It seems that you reach a stage in life when a review of the year just seems to be a list of bad news. It makes you question whether its worth writing for others to share your woes. But why should we be the only ones to be miserable.  You’re always going to get bad news, that’s life. But you can make great things happen as well, albeit with a bit more effort. And reading the comments made sometimes by total strangers who seemed to enjoy the annual articles gave us a bit of enthusiasm too.  It made us think it was possibly worth it.  So thank you all for your comments.  We decided to “give it a go”….

TENERIFE

Adrian always wanted to go to Tenerife since his grandparents went there when his grandad retired.  So we went in January.  You reach a stage in life when you can just do these things don’t you?  Adrian got his usual special treatment. Personal service.  Personal menu.  He was eating steak when everyone else had stew. Being gluten free has its benefits if you play your cards right.

We took a boat trip to see whales and dolphins.  It was better than we thought. Adrian talked to the locals and found out where to get lunch for a euro. Yes. one euro.  So he took Sue out for lunch and to buy some jewellery from the local gemstones. In real style we took a taxi.  We found the lunch for a euro, but we didn’t find the gemstones, so we bought some trainers and walked back.

The drawback to our hotel was that we couldn’t find a Spanish bar within half a mile. So went with some people to a Karaoke bar.  Well, several bars in fact. We went up the volcano, Mount Teide,  which was our favourite part of the holiday. especially when it included the landscape that Raquel Welsh trod in “One Million Years BC.”  Most of you are too young to appreciate that, but as a teenage boy…. It is no wonder she wore a fur bikini, it was freezing up there.  And we enjoyed the zoo at Loro Parque too, with the performances from the whales and dolphins.  We were told they were rescue animals but after watching a documentary about how they attacked the keepers, we have mixed feelings about Loro Parque.  We’re still amazed what the animals can do, but not so sure they are as happy as they might be.

SOUTHERN TOUR

We had planned to do several short trips to see people this year. After returning from Tenerife we took the southern tour: Tunbridge Wells, Wigmore and Rhodes Minnis to visit friends and family. Look out, your turn is coming soon… so get that door camera installed so you can hide in the back.

AGGRAVATION

Adrian had to start some research since our Local Councils and Councillors decided to allow people to build on our access road and cause our properties to flood. This has occupied a lot of our time.  What they have done is not strictly legal, but anyone who has had dealings with our Local Councils and Councillors will know the dirty tricks they get up to and how they “misplace” information. It’s not the place to bore you with the details here but we are glad to share what is happening with anyone who is interested. (Okay, that’ll be no-one then.)  We have been busy preparing our legal case all year which has occupied our attention. Events have been unpleasant, threatening and dangerous to say the least.

It is not like me to quote scripture but the phrase “there’s none so blind as those who will not see” comes to mind. Even when presented with the evidence in front of their eyes they deny it because they can get away with it.  I hope not every council is like this. I used to roll my eyes when my Dad complained about the council (he was a Councillor) but I should have given his views more respect.

Lack of competence and honesty causes grief to so many people, including totally innocent people who are not involved.  Can I   recommend honesty and competence to you?  They are virtues within your control.  Whilst fighting against them, people cannot do good in the world for others. Ill and dying friends and relatives in particular did not get the attention they needed and deserved because of it and it has taken its toll.

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

Looking on the positive side, Adrian’s procrastination strategy was productive.  He managed to scan in thousands of slides from his Grandma and the Local History Group.

Of course, research is what Adrian does well, so it was nice to rediscover some “lost” skills. “Use it or lose it” seems to be an apt phrase.  It helped get the brain going again after years of illness.  Whilst not exactly back to full speed, he can be effective sometimes. He is especially good at spending money.

It was nice to have a visit from friends from Scotland in Homer, the campervan. A flying visit and stop off point for a longer trip for them.  In the same way we drop in on them for our flying visits to Scotland for running events! Oh, that is for Craig, not Adrian any more, although…..well, let’s just wait and see.

