This week we are looking forward to our annual visit to the German Christmas markets in Duisburg, Wuppertal and Aachen. The forecast is for light rain and not snow. This concludes a whirlwind of a year for holidays abroad. In October we had our pilgrimage to the HolyLand, staying in Jerusalem and Tiberias, with friends from Church. It was a marvellous experience. In March we enjoyed a fortnight in Turkey and Rhodes, including visits to Ephesus and Ismir. Our week in Menorca in May with the Moselings (Rebecca, Jay, Eleanor and Florence) went well with good food and great weather. It coincided with Rebecca's 30th birthday. Eleanor now goes to Nursery four days a week and Florence just the one. Rebecca is back at work part-time on the ferries and manages to work around Jay's shifts at the port.
Our summer holidays saw us back in the Gers on a small campsite overlooking the Pyrenees. Our chalet was comfortable and spacious and it was good to revisit some of our favourite places as well as discover new things and meet up with some old friends. The weather was generally good but the temperature briefly dropped twenty degrees after a hailstorm!
Life has seen its share of babysitting for both Eleanor, Florence and also Ruby and William. But our great news is that we now have a fifth grandchild, Sam Louie Broughton, born two months premature on 24th June, weighing in at 4lb9oz. You wouldn't think it to look at him now! Sophie starts back at work in March. Andrew continues working for Highways England as a Press Officer with promotion on the cards. He is still kept busy with his disco business. William is now at the same school as Ruby and occasionally we are able to pick them up and attend various school activities.
Barbara continues going to the cinema on Thursday mornings while JR attends his French conversation class. She has maintained the Wednesday morning French group with the same tutor, Nelly which has given her a lot more confidence when in France. We've also carried on with Keep Fit on a Friday evening, though the dancing class has folded. Slimming World is still a regular feature, enjoying new recipes and losin gweight. (Between us we have lost nearly seven stone.) We both enjoy our trips to the theatre or cinema and inparticular the live Shakespeare broadcasts. It's not all highbrow as we did manage to get to see Steeleye Span and the Albion Band in Canterbury. Graham Fellows (aka John Shuttleworth) is already booked next year along with Maddy Prior.
Once again we have been busy in the benefice which sees us either preaching or leading worship on most Sundays. Barbara is continuing to be treasurer as well. This year we shall be celebrating the midnight Christmas service at East Langdon church and on Christmas Day at West Langdon for 9.30 (not much sleep that night). Following this we are having Christmas Day dinner with the Moselings and meeting up with the Broughtons on Boxing Day at some local hostelry. No cooking for us this Christmas, that's a first!
Next year looks rather busy with planned trips to China in March, and France (the Jura region) in June/July, not counting our numerous day trips to Calais now appropriately in the Hauts de France. That will be something to tell you about next year. Finally, we look forward to having friends from different parts of the country stay with us or simply call in on their way to or from their continental holidays. You can contact us using the above details or by email at james,roger or barbara@broughtonfamily.co.uk or even look us upon Facebook. Like us now!
BestwishesandGodbless