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Happy Christmas to everyone!  We hope you have had a good and peaceful year
and that 2017 will be too!

 

We have been blessed this year with what appears to be an on-going celebration of 50 years of married life.  We have been so lucky to reach this milestone that we decided to celebrate in style.  In April we flew into San Francisco and after re-acquaintance with the city and a trip up to Yosemite National Park we picked up a car and drove all the way along the Pacific Coast on Highway One to San Diego, 630 miles.  The coastal scenery was stunning, especially the Big Sur, we saw whales and elephant seals and had many memorable meals.

 

In the midst of this, emails and phone calls were flying back and forth across the Atlantic as Jon had an interview and then accepted a post as Deputy Head at Witham Hall School in Lincolnshire.  On our anniversary weekend in June we were in Bath with Roy & Bev staying in Bev's sister's apartment in the Circus with stupendous views over the city.  We went to Matins at Bath Abbey followed by buns at "Sally Lunns".

On one of the few sunny Sundays in July we had a garden party for family and friends with all the family helping with the catering.

 

 

Our neighbours Maggie & Cliff kindly offered us their villa in Spain, Rosie was desperate to go on an aeroplane so we had a week in the mountains of Andulucia with Ju, Steve and Rosie.  It was great to spend time with them as a family, having fun in the pool, playing games, shopping in the Spanish supermarkets, driving to the beach and eating tapas.


Jon & Bex treated us to an evening Dinner Cruise on the Thames in Oxford.  Steve and Rosie took us in by car and then watched as we cruised by at Folly Bridge.  In September we traveled to Lincoln and then on to stay with Jon, Bex & Katie at the new school where they have settled well.  Jon can't believe he gets part of each weekend free with no boarding duties, so we spent Sunday with them at Burghley House and in Stamford.


In October we had a week of fine weather at Jon & Bex's cottage in Bude and we have been invited by them to Cornwall for Christmas.

Gardens Open was a success this year (we did find time to weed and prune) and we are hosting the Christmas Party for everyone who opens their gardens in the village,

We still do volunteer reading in school, where Rosie continues to blossom.  Katie has also settled into Witham Hall School and is doing well.  Philip is still churchwarden at St Britius which is a time consuming commitment.  The model railway has had to take a back seat!

We hope you have a rewarding as well as a peaceful New Year with good health and happiness.

MARY & PHILIP

 


© Phil Holmes  Updated on Friday 25 November 2016