Right. My Janet & Roy's instalment from 2014:
Dear friends,
Time for the annual round-up once again. It’s been such an exciting year and such a lovely change from the rather dismal happenings of 2013.
Last Christmas dinner was enlivened by dearest Honour announcing her pregnancy. She was very well throughout and our first grandchild, darling Araminta, was born on the 3rd June, a couple of weeks early but utterly perfect in every way. Honour and James have taken to parenthood like ducks to water and we’re enjoying being grandparents immensely. Little Araminta (we call her Minty) travels like a dream. Roy took her and Honour to the USA PGA and she actually coo-ed when McIlroy played his final round.
Janet has not been behindhand on grandparenting either. She and Honour took Minty to Fashion Week in September and everyone just adored her. Stella McCartney actually said that she wants Minty to feature in her next collection for Gap Kids so watch those billboards! Minty started crawling on Bonfire Night and the health visitor says she’s terribly advanced. James’ mother Gloria knows Sophia Gubb and she confirmed our suspicions that Minty is an Indigo child. It’s all very exciting and we can’t wait to see what she does next. It’s now of course that the worrying starts but Janet has been reading up on the latest research and making sure that Minty has her name down for the schools that will provide the right environment for her individuality to thrive.
Minty’s arrival has meant another overhaul of the house. Denise came specially to convert the golden lily room into a nursery and it is a perfect reflection of Minty’s personality.
Roy and Tim campaigned on the winning side for the women to be permitted membership of St Andrew’s. They’re thrilled that the decision came in time for the Ryder Cup and we believe their modest effort made an effective difference to the outcome.
Janet, Gloria, Emma and Jennifer went on a tour of the Holy Land over the summer on an idea-finding mission for the church concert this Christmas. We were worried that the recent hostilities would put an end to the trip - and isn’t the non-availability travel insurance for seniors an absolute scandal? - but a few well-placed calls got the four safely to Bethlehem, sadly not very holy these days. As many of you know, Emma was deeply affected by the trip and immediately upon her return handed in her notice to join Medecins San Frontieres. We’re awfully proud of her of course and this year’s carol concert will raise money to aid her endeavours. She’s in Liberia at the moment with no prospect of coming home for Christmas but of course we’re awfully proud of her and this year’s carol concert will raise money to aid her endeavours.
Frances is now a confirmed old lady. She misses Horatio dreadfully but has mellowed considerably and no longer drags mice into the orangery. She clearly senses Horatio’s essence and enjoys curling up in the sun at the spot where is buried under the pebble walk. We have so much to learn from animals about our true spiritual selves.
On that thought, our note comes to an end. We hope to see as many of you as possible at the Christening and many more of you on our travels throughout the year.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas, with love,
Janet and Roy