Apr 19 2008
Christmas 2000
It’s that time again – the millennium year is nearly over. It’s been wetter than I can ever remember but for us another very eventful time.
Last year the high points were Dougal and Jo’s wedding and our trip to Malawi, if you remember; this year they were the birth of Gabriel on 27th April and our trip to South America and fortunately they coincided. We also had a third successful family camping holiday in France, going to the Vendee and Saumur.
Last year we did up our 4-story house in Porthmadog, this year we gutted our harbour-side flat there and completely re-fitted it. Both have let well and help fund everything else (www.bsky.net/sites/wales/).
Work on our house here transferred from the inside (as complete as it ever will be) to the outside where the construction of a barbeque, patio, pond, steps etc. is well under way.
Sue had another successful year selling equipment to schools and has earned a bonus of a laptop and digital camera. My job with Blue Sky Communications has changed considerably as the number of employees has mushroomed (to 30 now). I still do everything remotely via e-mail, file transfer, phone, post and fax with a monthly meeting in London. One section of Blue Sky is currently seeking venture capital, prior to a possible flotation.
Nicola (16) and Carla (12) have left their respective schools this summer, the former to a course in Tourism and Leisure at Newcastle College after achieving 2 C’s at GCSE, and the latter to her private secondary school in Newcastle. Alisa (14) and Joanna (14) continue at Madeley School where they are both very happy. Makeup, hair dryers and clothes are top on the three older one’s agendas most of the time.
Dougal, Jo and Gabriel moved to Barcelona from Bogata and are already settled there and entertaining a non-stop stream of visitors (including us). James has sold his flat in Crouch End and moved to a rented one in Clerkenwell, near his office.
Next Easter we plan to visit Cape Town for a holiday.