Melbourne Pettys

Vern goes to New Zealand for Kylie’s funeral, Marion becomes engaged and moves to Canberra, Ellen moves back to Melbourne.   

On the first of the month Vern, Carmen and I went to the Tempany’s place for Sam’s welcome home. Then that night Vern flew out to Auckland for a couple of weeks to be with Natalie and to attend Kylie’s funeral. Ellen and Marion also went over to New Zealand from the Gold Coast.

Dylan at Point Impossible

The Honda’s air-conditioning broke down so we put it in to get fixed on the Wednesday and it still wasn’t ready for the weekend so that made Sunday a bit tricky with Dylan and I both having meetings. Saturday the ninth we all piled in the Mazda and headed out to the beach. The YSA from one of the other Stakes were all going surfing with a bunch of boards and wet suits that Max Bryers got from his school. The waves and weather were good and we had good fun.

Sunday the tenth Dylan and I both attended the Area Broadcast together and we were all told that we need to go out each week visiting members in their home. I don’t think I remember such a direct request in all the years I have attended leadership meetings. 

Carmen and I had a bit of an adventure on Wednesday thirteenth. We both had to go to a meeting at the school to be briefed on her trip to USA. We discussed this at family home evening a couple of days before. I also had a meeting at the stake centre afterwards so only having one car the plan was that Calvin was going to take us down to the school, come to the meeting with us then drop me off at the Stake Centre afterwards.

It was a good plan unfortunately on the day Calvin forgot all about it and had taken the car into the city to watch a movie. By the time we got through to him and found out where he was we had no option but to walk the fifteen minutes to the Tram and take that to the school. Not only was that going to make us half an hour late it was thirty two degrees and I was in my church clothes. Needless to say when Carmen and I started walking we weren’t in a very good mood however by the time we got to the tram and sat in the air conditioning we started seeing the funny side. Calvin was suitably apologetic although didn’t appreciate Carmen’s text about walking in the heat.

They all had the next day off since the teachers were on strike and Dylan’s boss had to go to a funeral. Carmen and Austin helped Dylan bake some treats for Danielle for Valentines Day. I rang Vern in NZ and that was about it.

Friday the fifteenth our stake hosted a YSA dance so I had to be there and looked interested. I had to take off at one point to pick up Carmen from a friend and Austin from basketball. Then headed back and didn’t get to bed until 2am.

All of Australia had their Stake Conferences the next day as the Sunday session was a broadcast from Salt Lake. Dylan came to the Leadership session with me since he is a Ward Mission Leader. Then Calvin came to the Evening session. Vern came back from New Zealand the next morning and I was able to pick her up since out meeting didn’t start until mid day. It is great to have her back.        

On Thursday the twenty-first Carmen and I headed down to the Temple for baptisms. Vern had to work and Austin could hardly walk since he had rolled his ankle at basketball training the night before. It was a stormy night and as Carmen drove and we watched the lightning flashing in the sky. On the way home all the youth headed to McDonalds which has become a bit of a tradition in the Ward.

After we got home Marion called to tell us that Jordan had proposed and they would be getting married. She and Ellen had driven down to Canberra the day before. Marion will be staying with Larry and Courtney as she has already been offered a job in Canberra. Jordan had rung me the week before to ask me for her had in the traditional way which I must say I appreciated although didn’t expect. I only told Vernice since I knew it would be a like while before he had the opportunity to pop the question. We were all very excited and happy for them both. There is really no need to tell anyone anymore because a soon as it went on facebook everyone knew.

Ellen came home on the twenty- seventh after driving down from Canberra and dropping Danielle off in Croydon. She was happy to be back and now it is like she never left. She tidied up her room and when Dylan came home it was back out to the garage for him.