Merry Yule & Goodbye 2011

What a year this has been but as the song predicated we have survived! Needless to say it was not what we expected it to be following my accident in January as I am still having on-going treatment for the leg injury. In many ways my limited mobility has prevented a number of our plans from becoming reality but with our friends around we have managed to get some major work done, mainly in the garden but also in our home.
As usual the highlights have been visitors, with Jaki. Derek and Lucy (and it did rain) in July; the Street Market stall gang (and it poured but made £300 for the event) at the end of May with a return visit for Doogie and Rod (some sunshine); then of course Frank’s sister Mary ventured south (weather was actually quite nice). I have said a lot about the wet weather but we did manage to have a couple of sunshine days for BBQ’s with the neighbours! So mention of the neighbours leads me to the two major celebrations! Elaine hit 99 at the beginning of July, and Russ and Joyce became legitimate at the end of September!

They were not alone as Paul and Jess had a wonderful wedding in June! Anne and George are very busy with George’s son Paul and his family now living next door, Nicola expecting a delivery by New Year and Fraizer into everything when helping his Dad! George & Paul made our garden design a reality in preparation for a sunny BBQ’s summer!

A big decision is to run Highfield B&B a focus being to get the house ready, with great advice from a neighbour who has done this for over six years but recently stopped owing to her sons needing their own space. Ever increasing visitors to the village gave us a clue that a little income generation would be a good idea, indeed a necessity! Marketing has been by passing the word around but early in 2012 we will need to get a proper website and link it to others.

Halloween saw us at the Game Cock helping to organise the night which was well supported to the tune of over £400 for the village hall and school. Now we look forward to 2012 with a hope of it being productive, healthy and peaceful for us all!