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This year has been a bit hectic. However things are starting to settle down now a bit. Alex is doing A level exams next summer and we have been busy visiting universities, to see which one is the right one for him. He has now received several conditional offers and is doing well at school, so we are confident he will get into the university of his choice! Sophie is also doing well at school and has just received her Autumn school report stating that she,again, is in the top 20 of her year at school. She is now in the process of having to choose her GCSE options. Neil is moving jobs at work in the spring. This will involve moving away from teaching maths to supporting students with their English skills. This job will be a lot less stressful than the rather chaotic existing one..hopefully! Aya is still working at a Japanese owned packaging and distribution import/export company and loves the relaxed and chatty environment!

Dear All, I hope you are well and that life is being kind to you. Firstly, let me wish you a wonderful Christmas and a positive and happy New Year! I sense that this year more than ever, that the world is changing. At long last, climate change is finally becoming more recognised along with a mental health issue and well-being of young people. Given Government’s recent inaction on pretty much anything other than Brexit, I do hope now that society can act in 2020 to tackle these challenges. It has been a busy year for us. Normally when I write our Christmas letter it ends up being all about what the kids and James are doing as life doesn't change much for me. This year, however, I have had the major change. I went back to full time employment into a ‘proper’ job working for the Council as a project manager. This was quite a change from the few hours at school. It is amazing that I’m back into a career similar to what I was doing 14 years ago when I left to have Heather. The whole family has had to adjust. Louise now goes to after school club and everyone has to do a share of household chores and juggling of school holiday breaks. It’s a big change for everyone. And, it is hard managing that work/ life balance as we are still a busy family doing scouts, choir, guides, and piano runs etc. Luckily, I really like my job and work with some lovely people. I'm helping to create a large business park area for environmental technology businesses where sustainability is a core value of the site; so it is a great job for me. Check out www.herts-iq.co.uk Other news for this year: Henry has settled down more at school and is enjoying it now. Heather is still doing some amazing singing with her various choirs. She spent a week singing at a cathedral during the summer and has just finished performing a lead role in the school's production of Grease. She is becoming quite independent too and travelled as soon as she was allowed (on the day of her 14th birthday) to Nice on her own where she had a wonderful time with relatives. Louise is in her final year of primary school and is doing well. James is still enjoying working at Salesforce. He had a big year by becoming 50. He had lots of mini adventures with family and friends including canoeing down the River Wye and hiking in Austria with the boys. We all had a lovely holiday in Northern Germany spending time with our wonderful Anna and family. It was a super restful week where we explored some beautiful beaches, chatted lots and ate some lovely food. Helen managed to catch up with a few old Liverpool University friends which has been a bonus this year. Both Henry and Louise achieve their grade 5 piano and Heather her grade 5 theory. And, the house continues to change too – this year we have a noticeably warmer lounge as we have replaced the totally useless open fireplace with log burning stove, have just re sanded the wooden kitchen floor which looks like a new floor and have replaced my old red car with a lovely new fast blue one! So, as you can see, a busy and changing year for all of us. Wishing you all the very best for 2020! Lots of love, Helen, James, Heather, Henry and Louise P.S. Pepper is fine too and says Woof!

Helen’s Page

The Pollock family have had a very busy year. James had some time off before starting a new job which is still sales but not with a bank. I think he is happier though still trying to settle in. Helen has given up her part time job at a local school and is in the process of trying to find a more rewarding one. Helen had an all girls 50th tea party to celebrate her birthday. They all had a good holiday in Europe, seeing friends and staying at a villa. Their children also lead busy lives, particularly Heather who spends a lot of time singing in a local church choir - this summer the choir spent a week in a cathedral and Heather sang a solo, quite something for her. She also took on one of the lead parts, the Tin Man, in The Wizard of Oz, her school play at Christmas. Henry has started his secondary school but finds the traveling there and back makes it a very long day. Louise has another year at her school near by before hopefully going on to join Heather. We spent a week with the family (except James who was working) in the Lake District which was great as the sun shone nearly every day.

Derek and Ann’s Photo Gallery

Derek and Ann’s 5oth Photo Gallery

50 YEARS AGO

Over the last year we have lost several close friends. This has made us realise that we should do what we can while we still have our health. Our priorities have changed so that travel and related activities are more important than managing our large garden. At the very beginning the year we decided to sell our House and downsize to a smaller one. We selected nearby Colwall where there are shops, train station, pubs etc. etc. It’s a good community and we previously lived in Colwall for 10 years before coming to Cradley. We will only make any moves towards buying another property when the sale of the House seems certain. We have had interest, but everything seems to be on hold until Brexit is sorted and the shape of the new government is known. On the first occasion of viewing I put as much as I could in cupboard – this we were told was the thing to do to. After the people had been round the house I asked them if they would like a coffee, “Yes” they said. The trouble was I could not remember which cupboard I had put the coffee pot in!!! We found that some people like the large mature garden and not the house and others the house but not the garden. “You can please some of the people………………..” Ann is now much better after a second ablation in February which has rectified her heart problems. She was passed fit to travel by her consultant. Derek on the other hand seems reasonable fit as he plays racket ball a couple of times a week as well as Keep fit, walking and gardening. Our minds are kept active with playing bridge several times a week either together or with other partners. Ann has given up being a parish councillor and Derek has ceased being Scout treasurer only to become treasurer to our local bridge club. A look through our diary shows that we saw the New Year in with friends, good food, good company and fun & games. At the end of January we spent a few days in the New Forest, an area we had not been to before and enjoyed very much. In March we spent a few days in the Lake District which we always love. In July during a very hot spell we went to Laugharne with friends for walking and playing bridge in the evening. At the end of March in need of sun we went to Tunisia. We enjoyed the trip, but the weather was miserable. So, to Egypt in May to find the sun, sea and snorkelling. We always enjoy our stays at Makadi Bay and we went again in September, which was almost too hot. We did manage to stay at home long enough to plant the vegetable garden and reap the rewards from our efforts. We had in August both the family dogs which Derek enjoyed taking out for walks. We think that the dogs preferred it here as they had more room and plenty of walks. Towards the end of September we got together with our friends Dave and Gill to try to plan a longer trip somewhere, but after going around in circles we agreed on Kelera in Southern India. Gill particularly wanted to go so the decision was made for three weeks in November. We shall complete the year with a trip to Cornwall and reserve some time with Neil, Helen the family.