Dear Miron, Alyn, Jacky and Gemelyn,

Just sending you a few words with some photos we’re sending you from us. As you can see, Marianne officially graduated in May this year and is working as a high school teacher at her own high school. She is teaching commerce, history, business studies and legal studies and is enjoying it very much. Stephie is now in year 9 and enjoying her subjects this year. Jeff is working hard with his business.

Lots of costs and lots of worries, but he likes working for himself. I am fine at the moment, I’m constantly busy with dad, his health, running him to doctors as well as Jeff’s parents who don’t have a car and rely fully on us for everything they need. Jeff’s dad had a stroke a couple of years ago as well, so he is not hundred percent and has also many doctors appointments to attend to regularly.

(I’m sending you twenty in note if nobody opens it and steals it, it’s taped on the back of a photo). We hope you are all well and that you are slowly getting your house finished. We know everything is expensive and money is limited, just like here. Just for your orientation, 2 litres of milk is touching nearly $3.00 and a loaf of sliced bread between $3.00 and $4.00. Petrol is about $1.35 a litre, a pack of cigarettes is about $10.00. Life in Australia is very expensive and it is very hard to save anything extra for a rainy day.

I don’t need to tell you that because I know you’re in the same boat. Dad has not been well at all. I’m going to have to take him to the diabetes specialist again because he has leg ulcers that haven’t healed for months, his sugar is constantly above average even with insulin. I took him to the barber the other day and he fell over like a sack of potatoes because he doesn’t feel anything in his feet because of his thrombosis and diabetes. That’s all that’s new for now. Kind regards to you all. Maria and family.

Dear Maria,

Thank you for the letter and photos that came last Tuesday in my box with twenty sticky taped to the back of a photo, I changed it straight away while the dollar price was high at 85.85 USD and got seven hundred exactly in pesos, combined with the two hundred I managed to get from the bank ATM, it became P900-, so when Alyn came with Mr Ceriaco, her father who suddenly took ill from SUGAR DIABETES, she went out and did some shopping for food.

Old guy is now confined in hospital, how long for? I don’t know. These people living in the room will be moving out by July fifteen and I’m glad to see them go because their kid is a monster in the house, and that sums up a lot. I can’t put up with him because my nerves are on edge from the spoiled brat who’s got to have everything because his parents don’t use discipline of any kind to train up the child, he’s also of a very low aptitude and very highly strung.

The kid seems to be suffering with mental problems and he’s mal nourished because all he ever eats is all the junk foods and he won’t eat the proper meals. He’s not hungry, only a guts, doesn’t eat all the junk foods either but scatters them all over the house. Since they have been here he smashed up all his parent’s drinking glasses because of his bad character.

They got plastic to stop him breaking the glasses. Drinks a glass of water and instead of putting the empty glass on the table or the sink, he smashes it on the floor instead. Before they moved from their flat to us, he smashed his father’s laptop computer and it cost the guy sixteen thousand pesos last month to get a new one because he needs it in connection with his job.

I said the other day, the kid needs psychiatric treatment because his mental problems are surfacing more and more but the parents don’t care. I told his father before to stop him from throwing the chairs around the place and smashing everything, the appliances of theirs and all but he takes a passive attitude saying, let him break them I just buy new ones.

The maid was cooking the rice in their electric crock pot last month and the kid threw a plastic bottle of water at it and blew the element out. They run the electric fan all night and are all the time running up the electricity and the gallons of water they are using all the time. Water and power bills combined together every month are two thousand per month.

I believe that Alyn may have given them notice to get out because of it. The rent they pay all goes to the government for the water and electricity, we get no profit out of it. They are bad payers and you got to chase them for the rent all the time. They pay a bit here and bit there while they live it up shopping all the time and the wife has got her job back also.

