Well, here we are at the end of another year. I’ll bring you this year’s highlights plus any relevant stuff from last year, since I’ve neglected to do a newsletter for two years.

As a family, our extension was finished in time for last Christmas. We now have a garage big enough for both cars with an en-suite ‘playroom’ above, which is great for us to play pool, darts, PS2, but especially to get rid of the kids with their friends on sleepovers!
We went to Oman in March which was a truly unforgettable experience. It was part of the ‘Mission 193’ programme (go to www.mission193.com to see my blog entry) but also an incredible visit down memory lane for me, since I had visited Oman in 1977 to see my Dad, who was working over there at the time. We had a fabulous holiday in an amazing country and also were blessed when we visited the Church in Muscat.
In June we were host to Mio, a student from South Korea. Along with others, she was working at our high school as part of a United Nations Organisation venture. We now have a new friend in the East!
In August we stayed with my folks in Wakefield and went to Blackpool and the Lake District.
We are still part of All Nations Church Cardiff, but have also been encouraged by, and hopefully been an encouragement, during a number of visits to King’s Church Wakefield and Nation Changers Church Merthyr.

Adrian is now 39 and still working for the same construction firm as a managing quantity surveyor. However, the company has been badly affected by the recession, so things have become quite difficult. Adrian is really fit! Yes, I’m biased, but he walked the 3 peaks as part of a team last June, raising thousands of pounds for Tenovus Cancer Research and he now swims 5-6 times per week. He has also just finished decorating and laying a new oak floor in our dining room ready for our new table and chairs in time for Christmas.

Annie is 12 now. Although she won’t admit it, she loves school and is excelling. She has won 3 ‘1000 Club’ awards and a ‘Glan Lloyd’ award for services to the school. Her favourite subject is science. She is also on the school council, takes part in numerous after school activities and was recently in the school’s production of Wizard of Oz at the local theatre. She gained highly commended in her gold freestyle disco test in January but unfortunately was forced to give up dancing afterwards due to no longer having a dance partner.

Joseph is 11 and in his final year in primary school. He admits to loving school and his favourite subject is maths. He has represented his school in swimming (third place), rugby and cross country. He continues to play the electric guitar and passed his grade 3 in July, just 2 marks off a distinction.

Myself, Sharon, I turn 41 this month and have had to have reading glasses since January! I am still a learning support assistant at our local high school, working with children aged 11-16 on the autistic spectrum. Last year I turned down the opportunity to become a qualified teacher, but it was the right decision as I am happy in my position. I was also elected parent governor at the school (since it is also Annie’s school) in September.

Floppy, our bunny, is nearly 7. He’s getting old, fat and lazy, but we still love him.
See the photos at http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=2law45z31.39dh0v76h&x=0&h=1&y=-4gcg35&localeid=en_GB click “View Slideshow”.