Good to hear, Ken. All good here - but reading so many negative things about new Covid strains, flu and flooding downunder that we've decided to postpone the holiday we planned for Sunny; don't want her to get stuck down there unable to board a plane and go back to school after the holidays because one or more of us have been struck down with a virus! Things will hopefully look better next year - but our mindless bureaucrats might start getting suspicious if we don't travel soon, because this is two 12-month visas they've given us for Sunny and we haven't used either of them! 

G'day Ken - good to hear from you and hope you're well (I ask everyone that nowadays, since I went back downunder 2 months ago and caught a dose of Covid within days of landing - no thanks to those westerners who feel too important to wear facemasks and keep their distance from others). All good here (all VNs wear facemasks, not least because few if any can afford to take a day off work!), and it's about to get even better with a visit by a former mate who I haven't seen since we both served in the regimental band in Boys Service, 1960: 'Bad lads' had a choice when being sentenced - serve time in nick or join the band (the provost sergeant was also bandmaster!). Paddy and his brother live in the Philippines these days and are planning to holiday in SVN shortly - should be lotsa fun!

You should be putting all that stuff on the Then & Now page! Come to think of it, maybe we should also start a page for everyone who lent Terry a fiver to buy Capt Morgan - Pam would need a bigger website!!! (just joking!) 

Hello Steve, those days of drinking rum are well over cant stand the smell of the stuff. You have a good memory I dont remember meeting you in Catterick, how long did you serve and what did you do in civvy street besides being a brain surgeon. I am still in touch with Martin via email can give you his email add if toy want. Take care good to here from you, Terry

The last couple of years have been pretty tough for everyone, I think - we've all had our challenges. And that's why I was delighted to discover the great news today that my superannuation scheme will cover Linh and Sunny if I die before them (I've just never checked before, but the VN gov't wants our full financial circumstances as they assess our application for 'expat adoption', so I checked with the super scheme and now it's all confirmed!). I had always thought it might be the case with Linh because I remember being invited to name a beneficiary. But Sunny was an unexpected surprise - she'll qualify for 'dependent child' allowance (nearly 80% of full pension) after she's lived with us for five years, regardless of whether the adoption process goes ahead or not.
We're just passing the four years mark now, so I've only gotta stay alive one more year and she'll be covered until she's 18 (or 25 if studying full time) as long as we can prove she's been living with us for at least five years - which is easy in Vietnam because every household has a 'family book' listing the occupants with dates in, dates out, etc signed by the local People's Committee (they love to know where everyone is from one day to the next - and in this particular case it will be very useful!).
I've gotta say I've had unexpectedly good news before, but today's confirmation that Linh and Sunny will be looked after if (when?) I go before them just absolutely takes first place in my book - YEEEHAAAAA!