2001 Newsletter

Emma has now reached the grand old age of 7, progressed to Class 2, and receives the hardest homework!

Sports Day earlier in the year saw Emma on the Blue Team
who came in first after a nail-biting relay race.

Achievements in the swimming pool recently culminated in
the award of Grade I Duckling.

Rehearsals are underway for a starring role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; a first step in village amateur dramatics? Emma is also establishing herself as a Local Preacher’s assistant, having read out her own prayers at one of the services lead by Mummy. The qualification of ‘Loudest Voice in School’ (awarded at the December School Disco) ensured that even the hard of hearing had nothing to worry about! Amongst other things next year sees the start of Piano Lessons, and enrolment in the Brownies.

Rachel is now On Trial as a Methodist Local Preacher and has passed the first of the four ’Faith & Worship’ examinations.

Qualifications were also obtained in Embroidery and Upholstery; though on an unrelated course!

The role of School Governor continues, which makes for a busy meetings diary...

The paint brush has been wielded in the lounge and Emma’s bedroom, and a colour scheme has been identified for the hall.

The Summer holidays were a welcome break, a week at Cliff College, followed by 9 days in Roker. The latter ended up as a house swap; we borrowed the flat of Rob & Katie Hawkins, while their future in-laws (from Poland) stayed in our house.

Whilst in the top right hand of the country we took the opportunity of springing a visit on Ivanlea Cattery to renew friendships with Fiona, Bob and the cats.

Next year sees more exams, more meetings, more upholstery, more sermons to write… but before then there are some tiles to grout!

Phil has continued to deepen the ruts in the M1 working on the seemingly endless Dixons project.

Ringing activities have not been particularly numerous. Managed not to make too big a hash of ringing in the Guild Striking contest, but no trophies this year! The Worthington trainees have been manning their 3 bells unaided. Visits to the Coleorton practice have more often than not been with the accompaniment of Emma.

The highlight of the gardening year was the acquisition of a shiny yellow JCB shredder! The back hedge is now receding, to be replaced by an expanding mulch pile. The monster clematis in the front was also decimated; much to the displeasure of the head gardener. But it’s growing rampantly again now; threatening to colonise the lovely new shed next door!

The old PC was finally pensioned off this year. The replacement being put to good use in building a website for Castle Donington Methodist Church (www.cd-mc.co.uk).

The bathroom has also been replaced, though the job of tiling seems to have saved itself for the Christmas holiday...