Ducks Patch: January 2026

Its been 20 years since I started the blog.

WOW how time flies.

But it was important to start it. Not only for the family to keep take of what we were doing, but now a memory jogger of what we got to do.

The first 20 years of Marriage age was 3 homes all close ti each other and never left the Country, Just Rising Kids and Career. The next 20 years Well Yah..

So let’s review what the last 20 years has done.

We have moved 9 times and lived in 5 different countries.

Seen the kids get married, devoiced, graduate , qualified and travel, developing into wonderful Adults. And still stay in contact with us.

So let review the Years

2006 – It all started, as Gemma-ann was going to Perth for GAP year. Little did she know that why were planning to move. The real surprise came, when we sold the house and we decided (well work decided for us) to travel to Malaysia. It deal was simple, Go to Malaysia for 2 years, So by the End of 2006 the Blog was an essential tools for keeping Family informed, as Lissa was in NZ, Gemma-Ann was in Perth, as for thew rest of the family, they were in amazement of what we were doing. During the Year I also traveled to the USA and Japan for Work again.

2007 – During 2006 we Explored Malaysia, but 2007 was the Year to Explore Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam. By the end of this year we were sort of looking forward to Australia. And the Blog was working overtime.

2008 – Early in the Year we moved to Melbourne, Australia. Into a small apartment in South Yarra, Close enough to the city to not require a car. Get the Family setup in a New Country and Home. Late in the year, we got small car and started to Explore.

2009 – Continued to Explore and see the country, By the end of the Year, we had purchased a piece of Dirt to build a new Home. Little did we know it would take almosta whole year before that happened.

2010 – was the New Home being Built. It was a dream but a lot of Hassls. But we still got out to see the places and sounds.

2011– New Home to settle into, and things started to quieten down.

2012 – Got involved in the Ysa program at Chursh to help the Young Adult which most of our were.

2013-2015 Boring Years, the kids were traveling on their Missions. that were long until late 2015, Jennifer says, let move to England.

2016 – Jennifer was in her Last year of Studying Education. And I plot the trip to England while working on a tough project. Come September, Lissa got Married and I flew out to England. With Jennifer to Follow 9 Weeks later.

2017 – Man was England Cold. We moved in a single 1 Bedroom Apartment on the outskirts of London. And started to explore English family and the sights.

2018 – Time for Travel to Europe. It all started with Getting phone call in May-2018

Dad had Died at the age of 87. It was only that week that he had told me “you have travel Europe”, so I fled all the way to NZ and back again and got Job in Amsterdam.

This start the European Travel. The Netherlands at First, and Amsterdam, and then Belgium. Continued to travel to Belgium, Northern France and even Paris, But Jennifer Health was going Downhill Fast. So Year end with us Plotting to go home.

2019 – Homeward Bound. Well sort of we went the Germany, Scotland and Austria, before heading to Italy, Thailand and Hong Kong on the Way home. By June 2019 we were Home. But we bored, Jennifer was getting stronger we needed a tree change,

2020 – House hunting again and a pandemic is not good mix but by March we had found a place and started the difficult move in July- Sept. Yes, with the Lockdown rules it took months to move to the new home in the hills, and Evelyn Balcon Arrived. The first Grandchild.

2021, was us settling in to the new Home and sorting the garden out while the lockdowns continued. The June 2021, came BIG STORM, we were lucky way to many in the Hills were not, Damage everywhere with Months cleanup, so we went to Lissa for Month and came home with a surprise. We decided that living in another was to much effort. So we could now have a DOG. Nara Joined the Family and quickly settled in.

2022 – Another Grandchild arrives., this time a boy. And the year slows down.

2023-2025 – Life slows down and we enjoy living on the hill.

So what does 2026 hold, more travel we Hope.. We have new Jobs and new Dreams…

So in all 20 years went by fast. Are we Richer for, money wise NO we spent it all. Memories we are Rich in.