And so, December rolls around again, much more rapidly than in years gone by, I’m sure. Once again, it’s been a good year with some excellent times and some even better ones.
A highlight of our year has been the continued companionship and undying loyalty of our Daisy who will be two in February. There has been markedly less digging up the garden this year – only one wisteria and one clematis destroyed and, to tell the truth, the digging actually happened last year – the dying was somewhat long and drawn out! Her greatest contribution to our well-being, however, is ensuring that each of us get out at least once a day to stride across the countryside, come rain, sleet, snow or shine.
Our big adventure this year was a marvellous family holiday in France, complete with Daisy and the campervan (we really must think of a name for our lovely van – Clarence? Clarissa? Compost?). The boys and their families joined us for a week in a lovely 13th century manor house near Cahors – only Ava and Julieta were missing. Ben, Brex-Anna and Max, having spent a few days with us in Moreton Pinkney, took the Eurostar to Paris and then, after a few days there, came down by train from Paris to Cahors. Nick, Lucy, Annabelle, Adam and Jessie flew to Bergerac and then drove the rest of the way and Penny, Daisy and I drove down in the campervan (Chloe? Connor? Compote?), spending a couple of nights with lovely, dear old friends near Cognac on the way. Planes, trains and automobiles! We had lots of fun, lots of adventures, lots of great food and lots of great wine. And, great weather too – none of the climate-busting sweltering temperatures that France had been enduring in the weeks prior to our visit (and, in fact, after!). Magnifique!
When the boys left, Penny, Daisy and I carried on in the campervan (Camila? Candice? Carolyne?) to visit St Émilion for a few days and then on to Saumur. Daisy was great even though travelling in the van is not her favourite pastime. She was much admired by everyone who met her which, naturally, she took in her stride – of course everyone loves me! What’s not to love? To round the trip off we spent a couple of nights with another dear friend in Josselin in Brittany.
As well as the odyssey to France, we’ve had a couple of other fun excursions in the campervan (Cosmos? Carlos? Chlamydia?). We had a lovely few days on the edge of Lake Coniston and another couple of days in East Sussex, trying our best (and largely succeeding) to escape the nonsense of the King’s Coronation.
Ben, Brex-Anna and Max are still soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the southern California life. Ben continues to oversee Activision’s production of the latest iteration of Call of Duty and Max is thriving. In addition to his school commitments, Max takes part in a Lego/robotics class, loves to swim and do obstacle courses and gets his parents to take him to children’s museums all over the state. He’s had a couple of awards at school including one recently for science – according to Ben it’s probably because he talks incessantly about cyclones. And, of course, he still loves trains. Go Max!
Nick, Lucy and Annabelle are still in Leamington and getting on marvellously well. Nick has fairly recently joined Raging Bull to sort out their e-commerce, Lucy’s well-being tutoring goes from strength to strength and Annabelle is absolutely rocking it in her first year of secondary school. Her positivity about all her new experiences is a joy and, in addition to her regular classes, she has gone all out for sports – she plays soccer, netball, field hockey, as well as studying dance, drama and the double bass. Boy, it’s hard work carrying all the necessary to and from school each day, especially when she cycles!
Meanwhile, Adam, Ava, Jessie and Julieta trundle along very happily in Northampton. Adam is still designing and coding web sites but happily gets to work from home most of the time. Ava’s folks came for a visit from China this summer and it was great fun to see them again. Although we have no mutual language it’s amazing how well we can communicate – all it takes is a lot of smiling and animated gesticulations. Jessie continues to love school and has the whole place just about organised. She similarly is involved in a multitude of activities both after school and at weekends – Brownies, football, advanced reading and writing, singing and dancing. Where do these girls find the energy? Meanwhile, Julieta has seamlessly made the transition from crawling to walking to running to dancing! Her pirouettes and leg kicks are a joy to behold.
As for us, we’re still thoroughly enjoying life in the bustling and thriving megalopolis of Moreton Pinkney, that place in the middle of nowhere with no pub, no shop, no public transport, no mobile phone signal, etc. We had great visits from two of Greg’s sisters this year and we’re hoping to catch up with the rest of his siblings in the coming year. Watch this space.
Penny keeps herself busy as ever. However, deciding that she still just doesn’t have enough to do, she’s started some voluntary reading help with children at a primary school in Banbury twice a week. Frankly, I don’t blame her – anything to get away from me for a few more hours a week.
And so, we muddle through somehow, wobbling and tottering towards the end of the year. We’ve had some lovely visitors to beautiful, downtown Moreton Pinkney all of whom attest to the superior lodgings now available in the recently renovated Guest Wing. So, why not make this year the one when you finally brave the wilds of Northamptonshire and come see for yourself? Daisy would be delighted to see you.
Much love to you all,
Penny & Greg