Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Happy New Year

Well, it has been a strange but interesting year!

In fact, it started in mid-December last year, which is why you may not have heard from us last Christmas. Trevor was urgently admitted to hospital with kidney problems, and came out on Christmas Day. Needless to say our Christmas and New Year plans were shelved, and we had to adapt quickly to playing hospitals at home, with 'Nurse Kim' in charge. After one prostate operation (in a private hospital in Colchester – too long to explain why here) in March, it was discovered that he has prostate cancer. So eventually in July he had it removed in our local NHS hospital. He is making a good recovery now, and we have learned a lot about how the NHS works (or in some cases, does not work) and spent many hours travelling to blood tests, check-ups, scans, etc.

Being busy with health issues meant that we were unable to plan our main holiday. So in July we had a lovely two days in a rented sailing boat on the River Fal, including sleeping onboard.

 

Then in September, we had an enjoyable holiday in England. Jonathan joined us for five days in Shropshire, and then we had a lovely week's cycling and walking in the Peak District.

 

Jonathan is living in Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, where he has re-located his user experience business (www.verkla.com), still working for customers in the UK. He seems to be enjoying the lifestyle in this small university city and has made many English-speaking friends, as well as picking up basic Romanian.

As ever, we have plenty to do at home and in the garden.  We are very fortunate to be in a beautiful part of the country, and can enjoy 'holidays at home', including cycling along the various trails nearby.

Trevor's band continues to be sought-after, with lots of bookings in the diary for 2017 already.  Sheerhopody Barn Dance Band plays at weddings and parties throughout the year.  He also organises Hollocombe Music Club - books the bands, plays his bass and does the sound.  Both have websites and Facebook pages, for more photos and information.

Becca is still living in Hanover, Brighton and enjoying the city life, as well as the Downs and the sea. She plays saxophone in a band called Carnival Collective, which plays at lots of festivals and venues. She has achieved promotion to Environmental Officer at Brighton University, which was rated 2^nd in the country this year in the People and Planet Awards.

I changed jobs in June, as Social Work Lead for Devon Carers – a voluntary organisation which works to support family carers. I am enjoying the challenge, but it is hard work and there is so much to do before the contract ends next May. We have also hosted guests from Brittany, Germany and Norway this year, which is always fun.

Do keep in touch with us, and let us know if you are coming down our way.  We would love to see you,

With best wishes, Kim and Trevor