Santa goes to Christmas!!

[Bill707@aol.com]

Gentle Listers,
Just a brief note to affirm WHY we meet and greet, natter and noggin,and generally have, as MG folk, a smashing good time doing with and for each other.

I recently posted a quest for assistance in locating and procuring repair parts for the only school bus on Kiritimati (Christmas) Island in the mid Pacific. It belongs to the Catholic mission there, which is in the able hands of Fra. Gracien Bermond. I met the good padre in 1997 while sailing with old friend Claude Rothe from Bora Bora to Hawaii. I posted the need to the TABC list since I knew there would be amongst you some connection to vintage IHC steering box repair parts. Sure enough several of you offered help, and I'm pleased to report that Joe Bernert (47MG 48MG), and his employees at Havis Shields Equipment of Warminster PA have risen to the occasion. The research for the correct chassis and axle numbers took quite a bit of time with communication having to go back and forth thru my friend in Hawaii to Father Bermond via a not-too-reliable phone/fax patch. In short, when the numbers were found, and with considerable help from the IHC.... well, in Joe's words:

Thank you Joe and your gang!
And thank you MG... it's the Magic: the people, don't you know!

Bill Tantau

[Jbtc48@aol.com]

Claude, I am sorry to bother the membership in regard to the above, but I screwed up my computer and dropped your name. The only link I have now with fr. Gratian is through you. Bryden forwards his mail via Honolulu but he has no phone # listed. Can you help!

A very good friend of mine will leave at the end of this week for HA. and has some gifts for the good missionary. Either furnish Brydens phone #, or email address. If that is not possible put me in contact with Sue at the charter airline office. I may send my friend to Karabati to see the new mission church

Kindest regards
Joe Bernert