Aide memoire 2

On Sunday 22nd Rafael from Colombia arrived, just as Mark was walking down the stairs with the tool box - the room got finished and looked nice, although smells of paint... I don't think he minds.   He's pleasant, and I have decided not to get irritated with him, I have ceased to have high expectations of foreign students.  He's with us for 6 months, so we are not allowed to get sick of him.  His tour manager said he was funny - but he hasn't shown much sign of this yet - but when his language skills improve perhaps the wit will emerge...

Aide Memoire 2

Mark now has 9 jobs "in the pipeline" but none immediately coming on stream - still it's something to be able to tell creditors when they call... ah, the joys of freelance life.  He's using the time creatively to restore the sash window in the new bedroom.

Aide memoire 1

First week in Jan: boys back to school, began to clear my office to convert into bedroom; was called by putative agent, and asked to submit a new book proposal, based on The Romantic Feminist characters but describing a major romance, and trying to answer the question "what does love mean to a feminist", no sweat!

Finn went on major journey to Knutsford & Bolton for fingerboarding - first time he's been so far away on his own - no major upsets, apart from leaving his phone and wallet and jacket behind - and my bank card which he had to borrow to get his tickets.  We hope they will send them back soon!

Aide Memoire

When it comes to the Christmas letter, I never remember much that happened early in the year, so I am going to make notes now, to  be amalgamated later. 

January 4th  Boys back to school, I begin campaign of turning my office into a pleasant small bedroom for a foreign student, a Colombian called Rafaele coming on 22nd Jan.  Josef comes to consider the sash window.