I finished my Banking career in 2007 following 41yrs service and we purchased our first surf shop in March of 2001. Our family now have 3 of them and our youngest son who runs the shops for us has contracted to purchase another shop that will settle next month. I am not allowed on the shop floor in the shops as “old blokes don’t look good in surf shops”. (So Judy my wife tells me). We trade under the name of “Beaches Apparel”. I hide in the background by doing the accounts, MYOB, Banking etc. It keeps me out of the pub, well for most of the time. But I still find time to have along lunch with a few old mates on a regular basis. Health wise I have been going OK apart from being diagnosed with prostate cancer 4 years ago. All clear now and regular tests confirm the all clear. It was interesting that the specialist who had been monitoring me for at least 10 years mentioned that Veterans are twice more likely contract that caner that the average person. He said that he even went to Washington DC to study with American specialists why this was so. They couldn’t reach a conclusion. My wife is from Hobart so we get down there at least once a year. Great place to visit. Our middle son lives and works in Melbourne whilst our oldest son lives and works in Austin Texas. He has been there for about 16 years and works in the oil industry and now has a “green card”. He married a beautiful Texan lady 8 years ago and they now have twin 4year-old daughters. I have lost count of the number of times we have travelled to Austin Texas as it is a real pain to get there. Adelaide to Melbourne then 16/17 hours flying time to Dallas then a 45 min flight to Austin. It’s all good providing flights are not delayed, and we get up the front. The two things I have learnt since travelling to Texas is that you don’t talk politics unless prompted and you don’t mention their “right to bear arms” and or gun control. I have seen frequently when out shopping in a supermarket or in a shopping centre a guy pushing a shopping trolley around with his wife and he has a 45 gun or similar strapped to his hip. Only in America.? However, one good point is that Americans truly value and appreciate their Veterans. We have been to several sporting events and concerts where they ask Veterans to stand and for the crowd acknowledge their service. Even some of the Airlines ask Veterans and serving defence members to board the flights first as a priority. Flying back into Australia is a great feeling as we truly live in the best country in the world. We were in Austin Texas in June this year to celebrate our granddaughter’s 4th. birthday and I have always wanted to have a ride in a driverless Uber. So, we were down town Austin and I ordered a Waymo ride on my Uber app. A small Jaquar SUV turns up with my name on the top of it. I unlocked the doors via my Uber app and we hopped in the back of the car. As soon as we got in the car a voice says, “hi Gus, welcome, please put on your seat belts and we will get underway.” The only people in the car were Judy and me sitting in the back seat. Indicator goes on and it pulls out into the traffic, changing lanes and turning corners with no one sitting in the driver’s seat whist the steering wheel was turning around. When the car stopped at our location a voice says, “thanks for riding with us Gus.” The doors unlocked and we got out of the car. If that wasn’t amazing enough a small robotic vehicle was travelling down the foot path, stopping at pedestrian crossings and I asked a Texan who was nearby, “what the hell is that”. He said it was an Uber Food delivery vehicle. So, if you are down town Austin and order Uber Eats your food gets delivered by a robotic vehicle. Just amazing. So if any of you “old blokes” are travelling to USA try and have a ride in these driverless Ubers. Just amazing technology and you wont be disappointed. I have utilised the DVA Wellness programme that allows us to attend a gym for a couple of hours each week. It is a great programme and thoroughly recommend it. Just on DVA my brother-in-law who was a Navy Vet and a Gold Card holder suddenly passed away in Canberra recently. His wife asked me to assist with her entitlements with DVA. So I contacted DVA and they recommended that I make contact with Legacy in Canberra. I got
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