Here we are - 2500m up in the Dolomites - the ski lift was a great help!

Kate was 9 in August, and moved from Ramsey Lower School to Arnold Middle School to be with James again for a year. So our links with Ramsey through the children have finally come to an end.

Kate has taken up gymnastics as her main out of school activity and is progressing very well. She has a clutch of gold medals from two competitions in October!

Her tenor horn playing is coming along well, helped no doubt by the new trendy music teacher.

James is now 12, in his final year at Arnold and has been made a monitor. This is a form of slave labour but means he has responsibility and needs to be awake and on time!

He has been enjoying playing Rugby. The Year 8s have been coached by a player from Bedford and are now quite a formidable team. James plays wing and is very fast. Mr Young, the PE teacher, would like him to gain a couple of stone as he tends to bounce off people!

Half the rugby team play football, including James and the Barton Colts are top of the league at the moment.

James also plays his Tenor horn in Toddington Town band and has now performed in several concerts. With Scouts as well, life is fairly hectic, both for him and his taxi drivers.

We both seem to be always busy. Clearing Pool View was a major undertaking.

Apart from looking after the house and the children Debbie is now a fully qualified helper at Bedford Museum and takes school visits. Its enjoyable but tiring. She still does supply at Ramsey and sometimes Arnold and has goes in to help with IT.

I have been continuing the gardening and preserves as well doing some consultancy and have just started up a small company to made filters again.

With Debbie's parents living just round the corner we have been showered with excellent pasties (just finished one now) and all sorts of buns. Kate refers to " the Greys Close bakery" and is very keen to pop round to be generally spoilt and have a game of Newmarket.

Zippy is a frequent guest round the corner too, and also gets spoilt, but he has had a difficult year. He has slowed down a lot and a grass seed in his foot meant an operation in the summer. This Autumn the vets have confirmed arthritis in his hips and back legs and he has had infections at both ends! On top of this we were told to cut his food down because he was overweight.