Goodbye 2007

What can I say about the past year? For around a year (August to August) this place seems to have been a building site. First the front of house seemed to grow old baths, pipes and toilet seats; then a pause before the skips came and went and came again. The front got taken apart and rebuilt so it now has a good size drive (enough for 2 cars when the parking project reaches us) and a good garden border to which about 4 tons of earth have been added for real improvement. I no longer have any grass to cut a the back but the general effect is pleasing and more open-

It's been rather long drawn out and still not quite finished as the 'Completion Officer' from the planning Dept raised one or two minor issues which the Architect has been unable to get the Builder back to consider!

There were one or two short breaks but memorable. In March a few days in London; a lecture at the Royal Society by a now eminent Professor Emeritus who had been a colleague at Cardiff; a workshop on 21st century Discipleship and 2 days exploring , seeing The Phantom for the first time (!) and meeting my sister for a wander round Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre the Millenium bridge and a walk back to Whitehall (where my handbag was stolen but thats best forgotten)

At the end of August a last minute decision to visit Barcelona with a friend. We needed a break and some sun and as little walking as possible as we both have foot-pain- and it was her Birthday! A dear Spanish friend drove over to meet us and explore the Gaudi garden with us. We did the tourist bus on 2 days and ate each evening at an Italian Restaurent near the hotel.

And in October there was a coach trip to Stratford with the Friends of the National Galleries (of Scotland of course) for a 3 night 'Shakespeare and Art' event. We visited Art galleries en route each way at Kendal and Walsall and there was a visit to Birmingham University but the main events for me were in Stratford. I'd been there from school twice to see the Shakespeare productions which were set for the State exams. Can't remember what they were now; but I do remember seeing Gielgud as Lear. We knew nothing of the play but it was so well done we were overwhelmed. Can still remember Gloucester's eyes being goudged out, Lear raging at the storm and weeping over Cordelia's death.

Now the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is having a major refit (we knew it as the Memorial Theatre!) We met the Directors and heard about museums and theatre from all the experts- and saw a production of Twelfth Night which was not easy to follow and not enjoyable. There were some quite critical reviews so it wasn't just us who didn't appreciate it!

Now celebrate that we are NOT in Princes Street; and can see and hear quite a lot from home.

Happy new year and God bless you all!