We
wish you a
Peaceful
Christmas and Happiness for 2019
&
hope
to see many of you in the coming year
What a
special year this has been with the first centenary ending of WWI. In
June & July Carlisle Castle hosted the “Weeping Window”
from the Tower of London's 2014's “Blood Swept Land and Seas of
Red” WWI art memorial.
We had to
say good bye to some older family and friends in January: Colin's
Auntie Mollie, our sweet neighbour Betty and our delightful wee
schnauzer, Fritz.
Between
24th February until 4th March we were all
visited by “The Beast from the East”. This kept Colin
busy, helping to get people to work using his Jeep; as part of the
North West 4x4 Response charity.
So in
April we decided we needed some winter sun, and booked an apartment
in Nice's old town. Jamie & Nicky joined us there; which was
lovely as we had our last family holiday in Nice in 2007.
Little did
we know that May, June and July would produce so much sunshine and
warmth, bringing a real reminder of the summer of '76. So as well as
getting the garden in shape we managed to paint our our windows, a
job which was much overdue.
We holidayed in Ireland in August. Colin's mum, Bettie
in her 94th year
was in sparkling form. We so enjoyed our US friends' Vivienne &
John's wedding in Tralee. We visited our niece Emma & family in
Waterford, returning home via Wales; staying in Machynlleth.
We're
both keeping busy with being tour guides at our local National Trust
property and have become involved with an oral history project there
as well.
Colin
is still enjoying motorbiking with the Quick
Quacks and recently
went on a training course in York.
I'm
still mad about horses and often visit my Appleby friends Anne, Clare
& Sue who have their sport horse stud. Sue has been riding a
friend's 14 hand highland pony. After seasons of successful showing
they decided to give Glenmore of Roisbheinn (aka Grommit) of a bit of
variety and took him eventing. He has now qualified for 2019
Badminton Grassroots 90cm class!
Jamie
& Nicky have had changes too this year. Jamie has bought a very
tidy, well maintained back to back house in Leeds. Its only a mile
from work at the ITV archive and very close to the city centre. Nicky
and her boyfriend, Rob have bought my parents little terraced cottage
in Great Corby. Renovations are underway with Rob's joinery skills to
the fore. Nicky is communting to Newcastle for her children's nursing
job, quite a long journey but she has an overnight bag always packed
in case it's icy or she's just plain tired.
