Elijah's first birthday

I can hardly believe that our youngest grandchild has just celebrated his first birthday!  Being a very early walker, about 7 months, he keeps his mam and dad busy, but he is a happy soul and brings great pleasure to us all.  

A few poor photos below show the birthday boy yesterday.

It was Aldo lovely to share the day with Phil Henry & Hannah Martin before the set off on a short European concert tour.  Wonderful musicians and lively people.

Last day in Dartmouth!

Today was our last day in Dartmouth.  We are moving to Totnes tomorrow.  Our church gave us a warm and loving farewell; and a fantastic cake was made to mark the occasion.

Dart Trekkers - Ten Tors Training

With the near demise of Devon Youth Services, as trainers of the local Ten Tors teams, it was felt that a way must be created to continue this superb service for young people to undergo this strenuous challenge.  So, Dart Trekkers was born.  Created by Theresa and Matt Pink, with a little help from yours truly, a new organisation was created to train and enter teams of 6 teenagers to completed self-supported two-day expeditions covering 35, 45 or 55 mile routes over the demanding terrain of Dartmoor National Park.

This weekend promised much rain, sleet and snow driven by storm force winds, but a careful study of, and a large degree of faith in the detailed weather forecast resulted in a successful, if rather damp 2 day camping expedition on the North Moors.

Who would want to but snuggled up by a warm fire when excitement such as this is on offer! 

Lynn's birthday treat

Thank you to our musical friends Michael & Christine for letting us use their flat in Putney to celebrate Lynn's birthday in London. We were able to watch the Cecilia Quartet at Wigmore Hall, enjoy much walking and look around an exhibition of Libertys at the Fashion and Textiles Museum near London Bridge. Then back home for birthday cake 

Isaac is 4 years old

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B-day minus one, and we descended on the Durdin household to take presents for the birthday boy.  Lego building, a song from Elijah and a magic show from Sophia provided the entertainment.  Happy birthday Isaac! Xx

2015!

2015 has been an eventful year for Lynn and I and also for the family. In January we stumbled across an advertisement for a pitch at Setmabanning Farm camping site for a caravan.  Not knowing what this would entail, we both felt it was a God given opportunity, so we embarked on this amazing journey to acquire a static caravan under the shadow of Clough Head, near to Blencathra.  

Then is February, Hannah and Dan provided us with another lovely grand son Elijah.

In April we had a major family gathering to celebrate Julia's 18th birthday.  All of a sudden the family has grown up!

In the summer, Lydia moved home to get ready for a move to Lancaster University to study for a Masters Degree in Linguistics.  As Julia had also finished her A Level studies, we took a rare 'foreign' holiday to Jersey.  Weather was superb, and what a great week we had!

We had a great weekend with Sophia and Isaac, our two oldest grandchildren.  We had great fun out and about, dodging showers etc!

As the year progressed Lynn and I felt that our time living in Dartmouth was coming to an end.  We gave the matter much prayer and finally put our house up for sale, receiving an offer within days.  We were led to look in Totnes, and will be moving there in February, God willing.

Christmas came around very quickly, and it was lovely to have Lydia home, and also to have Dan, Sara and Spooky with us to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

Lynn and I pray that all who read this will know Love, joy and peace throughout 2016.

Sara's animals!

Sara has created an amazing zoo of little felt animals.