They collect rubbish in their room and Alyn has to force them to clean out. Instead of throwing the empty powder milk tins outside, they put them under their bed and there are rats and mice coming in and breeding amongst their rubbish. The kid wants something we are eating, he refuses to eat the food he’s given and just chucks the plate of food all over the floor while kicking up a temper tantrum about it.

I told his father that he will become a criminal when he grows up but he just doesn’t care. They are scared to get a stick and smack him occasionally when he plays up, so the kid feeds on the parents weakness and throws himself down while screaming and throwing himself all over the floor and jumping up and down everywhere making noise in general.

Wakes us up when he starts shouting and carrying on at midnight wanting to throw chairs around when everybody’s sleeping, I can’t stand for it. Alyn said she wants to kick them out and I told her to go right ahead. The kid is a thief, yesterday for instance, he stole his uncle’s money and ran for it, it was raining outside and he threw it all into a pool of water, but didn’t he get in trouble from the uncle?

His mother came for lunch after that with some visitors, kid came running out and tried to bash our kid, I stopped him and he belted me. After that I saw he was just about to eat somebody’s tablet. I took it from him and threw it away and he went crying to his mother. I told her what happened and he’s going to poison himself with drugs but again, just an uncaring attitude.

They got the baby as well, baptismal was held on 17 of June and they made a big celebration here. People were eating and drinking all day until I turned everybody out twenty minutes before midnight or they would be drinking all night and making noise. Then the puppy broke the leash, when I caught her, the damn thing bit me as you already know. I’m alright, no problem. Alyn gave me three pairs of underpants that she bought me last evening in town. Some things are getting paid off but now I need new legs and metal holders for them for my bed.

I don’t know if I can get heavy duty ones like they have on the unsamble beds in Australia. The tin ones under my bed are worn out and the legs keep falling out all the time and cracking up, all cheap rubbish made from plastic. I’m happy for the girls but you and Tom, I don’t know about you all. I’m only 35 inches around the waist now and losing. We are all well and thanks for everything, regards from Miron and us all. 7/7/2007.

Dear dad,

I hope this letter finds you well. Your letter dated 16 – 17/6/2007 arrived yesterday. Alyn went to Ubay few days ago for rice planting and her father’s birthday. Both of her parents are old and weakened very badly, they can’t do anything themselves.

Alyn’s Naphew, the one who attacked Gemelyn that time, he will resign his job as the security guard and move his entire family including the In-laws to Ubay where they will live with his grand parents and do all that for them.

He is in a mixed marriage, Catholic to Orthodox. I am receiving injections/ vaccination shots against Rabis. That pup that Alyn brought from Ubay broke the leash at midnight last Sunday. When I caught it and tried to chain it back up, the thing went crazy and sunk its teeth into my right wrist. There was a little blood but I pulled the dog away from myself and almost strangled it with my left hand on the spot.

I chucked the pup down on the cement and it got up and ran away to hide in the long grass on the hill. I told Alyn if it happens again I’m going to kill it and no more chances, she caught it and put it on the chain the next morning. After I was bitten, Alyn washed the twin punchers with vinegar and three crushed cloves of garlic. I had my first shot on Tuesday the nineteenth of June in the afternoon after the tornado that brought heavy rain and flooding passed.

There were no deaths but a place called Sandigan Island not far out of town, many people lost their homes and everything they had. The government gave each family thirty thousand pesos, around eight hundred dollars AU and food parcels to help them out. The doctor told me to keep the pup chained up at all costs, feed it and observe its actions if it lives or dies.

I must report everything to the doctor each time I go in for the injections. Second shot was yesterday. Each one costs P650.00. Alyn managed to raise money to pay for two sessions and that is the cheapest price of the four different strengths of Serum. Only the government hospital is doing it because the private hospitals have no supplies of it. Next one will be June 26, than July 19 and a booster on September 19.

The injections make me drowsy and wanting to sleep in the afternoon all the time. The tornado contaminated all the water supplies, tap water must be all boiled before drinking it because it has caulieform in it from all the garbage that poured into the water supplies with all the rain water and the chemicals with the garbage also. People are suffering with diarrhea, I’ve had it for three days now.

