(We made it to) Christmas 2016: the Curtis Family Review

Dear all

What a year!!!  Despite all the celebrity deaths we managed to make it through - apparently we're not well known enough for the grim reaper to take an interest in a year such as this.

We began the year excitedly looking forward to enjoying Mara's Christmas present: a weekend whirlwind tour of Oslo. Secretly making arrangements for the children with both sets of parents I planned for us to fly out Saturday morning and return Sunday evening - and it almost worked.  We were held up slightly as the plane required extra defrosting before flying from Oslo but we finally made it and enjoyed a very cold and snowy weekend which included enjoying Reindeer steak and Reindeer pizza and a young peoples' snowsports event in the grounds of the palace with the King and Queen of Norway (we have pictures of them very close as they walked by us). At -13°C during the day it was lovely to visit but England felt positively balmy on our return.

I enjoyed some high altitude training in March pre-reunion football match with my old university team (the Cunning Stunts) as I took to the Brecon Beacons in deep snow (left).  The beautiful scenes atop Pen-y-fan were spoiled only by the shockingly unprepared tourists trudging up to the dangerously wintery conditions sneakers and Ugg-boots.  It was no surprise when I passed a rescue on the way down.
The less said about the football match the better, but the training, at least was worthwhile.
Back at work, despite the aches of exertion, things continued to go well and I have been training other teachers to take on Maths as a new subject.  The course was well received and will continue into this academic year too.  I am far more settled in my job and am enjoying my work.  The dynamics of Mara's work have also changed as she now has some colleagues in her office.  The NHS continues to fall apart around the ears of the hardworking staff but she continues regardless.

Over the year we have managed some family walking trips and spent time on Dartmoor around our friends' wedding.  We found that giving the children a sword each meant they would conquer the tors rather than slowly amble up them.  A great few hours were had trying to keep up with them and duelling with them on the tops.

The summer started with an immediate getaway as soon as school ended heading straight for Dartmoor again, this time to wild camp the night before heading on down to Cornwall for a few days camping on a cheap little site that we wouldn't recommend.  Good location.  We had a nice time but discovered our tent leaks...

Our big trip this year took us to Chatel in France.  A nice little town full of Downhill Cyclists (think cable car up, plummet halfway down on two wheels, travel the rest of the way on 4 wheels in an ambulance).  We enjoyed incredible scenery as we looked across the Bernese Oberland in France right around to the Dent du Midi and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc.  We enjoyed 4 chair lifts across to the bizarre Avoriaz on our anniversary before descending onto the valley to enjoy lunch.  Then it rained.  Then there was thunder and lightning and the cable cars stopped.  Because of the risk of being hit by lightning everything stopped in the valley and we were stuck.  No other transport back to our valley the only option was to ascend the 500 metre muddy hill (remember, cyclists) in our nice gear, in the humid rain.  50 metres before the top the cable cars started up again but, not knowing whether the other side would stay open as they were due to close within 10 minutes we made one almighty begrudging push to make them.  We did.  An 800 metre walk down was not a good prospect!

We were very blessed to enjoy a good holiday with only a few minor hiccups (including our host telling us she had us booked in wrong and could accommodate us 1 day less then we'd booked, two days before leaving blighty!  It did all get sorted thankfully) and we can highly recommend the Novotel Suites hotel in Luxembourg.  The 'room' was just incredible and I got lost in it at least twice!

Our car made it all the way to and from France but sadly died a death just down the road so we have had to make an expensive but hopefully worthwhile purchase.  Thank goodness the old one didn't die on the continent!

Noah and Eden are now at different schools as Noah moved up to the Juniors.  They continued to impress us as Noah was given a reading age of over 11.  The problem is stopping him reading!

Eden is mostly enjoying life and constantly makes us chuckle at her little quips and oddities.  She is becoming a real character playing up to stereotypes and showing sparks of true genius.

Both children share our recent found love of 'geeky gaming' and would join us in our rather frequent games nights if they could.  instead they have enjoyed visiting Board in the City in Southampton, a great little games cafe where much fun can be had.

Noah has finally 'got' swimming.  He used to swim like a fish, mostly underwater, but in the last 2 months he's suddenly turned into a rocket propelled torpedo and races up and down with great joy, desperate to go swimming at every opportunity. 

Mara has spent much of her time sewing and has become quite the seamstress making most of Eden's clothes and Noah's t-shirts and tops.  She has started a small business selling her wares which you'll find here: https://www.facebook.com/MooseTaleDesigns/. Well worth a look and feel free to order too.

As for me, I'm well into planning the next Switzerland trip for the Scouts and look forward to a horrendously busy year as a result.

There's plenty more to say I'm sure but for now Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.