2022 - A Year of Beginnings, Endings & Family

Maybe 2023 will be the ending of what began on 24^th February; a Ukraine restored. We can only support & hope. Somewhat ironically this Russian photographer’s snowflake image is a seasonal reminder of fragility & transience.

(Oh dear I’m sounding rather too much like the podcaster whom  Hilary Rose from The Times has been reviewing!)

So here is our year, captured in photos:

January brought William Andrew Parker
into the world, our niece Amy & Tim's little one. 

As you can see he is thriving. Here he is with a pround grandpops, brother Andy.

Nicky & Rob celebrated their 30th birthdays (January & April) and in February they became engaged (when a frantic momzilla emerged for seven months).

The bard's birthday was enjoyed belatedly by Colin & his brothers-in-law at Hamilton Burns Club in April.

High jinks planned again for 2023!

Paps of Jura from Islay

In May we enjoyed our first trip to some of the Inner Hebridean islands; after a stop off with cousins Ian & Carole, north of Oban.

Colin was on his trike having first been away with his Quick Quack pals. They rode from the mainland's most eastern lighthouse to the most western.

We travelled together on four and three wheels: Mull - Islay - Kintyre - Arran. Bluebells were out in profusion, weather a tad mixed but midge-free. 

Needless to say the odd dram was sampled!

Waiting for when the boat comes in - Claonaig to Arran

We celebrated the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in style in Broadwath with a tea party / games / new wall plaque / local history / cheese & wine.

https://broadwathbroadcast.blogspot.com/

Who would have thought that just three months later our dignified Queen would slip away from the world?

These fell ponies (a little unusually grey) are Bybeck Katie & Bybeck Nightingale, breed in Cumbria

A personal sad loss this year was my last remaining Hutcheson auntie, Margaret. We got a tiny chance to visit her in Perth, with Uncle Humph and cousin J in 2020, just as Covid was erupting. I love this picture of her at home in the garden at Courthill, Kelso ... maybe as a ten year old.

Margaret 1935 - 2022

Hadrian's Wall

Canada Day (1st July) was marked with & by Elana, Colin's cousin from near Vancouver. We were treated to a breakfast feast with pancakes, eggs, bacon & lashings of maple syrup.          Suddenly we were ambushed in the kitchen by Nicky, Rob & niece Jenny.                                                                                Elana is kindly going to come in March to house sit the livestock when we travel to Melbourne for Jenny & Arun's wedding in March 2023.

Rodgers' niece Robyn & Joey were married on 17th July. We had a wonderful time gathered together.

Mr & Mrs Joey Patchitt

Colin - Nicky - Rob - Gary - Sabrina

The following days in Lincolnshire were hot. 40.3c was recorded at RAF Coningsby, so all we could do was sip cool wine at sundown beside the River Withim.

As July ended we had a chance to meet up with niece Jo & family, near Kendal

John - Alex - Frankie - Jo

On 19th September we celebrated Nicky & Rob's wedding at Wetheral Church & Dacre Hall, Lanercost. It was quite a DIY affair but we made a great team with Tracey, Bobby & Chloe, having fun and making memories. Unfortunately Covid kept some family members away (Jo, Lesley & Andy). Pete could only bravely attend the church as he had just had a knee replacement. So it was a snack box for Diane & him.

Sophi - Chloe - Nicky - Laura

Hutcheson cousins
Emma - Nicky - Amy

Highly Strung in action - wow what a high light they were too!

Our little Mitsy May McGregor has now crossed the doggie 'Rainbow Bridge' but not before meeting our new, post wedding arrival - Izzy aka Dr Isobel Smuts.

c. Jamie

Here she is visiting Leeds earlier in November.

Eve & Jamie have just about got hold of her!

She was sold (very cheaply to us) as a cavapoo; but DNA has shown her to be a Sprockerpoo / Springerdoodle! I.e. mongrel for poodle x springer spaniel x cocker spaniel. As they say, caveat emptor etc!