They are also broadcasting warnings not to be drinking too much mineral water because it comes in plastic bottles and it causes cancer. That has been a known scientific fact for a long time now but they are just starting to re-educate the people about the plastic water bottles and from using plastic soft drink bottles for storage of drinking water. Throw them away and use glass bottles instead.

We get mineral water delivered in five gallon bottles. Three bottles per month and our tenants get one bottle per month also. Many people are suffering from the drinking water and last night on the Philippine channel 2 news from Manila they showed positive proof about the caulieform bacteria in water tested from taps and the cancer causing agents of the plastic storage containers.

Another problem they are warning about is people drinking straight from the bottle, it leaves saliva around the neck of the bottle, bacterias fester in the saliva, other people drink from it and get sick with other diseases. People in this country have a bad habit of drinking beer or wine from a common tumbler while passing it around from one to the other. Practices like this should have been stopped by the health authorities many years ago but they are just starting to do it now because the government doesn’t care.

I can see on television all the rain you are getting, in outback areas the farmers are praising it for their crops and cattle, live stock and the water authorities also because it’s replenishing all the water catchment areas, but unfortunately, Philippines have a very bad water crisis and your rain is very much needed here in the provinces, not in Manila. The City Hall locally are now on a tree planting campaign throughout the country to stop the landslides and mudslides from heavy rain.

Yesterday was the National Tree Planting Day. Too many people are cutting down trees illegally and not planting new ones to take their places. Even fruit trees, seedlings of any kind should be planted to reduce the greenhouse effect. There’s such a heavy volume of garbage collections every week, trucks are always full mainly of recyclable materials that they now sort out and return for recycling.

It has become a big business since Mayor Torralba stopped the land fills few years ago and our present Mayor enforced as a permanent matter. Scrap metal people come around buying empty tins, steel and other junk from people, so instead of throwing the tins in the rubbish bag, I save all the empty small-goods cans in a separate sack and sell them when they come for it.

Concerning overseas work, they showed on the Australian channel few nights ago that Western Australia, Perth, want construction workers for building and others with other trades, if you are trained for anything at all, your skills are needed in Perth. Contact your nearest Australian Misson and find out if they have your trade listed and you can start your application as soon as they give an answer, preferably by letter or telephone.

Wages will come to hundred thousand dollars per year or twenty five thousand quarterly which in Philippine pesos comes to four million per year. Employment visa is for four years after which you can apply for permanent residence and after two more years you can apply for full Australian Citizenship. That was propagated by the Immigration Minister in Canberra.

Centrelink wrote me a letter to say I don’t have to worry about anything at all, the payments will continue just the same, when I turn 65, the invalid pension will automatically change to the age pension with exactly the same benefits as I have now. I’ll be notified about it when the time comes. I don’t have to be in Australia for that either. I contacted the Australian Electoral office via e~mail last month hoping to be allowed to enroll for the Australian elections.

They replied the same way telling me that living in a foreign country permanent forbids me from enrolling in Australia. I can only do that if I come to Australia for any reason, a holiday or something. Problem with a lot of those nurses who graduated last year is that they cheated in their exams by copying from other students, they must all retake their exams which will be paid by the government and no cost to them if they want to work overseas.

Alyn brought a chicken from Ubay last month but it got away because we don’t have a chicken house or anywhere to build one and we lost the chicken. Alyn wants to get a piglet to feed, so we can barbecue it when it gets fat. I heard about the five hundred dollar present from the Howard government, they also said that pensioners living overseas will get it also but I have to wait and see what happens and keep watching the internet banking.

I recently renewed my ATM card to the value of fifty thousand pesos withdrawal per day. The old one only allowed me to draw sometimes ten, sometimes twenty thousand and I either have to go inside the bank to get the rest over the counter or wait twenty four hours for another ten thousand and another day for another ten thousand, lot of hassle, so they advised me to change the card.

