Ho, Ho, Ho, Mer-ry Christmas!

Just when you were hoping that infernal Christmas letter would disappear… here it is, December already and you’re victim to the ‘Rambos’ ramblings yet again! So how did 2003 shape up for us? Granddad turned up last New Year’s Eve with giant lollipops for the kids – he was a big hit! There was a surprise party for Great Grandma’s 80th, Gregg and Kathleen beamed in to the Star Trek exhibition, danced at a Tweenies concert for the kids, shouted ourselves hoarse at Captain Hook for our annual panto, and Jess’ day was made when ‘Peter Pan’ actually said hello to her! The month was rounded off with Kathleen disappearing to a facepainting conference. Her addiction continues to grow…

February found us celebrating Chinese New Year, Kathleen disappearing off to Glasgow for a painting and juggling convention (she said the beer and haggis were fabulous!), and a speedy trip down to Broadstairs with Kathleen facepainting and balloon twisting of course! Inspired by Glasgow, Kathleen started frequenting a local juggler’s club (probably because of the pub trip afterwards!).

March found Gregg on his bloke’s skiing trip in Andermatt, Switzerland, then flying to Germany for work, Kathleen doing her exam to join the national facepainting association as well as running facepainting and ballooning workshops of her own!

Ah the April sun of Gran Canaria (off the coast of Morocco)! A week’s holiday to celebrate Gregg finishing his corporate life and beginning his permanent golfing holiday…

May saw us thrust into the life of parents (oh yeah – we’ve got kids?!) with heavy involvement in the school fair. Of course the ‘Hampton Fiesta’ was the most successful fair ever, but very hard work! <groaning… never again!>

June was a flurry of activity with Legoland for the kids, K being secretly whisked off to The Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden for her birthday, K teaching body art classes at J’s school, J having a Harry Potter party and ballet exam on the same day, the Hawley Close street BBQ, K was featured on the cover of FACE magazine, and it was goodbye to the cot, hello to bunks!

July meant sipping Pimms at the Wimbledon men’s semi-final, slurping champagne at Kew Gardens for the blues night, and cousin Chris Dunshea flying in briefly from Canada for a few beers.

August, so it could only mean red wine for the Kew Gardens family picnic, beer at Broadstairs Folk Week, red wine in Nottingham, champagne at Oxo Tower restaurant in London overlooking the Thames and Big Ben. Also, trips to Whipsnade safari park and to see the Cheeky Girls (WHY do 5 year olds like those songs?!?!).

September meant the beginning of Grade 1 for Jessica. It was also her return to gymnastics and ballet and the beginning of French and music at school. (and now she’s begging to do swimming and soccer – we’re exhausted but she isn’t!). Emma joined nursery school for two mornings a week and loves being so grown up (K loves it too!). K dragged the family to the next facepainting convention – this time in Telford in the West Midlands (did we mention the addiction?).

October we caught up with most of you in Australia as Gregg celebrated his 40th on two continents. A James Bond party at home and a pub shindig in Sydney. Whilst in Oz, we partied! We saw Sesame Street live, went to Wonderland, Darling Harbour, and the Powerhouse Museum. And of course beaches and parks and lots of socialising!!! We stopped off at Singapore on the way home to spend our last shekels with John, Sian and their new baby Sadie (apparently not the cleaning lady). We arrived home in time to celebrate Samhain (or Halloween) and for K to keep painting as usual!

November meant red wine again for Fireworks night (Gregg delighted in purchasing a single £25 firework, which would have been at home attached to the Harbour Bridge!), K on a facepainting course (addicted? Nah!), and G being a geek boy at Microsoft day parties. Well guess what? All that facepainting practice paid off when K won an international cats competition on the Snazaroo website. Remember the rugby?! We very nearly had to wear English flag facepaint when England won the World Cup… we are still putting up with ribbing on that one!

December is when Gregg collected his birthday present – a trip to Thruxton racecourse to drive Ferraris and Formula Renault open-wheelers with his mates. Emma demanded a Snow White party, she even designed her cake! We will be enjoying the Christmas functions at J’s school and Emma’s nursery – bring on the mince pies and mulled wine!

We hope this finds you all enjoying life as much as we are!

Merry Christmas!

K & G & J & E.