19th November 2016

On 18th November, the Rothwells returned from KL, and I was at the airport for an early pick-up to transport the four weary travellers to their chilly British beds. Later that day, I saw them again, along with Sarah and Lee, for our usual Friday family night meal. The only absentee was Jamie, who had flown out to Fuerteventura with a few friends for a week in the sun.

While our son was sunning himself on the beach, Sue and I had the pleasure of looking after his rabbit, gerbil, and snake. Sue took care of feeding the gerbil and snake daily at his apartment, while Maddy, the rabbit, spent her days running around in my greenhouse. At night, she was safely locked up in her cage in the kitchen, away from any cables or furniture that might tempt her to nibble.

On 23rd November, Sue and I met up with Joan and Phillip at the Premier Inn for lunch. They had flown to the UK to escape the earthquakes back home, catch up with friends, and visit Specsavers. Normally, Roger would have joined us, but he was on a month’s R&R in Cyprus, taking a break from his duties in Bristol. It was lovely to catch up on news, especially about life in the quake-prone Santa Vittoria. We hope to visit them in 2017, as it’s been a while since we last ventured to Marche.

The weather has remained unseasonably warm, confusing my apple tree and encouraging the grass to keep growing. I even had to mow the lawns on December 1st! I’ve kept busy at the allotment, pruning the fruit bushes and vines, and turning over the soil in preparation for spring. Even though the lounge often becomes stifling hot during the day, by 8 pm, we’ve been lighting fires out of habit, despite the outdoor temperature frequently staying in double figures.

Rothwell School had asked for volunteers to help with the school garden, but only Charlotte responded. So, on one warm afternoon, we spent the day digging, weeding, scraping, and planting bulbs. There’s still much more to be done. However, after the session, we weren’t offered a cup of coffee or even thanked by any senior staff, so we won’t be volunteering again.

Jamie returned on the 25th of November, and the Christmas festivities began soon after when Sue and I joined the Rothwells at a carol service for the Cubs and Beavers, organised by the Salvation Army. The service was appropriately sweet, in a very British way, and thoroughly enjoyable. Afterwards, Charlotte treated us to a lovely Sunday meal; her roast parsnips were delicious.

The following day, Sue and I had lunch with Jamie at the Sonde Arms in Rockingham. He introduced us to his new friend, Ashton, who lives in Milton Keynes, is younger than Jamie, and likes horses. On 29th November, Jamie took his CBT test to ride a motorbike, which is worrying, especially since bikers are the NHS’s main source of organ donors. No doubt, he’s planning to buy one in the future.

On 2nd December, the Rothwells came over for our usual family meal, and afterwards, we went into town for the annual late-night Christmas shopping. Despite a very warm evening, it still felt quite Christmassy with artificial snow falling from the sky from several strategically placed machines, and plenty of free mulled wine and mince pies. A small herd of reindeer were in attendance, along with Santa on his sleigh. The whole of South Leicestershire seemed to be on the streets of Harborough, enjoying the festive atmosphere and overindulging in the party spirit.

On 10th December, the whole family gathered at the Rothwells’ to celebrate Lucas’s 10th birthday. Unfortunately, the weather was wet and miserable, so we stayed indoors. Lucas’s friend Hamish and his father were staying over from Newark.

The following day, Lee and Sarah had a function of their own to attend and left Mia with Sue and me to look after. I entertained her with a 7-hour walk and lunch in Arthingworth. A few days later, I had the pleasure of looking after her again, this time for lunch in Foxton.

Mia went to see Santa!

For the first time, I had to buy the family Christmas tree without Sarah.

On 17th December, I attended the Rugby Club’s Christmas luncheon. All went well until after the celebrations, Charlotte (who was working behind the bar) and I attempted to take a rather inebriated Sean Perry home. It was as we tried to guide him up the steps to his front door, he tripped and fell onto me, knocking me into a wrought iron gate. Thanks to the anaesthetic properties of beer, I didn’t feel the impact of head on metal, or the severing of skin from the top of my scalp. The look of horror on my daughter’s face and that of my friend’s son, Dominic, who at that moment had come out to see what the commotion was about, indicated to me that all was not well. After setting Sean safely inside to lie on the sofa, Charlotte drove me to the Cottage Hospital, where I was patched up and returned home.

Sean came to inspect the damage the following day and to apologise, though I’m quite sure he remembers nothing of the incident, but it certainly got the festive celebrations off with a bang!

Jamie and I have booked our next road trip. We shall be off to New Zealand in May.

Jamie was the best man at Michael Hobbs’ wedding.

And finally… the end of 2016 will see Suraj moving on to a new job in the NHS. He will still be working in the IT department, but now has more responsibility.