January

Last year, a leaking shower tray had put the en-suite shower out of action. We’d found a plumber who declared that what we needed was a complete refit but that it would be months before he could do it. Between Brexit and Covid, people had been put off holidays, especially foreign holidays, and were using their money for home improvements instead. Tradesmen were in high demand. We agreed to wait and now the time for action had come. The different installers were incredibly efficient as well as Covid- careful with masks and open windows. They made a really good job of the en-suite, except that Colin had to refit the folding door after it fell off!

February

Storm Eunice caused havoc but we got away lightly with just a section of garden fence blown down. It was soon repaired.

The big news, however, was the arrival of Jamie (James Robert Kean) on 2nd February, his proud parents being Kate, Colin’s daughter, and Iain. Even allowing for grandparental bias, he’s a lovely baby.

Kate and Iain discouraged visitors for the first few weeks so we had to wait patiently to be allowed to see the new arrival.

March

We were still keeping ourselves pretty much to ourselves, so for Pat’s 75th Colin fetched a takeaway meal from Dabbawal in Jesmond. Proper Indian street food, and quite delicious!

After taking Lateral Flow Tests, we headed south for our first visit to Jamie and his proud parents down in Cambridgeshire. They were settling nicely into their new roles and we were able to hold the baby at last. We stayed the night at the Golden Ball Hotel, Boxworth. We’d happily stay there again.

We had two funerals to attend this month. First Pat’s Uncle Maurice, her Mam’s youngest brother and last of the Gardiners. Only Joe’s wife, Ena survives. Then, on a foul day of heavy rain, came the service for Doreen Henderson, our old friend from the folk clubs. Her family had travelled from Australia, picking up a Covid infection along the way and passing it on to other mourners. We managed to avoid it.

Finally and more cheerfully, we were able to meet and have lunch with old friends in the shape of John & Penny. They live above Lake Windemere, but their car was being serviced in Penrith so we met at the Bay Horse, Winton, for a nice pub lunch.

April

Colin’s turn for a birthday meal, and this time we emerged from our shells and went to our favourite Greek restaurant – Kafeneon in the Bigg market.

We planned a family gathering in the garden for Easter, largely so that everyone could meet Jamie. However, Jo tested positive for Covid the day before so the Leeds contingent had to stay at home. It was a warm, sunny day so the meal in the garden went ahead and Ellen and Ben enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt without their cousins ( Who wants to be a million-egger?)

Covid booster shots were being offered to people over 75 so Pat was given one. Soon after, the offer was withdrawn. We think this was because the virus had mutated yet again and the booster was not seen to be effective.

The month ended with us setting off for France. This was the post-covid resumption of our annual Bank Holiday trips with a number of UKRM biker friends. However, the bike had brand new expensive tyres on it, and we were planning to extend the trip to visit our friends Terri & Eric Freeman down in the Charente. With so much mileage ahead of us, largely on motorways, we decided to take the car instead, using the Eurotunnel on the way out.

May

After a couple of nights in the Hotel Windsor, Dieppe, we headed south towards Angoulême and on to the small village where Terri and Eric have restored an old cottage with a big garden. They were enjoying the country life in the French sunshine although Terri, waiting for a second ankle operation, was restricted in her movement. It was great seeing them again, as well as their son Elliot and his family who live nearby.

We opted to take the Dieppe-Newhaven ferry back, which enabled us to call in on Liz & Mike in Ringmer on the way home.

Only a few days later Pat was off to the USA for Charlotte’s graduation from high school. The flight requirements were stressful; a negative covid test was required from an accredited centre the day before flying and all passengers had to be masked throughout, except when eating. Seven hours in a mask is no fun! However, the visit went well and all of us managed to stay healthy.

June

Pat was no sooner back from the USA than we were off to France again. We had booked the P&O Hull-Zeebrugge ferry for our usual May trip to France in 2020, but the trip had been cancelled because of covid restrictions. The ferry was still running to carry freight, so we couldn’t get a refund, but they kindly gave us a credit note valid until September 2022. So we took advantage of this to spend a week or so on the bike doing a mini tour. As soon as P&O’s sacking of most of its ferry staff was announced we decided to boycott them from then on. However, as they already had our money we thought it right to cause them expenditure, so we took the ferry as planned!

We started with three nights in Luxembourg, staying at the Hotel Petry in Vianden. This had been suggested to us by a biker friend, and we found it reasonably priced and an enjoyable place to stay. There was even room under cover for our bike. We then spent a further three nights in the Hotel Morjen, Koblenz. We’d stayed there before, although this time all the rooms overlooking the river had been taken. We enjoyed the chance to explore the city and the castle. We’ll link to some photos shortly.

The worst part of the journey was on the way home :- the last 20 miles or so to the terminal in Rotterdam. The bike is nice and narrow for filtering, but after 15 miles or so it becomes extremely wearying. Thankfully we won’t be doing that crossing again!

July

St Andrews Operatic Society was putting on a concert of G&S songs, cleverly tied together by Jen Moss to form a stage operetta of its own. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought Jen should copyright it and sell it on!

We attended the funeral of Alan Ritchie, long-time secretary of Shepherd Way Allotment Society. Then it was time to pack our bags for a short visit to Cis, Pat’s 90-year-old second cousin, who lives in Strathpeffer. We spent a night in Stonehaven on the way there, so we could visit Dunnottar Castle, a couple of nights in Strathpeffer, so we could take Cis out for lunch, and a night in Dunkeld on the way back, stopping off at The House of Bruar.

