Newsletter No. 24: January 2004

BIRTHDAYS

(February)

1st John Avery Lyell
4th Gerard Francis Robb
8th Susan Mary Wood
9th Laurence Gerard Wood
22nd Gemma Louise Bellman
23rd Matthew Gerard Wood
24th Paul Victor White
28th Anne Maree Turnbull
28th Jessica Sarah Wood

( March )
5th Dorothy Turner
6th Mark Frederick Turnbull
8th Clayton John Lyell
13th Raymond Gordon Payne
13th Heath Avery Lyell
14th Pamela Dawn Wood
14th Allison Louise Wood
17th Jacob Jordan Wood
20th Amanda Louise Lyell
21st Ryan James Wood
31st Rick Woestyne
31st Joshua James Wood

• Dorothy Turner reaches the great age of 80 on March 5th
• It seems that the baby season is not over yet, Jane Karamoshos (Turnbull) is expecting a baby in May 2004
• If you have not checked out the Woodchips web site recently it might be time to do it again - an interesting addition is an extract of the 1901 English census showing details of dad's (George's) family at that time.
• Also if you are not aware there is a number of links to family and other relevant web sites and if you have one which you would like included send the details to me and I will arrange to have it added.
• The web site address is www.familiesunearthed.com/wood
  
• Terry, Mandy Lyell & family have moved to Adelaide where Terry has taken up a position with Southcorp, they have rented their house in Perth with the intention of returning at a later date.
  
• Pam & I are now back in Melbourne after attending Rob & Clare's wedding in New Norcia West Australia. New Norcia is an old Benedictine monastery town in which there are many magnificent old buildings, they were married in St Gertrude's chapel which is in the old girl's school, the reception was held on the large upstairs verandah of the hotel. Everything went off well and we had the opportunity of having all our family together including our 7 grand children. We all returned to Perth after the wedding and spent time with each other for the rest of the week.

FAMILY PROFILE: Laurence Wood (prefer Laurie)

• D.O.B: 9/02/1959
  
• Occupation: Presently working for company called Bosco Jonson Connect. They are a large surveying firm and I am the Projects Manager for the building and construction survey teams. Began this employment at the end of July 2003.
  
• Wife: Trish (Patricia) predominantly is at home but does casual work for Home Help agency as well as frequent catering or waitress work through a party shop.
  
• Sports: Competitive and social tennis. Competed in a night competition with Matthew in an A grade doubles and came runners up during the year. With weekend tennis, competed in three successive grand finals this year winning one along the way. That was in a Section 1 Mixed competition in a pennant like format. I can still compete very well in doubles but singles is becoming more difficult.
  
• Interests: Fishing, Reading and working around home. Enjoy dining out with good social company.
  
• Children: Sarah 19 years old, Matthew 15 years old and Elise 11 years. Sarah has just completed a successful first year at RMIT studying Interior Decoration & Design. Matthew is starting year 11 at St Francis Xavier next year and Elise is starting year 6 at Don Bosco Primary School.
  
• Favourite Entertainer: Actors: Tom Cruise; Sean Connery; Robert DeNiro Actresses: Meg Ryan; Nicole Kidman sometimes;
  
• Favourite CD: Depending upon the occasion, I like many different artists. I prefer early Elton John music; Simon & Garfunkel are still a big favourite. Recently love to listen to Rick Price. Still a big fan of Sting as well.
  
• Favourite Movie: Dances With Wolves, Lord of the Rings. Terminator series. Enjoy many different types of movies depending upon the mood and company.
  
• Favourite TV Show: Recently for comedy enjoy Frasier and before that Cheers. I do not watch many serials. I enjoy many documentaries regarding wildlife. As well as many police/detective type shows.
  
• Favourite Holiday Destination: We travel to Lake Tyers at Christmas time and stay in a caravan park. This suits me for just relaxing at the end of a year with plenty of fishing and long nights socialising in the campground. Last year though, I enjoyed Cairns immensely and hope to return at some stage.
  
• Favourite Meal: I still enjoy a lamb roast with all the trimmings the most. I do have a taste for many spicy dishes from the Asian cuisines and I will not pass up eating seafood delicacies like prawns, calamari, crayfish, oysters etc.
  
• Favourite Book: Once upon a time I read just about any type of novel and it was my way of relaxing. These days I do not have the time to indulge in novel reading except at holiday time. If I was to name a favourite, it would probably be the Thomas Covenant Series written by Stephen Donaldson. However, I do enjoy many different genres with Science/Fantasy fictions a big favourite and many adventure, suspense or detective novels as well or historical fiction like James A Michener writes. His novel 'Centennial' was great as was 'The Covenant', being both entertaining and somewhat educational as well.
  
• Car you drive: For work I have a Toyota Hi-Lux. At home we have a VT Commodore, which I purchased ex lease from my previous employer.
  
• Famous person you would like to dine with: No one famous in particular. I like to dine with friends and meet new people at social occasions more than anything else. I guess if I were to dine with anyone famous, it would be interesting to see if the person was anything like you imagine him or her to be.
  
• Event you would like to do at the Olympics: I am not overly interested in international sport but I suppose it wouldn't be bad to compete in the tennis.
  
• Favourite Footy or sports team: If I follow any team I follow Carlton but I am not fanatical in any sense of the word. Generally only watch the Grand Final each year. I do not make a good spectator and would rather play than watch.
  
• Pets: We have a number of Budgerigars and Cockatiels as well as a guinea pig
  
• What talent you would like to have: To play the guitar and sing but both are probably beyond me now. Other than that, I would like to have the ability to write a novel as I have an admiration for those with the art of storytelling.