It's been a funny year. Snow in March; a cold, wet April/May; beautiful July; such a mild Autumn, and over the last 4 weeks it's tried to drown us and blow us away. We still haven't had a frost, and on Tuesday I picked the last rose of the year (see picture).
In September Susie fled the country to take up residence in Brittany. She is spending Year 3 of her Maths with French degree at university in Rennes. Obviously 2+2=4 in any tongue, so her main aim will be to soak up the language and culture. This seems to entail dressing up as Smurfs and getting an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Rennes nightlife - though not at the same time, thankfully.
Peter is now on the final approach to his GCSEs, and seems alarmingly relaxed. His main pastimes are (still) skateboarding and the guitar. If he gets the results he needs he wants to take a BTech in Music Technology or Media at 6th Form College next September.
Ben graduated last July with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, and is now looking for a job to use his new found knowledge. Meanwhile he is working for the Post Office delivering the mail in all weathers (even though he doesn't have a black and white cat!). However, since this means getting up about 4.30am it is having a bad effect on his social life - but a positive effect on his overdraft.
He also completed Phase I of his Royal Marines training in September after a fortnight's assessment at their HQ in Devon. As only 4 of the 40 starters in his troop made it through, he has done really well. He doesn't want an Army career though, which we are quite pleased about.
Ian is falling apart this year, having variously suffered from a kidney stone, high cholesterol, hiatus hernia/chronic heartburn, and - much to Lynne's chagrin - snoring! Still, as George Burns said when asked if he resented growing old; "It's better than the alternative!".
In May Ian was called for Jury Service - another first. They make it sound as if you're really lucky to be selected. A bit like the Reader's Digest Prize Draw, but you can't throw this invitation in the bin. In the event it turned out to be a lot of sititng around with occasional bursts of excitement when a case was called. Still, I got quite good at Sudoku.
I also discovered that it isn't Rumpole of the Bailey, and I think the phrase 'Courtroom Drama' is a total oxymoron, based on the one case I actually got to hear. I name no names, but it was a count of GBH and suffice to say that the imprint of the victim's teeth on the accused's knuckles saw him banged to rights.
Lynne is struggling to keep up with Ian's catalogue of medical problems but did show a good deal of sympathy during the kidney stone episode. (While the sympathy was welcome, the kidney stone was too high a price to pay for it - Ed.)
As the children get ever older, we had what might prove to be our last real family holiday in August when we spent a week skiing in Holland. Yes, at the warmest time of year we went to the flattest country in Europe and skied! To be more precise, Ben and Peter snowboarded and the rest of us sipped hot chocolate and watched. As you may have guessed it was a snowdome, but great fun nonetheless.
We also spent some time cycling, which Lynne enjoyed enormously. Sadly, even though Southport does a passable imitation of Flatland our roads and traffic just aren't cycle-friendly enough to take it up here.
And so, as the starling of opportunity flutters down the chimney of time, to be incinerated on the coals of destiny, something tells me I should finish this 'seasonal blog' before you nod off.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year
With love from
Ian, Lynne, Ben, Susie & Peter
We're going for the Narnia look this year
Sunset from Peter's bedroom
'Christmas' Rose and Christmas Cactus
Airborne Peter
Cycling in Flatland
Coniston Old Man
(I know what you're thinking - Ed.)
Relaxing in Holland