Calling all cars...

Hello out there, Spain here...

Sorry to all those who have had birthdays since October the first. This includes my super bruvvers who I love dearly though I seldom seem to be in contact at the moment; And more recently nephews and neices who we all love to pieces too. It's not that we forget so much...it's just that the weeks with birthdays in seem to slip by faster than other weeks...and as we get older the number of birthdays increases as the family expands, so more weeks slip past like mercury and ultimately we find time itself slips by faster and faster - until one day we won't notice time going by any more. My new years resolution will be to take more affirmative action when the signs first appear on the horizon to stop the pressure building up. Unfortunately I have (once again) learnt the hard way, fighting fire since October and finding the time slipping by faster than I'd like. Still, as I noticed this I guess I'm still alive. Hopefully this revelation will allow me to make some provision next year.

Nic, I was really saddened to learn about Cookie. Of all your school mates he was perhaps the most engaging when I was a youngster foraging for conkers down Oakley Lane; he was always interested in anything I had to say which was pretty unusual considering how un-cool it was to talk to someone three years younger when you are fourteen or so! I'll always remember him for that. Very sad. Pass on my condolences to all your buddies; Toni, Guy, Tim, Simon and Adam I guess are the core of the gang...and of course the family.

We have played and sung four carol sing-a-longs in four days (two wet, two dry), plus a carol service this morning in church and our voices are now fair tattered! Three days of exams now follow (oh, bliss - no lessons to teach!) with a final day trip to the local bowling alley to finish the term. Then, a well-earned break for me (honest) and a season of feasting shall commence. And yes, we will be getting a jamon in!

Love to all, Pete