31st December 2010

As the title suggests, this is the final blog of 2010, a year which has tested patience, health, bank balances, and, occasionally, sanity. Here’s where we all are presently:

Me: Sat in the study, hiding, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Sue: In the kitchen, stoically tackling the washing-up.
Nan: Parked comfortably in the lounge, glued to the TV.
Charlotte: Feeding Ellis in the lounge.
Suraj: Playing with Lucas in front of the fire.
Sarah: Fresh home from a shift at Savers, tucking into a Pot Noodle.
Jamie: At his apartment, getting ready to see in the New Year with friends.

How We Got Here

After weeks of uncertainty, the green light for Charlotte and Suraj’s move finally came on 14th December. I headed to Balderton on Tuesday to help Charlotte pack for the big day (Friday 17th). It was a long haul, days of packing, lifting, cleaning, and the occasional muttered curse. But of course, a few last curve balls were lobbed in for good measure:

• (a) Bovis’s solicitors came up with a few last-minute queries.

• (b) Important papers had to be signed in Bedford, a lovely, long round trip.

• (c) Santander suddenly wanted a novel’s worth of ID before releasing the deposit funds.

• (d) No removal firm could be booked at such short notice. The only available van/lorry in the region was hired from Grantham.

• (e) The coldest day and night in twenty years, perfect for hauling furniture.

• (f) I managed to get a flat tyre just as I was leaving for Harborough with the first carload of boxes.

Jamie, who moved into his apartment on the same day, still came to help. After three van trips (the last finishing at 5.30 am on Saturday), the Newarks were officially Rothwellians, although most of their possessions were still in the garage. They slept that night in Harborough; Jamie slept in his apartment.

Christmas: Four days before Christmas, Sue came down with bronchitis and was confined to bed with antibiotics. I drove up to Balderton to collect some lighting fixtures, hand over the keys to the agents, and bid farewell to the house, which looked lovely and was already scheduled for a viewing later that day. Then it was off to Thurcroft to collect Nan for the journey back to Harborough.

The Rothwells moved into Jamie’s old bedroom the following day, relegating Jamie to one of the smaller ones. I then succumbed to illness myself and joined Sue in the sick bay (master bedroom), also armed with antibiotics.

Christmas Eve: Sue and Nan stayed home while the rest of us (plus Harley) went to Kettering for our traditional evening of ten-pin bowling. Normally, it’s so busy you have to book weeks in advance. This year? Just three lanes were in use when we arrived; by 9.30 pm, we were the only ones left playing. Was it the recession or the winter virus keeping everyone away?

Christmas Day: With both Sue and me out of action, Charlotte and Sarah produced a superb Christmas dinner, complete with all the trimmings. We managed to do it justice despite our ailments. It was the quietest Christmas Day we’ve had in years, and frankly, we were grateful for it.

Boxing Day: We all went to see Hansel and Gretel at the Corby Cube. Lovely theatre, excellent production, although the appearance of a gang of vampire bats resembling Scottish “bovver boys” was… unexpected. The locals loved it; I’m still baffled. Sadly, the auditorium was only half full.

Day After Boxing Day: Saw us off to Peterborough for our traditional greyhound racing, a family favourite, even if my wallet would disagree. Busy, but not as packed as usual. On the way in, the city centre was gridlocked, presumably with bargain-hunters at the sales. I avoided becoming a casualty of retail chaos by skirting the outskirts to get to the stadium in time for the first race.

Presently: The Rothwells are still with us, and Jamie moved back to his apartment a couple of days ago. He tidied his flat today after Nan and I staged a surprise visit, which may explain the sudden burst of domesticity. Suraj has a week off work to get the new house in order.

Goodbye, 2010. It’s been a challenging year, at times more endurance test than a calendar. Here’s hoping 2011 behaves itself a bit better.