Shepshed Edition
December 00
Ceri and Stephen win Hill Climb!
Dad
Whilst at the AGM I stood down as Non Technical Sales but remained on the committee as an ordinary member. Due to holiday and exam commitments of the new Non Tech sales person, we did not hand over the shop for over 3 months.
Easter
This Easter we did something different. We got rid of Ceri at nannies whilst Ann and I went camping at Market Bosworth to try some rides for our camping weekend later in the year. The weather was not to bad, but the campsite was waterlogged, and Ann got a bit cold so we went home a day early.
Ceri wins tidy room trophy!
Ceri went on a school trip to the Isle of Wright in May. She shared a room with her best friend Emma. The school has joined the 21st century and it was possible to catch up with the latest news on the trip on the school web site. When I found out that Ceri and Emma had won tidiest room, I emailed the teacher looking after them and demanded a recount. After years of coaching Ceri for the untidy tent award, this award came as a let down.
School
Ceri is now in year 6 and transferred schools
this year, rather then next year as is common elsewhere in
Ceri is still very busy after school doing Community Band, Swimming, Piano, Flute; Guides.
Ann Goes Back to Skool
Ann can not keep away from Ceri’s school. She started work again this autumn term at Ceri’s new school as a lunch time as a Learning Support Assistant, she goes in for an hour at lunch time to look after five boys who have family problems. They have their own room at lunch times to play board games etc, but not Ann, she has taken in juggling balls, and table tennis, and she hasn’t been thrown out yet.
Tandem 2000
Spring Bank
Ceri Breaks A Foot
On the Thursday evening whilst Ann and I had
gone walkabout visiting friends on site, Ceri tripped over whilst playing and
twisted her right ankle badly. Aunty Grace created a fuss because we could not
be found and then rushed her off to
A triplet is born
Whilst at Cheddar they had a display of
tandems etc, this included a triplet for 3 adults, we gave it a test ride and
enjoyed it. As the next day was a bit wet in the morning we visited the
supplier of the Triplet as they were local and ended up ordering one. It
arrived just in time for our Family Camping weekend at Market Bosworth at the
end of June. Ann named it Mikado as in "three little
Market Bosworth
Our family camping weekend at Market Bosworth was a success we had 33 families this year from all over the country. The weather was not to bad and a lot drier then two years ago.
Ann Becomes Brown Owl
Ann has helped out at Ceri’s former Brownie pack since the leader walked out over a year ago. Ann decided that she would take the Guide promise and become Brown Owl. The pack reached a low point of 6 girls when Ann first started to help out and she has now grown the pack to its maximum of 24 Brownies.
Ceri runs up large phone bill
One day during the summer I tried to ring home from work and found the phone was continuously engaged. Enquiries discovered the reason for this was Ceri surfing the net. Ceri was promptly banned unless under my supervision. Because of this we changed ISP and hence our new email address in the header. In addition we have started our own Webb site, address also in the header. This will gradually grow.
Three go camping on a triplet
We have not done as much camping this year as
last. We did manage one cycle camping trip on the triplet with our friends from
Rush Hour on the
For our main holiday this year, we went to
Ceri and I managed to ride the whole system except the turn round loop at Stiege. Also we travelled behind steam on the all except the Harzgerode branch. Link to Harzquerbahn web site.
What no English
The thing we found about that part of
What Goes Up Comes Down
Whilst in the Harz we tried one big climb on the Triplet, up to the Ski station at Bad Sachsa. At the foot of the climb we had mishap on the triplet, the front brake broke. We managed to get it repaired in Bad Sachsa and did the climb in reasonable time. However Ann was not impressed as due to running late, we had to go back by the only made up road - which was the road we just rode up. If we had time I had planned to make use of the extensive tracks which cover the Harz. See photo on home page.
Ceri Frightens Mum
Our second week in
The first day of the Kinder programme we were informed by worried friends of Ceri’s that she had gone milk create climbing. One of the events they had kids and adults climb towers of creates which you stacked as you climbed.
One kid had managed 20 so Ceri thought she would try. In view of her recent broken foot she just did it rather then asked. Ceri managed 10 creates before falling off. (she was tied to a safety harness supported by a crane).
Ann Gets Room With a View
On the Wednesday there was a ride to a reception with the Mayor of Kulmbach. It was a hot, humid day with thunder storms. Shortly after the formal reception it rained so Ceri and I went inside to view the Mayor’s chambers whilst Ann chattered to friends outside. The next thing we knew Ann fainted and they called an Ambulance. They took her to the local hospital and kept her in for 2 nights. The only consolation was the view from her room which over looked the town and directly across to the castle on the opposite side of the valley.
They released Ann on the Friday with a clean bill of health. However this did put a damper on the rest of the week as Ceri and I popped into the Hospital each day to visit.
Dad Dee
Dad Dee complained of problems swallowing early this year. He eventually agreed to see the doctor about it and he was diagnosed as having a cancer of the gullet. He was admitted to Mayday hospital before being transferred to St Christopher’s Hospice where he died shortly after admission.
Dad had a good innings and had bravely
continued an independent life style despite having to use a ventilator at home,
due to his curvature of the spine leading to severally reduced lung capacity.
Initially he used a ventilator for nigh time only, but with time this increased
to almost 24 hours a day with oxygen. This did not stop him from travelling as
he would take mobile ventilator with him and if he stayed overnight would
arrange for a bottle of oxygen to be provided for him
Christmas 2000 Letter Page last updated 15th December 2000