Happy Christmas 2003

	Then, in late August we were forced to drag ourselves all the way to the States again, this time to join virtually the whole of the Stragnell congregation at Lake George in upstate New York for Bob's Big Bash, a celebration of Greg's dad's 80th birthday. I'm sure you can appreciate the reluctance with which we set off – another two weeks in Paradise with family and friends!
Greg's folks and all of his brothers and sisters together with their respective husbands/wives/partners and their assorted offspring, not to mention all the cousins, aunts and uncles in the vicinity. Even our Adam flew in from China for a couple of days.
	Finally, at the end of October we endured a short break in Ireland tramping about with Pen's folks searching for their Irish roots. Pen's great-grandfather was born and raised in Inistioge just south of Kilkenny before being sent to Australia as a young man. (It seems he may have been overly friendly with a number of young women in the vicinity and was sent to Australia to get him out of harm's way. Unfortunately, he then met, fell in love with and married a Protestant in spite of the family's efforts in sending the parish priest to save his soul).