Happy Christmas from the two of us
A Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year to all our family, friends and even casual readers. In 2019 we both reached milestones (!), had lots of celebrations, visited many places but were appalled by the general election result and the intolerance and hatred that seems to be acceptable in our society these days.
Sorry, No Cards Again
We are the luckiest people in the world compared with the millions of refugees and asylum seekers who are in desperate straits. With governments around the world, especially in the USA and now here in the UK, demonising these people and racist, xenophobic sentiments becoming more and more acceptable we need to support organisations that are trying to make a difference
BRASS helps them to learn English, to be able to have a life without barriers and integrate in the community, visit the doctor, find a job, support their children and socialise with other people.
Please also help people such as them this Christmas.
Ho, Ho, Ho!
On an unusually bright and sunny day in December Dawn, Jon and the two of us “Hiked the Pike” – a five mile walk with hundreds of other Santas to the top of Rivington Pike and back to raise money for Bolton Hospice. Thanks to everyone who supported John’s fundraising efforts and it’s not too late to donate – just go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johngillatt.
Made It!
Well, we both reached our “special birthdays” ending in “0” this year and wondered where all those years had gone! We had a joint celebration in January— a cruise up the Norwegian coast to the wonderfully chilly Arctic and wonderful views of the Northern Lights. Then in June a slightly warmer “bit of a party” in Wales. It’s all downhill now!
The Lad
Young Mr. Jack, at nine, is as tall as Noelene now and, of course, knows everything! But he’s still a very loving and caring young fellow, concerned about those less fortunate than him, doing well at school and with everything connected with science and engineering as his favourite subjects (that’s my boy)!
His Christmas present last year was tickets to see a talk by Professor Brian Cox at the Manchester Arena. Jack understood more of the physics than John did and chattered away incessantly about it for a long time (he still does, actually!).
We had a wonderful holiday in Scotland with him, Claire and Rosie (their dog and my friend! :)) in August – he loved the walks, the forest trails and playing on the muddy beaches of the beautiful Solway Firth.
The Wedding of this Year……..
……..was a great excuse catch up with the Gillatt fandamily in Cornwall to celebrate the wonderfully unorthodox wedding of niece (and ship’s cook) Chloe to Capn. James. If you want to see what they get up to in the summer take a look here – https://eda-frandsen.co.uk and even better – HERE!
Our love and happy sailing to them both for the years ahead.
Going, Going – We Went!
St Augustine wrote “This world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”. Well, we’ve certainly been turning the pages again this year!
We started with the celebration of our “zero” birthdays and our “Carry on up the Fjords” trip — outstanding and beautiful in so many ways.
We continued our exploration of the great cities of Spain visiting Jerez, Cadiz, Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria in two wonderful trips with Gary and Charo.
Some of the other places we’ve been lucky enough to visit: Kew Gardens, Noelene’s special treat and good to spend some time beside the Thames, Wales to celebrate the old fart’s birthday with our lovely family, the Solway Firth with Jack and Claire – stunning scenery and beautiful weather (mostly!), Swansea to learn garden sculpture welding – I kid you not – with Dawn and Jon
and Cornwall for Chloe and James’ wonderfully alternative wedding.
Then there was John’s special treat (ably supported by Sherpa Noelene!) – walking the 70ish miles of the gorgeous St. Cuthbert’s Way – all about that in excruciating detail at www.gillatt.org/cuthbert. If it’s possible to fall in love with a long distance footpath then this is the one! But as you can see, the finish across the sands to Lindisfarne was a bit of a hair raising experience 🙂
Don’t Blame Us!
It wouldn’t be a Fourth Estate without us expressing our sadness and devastation at the results of the UK general election.
So we will probably have five years of the most right wing Tory government possible with the disastrous consequences for the country – especially for the most vulnerable in our society. But we will hold our heads high and be proud of our local campaign here in Bolton West. John worked tirelessly in the most atrocious weather, often in the cold, dark and rain for the socialism that we both believe in. We are defeated but not cowed and will rise like lions!
Zounds, Those Sounds!
Though not actually too many of them this year.
We went to Masham, not just to visit the Black Sheep Brewery, though since it was there…. 🙂 but to see a favourite for very many years, the great Spanish guitarist Eduardo Niebla.
John saw Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets with the wonderfully mind altering early Pink Floyd music (what, trying to relive my youth? Never!) and is going to see them again next year – yes on his own once more!
And, of course, there was the film of Roger Waters’ Us and Them with its powerful anti-Trump, pro-Palestinian, pro-refugee humanitarian message.
To Everyone
Our love and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.
Some Random Images of 2019
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