Besides building sandcastles and riding waves, they all went deep sea fishing and caught plenty of fish. Flathead was on the menu that night. Unlike other Grenfell holidaymakers, they enjoyed lovely weather the whole time they were away.

Turning Eighty

A regular on “Norman”, the ABC radio quiz, Marie Mackey turned 80 recently and celebrated with all her friends at the Railway Hotel.

Marie and I often give cheerios to one another while we are contestants on the quiz. The other night, when she was chatting to Andrew Daddo (Quiz Master), Marie mentioned my name and that I wrote the gossip column in the local paper.

He wanted to know some gossip in Grenfell but Marie said it wasn’t that type of gossip, more social thing. Along the lines of the fact that she had celebrated a birthday and that would be in “Madlines” on Friday. So I didn’t want to make a liar of Marie. Happy 80th.

Returned Home

Millie Mathews, daughter of Harvey and Jacqui, has recently returned from the UK. Millie was an exchange student and spent 6 months in Durham.

The family had two working parents and an eight year old daughter plus another exchange student from Norway. Her name was Silje. The pair soon were fondly known as “Silly and Millie”.

Millie attended a college there with 1300 students in years 12 and 13. It was a lot different to The Henry Lawson High School. Apart from the large numbers, there was no school uniform. School started at 8:50 am and finished at 3:30 pm.

You could come and go as you pleased and everyday had 3 free periods. Millie was in the soccer team as their goal keeper. They had made it to the semi-finals, but unfortunately Millie had to fly home. She is still waiting to hear how her team went at the business end of the season. One of the highlights of her adventure was a family holiday to Costa Blanca in Spain.

The village that they stayed in was where the famous “ running of the bulls” occurs. It was a great chance to experience a whole new culture.

Spain was very colourful and hectic, with fabulous fresh fruit and vegetables.

That was something Millie missed while staying in Durham, the lack of fresh produce. Prior to Millie’s departure, it snowed for three days.

Quite a contrast to her arrival back in Australia. One phenomenon that Millie suffered from while overseas was “pins and needles”.

She put it down to being in the Northern Hemisphere and standing on her head.

Millie thoroughly enjoyed her six months away and now is saving so she can go back in two years to attend the Leaver’s Ball.

Big Plans

Claire Myers has not long been back from her “Gap” year on the Isle of Man. She was the physical education assistant at a boarding school and is going back to school herself. Claire will be attending Maclay College right in the heart of Sydney to study Event Management & Marketing.

Thought of the Week: Everything you can’t find……. is in a secure place.

Red Cross Reminder

Grenfell Red Cross reminds members and interested residents that the first meeting for 2008 will be held on Friday 22nd February in the CWA Rooms at 2pm.

Members are reminded to bring a plater for afternoon tea following the meeting to farewell member Pam Duncan.

The Red Cross Blood Bank donor mobile will visit Grenfell on Tuesday 26th February. Anyone wishing to donate blood should book an appointment by phoning 6361 2369.

Blue Mountain Getaway

June Bradford, her daughters and sons-in-law Jill & Richard Corke and Beth & John Redpath, enjoyed a brief break in the Blue Mountains last week.

Enjoying exhilarating cliff-top drives, breath-taking views, even appreciating mountain mists and fogs, and meeting up with friends they had not seen for quite some time.

On flicking through a local newspaper “Discover the Blue Mountains and Central NSW” Jill was greeted by the smiling face of former resident, talented potter Marjo Roberts. Marjo”s pottery is currently being exhibited at the Cudegong Gallery.