2021

Well! Another funny year! At the start of the first Lockdown in 2020, when the weather was gorgeous, and it didn't seem so bad to be staying at home, we managed pretty well. But when the lockdown over Christmas 2020, and then in January this year, got going, we started to struggle a bit. I think it was partly because the weather was so rubbish, and partly because we had thought it would be all over by now. Anyway we've survived, and here's some of our year's 'highlights'.

In February we got our first AstraZeneca vaccine. Very exciting! We were so impressed by the efficiency of the whole thing, and all the staff there - it was quite moving.

In May we went up to The Lake District to stay in a lovely house just near Derwentwater. We also had our second Covid jab. Kate went up to visit her mum in Garstang for the first time for 15 months!

In June Chris bought a new house! Very exciting.  In Teversham, just outside of Cambrudge.

We had marked June 9th as three weeks after our second jab, when we hoped our immunity was high enough to risk venturing out to some gigs! Our first outing was to see the Rheingans Sisters at The Junction. It was really very emotional! We also went to our friends Phil and Katie in Dorset for a few days.

"In July the sun is hot. Is it shining? No it's not!" Actually it was, and pretty hot too, at the Folk By The Oak Festival, but we had a great time and saw loads of good artists. At the end of the month we met up with Kate's mum, and John, Holly and Hana in Penrith. It was a great success - it was the first time Nan had met little Hana and they got on famously!

In August John, Holly and Hana came down and stayed for ten days. It was lovely to see them for so long, and to get to know young Hana a lot better! We also went up to Sheffield to see David and Shirley, and while we were there we saw a Rachel Sermanni concert, which was wonderful! She writes such good songs.

In September we had a surprise visit from our old friend Chris Southgate, who insisted we went punting on the river! Slightly scarey but fun. We also visited our friends Dave and Clare in Hampshire and saw Dave's amazing new workshop/garage extension.

In October we went to Norfolk for a week, and spent time pottering around churches, meres and Broads. It was also the farewell concert for Mystery Train, the band Mike has played in for years.

In November we had our boosters, and in December we went to stay in Oxford to see The Furrow Collective, but the concert was cancelled because of the spread of the Omicron variant. For the first time I'm starting to get irritated with this virus. Hmmm...

In the end we had a lovely day in Oxford and saw the Botanic Garden and the Alfred Jewel. Silver linings...

 Anyway, we hope to see more of you all in 2022. Keep in touch! Click here to contact us.