They took the old one after I paid a hundred pesos and I waited three weeks for the new card and a pin number which they gave me last Tuesday. I validated the card through the ATM yesterday morning. Alyn will be back tomorrow, Gemelyn has classes today back in the university and I’m alone writing this letter while the tenants are watching TV.

Well, I can’t say anymore except that we have paid off one debt from Jacky that was left to us before from door to door people. It is a set of picture carvings in frames of Indian origin and until next time see you from Miron. 23/6/2007.

Dear Miron, dear Alyn and dear Gemelyn, evening 16 + 17/6/2007

Dear Jacky even not at home. Miron and all of you, I have received your long letter and the nice card for Marianne as well. Marianne is sending her thanks, Maria as well, I sent the card to Marianne just a few days ago. We have very cold and rainy weather here, Marianne had a big cold. She is now a school teacher but she did not have a chance to go to school because she was so sick.

I am not well either. I have so many worries, financial shortages-debt just now came bill for approximately $630.00 to pay for Medibank Private. Last dollar will go, but I have to be insured if hospital comes again. Heart, Diabetes, thrombosis, legs not good, most of the time I am in the room in bed and Miron, I have a very hard time. Gina is sometimes at home, but she lost her work, she found part time work, but sometimes few hours in the early cold mornings or over the weekend.

She is preparing food, Only Tom is working full time, but tax is high and he is so fat and has with heart and other problems. We are still alive. Please tell Jacky that I am sorry I did not write for birthday. I was thinking but I was sick and I thought that she is away. I understood the meaning of your letter about the other country. Pity that she cannot have work in Tagbilaran that she does not have to pay rent and boarding.

I saw that you have so much expenses computer, that boy sick, his grandparents drunk and so much debt you have and I am so bad and my ones financially. You are lucky that Australia gave you the pension. I had many people and they ceasing pension. When you 65 of age, maybe you have to be in Australia to renew new type of age pension. Here is a bad law, especially for older people.

Say if I sell the house, immediately is my pension stopped. If I die, capital gains tax comes on balance which they assess. If I work, pension is deducted, sometimes ceased. Now is Labor government in New South Wales and in many other states, in Queensland etc. They promised many good things, but people or America giving credit. Whoever wins it is or it will be not good.

Still it is better than in other countries, but if higher wages, everything is more expensive. We did not have rain, and now you saw perhaps on TV flooding especially in Queensland, 15 or 16 were dead. Roofs from the houses torn away, cars to the top in the water, cows and animals in cold water, some people will have help from government. Many of them with great damage, furniture, beds and everything in the water.

Trees taken away from storm with power from the ground. We were okay but many people here in the North area of Sydney had flood and damage. Still is raining, stops and again is coming. To other subject; Good that you have some extra money only if they pay to you. It is big debt surprise me that Mr Amizola is so good with you. He was very offended.

Be careful that you don’t lose your pension. For Gemelyn is good that she could be able to get trade, just lucky about it. I saw on TV, your president lady of medical nurses association. I saw students as well. So many girls and boys are trained after school for nursing operations etc. And they could migrate to America, Singapore, here in Australia. Pity that they did not have chance to have that permission. I have a big leg now sitting pain.

I hurt both my legs above the heals and I cannot wear the shoes, very hard walking and wounds are so painful and no medicine helps. In the night time it wakes me and I cannot sleep. Now doctor prescribed me ointment for eyes, small tube 5 grams and on PBS cannot be repeats. Without prescription it cost between 9 and 10 dollars per tube. I have as like poisoned my skin, especially in the bad place where the penis is between the legs.

More than three hundred dollars cost me specialist. It is not possible to curing it, just expensive medicine helps, but itching and infections come so often. Over the eyebrow on the forehead just last days it started on the face as well. But thrombosis and the legs are the worst. Sugar is under control, but as I get older, it will be worse. Soon I will be 80 years old. I asked a priest to come to make confession and communion.