       Merry Christmas    &

Izzy - 16 weeks & counting 

2022 - The Start of Something Good?

 Here’s to Peace this Festive Season

Home in Broadwath - Wintry Snow after Storm Arwen, November

Mid December approaches and the thrill of Christmas and the New Year with family & friends is again under attack by the shapeshifter that is Covid-Omicron. Maybe this is the virus’s last throw of the dice before melting into mediocrity to become benignly endemic!

We recently visited a family of medical friends in Northern Ireland and they referred to the pandemic as ‘call up papers for docs' - retired / retiring / otherwise. 

That struck a chord with us too. We have been immunisers since January - hopefully with altruism in mind and definite selfishness too (i.e. to get jabbed)!

Our part time activity continues (with some humour & strong reading glasses).

Between sessions, as a member of the national charity   4 x 4 Response, Colin helped district nurses get to their patients when Alston (highest market town in England) was semi-cut off.

There was still time to enjoy the 25th January with a virtual whisky tasting with Hamilton Burns' Club (roll on 2022's supper - fingers crossed) & circumnavigation of the globe (3D puzzle made in the kitchen) ...

With July's hot, sunny days we took a real stay-cation - camping for a over a week in our orchard! 

Then at the month's end we had a good time in Northern Ireland which included a few days away with our Zoom buddies; visiting Florence Court & taking a boat trip out on Lower Lough Erne.

September was a time for the Quick Quacks meeting in Peebles followed by a first visit to Annandale Distillery, where a whisky barrel has been laid down for ten whole years!

Sadly our fifteen year old regular sojourns to the Edinburgh Residence have come to a close, but we'll be back in other ways to Auld Reekie. Our last stay was preceded by a vist to The Trossachs & cousins Ian & Carol in Argyll.

Monachyle Mhor Lodge - A Room with a view to...

Loch Voil

How could this photo be resisted? A mother's love indeed!

At last we visited the Kelpies - magnificent with the backdrop of the Ochil Hills

An unusual view of Edinburgh - a panorama from the North - Inverleith Park (Botanical Gardens)

Closer to home, we've been enjoying trips out with GLASS (Green Lane Association) at various locations in both N. Yorkshire & Cumbria, specifically over Catescarth Pass.(A couple of family members are booked for Christmas trips this year - they will be armed with wellies / warm socks / hot soup!)

Catescarth Pass - Haweswater to Kendal. Can you spot the all the vehicles on the zigzags?

Near Ingleborough & Pen-y-Ghent

Both Jamie & Nicky are well and seem settled with their respective other halves, Eve & Rob. Our 2yr old cavapoo grand dog, Royce is a regular visitor much to Mr Soot's (black Schnauzer) disgust. Here he is coping with being dresssed up!

Well what a cute face to 'wrap up' some snippets of news from our year!

Here is to Health & Happiness for 2022 

Our Orchard at Whitegate - late November 2021- Post Arwen

2020 Draws to a Close - fingers crossed that the vaccine will bring the Covid 19 pandemic also to a close...

   Last night, on St Andrews Night, the Beaver Moon was full and dazzling; however the faint pointers of the Great Bear still located Polaris in the clear night sky.

North Island NZ - Ninety Mile Beach

This year just as the pandemic was awakening Colin and I were so privileged to see another set of pointers (α & β Centauri) marking out the 'famous five' of the Southern Cross when we visited New Zealand and Australia in February and March. What a wonderful time we had seeing the most amazing scenery, visiting family and friends. The evolving pandemic heightened our appreciation of our visit and perhaps we will get to see those southern night skies with all their jewels again...

The New Zealand Silver Fern (Alsophila dealbata) - The silver hue to the leaf underside was used by Maori to guide paths through the native bush forests. On moonlit nights the light is reflected off the leaf. Obviously Hansel & Gretel were children of the Northern Hemisphere!

