Melbourne Pettys - July

Marion goes to New Zealand, Youth Basketball, Carmen went on a mini mission, Vern went to Tasmania, Nan came over from NZ, Calvin from WA and Dylan from his mission, Carmen plays the lead in the school production.   

Old man 1/7/12

The first week of the month was painful because it was the first week of the school holidays. Vern, Carmen and Austin were staying up late and sleeping in while the rest of us had to get up for work. What made it worse was that it was a very cold wet dark week. On Tuesday we did all go to the Pancake Pallor for dinner and then the movies, Vern told me off for complaining about the prices and bringing everybody down, she did have a point.

Marion headed off on Thursday the fifth to New Zealand to go and meet Jordan Fox’s family in Masterton. She was there for a week, I am sure that was plenty of time to see Masterton. She was a bit nervous however Jareth came over here later in the week and said she was a hit.

On Friday the sixth we went over to the Parton’s place for dinner. Ellen was busy so it was just the two youngest and us. We had a nice meal and talked about all of Carmen’s injuries and throwing up. The next day was the Regional Youth basketball tournament. Austin and Carmen both played and they took the Magbegors down with them. Austin’s team won all their games.

Sunday the eighth was nice since we could all go to church in the same car. After church we stayed back for a baptism of a guy the missionaries have been working with. One of the speakers couldn’t speak at the service so I got Ellen to fill in and the Bishopric couldn’t make it so I spoke at the end as well, it was nice.

Carmen on her Mini Mission 10/7/12

Carmen went on a mini mission with Hannah Parton this week for two days starting on the 10^th July. They split off with two Missionary Sisters from the other side of town. They stayed at their place and everything; it was funny listening to her stories afterwards. She loved it and said she is going to be much friendlier to the missionaries when they come to our house.

Vern went to Tasmania for a few days on Thursday the twelfth with her singing group Sisters and Misters. Marion came back from New Zealand on Friday so people were coming and going.

There was an YSA Mini convention at our Stake Centre this month. We did the dance on Friday the thirteenth and although it finished at midnight I didn’t get home until two in the Morning. Sunday I went to the Mandarin Branch and they had eight confirmations so we only had one speaker since they didn’t finish passing the Sacrament until ten fifty. It was a great day.

Nan arrived from New Zealand on the Saturday evening of the twenty-first. Vern and I were held up by roadwork’s and got there just after she came out. Sunday I had to go to the Melbourne Branch again and had to speak. I hadn’t really prepared anything and ended up with haft an hour. Lucky when someone is translating for you it takes twice as long and you can think of the next thing to say while he is speaking.

We had Liam Stevenson and his family come over for lunch and it was nice to see them, Janet also dropped in to see Nan. That evening we had to put on the SA Fireside, it when pretty well, I just showed a General Conference talk and we discussed it.  

Nan on the steps 23/7/12

Monday the twenty third was the start of two weeks holiday for me; Nan and I drove out to Dandenong Ranges and went for a walk up the thousand steps. Just as well it was a cool day because we got warm going up that track. From there we stopped in the little town of Sassafras and went into the Black Kettle for a pancake lunch. After a quick look around the town we stopped off at the Sky-high centre on the top of the hill, then home. For the next few days I had sore calves.

We knew Calvin was come back from Kalgoorlie before Dylan came home however he wouldn’t tell us a time. Because of this Carmen was feeling on edge expecting him to turn up at school so we had a bit of fun with that. He finally arrived at seven in the morning on the twenty fourth. His friend dropped him off, Vern and Austin were at seminary but Carmen wasn’t well so was there to greet him, it was good to have him back, he hadn’t slept at all that night so spent the first day in bed.

That afternoon Nan and I went for a walk out by the Le Page Homestead out off Plenty road. We walked around the old quarries and got a little lost on the way back. It was a nice sunny day and I got pictures of three new species of birds and saw heaps of Kangaroos. Nan walked me into the ground I was still sore from the steps, it was ok walking through the rough stuff as it slows her down however on the tracks she sets a cracking pace.

Elder Petty comes home 25/7/12

Wednesday the twenty- fifth Dylan came home from his mission. We all headed out to the airport, and took up our places, Retza, Dylan’s friend was also with us. While waiting I got a tap on the shoulder and it was Mission President and Sister Liffrith. They were there to pick up eight new missionaries coming from the New Zealand MTC and they happened to be on the same flight as Dylan. At about eleven when Dylan or Elder Petty as he wanted us to call him until he was released came out he was surprised to see Nan and how tall Austin had grown.    

After we got home more of his friends came around and he showed us some of his photos. That evening I picked President Dudfield up from the airport and we all went down to the Stake Centre for Elder Petty’s release. He looked a little lost all day and felt he should be working. We stopped at McDonalds on the way home, the next day at the crack of dawn Marion dropped off Dylan and Ellen off at the airport on their way to Canberra then onto a wedding in Queensland on the weekend.

Nan at Woodlands 28/7/12

Friday Nan and I braved the cold and went for a walk around the La Trobe University. On Saturday after we dropped Calvin and Marion off at the airport for their trip to Queensland we went for a walk around the Woodlands Park. This Park is across the road from the Airport and was pretty noisy with the planes landing and taking off.

On the last Sunday of the month we all went to church at Caulfield. They had a soup Sunday afterwards and we hung around for that. There is a nice spirit in that Ward and they really make you feel welcome.

On the last day of the Month Nan and I went back to the Plenty River Gouge Park and walked around the northern end. I was another sunny, still day, a great day for a walk. I did manage to splash myself while trying to make a stepping stone bridge and I tripped over at one point but it was a good walk. That night Dylan, Ellen, Marion and Calvin returned home from Queensland so I went out and picked them up from the airport.