Commencing on June 17th I made my annual pilgrimage to
Staffordshire and Powys to spend time with cousins Betty and Ieuan,
both from my mother's side of the family. Betty lives in a charming old
farmhouse in the village of Yarnfield near Stone and Ieuan in a
Victorian town house in Llanidloes.
On 3rd July I took flight to Luxembourg, arriving in time to help
Grandson Miguel celebrate his 10th birthday.
On 21st September I joined friends of the West Surrey Electricity Retired
Staff Association (WSERSA) to travel by coach and ferry to Cork in the
Republic of Ireland for a six day holiday.
My travels for the year were not yet over for on 7th October I joined the
Dorking U3A group to fly from Gatwick to Marseilles to spend a week
in Provence.
On 19th October I lunched at the National Liberal Club with several
former colleagues from the Electricity Council Marketing
Department.
On 28th October I was delighted to welcome Glenys, Gina and Miguel
who arrived by car from Luxembourg to stay for a week. During this
period we celebrated Glen's birthday on 31st October.
My Christmas began on Sunday 3rd December when together with Joyce
Cornish and other friends I attended the WSERSA Christmas lunch at
the Holiday Inn at Guildford.
To close the year I spent Christmas at the Crown Hotel at Lyndhurst
with a group of friends who congregate at the venue each year to
celebrate the festive season in convivial company. Back at home I
celebrated my 83rd birthday on 30th December, welcoming a number
of well wishers during the day.
2007 was ushered in with a group of local friends.
Then followed a quieter period occupied with committee meetings and
duties at Dorking Museum, recording some editions of Dorking Talking
Newspaper, meetings at Dorking U3A and the U3A Computer Group,
Probus lunches and regular sessions playing the word game “Upwords"
with neighbours.
January ended on a sad note with the passing of my dear friend Marie
Loram.
In wintery weather on 8th March I flew from Gatwick to Luxembourg.
Having booked my flight on line I was pleased to check-in and receive
my boarding card by email. This allowed me to avoid the snake like
queue to the normal check-in desks and drop off my luggage at the
"quick- drop counter". Coming to land at Luxembourg Airport one
could view the snow covered Ardennes and the pasture land around
the village of Hemstal, my destination. I returned to the UK on 22nd
March. Click on the Luxembourg link below for pictures and details.
With Easter on the horizon, 2nd April saw me at Gatwick yet again this
time én route for Portugal to join Glenys, Sebastião and Miguel at Vila
Avis for the holiday. Granddaughter Gina was missing being engaged in
kayak training sessions near Lake Como in Italy. After a most enjoyable
break I returned home on 12th April. Click on the Portugal link
below.
The Manor House Hotel at Newlands Corner in Surrey was the venue for
the WSERSA Spring Luncheon Party on Sunday 15th April. Together
with my friend Joyce and about seventy other members I enjoyed a
splendid meal in the company of a grand group of people.
On Thursday 19th with a WSERSA group I visited the Whitchurch Silk
Mill and the Milestone Museum at Basingstoke.
On Sunday 6th May I joined friends from the Mole Valley Probus Club
for short holiday in Hamburg, returning, on 11th May.
Having been elected as the WSERSA Hon. Secretary I was involved in the
preparations for the AGM held at Guildford on 17th May. I was reelected
so continue to busy myself on behalf of the Association.
A year has passed and on 16th June it was time for met to set off again
for Staffordshire and Llanidloes. As usual I spent many pleasant hours
in the company of my cousins Betty, her son Nicholas and his wife
Sarah and, in Llanidloes, Ieuan and two other younger relations,
Gregory and Sharon.
After a few days back home I flew off to Luxembourg on 3rd July to
arrive just in time for Miguel’s birthday on 4th July. After an excellent
holiday with lots of walking, trips in to Germany where Gina trains on
the River Saar and a visit to the spectacular historical Casemates in
Luxembourg City, I returned home on 19th July. On 3rd September
I joined WSERSA friends for a short break on the Isle of Wight.
As you will have observed I enjoy a busy and active life and when I am
not engaged in the activities listed above I have my garden to look
after. This year the warm wet Spring has caused shrubs, weeds and
lawns run wild. I have just about gained the upper hand. Soon it will be
time for the Autumn clear up.
Welcome to my latest Newsletter, we are up to No. 17 already, how
time flies. This edition aims to bring you up to date with my activities
since June 2006 . As usual there are supplementary pages which may
be accessed via the links below.