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CHRISTMAS 2005

We write this page in 2006 so hope with the aid of our calendar we will remember what went on!

January started the off the way it was going to continue - with lots of visits to the hospital.   Mandy found herself a frequent visitor when her mother Pamela was admitted on numerous occasions, and accompanying Harold for his various appointments.   Mandy also had a number of appointments herself to see various specialists which lead to various tests, biopsies and scans which eventually lead to an operation in July.   Her operation was very successful and worth all the worry and discomfort.

       
Left:   Mothering Sunday, March 2006.   Right:   Pam's 71st Birthday, 9th June 2006

Michelle has had a busy and very tiring year.   She danced at the Royal Opera House, celebrated her 21st birthday and graduated from Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary.

For her 21st Birthday we all met up at Rambert and had great fun covering her in 'Silly String'.   We toasted her with champagne and later we went out for dinner with a couple of her best friends, returning to her room to share birthday cake.

               

Graduation meant it was tears all round!   Some strong friendships had been forged during her time at Rambert and it was now time to go their separate ways.   This graduation ceremony was particularly poignant for Rambert as they were closing their doors and moving to new premises; the ceremony became a time of reflection and of looking forward.

During the end of year show Michelle danced her own choreography ‘Rhythm Sux’; unknown to her in the audience was a writer from 'Dance Europe' who wrote about her in the next edition.   We won’t copy the review here, but we have to mention he did say Michelle's piece was his favourite of the whole show and, basically, said Michelle is a superb dancer.   At last someone who agrees with her parents!

Rambert has a world wide reputation and this is reflected in its annual intake – in Michelle’s year of about 40 there were about 7 who were British, the rest coming from other countries.   The day before the ceremony, as parents were flying in from all around the world, the terrible events in London occurred; flights were due in at all times and children were left wondering if their parents were okay and parents hoped their children were alright.   The first we knew that something awful had happened was on receiving a text from Michelle saying simply 'I’m ok'.   Our thoughts go to those people who were not so fortunate as us and to anyone affected by the event.

After graduation Michelle moved back home until she finds a dance job; any offers will be gratefully received!   In the meantime she is working for New Look, where she started weekend/holiday work five years ago.

               
Michelle dancing at Rambert, with Ross McKim at Graduation, and with the rest of her year.


Mandy would rather 2005 hadn't happened - it is a time she would like to forget.   Apart from facing those worrying times with her health, something happened to her which made her feel quite wretched and left her traumatised.   The only good thing is that she learnt just what good friends she has – it is only thanks to Duncan and these friends that she coped.   While she was going through this crises her mother, Pamela, died; it was a shock as we didn’t even know Pam was ill and in hospital.   Again Duncan and her friends gave her the strength to cope; it was only because of them she was able to go to the funeral.   In her distress she could actually feel their love holding her up.   Thank you, Thank you for being there for her when she needed you most.

       


Duncan has had a very stressful year too; he has had to deal with everything Mandy usually does as well as try to take care of her.   He has also had to worry about his father, Harold, as his health is not good and worry about more rounds of redundancy at work.

We did try to have a few breaks which were enjoyable although marred by our worries.   In April we went to Paris for a short break - we had waited three years for this trip which Duncan had promised for Mandy's 40th birthday.   In May Michelle joined us for a long weekend in Snowdonia, North Wales.   In July we went to Skye in Scotland for just over a week; we were still there when we had the phone call to say Pam had died, so we drove home straight away (nearly fourteen hours of driving), abandoning that holiday.   In October we had a weekend in Peterborough.

               
At Snowdon and (far right) Skye

Each year is made up of some good and some bad times and although it feels this has been a particularly bad year, there were also good times.   How pleased we were in September to welcome into the world Tracy and Dan’s daughter Tia.   She arrived two months early so gave us all something to worry about, but we are delighted at the progress she made and thankful when her mum and dad were able to take her home which a clean bill of health.   Daughters are such a worry!

               
Tia as a near-new-born, and a short while later.   Right:   The family gathering at Christmas time


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