Dear Friends,
How quickly this year seems to have gone by.
We are now back full-time at our address in St Margaret's and have managed to unpack all our boxes - with lots of items going to various charity shops, tidy up the garden, install solar panels and generally enjoy life including trips to the local cinema and theatres. JR has taken up cycling but because of the hills in our area really feels the need of a new bike having been inspired by Edward Enfield's book Downhill All The Way about his solo cycle ride from Normandy to the Mediterranean. Maybe Eurostar and the French TGV would be easier.
We have been busy in the St Margaret's benefice of churches which sees us either preaching or leading worship on most Sundays, we tend to work as a team. Last week we entertained the Archbishop of Canterbury in St Margaret's, one advantage of living so near to Anglican H.Q.
Our summer holidays this year saw us in a campsite at Cantobre in the Cevennes not far from the famous Millau viaduct. We went in June so were able to take advantage of spending some extra days in Burgundy and the Loire valley and everywhere was quiet before the usual rush. Next summer will be a return visit to the Dordogne in August.
Rebecca and Jay have moved into a rented flat on the Folkestone Road, very handy for their work on the boats. They enjoyed their holidays together in Dublin and Tunisia. We managed to meet up with them in Liverpool and it was superb catching up with old friends and seeing the familiar sites.
Andrew continues working as a traffic officer (control room) with the Highways Agency but hopes to be changing jobs in the new year, transferring to the Driving Standards Agency to become a driving examiner. Ruby is two and a half years old and is keeping him and Sophie fully occupied.
Barbara is still registered with a teaching agency covering supply work. She has had some interesting experiences in her travels but as yet has not found a permanent job.
In December we are going with the same firm as last year for a weekend to the German Christmas markets. It has been remarkably mild in East Kent so far but I imagine it will be much colder there. We also are looking forward to staying in Calais over the New Year for a short break. We really enjoy channel hopping and have made some wonderful discoveries in the Nord-Pas de Calais region, just a stone's throw away from where we live.
Finally, we look forward to having friends from different parts of the country stay with us or simply call in en route from their continental holidays. Contact us using the above details or by email at name@broughtonfamily.co.uk or even look us up on Facebook.
Best wishes and God bless.