You know those letters you get at Christmas with the yearly update on what’s going on in families? Well this is ours but it’s not Christmas (we resent holidays which force us to interact with our families) it’s Australia day! The day Aussies eat lamb , listen to the yearly Hottest 100 and drink beer. It’s a public holiday without any obligations to roast turkey, see relatives, give gifts or be festive. It’s a great day to spend with friends and post on Slanty. So here is the update from downunder.

We’re very proud of Lonnie who turned 30 and Kate who turned 25 this year. Lonnie and Kate have been busily working away in Melbourne at La Trobe Uni for another year. Lonnie has long since been conferred the title Dr Lonnie and Kate is still waiting for inspiration to strike. One day she will finish and the next day Lonnie and Kate will be on a flight outa’ here. Hopefully, with jobs awaiting them in Vancouver.

Lonnie and Kate still don’t have any pets, children, real estate, investments or rings on fingers. So, really, there’s not much to tell you except that we’re still here, we still work way too much for a boss who we cherish and we don’t have anything to show for it except student loans. Hopefully soon Lonnie will have his 5th publication  and Kate, her first. The EDS (Expected Date of thesis Submission) is 16th February 2007. The countdown to EDS begins on 16th November 2006 when we ignite a burning counter over the bed to wake Kate every morning and get her on her way to work.

Our last holiday was a hike to the isolated light station on the southernmost point of Australia where even the lighthouse keeper has to walk to get there. Our next holiday is to Alice Springs in central Australia. Every so often we are visited by world travellers who liven up the place and remind us what a great place Melbourne is to live.

So if you are coming our way to light up our lives, drop us a line!!

And, Happy Australia Day!