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CHRISTMAS 1992

This 'annual letter' is our way of making up for not having found the time to write to you throughout the past year, but hope you might like to hear what has been happening to us.

What strikes us most about the past year is how quickly it has gone, how busy we have been, and how much we have managed to do!

Michelle is what keeps us busy the most!   After day school she attends the Judith Hockaday School of Dancing for three dance lessons, and in July attended a week's Summer School.   During the year she has passed five dancing examinations held by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing: Modern Grade I, National Dance Introductory Grade, Primary Tap, and Ballet Grade I.   Michelle passed all of these with an Honours grading which is the highest of 5 pass grades.   In her two most recent examinations the examiner's reports were particularly good - her Ballet mime was described as "excellent", and the Tap Dance examiner described her as "a charming candidate".   Needless to say, she has two extremely proud parents.   In July Michelle was presented with a Gold Progress medal by the School for her achievements.   Before each examination took place Michelle attended extra lessons for about ten weeks, which meant she was having five dance lessons a week in the run up to her December exams!

A big event this year was dancing at the local Wyvern Theatre in a three night show at the end of March; Michelle and her partner danced a duet which lasted all of 20 seconds before the others joined in, watched by parents, grandparents and about 600 other people.   Fitting in all the rehearsals, which started in January, aptly set the scene for a hard working but worthwhile year.   Besides her dancing, Michelle also belongs to three singing groups (one at Church, two at school), a Gymnastics club, and has swimming lessons (this year she gained her 200m, and Challenge One and Two).   At the beginning of May Michelle won a silver medal in a Trampolining competition held at Reading, but at the end of October mummy insisted she gave up trampolining lessons because she was too tired to do all she did, but not before passing her Elementary Bronze award on her last night!   Not bad for an eight year old with asthma!!   Michelle's one disappointment this year was not to loose any teeth!   One tooth has been very wobbly for about 15 months, but just will not fall out.

As you can see from Michelle's achievements, Mandy has had a very busy year too; she admits to being more of a taxi driver than a housewife.   Mandy still runs a choir at Michelle's school (they recently sang at the school Carol Concert), and Central Sounds (the singing group at Church).   This year Central Sounds have 'performed' at Avebury, Chippenham, Lacock (8 times!) and Devizes (in front of 3,000 people no less!), as well as Central Church.   A couple of months ago Central Sounds split into two, the new being a more serious type of group (and run by somebody else), and the original group may soon be closing due to lack of numbers.   What will Mandy do then?!!   Apart from the taxi-ing, and three singing groups per week, Mandy also does lots of typing for the Church, attends meetings, and is at present typing a book for a friend about her lifetime.   At the beginning of December Mandy went on a school trip to a local newspaper office to help supervise the children.   Mandy and another mum managed to let a door close after the children had gone through it, but before they had gone through it, only to find the door locked automatically.   When they eventually did get through the door the children were nowhere in sight!   How embarrassing - children safe, mums lost!

Duncan has been his usual busy jet-setting self.   His trips to Jersey have now all but ceased, but for a number of months he spent three days a week there.   So not only did Mandy worry about his having to drive to work, but also about him flying to work!   Duncan enjoyed the superb meals Jersey restaurants have to offer, Mandy enjoyed the peace and quiet.   The time Duncan has been at home has been spent catching up on lost sleep, playing cricket (the church team gained promotion again this year), going to watch Swindon Town FC at home fixtures or babysitting whilst Mandy is out singing.   Life seems to be getting back to normal now, at last.

The highlight of our year has to be our holiday.   We had such a brilliant time and yearn to go back.   For Michelle's eighth birthday we took her to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, followed by a week on the coast at Fort Lauderdale (which is about 25 miles from Miami).   We took three and a half hours of video to remind us of the superb time we were having!   Mickey Mouse has become one of Mandy's heros, and Michelle now wants to visit Euro Disney to see if it's as good!   We were extremely impressed with everything we encountered during the first week in Orlando.   The second week was very different, but still memorable - especially when we went into the Everglades, took a right turn onto a dirt track and after a couple of miles stopped in the middle of nowhere.   The pure silence was quite eerie.   The 'gators at the side of the road were even more eerie!   It really was out of this world.   The only two problems (which were both Mandy's problems!) were that the people carried guns (which was a bit frightening thought as we went through some parts of Miami), and they all drive on the wrong side of the road over there!   Mandy spent most car journeys hanging on tight to the seat belt.   The best parts of the holiday was meeting Mickey for a private audience, having breakfast with Minnie, Chip and Dale and Goofy, the air-conditioning and the ice-cream!   If you've got a spare day, ask us about it sometime!!


Well its time to close now and do the last of the Christmas preparations.   We wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year.

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