It has been a good year for all of us. Nicholas started working for Yamaha professional sound in February and the first thing they did was send him to Japan for a week! He has a great time learning about the company, seeing the factories and learning a bit about Japanese culture and food. So far he is really enjoying the job. He is still living in Basingstoke, but hopefully will be moving in the new year.
Christopher is still in Bournemouth with the same company and has been busy on training courses as well as doing the day job. Both boys have been out to Cyprus and have really got back into Windsurfing. Christopher has just taken up Kite surfing and has had his first lesson back in the UK. He really seems to be having fun.
Both Stephen and myself are working hard, but it has been an uncertain year for both at work. At one time it looked as if the police force amalgamation would be taking place, but now it isn’t, however there is another project on the cards and Stephen does not know when and what will be decided. In March it looked as if the School Library Service might close, but luckily it was reprieved. Life is still dicey but I keep working and hope that we will survive. I really enjoy the job and we are doing a lot of new things at the moment which will be of help. I am still doing my work as exhibition manager for my professional conference and really enjoy it. I have also started reviewing children’s books for a web-site and for a professional journal, all of which is great fun and I get to keep the books !!
We have been out to Cyprus three times this year; March, June and November. At the beginning and end of the year we open up and close the house and in the summer we can enjoy the sun and the pool.
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| The old, galvanised steel (and rotten), tank with tatty cylinder beneath |
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| New plastic tank and refurbished cylinder |
We have now done a lot of work on the house including a new water tank on the roof and sorting out the plumbing. I have now got a sewing machine out there, so have been sewing curtains etc. it really is great fun.
We have also been able to renew many friendships in Cyprus and we really enjoy meeting up with some really good friends at some of our old favourite restaurants as well as visiting each others homes.
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| Was it the tranquillity of Pissouri Bay that attracted us.... |
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| ....or perhaps the excellent wine ? |
In June and November we did a bit of exploring and even visited places we have never been before, which is really good because there is always the fear that you will run out of places to see on such a small island. In November we also attended the service of Remembrance at Happy Valley, it was a very moving ceremony and there were several faces that I recognised in the audience.
In September we spent a few days in Yorkshire visiting Stephen’s aunt who was celebrating her 102nd birthday.
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| Stephen's former school - Scarborough College in typical weather ! |
We also stayed in Scarborough so that Stephen could visit his old school haunts; he was particularly upset to discover that his old prep school is now a private housing development, luckily the old outdoor stage (where he played badger in Wind in the Willows) was still to be seen. During that visit we also spent an afternoon in York Minster and despite the pouring rain and the terrible traffic we had a wonderful time – we really must spend more time there soon.
At the moment I am trying to get myself psyched up for Christmas. I have got all the basic things done, but I still don’t feel as if it is only two and a half weeks away; the decorations go up this week-end, so perhaps I will feel better about it then. Both boys will be home for Christmas, but they don’t usually stay for a long time as they have to get back to work and their social calendars where they live.
I hope that everyone has a lovely Christmas and that it will be a prosperous and healthy New Year
