Christmas 2020

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happier New Year. I am sure we will allwant to forget about 2020.

Gilly’s Year

It began solemnly with my sister Susan’s funeral in January. We gave her a goodsend off; I gave the address and Abigail sang a Don McClean song. On a morepositive note during the winter my very painful sciatica decided to get better after 10months. Now I’m being investigated for osteoporosis after two, small, pelvic stressfractures. Getting old and creaky isn’t fun.

Like many of you I have spent most of the year at home, reading a lot, doing jigsawsand art projects and gardening. Churchwarden’s duties have been light as thechurch was closed from March to August and we have missed our many tourists andvisitors. Our church finances have suffered heavily as a result. Alas, no holidays thisyear though I did manage 2 short art courses in Yorkshire and the Lakes beforelockdown. Can’t wait to get away for some sun next year.

Abigail’s Year

It was a year of ups and downs. February was a high point with the family visitingNew York for Abigail’s 40 th birthday – lovely weather and they rushed around seeingall the sights. The lockdown saw Abigail and Aissa put on furlough with Joseph (13)keeping up his school work in pyjamas. His favourite things at school are cookeryand drama. At least he was able to do lots of baking and work off the extra calorieswith Joe Wicks workouts and jogging in the park.

Once back at work Aissa was promoted to Head Chef at his hotel in Aldgate andAbigail continued as manager of Waterstones Enfield branch. The family came upNorth in July ((after Covid tests) and we had a few days out together. Joseph andAbigail then managed a few days in Paris in August.

Zara is in her third year as a midwife in Qatar and should be coming home for goodnext Spring.

Katy’s Year

Jo’s family business moved out of the back of their house to purpose-built offices afew hundred yards away enabling them to carry out a major house extension andrefurbishment. The result is amazing but it did mean wintering in a static caravan intheir garden. Now they are creating an extended garden Banner-style with diggersand lots of heavy lifting. Jo’s business has been growing and recently they have alsobecome dealers in a range of diggers and crushers.

Katy completed her postgraduate course at Leeds University in Counselling andPsychotherapy and is now building up her counselling hours to get full accreditation.She has just set up her own company justbehuman.co.uk

Samuel (almost 15) has started GCSE courses. He loves school, music, Science, DTand Geography but his favourite subject is religious Studies. He is 6 ft and becominga strong rock climber. Luke (12) loves animals, his 8 chickens and everything Tech.Holidays this year were confined to the Lakes and Arran.

Matthew’s Year

It’s been a year of less travelling than usual for Matthew, Karen and the girls for obvious reasons. Despite having to cancel the family’s planned trip to Zambia in May they they still managed 4 weeks in Greece in the summer with the world being more accepting than ever of being able to work anywhere. It’s been a very busy year for Matthew’s business as shopping centre owners grapple with the chaos created by Covid-19 with 3 new members joining the team.

With travel restricted, Karen has been exercising her legal skills again but most importantly wrote and published a children’s book about a family’s special adventure in France “Extraordinary Travellers, The Little Museum“. Lily (10) is approaching the 11+ next year and continues to improve her baking and craft skills. Isobel and Eve (9) continue to throw themselves into football (Defender and Striker) while Isobel manages to squeeze in athletics as well.

We look forward to hearing all your news and how you have survived 2020.