OK, here's my first draft! Any tweaks you'd like to order Cornchips ?
Dear X and X
The Christmas tree is up and I’m allowing myself a lovely glass of sherry (very reasonably priced from Aldi, if you haven’t yet ventured in, and my little tip is to save the decent bottle and decant the own-brand into it – no-one need know!), while Roy wrestles with the outdoor light-up reindeer, quite awful, I know, but the grandchildren do love them. What better time to think back over the year and reach out and touch old friends!
The year opened with quite an adventure: a trip to Prague! We did feel so daring. It’s known for “stag nights” but the young men we met on the plane were delightful, and ever so helpful when I had a spot of the old bother. The air hostesses where very quick with the serviettes too and the hotel got the stain out so all in all we counted it as a success!
And then before we knew it, it was time for the Spring Musical. We’re convinced that it was Roy’s tremendous efforts with the stage effects – can you imagine conjuring up two dozen horses out of wire coat-hangers and papier mache? But it made the production and everyone was singing “Oklahoma!” for weeks! – that got him voted onto the Amateur Dramatics Props Committee.
The children (not really children anymore, of course!) are doing well and it’s lovely to have Siobhan home. You can’t see the bump yet and we’re assured that by the time you can, Kyle will be back and everything can be sorted out. Fortunately he does look quite military in the photo, so when we say he’s away people just assume!
Meanwhile Anthony and Vic have their hands full with the three girls, and, while personally I had my doubts, the pony is working out rather well, although it’s a shame about the patio windows. The eldest is almost 10 now so we’ve had to ask them to stay out of our “special room” upstairs, although it’s all rather tamer than you’d remember it these days. Roy’s hip means he can’t use the swing anymore, and we don’t trust the special equipment since Pauline dropped the key through the floorboards and we had to call a locksmith to release Frederico - he’s Italian so took it all in his stride. But it was rather expensive so we’re thinking of having one last evening for “old time’s sake”.
And the autumn bought a piece of marvellous news; I was made Slimmer of the Year and the girls from the club all had a whip-round and took me to McDonalds for a celebration! Their little joke – we had the McSalads, of course! Only another 10 pounds and then I can enjoy a chocolate finger.
Roy’s loving being retired and the garden has never looked lovelier – apart from the weather, of course. I’m still keeping my end up with the cards and doing a cracking trade in the white powder too, which paid for a lovely weekend away in Annecy in September.
I think your letter must have gone astray last year, as I don’t know how it all worked out with Peter and that funny little dog. But as luck would have it, we’re down your way on January the 3rd so will pop in for a good old catch-up. I'll bring a bag of bits the girls no longer need - I know how hard it is to keep up as they grow!
The very happiest of seasonal wishes
Janet and Roy