Yes, open mike, We are thinking about that family too. It was easier, 30 years ago, to get permanant residency here and Hildebrand did that. He married an Australian in Asia. We've always known that the chances of me being allowed permant residency in the US were slim but we've never needed to try because we are happily together here.

Sandra, Thanks. He can do Cockney quite well - which he fondly believes sounds like 'strine. Otherwise he uses the words but the accent's not right. I like it a lot. The contrast's the thing. At times of high emotion he reverts to wall-to-wall American. - like
when he calls me Babe or when he calls George Bush strings of ****&#@@**s that I'd rather not spell out. American swearing is a wonderous thing.
Sadly we won't be at the National. Thought our chances were slim after being there 2 years in a row, and we can't afford it unless we get expenses. We'll apply for 2006 and see how we go.

Jenny, You don't have to swear at all now ***&*^^ about/for/against the Queen's excesses. Pity. Makes a great story. She didn't even attend in photographic form the way she usually does. That yellow wattle dress was so pretty. I wanted one when I was 10.
Cheers, Joy