Dear Joe,

I am sorry to have missed everybody at the party for Rob but duty called and I was in China. I am dubious at calling it a retirement party when Rob still goes into the office two days a month. I have told him that I consider him retired when he no longer goes in to upper Ground for 60 consecutive days and what's more I ask myself if this will ever happen?

Anyway how are you these days, you looked amazingly well on the photos.

I saw Andrew Lavey and his wife when they came through Singapore a few months ago, they also both well and he is really retired.

Not much to tell you about me, Still married, still working, still have two sons so can't complain. Our younger son Alexander now 31 is engaged and will marry next fall in New York.

Enjoying life in Asia and it is a good precursor to retirement.

All the best, Andrew.

(May 8, 2003)