Dear Yukio,

Thank you so much for the wonderful mail I received last week. I am also
sorry for not finding the time to talk more often.
Today is a very special day my friend,the 28th June, I hope you have a very
happy birthday with all our love and best wishes.
I think about you all the time my friend and unfortunately I have not been
away on a trip at all this year. We lost our invitation to the Tour de
Korea and an eastern states team from Australia went instead and had a good
result with 3rd place overall.
I have been racing pretty well and got 10th place overall in the Tour de
Perth which is a nationally ranked tour. I finished 4th on the last
criterium and was happy with my result. At the moment I am only riding to
work and back and doing one good ride a week. This seems to keep me pretty
healthy and I also get to spend more time with the family.
Thank you for the photo's you sent, I can't believe how fast Yuuya is
growing before my eyes. Congratulate him from me for his beautiful trophy.
I'm sure seeing your son compete and get a prize is very fullfilling,
hopefully Alex will have that competitive spirit to enjoy many sporting
activities as well.
I am glad to hear that your business is going very well. I know personally
my friend that you sure can fix any aliment to do with the body. I wish I
was close to you so you could sort these old bones out for me. Latley I
seem to have alot of pain with my lower back and it is very consistent. It
does not take much to make it worse, so I have to be very careful.
I am sorry to hear that you have not got any fishing trips planned. I am
sure the anticipation of the catch will get you motivated to organise a trip
somewhere nice. I have only fished a couple of time myself this year, the
last time I went with my daughter and we caught a few small silver brim
which weren't even big enough to eat so we threw then back. I know in my
heart my friend that one day, no matter how many times we tell each other,
we will share the joys of fishing together. I am looking forward to that day
very much.
September is my next goal for racing. the Australian championships are on
from the 9th to 12th September and I am going to race in the 35-40 years age
group. I know in my head I have to work very hard over the next couple of
months but I am sure I can go well.
The race is being held in Queensland at a place called Mooloolabah a one
hour drive from Brisbane, and I am taking over the family as Kathy is from
Brisbane and we can catch up with some family and friends as well while we
are there. I am really looking forward to this holiday as I haven't had a
break from work for more than a year.
There is a time trial, a road race and a criterium, so there is the
possibility of winning 3 Australian Titles. That is a good goal don't you
think!

I hope this mail finds you and your family safe and well, I'm sure it will.
I've attached some recent photo's of Alex and I'm sure you will agree on how
fast he is growing also.
Everytime I open my eyes he seems to be taller.
I also took some photo's of me at my work so you can see the bike shop.

Take care my friend.
Friends for Life
Steve