Below is an inlet part of the Bay of Islands from Paihia looking towards 

Russell (Kororareka), once the 'Hell Hole of the Pacific'. In the early 1800s is was said,

               "around 400 or more sailors would 'rest ashore' and contribute to two other major industries - local ladies and liquor."

Sunrise, Bay of Islands.

Entering or leaving sheep country at Tirau

How can this amazing set not make you smile - a weekend cabin at Hobbiton perhaps?

With cousins Denis & Marlyn at the glow worm caves of Waitomo, NI

(Thank you for your wonderful hospitality & hope to see you over here again before too much longer.)

The world really is a small place. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world..." Or in 

our case it was a chance meeting in the wine bar at Melbourne Airport with some of Colin's Quick Quacks pals from Cumbria!

Flying west gave us Adelaide and then Perth, before a scramble for the Northern Hemisphere and home on April Fool's Day.

Following the Rules - Cousin Jennifer, Uncle Humphrey, Auntis Margaret & Tish - Perth March 2020

Brunch - Adelaide Beach - Gill, Paul, Evelyn, Allan & Ayesha - Special Days - Thank You

Sunset at Parachilna from the Prairie Hotel, owned by the same family since 1876

Flinders Mountains - Outback Landscape

Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island - a shallow lagoon

On May 1st we sadly lost Colin's Mum, Bettie to Covid 19. All was very peaceful though and we were able to have a beside vigil via Zoom.

We managed to get over to Belfast in mid September for the interment of her ashes. So she is now safely with her own mum and dad.  Colin wrote this lovely haiku for the day about the new headstone;

            Our dear mum Bettie

       our father's scattered ashes

            now carved together

In June the North Cumbria's Rescue & Response NCRR volunteers took Miss Mollie (named after after Colin's late auntie Mollie Rodgers) for her maiden voyage in Ullswater.

Miss Mollie's launch on Ullswater

Some of the NCRR Team - Colin keeps his toes dry as treasurer!

Both Jamie and I quietly celebrated our 30th and 60th Birthdays with garden teas and cases of beer!

Nicky, Rob & our hairy grandson, Royce!  

                                                            We managed to see Jamie when he cycled coast to coast via Hadrian's Wall - with his Cumbria pals, one of whom he has know since Cubs!

He made another visit in  September with his girlfriend, Eve, before the second pandemic wave started to erupt.

Colin has added to his fleet with a CanAm Ryker, motor trike. And I now find myself to be a passenger - pretty good fun on warm, sunny days.

We've also had a Green Lane Association GLASS outing in the Lakes in June. Colin was helping support a group of new members, so we even got a shout in Mudlife & November's GLASS magazine.

I so remember climbing up the roadway beside these foxgloves - just one of those special days!

I've been dabbling with water colours again & hope to get some more practise in over the short days ahead:

The Lily Pond, Acorn Bank NT

Brother Andy as Longridge Show President 2005                    Clare C & Yatokya - Appleby Show 2016

We've been enjoying weekly drinks on Zoom with our Belfast friends & even managed a glorious, warm weekend at the end of July at a favourite old haunt, Port Patrick, Mull of Galloway:

We are currently having wine tasting sessions as the winter solstice draws nearer!

With the exceptional Bramley apple harvest, Colin has adopted a military campaign approach with cider and sloe gin making - 

Literally hubble-bubble! The girls are enjoying the harvest too.                                                                                                                                               We have three news girls - Ginger & Pickles (buff Orpingtons) and a sweet silver laced wyandotte, named Bettie. The old girls are not too impressed and there is definitely such a thing as a pecking order!

Mid Autumn in the Orchard - the trees held onto their leaves for ages as no frost till 1st December

We hope this finds you well 
despite this strange year.
Keep safe & here is to a proper reunited gathering in 2021
Christmas & Yuletide
Greetings
Love from Colin, Trish et al xxxx

© The Totterings - Annie Tempest