A & J
Where has this year gone?! It has been quite a year for us, to say the least. We have continued to enjoy the excitement of visits to our bungalow in N Cyprus which was completed earlier this year. However, our hopes of spending a summer holiday there were not to be as we’ve had to wait a long time for electricity and water to be connected.
Jeff and I celebrated our 60th birthdays this year and as a treat to ourselves we went on a wonderful trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. However, before we could make our escape our children had other plans. Debi and Ian, after much planning and conniving, managed to spring a surprise party on us. It was a superb occasion, people were there from every aspect of our lives: immediate family of course and other relatives from all round the country, army and civilian friends, old and new neighbours, work colleagues past and present, people we had not seen for quite some time making it a fabulous evening which spilled over into the rest of the weekend.
As for our South American adventure we spent two weeks visiting cities and towns, rain forests, volcanoes and lush, beautiful countryside throughout Ecuador and then a further week cruising the Islands. We saw so many amazing sights and took so many photographs I have produced a separate section just to give you a flavour of all we saw. We crossed the Equator several times during our travels and experienced every kind of climate. Part of our trip included a 3-day stay in the rainforest. We had travelled by coach over pretty rough terrain to get into the area and then go by canoe to reach our lodgings. Although there was no electricity, our stay was quite comfortable. We were issued with wellies and oil lamps on arrival! (We really needed the wellies as underfoot was very squelchy!). It was here I celebrated my birthday and even had a cake with candles!
Over last winter Jeff and I took the decision that our house in NC was too nice to just enjoy for occasional holidays and after spending time doing a few calculations we agreed that if we worked until Spring 2006 we could afford to take early retirement and move out there fairly permanently. So the first stage of this plan was to sell our bungalow in Kent. We put it on the market at the beginning of February and were lucky enough to sell within a week. Debi offered us a temporary home with her, so once we returned from South America it was a busy time spent packing up our home. Not the easiest of tasks as we had to decide whether things were going to NC, Debi’s or ‘the tip’! Meanwhile we had to apply for planning permission to have a conservatory built onto Debi’s house, this was to become our dining room, we also converted part of her garage to become our bedroom, the utility room to a kitchen and then decorated it all. We couldn’t have accomplished all this were it not for all the help Debi’s husband, Andrew gave us. The great move took place in early July and it was a strange feeling watching the container lorry swallow up most of our home and send it on its way to Cyprus. Unfortunately, not everything was ready for us at Debi’s house but it was not a problem thanks to some great friends who helped out, one couple let us use their house while they were away, another stored some of our kit and by the end of the July we were comfortably installed in our new home. It is cosy but adequate in the short term and we get to see 3 of our grandsons every day.
August saw us welcoming the container down our very dusty lane in N Cyprus, and we were soon reunited with our things in our home in the sun. Most of it is stored in our garage until we are there and can unpack properly but it has now became more difficult to close the door and return to UK.
In the midst of all the house-moving we received an invitation to one of Her Majesty’s Garden Parties. It was a sunny July day, albeit a bit blustery, which caused the ladies a few problems with their hats. Not only were the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh present but Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall along many other Royals. As well as being able to Royal watch and do some frock spotting we had a delicious afternoon tea, and chance to wander in the grounds. We now have a few more special memories to take away with us, it was truly a lovely occasion.
At work, the Army Benevolent Fund were involved in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the end of WWII in St James’s Park. We had a stand along with many other Service Charities and met many WWII veterans and a few of the great and the good such as Camilla and General Sir Mike Jackson. Sadly, the latter end of this week was marred by the horrendous bombing of the Tube and on the bus.
Unfortunately we have not been able to see very much of our son Ian and his family in Edinburgh this year, but the good news is they moved back to Wiltshire just a few weeks ago, much easier to visit. This change has come about as Ian has been promoted onto the Board of Directors at Lloyds TSB and his job has changed. We are very proud of him. At the first opportunity I went down to see them. The boys are great and they have a lovely home just outside Salisbury. We have a lot of catching up to do before we leave UK.
Throughout the year Jeff has been coaching his successor and I mine. We are both counting the days until 30 April when we retire. Our plan then is to drive overland, making a holiday of our journey out to N Cyprus. No doubt we shall be spending part of the Christmas holidays planning our route. We anticipate arriving in N Cyprus in June. Initially we expect the family will be joining us for the school holidays, but we shall look forward to having visits from our friends too.
This time last year Ross, grandson number 5 had just arrived. Well, he is doing fine, a really big boy now and a great time-waster in the nicest possible way, as they all are. He is just taking his first steps and probably has the loudest voice of them all!
Preparations for Christmas are well underway and we shall be spending it in Wiltshire with the whole family together - it should prove to be lively.
