BRIAN

Born 18.11.40

m Margaret 1968, divorced 1973

1 child – Tammy - born 25.10.1971 m Wade – no children

m 1997 June (Jay)- born 29.6.1946

Adopted? Isobella (daughter of Jay’s daughter Tuesday – deceased)

Brian, Jay and Isobella live in Auckland

As I am first in the firing line I guess I should set an example

It has been another great year for Jay, Bella and I. This time last year we were in Europe, visiting Neil and Jac, always a pleasure, travel to Paris –love the Tower, Dali, Mommarte, the food, the wine, the French, then to Canada where we sailed with a friend up into Desolation Sound, with bears, cougars and friendly Canuks.

Drove down 1500 miles to San Fran, Ipod on the dashboard, staying with homestays who had made three lead light windows as a gift for the Hobbit House in our garden .A few days with other friends in LA and home.

I rode a couple of beautiful 1300cc bikes down to Nelson on deliveries, stopping in to stay with Janne and John and on second trip saw a catamaran yacht I fell in love with. Negotiations began at Xmas and in March sailed my keeler from Auckland down to Nelson, with a lady who exchanged my boat for the cat, and her ex partner got bagfuls of our cash as well, but all parties very satisfied.

Had a hell of a trip getting back up the coast, including heaving to in 5 metre seas and about 50 knots, for over 18 hours, and 80 miles east of new Plymouth. Very bleak and glad to finally make it into New Plymouth. It took then two attempts to do the 300 miles North to Cape Reinga. Jay and I love the boat and now getting it into survey to charter for the coming season. I am out in the cold modifying the transoms and she is busy making new squabs and curtains.

By mid July we will have celebrated Jay’s big 60 by flying to Alice Springs, taking a campervan to Ayers Rock and climbing up it, then home via Brisbane

Bella is now 13 ½, doing very well at school, playing hockey, enjoys a very full life – it exhaust me thinking about it! Has her own teenager room that defies entry to all but the most foolhardy

Friday we went dancing at the Cosmopolitan Club and Tommy was there, with his new partner. Good to see him again

Janne, John and I had earlier spent a very pleasant night with Jason and Fiona in their drop dead minimilistic house way in the country in from Silverdale. I thought it was just great – and Fiona gave me a lovely painting she had done that has gone into the boat Anyone want to come sailing on Whiskers – just ask!

We all have very good health and the bed and breakfast increases in bums in beds every year. We have been rated as in the top 7% in NZ so we must be doing something right.