One of the things that Jamie has been looking forward to about living in the north of England is lots of snow. Before Christmas he was disappointed with snow falling in the south far more than here. However, he's a very happy Jamie now. We've had lots of the white stuff. And, we get to make footprints in the shiny, white carpet around the church too.

To celebrate Grandad Roysy's big birthday the whole family got together for a grand day out geocaching in the Sherwood Forest. Treasure was found in caches big, small and micro. Lots of opportunities for family photos were taken. We gathered back in Kilnhurst for cake and coffee before heading out for a celebratory meal.

My darling Dad died on Saturday June 29th 2009 at the Pilgrims Hospice in Margate. A wonderful Dad, loving husband and brilliant Grandad - we miss him terribly but rejoice knowing he is with the Lord Jesus and that we will see him again when Jesus returns.

After New Word Alive we went down to spend a couple of nights with Mum & Dad in Ramsgate. They came on a cache hunt with us - it was a shame we couldn't find the ones we were looking for! We also visited the Spitfire Museum at RAF Manston (as we always do!) . The boys really enjoyed themselves as we didn't have to rush off anywhere. The weather was fantastic too.

Here we are at our new kitchen table in Kilnhurst. Yorkshire is a lovely place to live. The boys started at their new school after half term and seem to have settled really well. Andy is enjoying his new role and I'm striving to set up new systems and get on top of all the church admin.

Just before Christmas, Andy was invited to become Vicar of Kilnhurst Parish in South Yorkshire and so some time in the Spring we'll be moving lock, stock and barrel to Rotherham.

Taking full advantage of the summer sun we went down to the beach with the CYFA group armed with bacon and crabbing lines. We managed to catch 42 crabs (and let them go again....) Jamie was very brave and held a crab all on his own!

With lots of jobs to do in and around Derbyshire we spent the half term holidays there! Some of the things we managed to squeeze into the week were a visit to Sudbury House, Asbourne, Chesterfield, Heights of Abraham and a great meal in a quarry with the Scholeys, Butchers and Waddingtons! Oh, and Mum managed to break two fingers on the water flumes at Alton Towers Caribba Creek!

New Word Alive saw us crossing the country from east coast to west in April. We stayed in Pwllheli in North Wales with the Mulrynes in a fabulous caravan and met up with lots of good friends. Oh, and Andy came too this year which was just brilliant!

We heard Bible talks from Don Carson & John Piper who focussed on just why the Cross is so central to the Christian faith.

The children were entertained in their groups with Nicky coming and going on his own a lot more (even if Mum & Jamie did lurk in some bushes to watch him!)

On the way home we stopped off in Llangollen and had coffee in the Royal Hotel which is where we stayed on our honeymoon all those years ago - the boys weren't all that impressed though!

Mum and Dad celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary
with a meal for family and close friends in the Royal Oak Hotel
in Ramsgate at the end of March.