Christmas 2022

Gill Life continues on its well-worn path with the usual activities – two choirs, a weekly art class and a monthly reading group – all of which give me great pleasure. My art is improving and I actually have two of my own pictures hanging on my walls.  I am now in my fourth year as Churchwarden of Escomb Saxon Church, and the third without a vicar of our own, and I do find all the administration rather onerous.  Luckily, we are well on the way with the process of appointing a new vicar. Our visitors / tourists/ pilgrims are back in force and we earned enough this year to re-limewash the interior of the church.

I was too daunted to face all the air travel rules and regulations so still have not ventured back abroad. I managed short breaks to Arran, Northumberland  and the North York Moors and a week in Betws-y-Coed. There was also a week in London with Abigail, but painting walls and skirting boards in 34 degrees heat was hardly a holiday. We have been smartening up the London flat for rental or sale as Abigail’s family has moved.

Abigail The Guessis family moved in September to Apperley Bridge, between Leeds and Bradford, so Abs could take up the post of manager of the Bradford Waterstones in a wonderful, Grade 1 listed, Gothic building. With Bradford due to become the next City of Culture I expect I will be visiting often. Aissa found a position as a sous chef in a large hotel in Harrogate and is enjoying the country drive to work, the Northern work ethic and the more cordon bleu cooking. Leaving London has been a big culture shock for him and Joseph, who at 15 was starting to explore London without his parents. I am sure they will settle.

Joseph was eventually accepted in Y10 by one of the local schools, after a bit of an admin nightmare, and has been allowed to keep his wild and curly hair. He is a new member of the Pudsey Judo Club. Zara has decided to stay in her midwifery job in Qatar and is enjoying the World Cup. She has taken to solo travelling to exotic places and has begun Arial Yoga, finding herself in strange poses suspended from the ceiling in a silk hammock.

Katy continues with an array of clients for her counselling business and is now topping up her qualifications with an MA in counselling. Jo’s business continues to thrive and they are branching out into the sale of diggers and crushers. He is still a fanatical climber and had an ice-climbing holiday in Switzerland without the family. Katy and Jo went on a kayaking holiday in Scotland but were defeated by the 45 mile an hour winds. The new sport is speedboating- they keep a boat on Arran- and they all enjoy water-skiing and weight boarding. July saw a huge fancy dress party in their garden celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary. Sadly Michael, Jo’s Father passed away after a long battle with Cancer at the beginning of this month.

Samuel got all A equivalents in his GCSEs with the very top grade in Physics and DT, for which he built his own mini-motorbike. He is doing Physics, Geography and Economics at A’level. Luke has now had a formal diagnosis of dyslexia and the school are being very supportive. He is doing very well in Y10 in Computer Science and Maths. Both boys sing in the school chapel choir and the whole school performed in a big concert in the Sage in Newcastle.

Matthew continues to develop his thriving property consultancy and now Karen has also joined the business. They are currently working on projects that include the Trafford Centre and the more local to me, Eldon Square in Newcastle. The family continue to enjoy long holidays when they can and were lucky enough to spend August in Kefalonia this year, Whilst Covid put pay to trips to Africa for a few years, they are going back this year and flying to Namibia for Christmas on the 17th December.

Lily (now 12) started West Kirby Grammar school in September this year and is thriving, having passed the eleven plus last year. Izzy and Eve (11) will follow in her footsteps next year, having both passed the eleven plus with flying colours. Lily is attending sewing and art classes and still wants to be a graphic designer in the future. Izzy and Eve continue to run most days of the week, and are achieving fantastic race times which placed them as 1st & 2nd Under 11 Girls in the Country.

We look forward to hearing from you all and hope you have stayed well. All our family have had Covid now, but no lasting ill-effects thank goodness.

All the best for 2023.