Before there was email or Facebook, text messaging or blogs, Skype or well you get the point…there was a little Christmas tradition known as the Christmas card. Some people even went so far as to provide a supplement, in the UK it’s called the “round robin letter”, meant to provide a years’ worth of information that arrives in the post, to be held in your hand and read at a moment of leisure. There’s some controversy regarding the merit, effectiveness and usually content(or lack thereof)of communicating the vagaries of life’s ups and downs, health and welfare, love and well-wishing in this manner but I’ve always had a secret crush on the effort and idea of year in review via random recollections. Marian’s uncle, Brian, has been exceeding expectations since I can remember and I enjoy hearing his voice in my head as he recounts the years tales. I thought since we don’t get to see most of you good people these days it would have to suffice. Anyway, the format goes something like this I hope you enjoy.
So what do we have to say for ourselves? We've had the good fortune(& relation) to end up here in Lewes, East Sussex where the idyllic town, rolling downs and well appointed accommodation provide a wonderful back drop for us to enjoy all that the local setting has to offer. Not far from the sea most Sundays involve either a long walk or rock pooling along the coast surrounded by the always awe inspiring chalk cliffs. This year will include an allotment, where in addition to enjoying the bounty already provided by our generous neighbours, we too can hopefully provide for ourselves. What exactly has not yet been determined but some of those fancy purple potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, beans, parsnip, plenty of flowers and of course Brussels sprouts are all in the works.
Will has done well for himself at his fantastic school, South Malling CofE Primary, with a lovely if boy heavy year 2 class (18 boys to 6 girls) . He constantly impresses with his use of "wow" words and his proficiency at math(s). In addition to Beavers(Scouts),drama club and the occasional Saturday football practice, he's on the school council where top priorities include, as you might guess, more playground equipment! Marian has done well to work on all facets of his schooling and we're really proud of him. Otherwise, dinosaurs, fossils and rocks are still high interest categories of endlessly fascinating conversation. He has built up quite an extensive collection of properly impressive items. Although the volume of random rocks is pretty substantial too. Not a single load of laundry passes without a few pockets of rocks running the cycle. Also, pretty sure the school care taker is a bit less appreciative of his friends digging up the grounds looking for fossils during play time.
Marian has been keeping busy as a voice over talent and feeding us and everyone else who wanders in the door pretty well too. She has joined a choir, Promusica, and served as assistant director for a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible for a local amateur theatre company and will be performing in another of their productions in the new year.
I've found good fortune with the future of lighting, LED, but mostly laugh at the dry wit and poke fun at the sometimes preposterous sensibilities of my colleagues, and I thought Dutch people were crazy. I've managed some great opportunities, made some good friends and seen some pretty incredible places as a result and enjoy the community, conversations and activities surrounding the sustainability sector in Brighton. Otherwise, following closely the dialogue surrounding the economics and politics of this crazy world with special interest on sustainability and the interesting development of what's called Modern Monetary Theory which is all about functional finance and money creation-a response to the current fiscal crisis. I'm still making random things to put up on the wall and writing here though in draft mode mostly but enjoying it.
Well, that's all I've got. I hope you hear my voice in these words and they make you feel the fondness and love we feel for all those who read it. One of the great joys of this year has been the company of those who have passed by along the way or stayed a few days and we extend a welcome to anyone who is considering a trip here to stop by, we eat well.
All the best,
Bryan, Marian and William
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