Step This Way played their usual gig at Old Durham Gardens’ Open Day. Thankfully it stayed dry.

August

Colin organised an inaugural NAM bimble – designed for those that wanted a relaxed pace and plenty of stops for socialising. It proved very popular, and similar runs are being planned for 2023.

A bequest to NAM had enabled the subsidising of a couple of motorcycle training courses, one of which was a one-day course at the i2i Academy just outside York. It was far enough away to justify spending the night beforehand in York, and so Pat explored the city while Colin took the course. Both were successful!

Step This Way were invited to play at an evening of dance at a local pub, which the locals seemed to enjoy. Then Pat was off to Nottingham for a couple of nights to attend Ellen’s university graduation, delayed by a year. The vice chancellor announced that this was the final ceremony of the year – the76th!! After Covid postponements they’d had 3 years’ worth of ceremonies to get through.
Colin took the opportunity to pop down to Saltburn Folk Festival, but found very few of his old friends in attendance.

Finally, 30th September saw us embarking on our 21st Wedding Anniversary trip to Corsica. We’ve written that up here.

September

Once back from Corsica Colin was immediately into rehearsals for St Andrew’s production of Patience, to be performed in February 2023. Covid had kept Colin away for nearly two years, and he was pleased to catch up with old friends.

We saw a performance of Brassed Off at the Gala Theatre, Durham. It was an excellent performance, and we were very impressed with the musicianship.

Our microwave gave up the ghost after nearly 20 years of use. We had a good look round, and eventually decide to splash out on a Panasonic combi microwave. We though we’d cover the higher cost with making less use of our large main oven. Unfortunately there was a supply problem (thank you, Brexit), but we signed up on John Lewis’ waiting list and that paid dividends as they managed to supply one in just a couple of weeks. It’s a great machine – perfect crispy jacket potatoes, for example, in 15 minutes!

We ended the month by joining some fellow NAM members for a trip on the curry train to The Valley Restaurant at Hexham. Unfortunately, the train we were due to take was cancelled, and taking a later train meant we had to cut the meal short in order to catch the train back. The food was nice, though, as always.

October

Pat’s mam had died almost two years ago, at the height of Covid, so only a minimal service was allowed at her cremation. A memorial get-together of some sort was always intended, and now it was to come to fruition. The plan was to follow Vi’s favourite trip out – fish & chips at Coleman’s followed by ice cream at Minchella’s. This duly took place, with much of the family present – including Pat’s brother John who flew over from the backwoods of Maine.

Then we were off south for nearly a week. Two nights in Lyndhurst, visiting Colin’s oldest friends Jean and Terry followed by a night in Stevenage to celebrate the 60th birthday of our good friend Nigel, a night in Norwich to explore that city and its environs, and a night in Great Massingham to attend the cremation of Colin’s oldest college friend Malcolm.

We finished the month by collecting both flu and covid vaccinations.

November

Colin was re-elected Treasurer for NAM at its AGM. We then met Rob & Sandi at Lucker Hall, up in Northumberland, where they were staying the week.

Pat managed to give her first Thanksgiving dinner since Covid, with the Carricks (except Tom), the Slaters and the Keans all in attendance. The show was stolen by 10-month-old Jamie, who has the biggest smile we’ve ever seen.

Finally, we attended our friend and fellow cloggie Alison’s mum’s funeral. Little did we know the year had two more funerals in store for us.

December

We started the month with the funeral of Pete, long-term partner of our friend Marie. She conducted the service herself, very professionally. It meant that the eulogy was conducted by someone who actually had extensive knowledge of the deceased, rather than having to read from a crib sheet!

Step This Way had been invited to dance and play at the Beamish Museum’s Christmas festivities. A bitterly cold night, but toasty warm inside the Miners’ Band Hall.

Then came the sad news that Terry Wingate, whom we had visited in October, had died suddenly. A trip down to the New Forest by rail was hurriedly arranged, but industrial action meant that we had to use the car instead. We stayed the night before in Brockenhurst, and broke the journey back with a night in Newbury – simply because it was somewhere we’ve never visited, only driven past. We rather liked the town.

Finally, Pat’s oldest friend Linda had died of complications of diabetes, and Pat attended a memorial Zoom from New Zealand, where Linda lived.

We saw most of the family over Christmas, but with just Julie for Christmas dinner. Three of us didn’t make much of an impact on the huge Xmas pudding Colin insisted on flambéing, but it looked spectacular. Boxing Day with the Carricks in Leeds made a lovely change.

We’d been wondering what to do for New Year’s Eve when we saw that Newcastle was putting on a Laser display on the Quayside. Colin, out of interest, looked at Tripadvisor’s listing of restaurants in Newcastle, and lo and behold the highest rated was an Indian restaurant just off the Quayside that we’d never been to, called Simla. It was clearly meant to be. Simla came up trumps – great food and a warm welcome. (Footnote – we went back in January for one of the best meals we’ve ever had!) We gave the lasers a miss though because it had been pouring down all day and showed no sign of letting up.

All in all a mixed year. Far too many funerals but some relaxation in seeing friends and some great holidays.