for those of you who just got a Christmas card and are curious to know what's going on around here.
;)
We are well. The real nitty-gritty of our year can be found in Gill's Elegant Sufficiency blog and a few thousand photos in our online album but for those of you who'd simply like to cut to the chase, here's a potted version.
It's been quite a fun year all things considered! We are keeping pretty busy - Gill still features on the payroll of the County Council and though the WI doesn't feature quite so large in her life as it did, she still trains craft judges, advises the NFWI Education committee and assesses certificate work. All of which keep her out of too much mischief and allows plenty of time to go travelling.
;)
(photo taken from our hotel window in Umea at 10.30pm)
Mark's major project this year has been another Raff recording. We were fortunate to be there in Umea, Sweden, when it was recorded in June during the Nordic summer - 24hrs daylight - and the finished result has been enthusiastically received. Much of that is down to the talent of our dear friend Tra who "played with the kind of conviction that suggests she has known the music all her life", to quote one reviewer. It was one of two Raff-related trips to Sweden, the first was to Karlstad to hear his 3rd Symphony, a fine reason for taking a week to explore the country beyond Stockholm. Mark is heading for the third Raff/Sweden week just before Christmas, to record a second CD with Tra and the Umea Orchestra. This time, he'll experience the Nordic winter - no daylight, snow and sub-zero temperatures.
;)
Some of you might have seen our contribution to The Hairy Bikers programme, filmed in Fairford last April? Great fun if a rather lengthier process than we - or the producers - anticipated.
;)
New places discovered this year include Southwold, which we loved. Gill was judging at Suffolk Show so we spent the weekend at hotel inspector Ruth W's place at Orford and enjoyed a few days exploring an area new to us. We enjoyed a great weekend at Harome and loved The Star Inn so much, we can't wait to go back in January when Gill's doing WI stuff in Thirsk.
;)
We also discovered Lisbon, in particular the custard tarts and spent our summer holiday on what seemed like a beer and dumpling tour of Northern Europe. Later in the year, we worked through our favourite dining locations in Los Angeles and New York too - not to mention the culinary challenges of Tokyo last October.
;)
It's been fun to spend time with Edward, who joined us in Lisbon and then again on holiday this Summer. He's still in Westminster, doing his best to keep the cogs running smoothly for the time being. Once an election is called, all bets are off and though he will see through some kind of transition, he hopes to be able to climb a little higher on the slippery slope.
We love spending time with friends and have been delighted to spend happy days with Aussie friends Sandy, John and Wendy, with John's son Ben and his mate Andrew and with Fiona and Wayne who somehow squeezed a couple of days with us into their Baltic cruise itinerary too - I guess that when you've made your way from Wellington NZ, a couple of hundred extra miles is only a slight detour? Mary's been over from California and others have ventured south from places as remote as Lytham St Annes and Skipton.
So, who has time for work?
Plans for 2010 include more Raff, starting with a concert in his birthplace Lachen, Switzerland in January. We've booked a cruise to the Black Sea in June and are currently planning a long weekend with Edward in Libya in February. WI stuff will take us back to Harome at the start of the year as previously mentioned, and no doubt, we will find ourselves tempted elsewhere as the year progresses.
Oh, and if you know anyone looking for a beautifully situated three bedroom bungalow in Cottingham, near Hull, we'd be delighted to hear from them!