Christmas letter 2017
Dear You and Yours,
Greetings to all from an icy, bitterly cold North Yorkshire but still not a flurry of snow in sight (does it show that I feel cheated?!) I hope this missive finds you and yours well and fit, if a little broke and as ready as ever for the Christmas holidays. I have tried to be ultra-organised (?) this year as we are in school right up to the 22nd leaving little time to do anything before Christmas Day itself. Unfortunately, this Christmas letter was at the bottom of a very long list hence the reason why I find myself writing it on the 17th of December. Cards went in the post yesterday and I hope that Andy can upload this to the webpage before they all arrive. So, fingers of steel, here we go…
Russell and Kirsty are doing well and so are their family. Both Courtney and Kaitlyn are now in senior school and on their recent reports are really putting their efforts into it.
Courtney is an amazing artist and has been given extra art work to do with two friends. She produced a superb painting and Nana was so taken by it she has produced another one for me.
Kaitlyn has found her feet in Maths, doing extremely well in a 100 question Maths homework and then coming first with her team in a Maths challenge day across her year group. This has really boosted her confidence in the subject as she had become very disheartened in Junior school. She wants to be a Midwife, having been at the birth of her brother, and wants to do well in all her subjects. Good on her! I cannot remember being so focussed at her age.
And, as for the gorgeous George, he continues to grow and develop at an alarming rate but is delightful. It is a privilege to watch him – a pleasure we were denied with the older two due to Russell’s Army career taking him elsewhere. George entertains us with his winning ways and each week brings something new. His relationship with his Grumpy is wonderful and one of which I am envious but more of that later. At present he delights us with his ‘laters baby’ as he leaves.
Russell continues to drive for a local company which takes him far and wide across the country. He chooses if he wants to be out overnight and is at home every weekend which suits him and his family.
Kirsty has had a difficult job since the summer. The school she works for has been enlarged and as is the norm with building works the project over ran a little resulting in the school having no hall in which to eat lunch. In temperatures below zero in recent weeks she and the other ladies have been serving hot lunches to children in a Tent!! The poor ladies and children have been freezing over the last week but as of Monday, service will resume in a fully heated, newly extended hall. I think she is pleased to be back in the warm!!
Ashleigh is well and truly ‘home’. She has converted the spare bedroom upstairs into her lounge and is now talking about making the walk-in wardrobe area a kitchenette! This girl is leaving us no time soon! She is still ‘courting’ Paul but they are in no hurry to take it further. Ashleigh remains married to the Feckless T***er currently, despite her continued petitioning for a divorce. Hopefully, it will happen soon. She is working hard to finish her qualification in Child care and still working hard at the Nursery. It has the most beautiful setting and is a lovely environment. She takes Georgie one day a week so that he is getting to make friends with children his own age as well as being Grumpy’s best buddy. Ashleigh has gained her sparkle back over the year and that pleases us greatly. Not the heartache we would wish for our children but the saying ‘that what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger’ is so true.
Andy is busy with his grandson these days. Since George was a year old he has come to Grumpy whilst Kirsty works. George has grown with him and understands Grumpy’s limitations. They chat, read, build, draw, play- all whilst Grumpy lies on the bed with George next to him. George has such empathy for a child so young and, as yet, has never stepped outside of what Andy can cope with. We were not sure it would last this long but he and George really rub along together wonderfully. The difference in Andy is marked – he gets through the long winter months relatively unscathed only having to deal with the wailing and moaning that is his wife. How much longer he can look after George remains to be seen but their relationship is set for life. It’s a mutual love thing and the envy of Nana. Equally George is getting the best of care from a family member with no distractions. Three hours + of one to one time with your granddad – what could be better? Nurture at its best. George calls Grumpy ‘Bumpy’ which is rather lovely too. We are all beginning to adopt it.
I am still working full time but am coming to the conclusion that this is no longer right for me. I love being with the children and watching them develop and progress and I really enjoy having my own class and I work in a brilliant team but the long hours and sheer workload are taking its toll. I at least have an option unlike many of my younger colleagues. I also feel that this is not specific to teaching but is endemic across the public sector. Not sure what I will do but feel it will be a year of change for me.
In May we had a family holiday in Polzeath. The girls made new friends, George became acquainted with a corner of heaven and the big kids enjoyed the break. We must have enjoyed it too as we are booked again for the coming May. The weather was amazing for so early in the year which made life easier for all. Beach days were plentiful and the kids had a day or two out and about courtesy of Tesco vouchers. We then did it again in August with the grown-ups. Weather not so kind but still a break from the norm which is always refreshing.
And finally at the end of August we were liberated from the shackles of the Mortgage – the house is now officially ours. In the grand scale of things it’s a small drop but for us it was a thrilling sense of achievement. And somewhat a sense of relief that the biggest financial burden (other than the two offspring!) is finally gone. Now, if we can just persuade the kids that the Bank of Mum and Dad is closed….
So the year in brief with us. Who knows what 2018 will bring or where we will all be by this time next Christmas. But wherever we are, I hope that we are all safe, well and able to keep the wolf off the doorstep. It just leaves me to wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and every good wish for the coming new year.
With our very best regards and love to you all,
Gina and Andy xx
