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Chris Ward passed on Ron's address............
From: "valerie mills" <dearron64@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 20:13:56 -0500
Subject: Re: Ron mills.
Hello Mike Sorry that you didn't get our letter.We are new in the pc world,still lots to learn.!!!! It looks like your family has done a lot of traveling. We have lived in Canada,for 33yrs. I have been married to Valerie for 38yrs.Chris phoned us last week, I enjoyed talking about old times, he like you have a good memory.What do you work at, in Singapore?Hope to hear from you soon Ron
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Ron,
So, you married Valerie in the UK?? Then moved to Canada??
Yes Chris has a very good memory ? Mine is utterly useless? traveling is part of the reason? I sold my house in the UK a few years ago and had very little time to go over there and clear out things that I wanted to keep, and those I wanted to chuck ? like 2 days? so I threw most of the things away ? just left them in plastic bags for the dustmen ? golf clubs, computer, printer, crockery, cutlery, clothes all the furniture (except what daughters took) all my tools/power drills, lawn mowers..etc.. etc.. so what I have now can be stored in about 6 suitcases?.. alas as a result? I have no paper records (certificates, photos etc..) to help me remember ? things. Totally reliant on the old noddle ? which is pretty uncertain at times.
A quick resume??
From Grange Park I went to Townfield Secondary ? more towards Hayes Town, 2 years there and passed the ?technical? exam ? went to Ealing Tech for about 4/5 years played in their soccer team as goalkeeper ? let 20 goals in, in 3 matches ? wasn?t invited to play in the 4th match!! (I balme the defence!!) ? Went to work in the City for The Times newspaper where?I fell into computers aged about 18, a couple of years there, then ICT/ICL at Putney and Harrow for 4 years, a small software house in West London for another couple of years who opened up in South Africa, and I transferred there ? great place ? wonderful time ? about 4 years? met a German lady, married her returned to High Wycombe area?had 2 daughters (super, great, fantastic), 1983 I did a 1 year contract in Saudi Arabia ? very boring!! - around 1989 fell out with Miss Germany ? separated, she returned to Hamburg, youngest daughter (about 13) went with her, eldest (about 16 stayed with me) ? no great custody issues ? just what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it ? then in 1993 I went to Hong Kong, worked there for 7 years ? great place, lots of fun!! Met Janet (from Philippines, who I live with) ? I retired about 2 years ago ? rarely worked for any company ? I used to ?freelance? writing programs and systems for anybody who wanted them, so not much of a ?career?, just a succession of ?projects?. Janet got transferred from HK to Singapore a few months ago ? and I came along with the baggage. The kids are now 27 and 25 ? one in Somerset, the other backpacking around Oz & NZ ? soon to pass through Singapore ? kids are brilliant!!
Lets have your news? why Canada??? (its soooo cold? except in summer? I went to Whistler/Blackcombe with the kids about 4 years ago ? great time ? much jet-setting there? me coming in from HK, and they from London. Janet was in Toronto about 5 years ago, but travels Asia and Europe mostly, not so much North America)? kids??, work?? Etc.. etc?
As I remember you (excuse out of synch noddle, if I?ve got it wrong - yes - wrong Ron) ? very blonde/white hair? mine?s about that colour now? have a look at my silly web-site (address below) there?s nothing in there about Grange Park etc, so its mostly boring for you? (and everybody else I?m sure).. but I?ll add stuff as I get more details contacts, click on Ealing Tech, then Photo Album ? a little piccie of me about age 15 and then another about 2/3 years ago in HK.
Are you now RON, or is it still sometimes RONNIE?? ? news please?????..
MC
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From: "valerie mills" <dearron64@hotmail.com Save Address
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:42:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Ron mills.
Hello Mike If you think that your memory is bad, try mine.....We came to Canada, because we could not find a place to live!!!We find that when we go back home , England is cold and damp.Canada is a dry cold.I left Grange Park, went to Barnhill.I stayed until I was 16. I took an apprenticeship,as a carpenter/ Joiner.My first love was my goldie< motorcycle.. At the tender age of 19 a girl from Slough stole my heart. Then we got married.At 23 we came to Canada to start a new life. We had two sons,Darrren and Dean. We did come back in 70, but only last for 7 months.Still no place to live!!!!In 97 we lost our son Darren in a car accident.Our other son Dean went to Australia,last year stopping in Singapore.Dean mention that he would like to go back to Australia to stay a while.My wife would like to go back home to stay ,becauses he has family there. I have a good job here and I would have trouble finding work over there.I am too old to start again. Bye for now,RON...
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From: michael curley
To: dearron64@hotmail.com
Date: 28 Jan 2002 18:28:02 -0800
Ron!!
Thanks for your news - sorry for the dealy in replying...
I think I know what you mean about England being a damp cold - my wife (spit!) is/was German - and their cold is dryer than the UK too.
That'll teach you... "Slough Safety Town" - lulled you into a false sense of security - next you knew - you were married - tricky those Slough ladies!!
Sorry to hear about losing your son - must have been terrible.
Its a difficult decision, stay in new country or retire/return to the old one.... I knew a family back in South Africa that sold everything, moved back to the UK, bought everything, didn't like it, sold everything, moved back to Africa, bought everything etc... a couple more times - they just couldn't get settled - and lost a lot of money trying. I think you're right - stay there - England - damp miserable, expensive little place!!
Are you still a carpenter/joiner - or did that finish years ago??
We're just settling into Singapore now - Janet has a 3 year contract, but her employer (like others in these times) is retrenching and she hopes to miss the cut - so fingers crossed. If we do stay here 3 years - she then will decide whether to retire or not - depends on what job she's offered - we may then retire in Philippines, where money will go further - but its such a buggered up country I'm a little bit cautious - we'll see.
All the best - stay in touch - if Dean comes back through here let me know - we have plenty of room..
MC
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From: "valerie mills" <dearron64@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 14:04:06 -0500
To: mikecurley@altavista.com
Hello Mike, I was saying to Chris that we have'nt heard from you for a while.In 1970, we went back home to live, only lasting 7 months!!! It does sound great where you live, we are having a mild winter this year to the point of me riding my motorbike to work...< yesterday> I finish college and did my apprentice in joinery. I still do it at home, but I work for 24yrs at G. M. I have a good job , now fixing army tanks. General Motors, makes cars and trains.I work straight days. I bet it is nice and hot, over here.Good to hear from you Ron
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Ron,
24 years at GM ? long service medal coming up no doubt!! Glad to hear the winter is mild ? I have a friend in Ontario ? he?s from Sri Lanka. Lived here in Singapore for a few years ? and of course reckons Ontario is as cold as a freezer.
When I asked if you had blonde/white hair ? I was getting you mixed up with Ronnie Stone. The brain-box is clearer now ? you were our Centre-Half, ?Solid? of build with curly reddish/brown hair ? true?? Even after having made the mistake ? for days I was trying to think what position the blonde/white haired Ronnie would have played in ? because I couldn?t remember him in the Team at all ? silly me!!
It is nice and warm here ? basically every day ? 365 days a year it is 32 degrees. The only difference from one season to another is ? rain. 2 Rainy seasons per year. At least in Canada you get 4 seasons each with its distinctive weather ? here its really one with or without rain. There again, the rain isn?t too much of a problem, you get very wet, but its still very warm, so for example I ride my bike regardless of rain or shine.
More soon??.
MC