne in Wantirna Eastern Health respite care. We had a really nice afternoon in Alex's room, sharing food and talking. My friend Alex (you'll remember him I think) had a fall a few weeks ago and so that is why he is resting in respite for a while. He is almost better now apart from a small infection in his foot. They are lovely people to spend time with and I'm very lucky to know them .
Tonight I am back home. I spoke to Grandma and Grandpa in NZ on the phone before and they are both fine. They have had a good Christmas as well - they had shared lunch with Uncle Colin & Aunt Nina and where watching a Monty Python DVD when I rang. Now I'm watching “Spirited Away” on SBS, one of my favourite films, so that it a nice way to finished Christmas day.
I hope you are happy and well Miss Em. It would be really great to catch up sometime, so looking forward to that!!
Take care and a very happy Christmas to you!!
Lots of love,
Aaron xxoo
P.S. Lulu is sleeping on the sofa opposite to me - she wishes you a very happy Christmas too!!

Hi Emma,
Hope you are fine. I finally got this blog software going (http://www.dokuwiki.org/dokuwiki). It is a lot easier to update than what I was doing before. All I need is an Internet connection. I'm at the Victoria State Library at the moment using their free wireless Internet.
Alex was at church this morning, which was great to see. He is my 99 year old friend that you will remember, I'm sure. He had a fall in his garden about a month ago and has spend time in hospital and respite recovering before he could return home. He is so happy to be back home. I normally spend Christmas day with Alex and Nancy, his sister, and he invited me again today. It is always a special time in Alex's wonderful, old house. I said that I will bring lots of food this year, so I had better get organised on what I will cook!
Hope you have some great plans for this Christmas, Em. I haven't started any Christmas shopping as yet but will do that next weekend.
Hope you are having a great time and will write again soon.
Lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo

Hi Miss Em,
Just writing to wish you a very happy Moon festival. I hope you have a lovely day today. I have been outside just before looking at the moon and thinking of you - hope you felt the good thoughts .
Hope everything is going well for you. Sorry that I haven't written for so long. To be honest I have been feeling a bit sad about things lately but that isn't good, is it.
Lulu is fine (she is sitting beside me now) and Grandma and Grandpa in New Zealand are well too. I have been busy with work and study lately. I'm still doing the library course but also a short course through the Australian Computer Society. Hope your studies are going well too!
I haven't bought you any presents for Moon festival sorry. I'll do that soon. Actually I have to admit that I still haven't posted your birthday presents yet - isn't that terrible. I'll go and photograph them now and post them after church tomorrow.
Thinking of you Em and wishing you all the very best.
Lots of love,
Aaron
xxxooo

Dear Emma,
Happy 14th birthday!!!!! I can't believe you are really 14 now. You are grownup! I hope you are having a really great day. I have got some birthday presents for you but I still need to get some more and then post them to you. Sorry about that!
I had a birthday myself a couple of weeks ago but it wasn't nearly as exciting as turning 14. I'm 42 now so really quite old!
Things are going OK here. Lulu is fine and work and study are keeping me busy. I'm enjoying my library study. I have a one day placement tomorrow at Deakin University library as part of my course. It should be good but it is a bit daunting!
Alex from church is fine and will be turning 100 later this year. That will be really special too!
Well I have been thinking of you today Miss Em and been wishing you all the best. It is a very special day for you so I hope you are enjoying it. Take care and hope to be touch some time soon.
Lots of love,
Aaron xxx ooo

P.S. These are the present photos - sorry I was so late posting them!