Bangor, December 2007
Happy Christmas one and all,
The year has been excellent, with Harriet and James both over-achieving by reaching their respective birthdays earlier than predicted and Harriet is now entering her 13th year as we speak, supported by her estuarine inflection and determination to immerse herself in imported American culture. However, James has surpassed her and our, already high, expectations and is now entering early middle age.
Their success does not end there and Harriet was selected from a field of 1 to represent the Rainbows in the Remembrance Day service, whilst James was successful in becoming the only boy to take part in the Bangor Gymnastics try-outs this year. Who'd have thought that they were only 7 and 5 in dog years?
But we don't just live vicariously through our children. Sharon gained an O-level in Welsh this year making her not only female but also officially an oppressed minority. She is now practising for her A-level which, if she passes, will entitle her to close protection provided by the race relations board and her own counsellor. However, I'm not so sure about her gargling every morning to ensure that her vowels are just right for the rest of the day.
After completing a government job in March (don't ask and I won't have to kill you) I successfully failed to be gainfully employed for 3 full months and had to take up gardening, cycling and generally lying around the garden. This was fine during April when we had great weather but it slowly went down hill till floods hit in June. Also, the local dole office turned down my application for asylum as I hadn't just turned up on the banana boat from Canada, Iraq or some other god forsaken war zone and so I made the dramatic decision to look for some work and I'm afraid to say found some. It's always a bitch when that happens.
However, my Faustian pact with "he who must not be named" seems to be working and I am thwarting the work of Harry Potter at every opportunity on the promise of eternal lunch which I figure is a better deal than just eternal life as you not only live forever but also get fed too.
So to life immortal, have a great Christmas and New Year and hope that 2008 brings you whatever you're entitled to (after the taxman, children and lawyers have had their share).
Love
Richard, Sharon, Harriet and James (who are all slightly embarrassed of me)