MENORCA – PART ONE

To recuperate, from the harassment, we went on our usual trip to Menorca to see our stray cat, Tiny. He owns us and comes to visit when we are there.  As well as meeting friends there and going with friends too now, we have been working at Cats In Need Menorca during part of our stay.  By day ten we were starting to finally relax. We would have preferred to stay there rather than come home at all.  Despite being ill and exhausted we managed to do more of the Cami de Cavalls, a walk around the entire island.  That nearly killed us too, literally.  Part of the path runs along a road and a 4×4 came hurtling around the corner and left a tiny gap between the car and the rock face.  Another inch and it would have hit us.  We have to get fit enough next year to tackle “the big one.” The longest, steepest, and rockiest part of the path.  We’d rather meet our end falling into the sea there than being run over.  It was very pleasant to be away from the hassle at home and go out with friends.  We discovered more local restaurants.  Some of them were great value where the locals can get fed cheaply, and others that are top of the range in terms of food quality.

Adrian left Sue in Menorca with friends and had to rearrange his flight.  Notts County were playing at Wembley!  It is all about priorities.  He wouldn’t remember what he did on the last day in Menorca, but he would certainly remember the trip to Wembley.  And Sue has mentioned it a few times too.

RUNNING CHALLENGE

Instead of a flying visit to do a run in Scotland this year, Craig decided to complete a run from Nottingham to Stoke.  That is about 62 miles, 100 km. We had such a hard time trying to deliver food and water to Craig as he completed his run. We were exhausted with all that driving!

NORWAY

After more harassment we found a very cheap cruise to Norway which was exceptionally good, hot and calm.  Adrian literally got his own waiter! It was first class.  So many thanks to those friends who encouraged us to go on a cruise and bought us a tin to save our pound coins in.  Despite presenting the tin to all our guests we still didn’t have enough money and friends stopped coming, so we topped it up ourselves and found a very cheap cruise.  The food was amazing and the gluten free options were better than any restaurant.

One day at sea is more than enough though, and we were glad to get off the ship and go for a walk when we docked for the day. Norway was bathed in brilliant sunshine and looked amazing.  I was told by the locals it is not always like that.  And they all spoke English! In Norway! Even the 90 year old lady who pulled up next to us in her car when we were reading the map advised us of the best route in perfect English.  Sue managed table tennis every single day on the ship and played some celebrity or other from the T.V. who she beat, so I’ll not divulge his name. And we learned how to blag.  We didn’t book any shows and they were all full, but we saw all the shows we wanted to.  All that money spent on training courses was useful after all!

EUROPE BECKONNED BRIEFLY

Craig was moving to Paris with his scientific and artistic girlfriend, an impressive combination of skills.   Although he had a works visa the company went back on part of deal and tried to restrict him to work just for them.  We got his house ready for sale but Craig decided to concentrate on his UK start-up.  Sadly that means that due to EU rules it is difficult for them to live together, because she is French. The rules are unnecessarily divisive, stupid, and unproductive.  Our German friend Bernhard worked to bring the people of Europe together and I’m sure he would be horrified how things have changed. Both Adrian and Sue have benefitted from working in Germany, and many German’s, and other nationalities,  have benefitted from coming here too.  We have made lasting friendships.  What is most important, is what kind of person you are , not where you are from.

But at least Craig got us working on his house for a week, and that is something we were pleased to do.  And he had a good clear out prior to the sale.  A long distance relationship can be hard as we found out, and we were married for 30 years (and still are I must add.)

MENORCA – PART TWO

Then it was back to Menorca for a few more weeks. We do enjoy our walks around the island, even more so when it is with friends. We can probably finish our walk around the entire island next time. And here’s a first, none of us were ill. Just a bit jaded. Adrian was let loose to buy tools for the job at “Cats In Need Menorca.”  That was exciting.  We found some great new restaurants, but for special occasions at those prices. It gets increasingly difficult to see everyone as the list of friends seems to grow with every visit. And here’s another first:  we went to the local beach which is fabulous and just a short walk from the apartment. It’s amazing that we see more people we know in Menorca than at home!  But we don’t go into hiding in Menorca. We even meet the waiters and waitresses when we’re out and about, in restaurants, walking down the street, and even in the hospital. If they leave, we even stalk them in their new jobs!

