Annual Tidings from The Delbridges of Donnybrook 2014/15

Annual Tidings from The Delbridges 2014

Upon reflection of the year past compared to others years of achievement, misadventure and merriment, this years wrap sheet reveals a dull veneer presiding over copious layers of mediocrity and therefore the foretelling of such abominate tidings should be cancelled – but I will endeavor to embellish the passé to bring anything noteworthy to a mock-heroic inflated read.
To be considerate, much less offend any individuals whose peaceful acceptance and tolerance to the Delbridges’: then Christian, Western, and 1st world infidellion values serves to hanker – a hope of this – that your CHRISTmas hams were a pork belly success; that your bottomless drinking cup of alcoholic fluids flowed with gayety whilst munching back those bacon jerky gobstoppers. And may the cessation of evil seemingly leached throughout the world and sadly also in our great land be confronted with a fit in or fly away approach.
Was nice to see the reemergence of Christmas decorations in the village streets; Griswald like illuminations on many a home and the word ‘Christmas’ replacing ‘Festive’ and ‘Season Greetings’ and ‘Happy Holidays’ on Christmas cards back in our stores. For us at least the crIsis is being rebuked. We’ll keep the chattels thanks.

Our son Henry, is now 13 and has completed his first year of High School at Bunbury Grammar.  Sadly Henry failed to obtain respectable grades of B and C throughout the year.  Henry won a couple of end-of-year academic awards including the over-the-glasses stare from the head master for hoarding prizes at the ceremony.  He is under close watch.  He continues to tap dance at an extraordinary level, so much so that Henry has requested additional shelving in his room for silverware.  He continues to pepper the piano keys and test the elasticity of his cheeks on the trumpet.  Whilst music and dance remain a strong area of focus; sportsman wise (among his new cohort) is not elite, but is certainly no slouch.  A true all-rounder is Henry who is starting to gain the odd gaze of attention from the young lassies.  Our Henry is turning into a teenager who couldn’t be less interested in going to Garage Sales, or fossicking at the tip and seems repulsed by these and other such fun activities that his parents may endorse.

Claire on the other hand remains unaffected by hormones and gives hugs freely, and jives with girlish innocence. She has had a pretty remarkable year in her own right. Clairbus ran rings around the entire primary school in a 2.5 km cross-country run which included two highly decorated year six boys. She took the honors for a 3rd year as overall sportsgirl champion, then backed that up at interschool level with runner-up cross-country champion against 23 schools. On stage Claire shone gaining accolades for performances with dance, piano and flute. Claire is also under academic watch for failing to acquire respectable grades of C and D. The strap with nails is on hold pending results from a remedial quiz conducted by her parents on Boxing Day. Despite the shortcomings Claire has graduated from Primary school and will be inducted into Elementary school alongside her brother and under prison guard tower watch this year.
Miss Alison – dance choreographer and mother of two, will join husband in useful contributions to the school fees by upping her paid work of nursing, not saying the dance teaching doesn’t pay, cos it doesn’t – just sayin’. On a social standing she has joined the tennis club in lieu of feeding Donnybrook potentials for the remotest chance of reciprocal fare, as she not only found this to be futile, but her tennis has emancipated into an admirable force and the offset of newfound racqueteers has served a volley of social activities off campus. In March this year Alison turned 40. Whilst she looks every bit of it on paper, the gal still seamlessly slinks into all the clothes she’s worn since a teenager. Well they do say the new 50 is now a 40 yr old, and that puts us closer in age than ever – have I got that right ?
In early 2014 the Delbridge double duo traveled to Donnelly River, a quiet water hub sanctuary of WA’s South West. We tried fishing for trout, but could only catch nothing; we tried archery but could only hit nothing; and we tried skinny dipping in the luxurious outdoor spa and only wore nothing. Later, Ali-Cat, Henro and Clairby attended Coralie Websters 70th Birthday in Bali. They kiddy had a great time catching up with their cousins. Just recently we all took flight to Adelaide and visited the City of Stadiums (aka the City of Churches) before tackling the Great Ocean Road and onto Melbourne for and early Christmas with the Delbridge clan. Catching up with chums from an era past was very special, making all those corny massages on FB regarding lost time and friends all so true. The family from the ‘Far Side’ whom we do not see enough of, bloomed with cameo appearances and resplendence to quell the thirst for consanguinity in warm and fuzzy amounts.
As for the anti disingenuous writer, the work of the Paramed enters its 5th year, sincerely rewarding and engaging work. Thanks to the urchinous few of maleficent shirt fronters skewing me on this pathway, I feel blessed to be where I am and in the circle of a loving homogeneous family.
This scribe may not be a latent addition of papercard on your Chrissy mantle as it has passed the appropriate time, nor indeed a printed scrap destined for the latrine; whoever you are laying eyeball to this mirthless shamble understand the Piata Estate doors will however be flung ajar for your eminence and we shall go cock-a-hoop with those dear souls that can bare the colossal ride in the motor car to visit us on the heath.

Best Wishes to all for 2015 from Alison, Paul, Henrover and Claire