Regarding chocolate and other items so expensive that is it comes chocolate to almost 9 dollars. Here is $3 to $3.50. I have some clothing, but it is so expensive that it does not pay to send the parcels. Dollar with former new firm is worth approximately 37 pesos, but we have now so bad expenses. Jeff and Maria have bad luck. Jeff’s father is sick as well with the heart. They put a plastic tube in the throat. But he did not go to the dentist and he damaged his bones.

He made the new teeth but it cannot hold on gums. They had special glue, but they are still falling out. Jeff has the same trouble and he went to the dentist and they started work. Could you say how much it will be. Fifteen thousand dollars, just for dentist. My legs are as wooden. I have to go to the bed. It is 1:00am in the morning. Miron, would it not be a good idea if you have a few chickens and one rooster.

You could have eggs from your chickens and it is not so expensive. As well when chickens are older to have nice soup and meat. Think about it. Now pensioners here in Australia will have from liberals $500.00 by end of June as present. I don’t know will you have as well that is before the elections. If it comes to me, maybe I have to pay my part of obligations I took for you when sending money for septic tank etc. Regards to all of you, dad.

Dear Miron and family, 18/5/2007.

Your letter I have received on fifteenth May instant, it was in the mail twelve days or since you wrote it much longer as from twenty five of April 2007. First of all, thank you to thank me for five dollars. Money is very dear when we do not have it and when bills are coming. So is similar now by me and I understand hardship. Good that Alyn paid to the bank for two months.

How long you have to pay, how many months till over? Regarding Jacky, they did not tell you right what I wrote to her, but it would not have been important. What I wrote to her is not against her, I just wanted to give her as father or grandfather advice. She should not be upset because I wished her luck for her – good girl. It will be not good if opposite as I wrote and suggested to her.

Sending regards to her and to her mother and sister. About the relative of Alyn who came to the old house, he should be lucky that he has any kind of work, only mistake is his wife has a small baby and again she is pregnant, they should wait for a while. Wife cannot work and I don’t think Miron that he can pay any rent to you. I am not sure that you could let out the old house because it is not on your land and Alyn’s. Bank is the owner, be careful that the bank doesn’t charge you or Alyn’s relative for rent.

Very lucky if they don’t get charged. Pity that Jacky lost her job where she was. It will be hard for sponsorship for Singapore because sponsor and to be so far away from you all. Pity that she is not a nurse, now the Labor Government in N.S.W. promised to give some more nurses jobs before the elections. Bob Praba from Sri Lanka came here and he obtained permanent residence in Australia because they have war in Sri Lanka.

Now he is expecting his wife to come. He is working with computer and he has a work permit and working as man in the office with computer and has good wages. He is paying A$200.00 a week rent for a two bedroom unit. Miron, by myself it is very hard. I am nearly 80 years old, I do not have money. Tom is working only and Gina temporarily. I wish to help you, but I did not pay first loan I sent to you.

Illness and other bills made me short and other circumstances. I cannot promise for help, I beg Maria but I am not certain but maybe some money 100 dollars or so I could find. It is not sure. You have too many people to eat, building cost money without experience it is good that with our help you have roof overhead. Now you have Jacky and on top of the expenses.

Maybe she will find locally work. Miron buy some eggs if they are cheap. You have to eat strong food, otherwise your illness could come. Half tablet is not enough for your condition. Eggs are strong food, a little of oil or fat of barbecue sauce if eggs are cheap. Than meat pies if you have over there. It is strong food for you and for everybody. I buy both of them. I don’t like to eat vegetables very much.

It is Saturday after 9:30pm. I have to go to take dinner but I do not have any apetite. Mrs Rauzan will perhaps come next week, she is very good with food and cakes. Many times I think how I will gladly give you food, we throw so much away. Tom likes vegetables and so does Gina, I don’t like them. Now you will have a small...