How To Raise Baby Dragons

In 2005 we decided to leave Melbourne, Australia and move home.  We'd been away for seven years.

Just prior to our return, Dad had stood down from his role as Chairman on a local baord and was 'retired'.  He was keeping himself busy with little projects - going to the farm to pick grapes, building this and that around the house, reading and writing. 

At some point after our return home, we were told about the little things which contributed to Dads standing down.  He would go off on tangents in discussions, his memory wasn't the best....you know little things that are usually attributed to aging, but which people identified as 'affecting work performance'.

I think Dad was early to mid 70's and still working.  It seemed reasonable that he would be showing signs of age.  A little memory fade here and there, nothing major.  At least that's what it looked like to us.  Physically he was still in very good condition.

Soon after we had settled  back home, Dad started painting a dragon on the wall in the hallway.  It was a bit of a joke with the whanau.  Mum, who I have decided is a saint, just let him go for it.

You have to realise that Dad, with all his building projects, is not a builder, nor would I qualify him as an artist.  Glenn says he learnt alot from Dad about 'giving things a go'.  In his retirement, he was doing just that.  Whatever came to his mind he would give a go.  Whatever came to his mind.....

Dragons were his latest focus.  We probably should have heard alarm bells ringing when he started asking where he could find a book on how to raise baby dragons.