Left column: Isaiah Lemuel Bell, a few days after his birth on 22 November 2005.
Above: May 2002. Believe it or not this was the first and only time I have seen my two daughters together as adults. Linda is on the left, Mel on the right with her son, Izmaillah.
Yet another baby on the way. My daughter Melanie is pregnant. (Yes, both my daughters are pregnant now.) The baby is due mid July.
November 2005
The first of a new generation—Isaiah Lemuel Bell is my first great-great nephew and my mother's first great-great grandchild. He was born on 22 November 2005.
16 October 2005
Another grandchild on the way—my daughter Linda is pregnant once again. She is expecting her second child and my fifth grandchild around May-June next year.
2 September 2005
My Mum, Hazel, now has thirty great-grandchildren. Tommy was born to Lisa, Herb's daughter, towards the end of August. Sorry I don't have the exact date.
At the moment Mum has what was diagnosed as onset of pneumonia. She is staying with Irene while she recuperates.
17 June 2005
My sister Irene had her second hip operation in early April and apart from minor complications is recovering well.
My Mum, Hazel, turns 92 on Monday June 20. My niece Lisa is pregnant with what we expect will be Mum's 30th great-grandchild.
Michael and Amy were married in March as planned and have since announced that Amy is now pregnant. This baby will be my mother's first great-great-grandchild. I was told in Malaysia that according to Chinese tradition, if you are head of a family that has five generations alive at the same time, when you die you go straight to heaven. Just hang in there until December, Mum.
2 January 2005
My sister Irene is my right hand in Australia. She recently underwent the first of two hip replacements. She has been convalescing with her friends, Laurie and Rita, through most of December and as far as I know should by now be back at home in Scarborough.
Irene's grandson Michael Bell is the oldest of his generation, ie my mother's great-grandchildren. At Christmas he announced his engagement to Amy Louise. The wedding date is set for March 26 this year.
My Mum, Hazel, 91, recently returned from a visit to my brother, Neville, in Bundaberg. I spoke to her on Christmas Day. She was feeling a little worn out after having weeded her front garden which had become overgrown during her stay in Bundaberg.
September 2004
On June 29, my youngest daughter Linda gave birth to her first child, a boy. This is my fourth grandson. Harry was born at about 4.16 pm after quite a long labour. I spoke to both Linda and Damon on Friday July 2 (her birthday). She had just come home from the hospital. Everything is going well and I don't think either of them could be happier.
The baby's name is Harry (not Harold) and his second name is Vincent (after Linda's maternal grandfather). See link below for photos.
On June 20 my Mum, Hazel, turned 91. I spoke to her on Friday 18. She complained of a bad back. She needs a walker to get around but has been getting out quite often.
Sunday 20 was open house—a sort of family reunion as Hazel is the last of her generation. Many of my cousins and people from the family's past turned up to wish her well. With the birth of Harry, Hazel now has 29 great-grandchildren.
The pain in her back was diagnosed as a cracked vertebra. This slowed her down a little. She was house-bound for five weeks but is now making regular outings once again.
Some sad news. At about 19 weeks into her pregnancy, Melanie's baby developed edema in the head and neck. All sorts of tests were done but nothing was showing up as the cause. Mel and Hamad decided to develop a wait and see approach. The edema spread and eventually the baby, a girl, died while still in the womb. The birth was induced a few days later. My first grand-daughter, Yennega, was still-born on 19 April 2004.
On April 10, my brother Sam married May Radke at Widgee near Gympie.
Melanie's page
page updated 25 January 2006
copyright © John Shield 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006