2022 Home

At last we seem to be getting back to a more normal year. Well, normal as regards coronaviruses, and seeing the family, perhaps not in politics and world events.

Anyway... in January Mike finally decided he had to learn how to play that banjo which had been lurking round the house for years, and started some online lessons. Our granddaughter Hana had her 2nd birthday, and we went to a Spell Songs concert  in Birmingham - this time Mike managing not to break his shoulder on the way back...

In February we discovered we had visiting mice, eating our (very expensive) pine-nuts. Holes were blocked up. We saw Peggy Seeger at the Junction, aged 87, a huge inspiration to us! If we're half as good as her at that age etc.... We also went to see Dave and Clare in Hampshire.

In March we had Mike's 70th birthday. Eek! That's a lot of years! How terribly strange to be seventy, as Paul Simon said. Kate organised a Surprise Party. Fantastic! Check it out here. 

In April we gave up getting Tesco deliveries and went back to shopping in person. We'd quite liked getting stuff dropped outside the door actually, but we thought we ought to save money. We also went to a concert in the fabled Wigmore Hall - Trish Clowes - jazz - good fun.

In May we went to visit our friends Phil and Katie in Poole. We also had a few gigs - Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, both excellent. Mike went to visit his school friend Eric in Nottingham and went to a concert there. We had our first holiday, in Wales - a place we'd been before a couple of times, near Talyllyn. It just seemed easier to re-book a known place (you know how it is).

In June Mike had a rare gig with Mystery Train, in Richmond Park no less. Very exciting! 

"In July the sun is hot", as Flanders and Swann said (and apparently I said last year too!), only this time it really was hot.  39°C in Cambridge. A stark warning of the reality of global warming. We retreated to the kitchen, which seemed a little cooler. We also went to Glasgow to do some cat sitting. I know that sounds crazy but, well...  When we got back we went to the Folk By The Oak Festival (with David and Shirley), which was great (but again a bit too hot!).

In August we went to visit John, Holly and Hana in Glasgow, stopping off at Kate's mum in Garstang on the way. It was great to meet young Hana again - she's really growing up!

In September we had our first Lakes holiday, with Chris - mixed weather but we had a good time.

In October Mike was invited to an inaugural lecture by a Professor of Gene Therapy, thanking everyone who had helped him in his career. He had worked with me in the 80s. It was a beautiful and heart-warming event.

In November Kate also had a big birthday. We decided to have it in the Lakes again, at a cottage we'd stayed at twice before, several years ago. Kate also bought some new blue shoes! All the family came so it was really nice. We also had four gigs in a week! Living it up...

In December we had five gigs. Phew! One was the wonderful Furrow Collective, who we don't seem to have seen for years, and then Awake Arise at the impressive Grand Junction venue in London. Unfortunately Kate Rusby's Christmas Concert, (normally the official start of Christmas) was cancelled again due to her illness. Fingers crossed for December 2023!

Keep in touch, and hopefully see you all in 2023.