Monday, October 30, 2006

Bridget Macfarlance writes a bit about herself:

I'm Kathleens' oldest daughter, I'm 23 and living in Wellington. I did a Bachelor of Science at Victoria, and I'm currently working in a recruitment company in Wellington. Last year I went to the states to do the Camp America program, and then travel around the states afterwards. I went all around the states and got to meet up with Peter [Peter Hannagan, Jack and Daphne's son] and Rachel in Washington DC which was cool. In my spare time I fence, and travel around the country a bit for that. I coach kids in fencing, and referee and things .

I got into fencing at school; we had a six week course for an elective type thing and I just went from there. There aren't many women fencing, it is quite a technical sport, and it seems that it suits men better than women. Also a kind of vicious circle, the fewer women we have fencing, the harder it is to get the new ones to stay. I'll be down in Dunedin for nationals in a fortnight.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Update on the Macfarlanes

From Kathleen Macfarlane (nee Ryan):

Thanks for your work in organising this. It's certainly a great idea to keep in touch. I'm very aware that the news I get of extended family is via mum talking to Pat, Daphne and Des. So it would be good to extend it beyond that generation.

My husband, Stewart, and our three daughters (Bridget, Kiri and Avril) live in Wellington. Stewart, Avril and I have moved this week into a smaller house after moving from our family home of 21 years in Brooklyn. We are now in Newtown and still surrounded by cardboard boxes and bubble wrap.

Things are hotting up....as it were.

Interest in keeping touch with 'long-lost' cousins is hotting up, and so far a number have contacted me by email. This has been great, as I've now corresponded with cousins I haven't spoken to in years - in Peter Ryan's case, probably for about 45 years! I think he was still a boy when I last saw him.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Welcome to the Hannagan Clan!

This is an introductory post just to let you know that a blog is up and running relating to the Hannagan Clan, which, because it's now scattered around NZ and Australia, the UK and US, is having some trouble keeping in touch.

Many of you will know that Des Ryan died recently after a long illness. His son, Peter, one of those cousins now living in Australia, has sent me a link to a number of photos that were taken at a dinner held the day after the funeral.

Click here to go to the site where the photos are, and you can start the slideshow.

You should be able to add comments to the posts here. Or even add posts, once I check out whether this is possible.