Welcome to

Memories of a Hotelier

A light-hearted reminiscing of my years running hotels in NSW, which spanned 3 decades.

Some might say;

“The good, the bad and the ugly”

and maybe they would be correct.

About the Author

On reflecting back on my life, the one thing that stands out for me, and I am so grateful for, has been my health, and how significant exercise has been for me. Up until I turned 60, I was reasonably fit and healthy and had experienced no significant health issues.

Then, just after I turned 60, back in 2006, I was diagnosed with a malignant cancer in my neck, just under my left ear. This resulted in surgery, a radical neck dissection to remove the tumour. My first book, My Cancer Highway, is about my cancer journey. It is available online at: www.mycancerhighway.com.au

Recovery from that surgery, and 30 sessions of radiation therapy which followed, was very slow. But I discovered exercise. Initially, with a wonderful personal trainer, who got me walking around an oval, then running around that oval, introduced lots of aerobic exercises, and eventually into boxercise, which I did for the next 15 years, often doing 3 sessions each week of 1 hour duration.

In 2016 Milica & I made the decision to move into a retirement village on the NSW mid-north coast, a 3-hour drive north of Sydney. We love the village and it is a decision we have never regretted. I became very involved in the activities of the village, such as;

• Bar Convenor; I ran the bar for 6 years, which focussed on weekly Happy Hour and at functions,
• Residents Committee member,
• Boxercise classes 3 times a week,
• Water volleyball with an enthusiastic group for 3 years,

Plus a number of other activities;

• TOFS (Touring Old Farts); setting up the Mid Coast sub-branch,
• Bushwalks; 12-15 KM each fortnight,
• Tennis twice weekly on the local courts.

Life was good, and we were very happy.

Then in August 2024, our world was once again turned on its head, as I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The journey to date has been overwhelmed by fortnightly chemotherapy, and the cumulative effects resulting in extreme fatigue.

As I conclude this book, I am optimistic that the chemotherapy can prolong my life and provide some quality of life along the way.

Acknowledgements

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