HEALTH ISSUES

The bad news is that friends and family have had health problems. We were due to go skiing again with  Adrian’s Best Man from our wedding in January 2024 but he is no longer with us.  That has left us in shock I think. And another friend needed a lot of long distance help so the car has done more miles than usual this year.  Each day was like driving to Essen in Germany. And Adrian got thrown out of a pub for the first time; well actually it was his friend but it is hard to stay and finish your dinner and drink when your friend is being asked to leave. But all is well now.  Well, better than it was.

Adrian’s mum also has to have regular hospital visits for an injection. But at least we know what we’re dealing with now. She is still running an organisation to help others but we think its time she had more fun too.

We learned that we can’t help just ourselves. We have to help any person or animal in need. I guess it is the legacy of our ancestors and why Adrian’s Grandad was a leader in the NUM standing up for people’s rights, and why his mum runs the organisation she does supporting the old.

YOU JUST CAN’T STOP SUE WORKING

Having retired in 2018, and 2021, Sue now has a new job, working with Claire. It was supposed to be for 4 weeks but that is now 9 weeks. I expect that will last until they manage to recruit someone into the role permanently, well into 2024. It is interesting because it brings things full circle. Sue was working in accounts when she met Adrian in 1982 (yes we’re that old.)  She then worked in IT, training, personnel, and now finally back to accountancy. It was fascinating for a while, but reminds us how difficult it is to get anything done at home, or see friends when you are working. Roll on the third retirement.

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Sue’s dad introduced Adrian to the Local History Group and that is proving interesting.  Adrian also going back to his routes doing historical research and fascinating trips to the National Archives at Kew.  History is certainly relevant to today.   His last project was the Workhouse and Poor Law, where he discovered arguments hadn’t changed much in 300 years.  This time it is the history of this location.

CLAIRE’S BIRTHDAY

We booked for a show in London with a hotel stay for Claire’s birthday. Claire got COVID, but managed to recover just in time.  However, Sue got ill (not COVID) and didn’t make it to London. That left Claire and Adrian on their own to spend days (and money) in Harrods, Liberty, Hamley’s, and Fortnum and Mason. As well as going to “Les Miserables.”

We had our own “cost of living crisis” when we saw the prices in London. “Crisis, what crisis.”  We’re taking sandwiches next time.  And we came back exhausted after two days in which we saw everything in the shops we visited. Sometimes six floors of goods.  Adrian enquired about many things in Harrods and Liberty.  More from a professional perspective, than a “I’ve got loads of money and I don’t care what it costs” perspective.  I think a regional distribution of income is necessary.

“Les Miserables” was good, and Adrian enjoyed handing out Harrods’ chocolates to the row during a show about the starving French.  He loved the irony of people making money from them. He enjoyed the culture of Shakespeare outdoors, or Robin Hood more.  We took a picnic, sat outdoors at our own table (it was literally our table, we took it with us), and it cost £12 each. The robbery took place in London, but without distributing it to the poor.

Adrian would like to point out, that he doesn’t leave Sue home alone and go out enjoying ourselves every time she is ill. That is just for holidays and special occasions.  We are quite nice the rest of the time.

MELANCHOLIA

Maybe it’s the harassment, or just old age melancholy, or looking at those old photos as we have been scanning them, but we are missing those who are no longer with us even more this year. We hope it will be fun finding ways to beat the melancholy next year, and maybe our health will improve with it and we’ll look ten years younger! Hooray!

FRIENDS’ ACHIEVEMENTS

And we can’t leave without congratulating friends on their achievements.  An outdoor photo exhibition in Germany, new babies,  new jobs, and to the tailor who made Claire an entire new wardrobe.  It is always great to hear your news too, good or bad.  We’re having some Friday Night Dinners next year so I hope many of you are able to come and tell us.  But  be warned, it has been known for visitors to go home without their shoes!  Our thoughts are with those of you who are struggling even if our words cannot express what we want to say.

So despite a busy and at times unpleasant year we have done our best to have fun.  The events of the year have left us less sociable than usual, so people have not seen that much of us.  That is for your benefit.  We hope that will change next year.  We hope to hand over to the very expensive solicitors, and return to the fun stuff: digging the garden, historical research, dressmaking,  helping family  and friends, making furniture, and repairing the house.  And we’ll be having another extended Southern tour, a visit to Scotland and the North, and an Eastern tour.  Lock your doors and install the door camera…we are on our way.  And we’ll want photos.