Hi Abbigail, 

Happy New Year from Whanganui, New Zealand. It's New Year's Day 2026 here, a day ahead of you. Grandpa Francis, Aunty Helen, Francis's girlfriend Kathryn, and me are on a short road trip to celebrate being together for the season. We've been hitting the local art museum, playing card games, and enjoying summer in the southern hemisphere!

Grandpa Francis wearing his new Christmas shirt and navy-blue belt, and Aunty Helen. We're staying in an old loft apartment with creaky wooden floors and big skylights.

I had to snap a selfie with Grandpa Francis and his girlfriend Kathryn. The city of Whanganui planted the palm trees around the old art museum. Gorgeous sunny summer day until the clouds moved in and it started raining. We played a card game called My Word once we got back to the loft apartment. I won by one point! Sweet victory...he he!

 Hope you're having a fun New Year, and that 2026 turns out to be a better year for all of us. 

Love, Dad