A long one:
Dear All our Friends,
As you can imagine it’s been another exciting year in our household; I know you’ve all been dying to hear from us as we finished the last letter with saying we had some exciting news to tell you in January.
We were slightly surprised to find more of you didn’t contact us to find out, but can only assume that you thought that news of us is like a vintage wine-best left for a special occasion.
What we did think we would be telling you was that Roy had applied for a new job, which I’m sure you all would agree was a perfect fit. We decided against it after careful thought as his current firm was so upset to hear about it, that they petitioned head office with over a thousand signatures-amazing from a company with only two hundred and fifty employers. In all honesty, we’re not sure what they would do without him as he really is the mainstay not just of his department, but the whole company.
Janet is continuing to be fantastic at home. She was elected onto our local village committee this year. She came in with a bang and carefully explained at her first meeting how the committee (who have run many events over the last twenty years, so really do need some forceful guidance) had been going wrong. She’s been so successful in transforming the committee that several of them have finally felt able to retire from the committee. It was a pity that meant that there weren’t enough people left to organise either the village fireworks or the Christmas light switch on, so they didn’t run for the first time in twenty years. She’s been canvassing for more people to help, but she seems to be very unfortunate in when she calls people seem to be just on their way out. We do have a busy village!
One of the highlights of our year is always our holidays abroad. We like to choose somewhere fairly quiet, off the beaten track, as it were, so we can see the side of places that most people don’t see. It was unfortunate this year that we were advised due to security issues not to leave the hotel, but the three swimming pools, jacuzzi, spa, gym (not that we spent long there!) and the all day holiday club meant that we could have a thoroughly relaxing time while the children were looked after. We didn’t see them except to say goodnight at the end of the day, so you can know they had a brilliant time.
Speaking of the children, they have both continued to amaze us. We have to admit to being slightly disappointed at Zephaniah’s last parents’ evening that the staff didn’t stand up to applaud when we arrived. If you had seen his last report, you would understand why we felt this was appropriate. Anyway his teacher (who doesn’t always seem to get his brilliance) managed to say that she’d never taught a child like him and that he brought something unique to the classroom. They said he was a born leader and was full of ideas, but needed to learn to listen to other people too. Obviously they’re not used to managing children like him in the classroom, as I’m sure the other children are not producing ideas of the same calibre so why should he listen to what he knows before they start won’t be as good. Janet is having to teach him Japanese in the evenings because he’s getting so bored being expected to conform to the rest of the children. As you can imagine he’s lapping this up! It’s such a challenge keeping up with him.
In the summer we took him to a trip round Oxford so he could start to consider colleges. He’s very taken with several so we think it will take some time to make up our mind which one will stretch him fast enough. Obviously we have nearly ten years for him to decide which one is his favourite, but it’s good he has a head start on everyone else.
He is such a sociable child too. We went out for a meal with our friends from Paris (only a one star Michelin this time unfortunately!) and he made us laugh so much. He went round all the people asking for the bit of their meal he liked best. So sweet! He’s such a charmer, everyone gave way to him. If they didn’t initially offer it, he came back and asked again. He knows just how to wheedle everyone.
Annabel-Mae is just as adorable. She was the talk of the ballet show last summer-everyone said so. It was a pity that her only dance was on the back row but I think it was because she was overshadowing all the others. She improvised her own dance when all the others went off, and even sang to make her own music. We were so proud of her.
She’s started school this year and her teachers adore her already. The head said to me only last week that they’d thought Zephaniah couldn’t be topped but it looked likely Annabel-Mae might. Her class teacher added that we’d done it again, and we had to laugh and agree.
The school nativity was quite a disappointment for us after that, as poor Annabel-Mae was given the part of third mouse, when she really should have been Mary. We went in with the certificates to prove her dancing ability (she has twice won dancer of the week in the last two years, which surely means something) and got her to sing a song of her own composition, but the teachers held firm and said that they couldn’t alter the parts. We have had to put a complaint into Ofsted about that, as we don’t want our children to feel that we don’t have their backs in times of trouble.
Other news this year is that we’ve had to get a new Audi. The last one was getting so old, we’ve never had a car beyond eighteen months before. This one is the top of the range and fitted with all manner of interesting gadgets. Sometimes we even have to look at the instruction manual to find out what they are!
Christmas, this year, we decided we didn’t want at our house. There’s so much tidying up afterwards, so we organised it to be at Janet’s sister’s place. It’s a little smaller than ours, but it means that all we have to do is turn up and go away before the washing up to leave everyone in peace. We’ve organised (must tell Janet’s sister!) for Janet’s Uncle Peter to come. He’s a leading expert in physics, so we’ve told him to come expecting to talk with Zephaniah about it over Christmas lunch. He’s not seen Janet or her sister for over five years, so he really won’t have much to talk about with them.
We are very concerned about the environment, so we have considered carefully whether to continue writing our 250 cards and letters. However a quick canvass of friends had the reaction that our letters were priceless and even though they’d only met us in passing several years ago that they showed our letters much further afield and they brought much joy.
I’ve been told it was even used to illustrate a sermon at Roy’s mother’s old church, although I’m not sure how it was connected to Jeremiah 9 v 23 “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.” We are such humble people, so we're guessing we were being help up as an example.
Hoping to see you all soon, Janet, Roy, Zephaniah and Annabel-Mae
We’ll drop in on Boxing day on the way back from Janet’s sister’s. Don’t forget Roy has a special taste for Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Janet would like a 2’ square modern art painting in blues and greens to match the living room, Zephaniah is asking for the limited edition Lego Millennium Falcon and Annabel-Mae is after the Silver Cross Princess Pram. I know you like to have a little gift list so you can exchange presents. We have your favourite homemade rhubarb chutney for you, we remember how complimentary you were about it, and how keen not to finish it so we didn’t go without.