Hi Peter and Annemieke,
We all hope you are both well and happy. I suspect Peter has been on his long summer break, and we hope you have enjoyed the time off and are looking forward to the next class of victims (er students) soon.
We have been the holiday kings this year, we went to Florida at Easter, we then went to Scotland for a week in June, We then went away for a long weekend with our friends, we then went to Prague for a week with the kids and on Saturday we are back up to Scotland for 3 weeks Phew!
To get all these holidays, Simon had to do a lot of overtime over the winter (as well as fitting the kitchen of course - photos of final brilliant result enclosed) and take the time rather than the money, but it has been worth it and we have had a great year.
As a self employed person I just take time off, I do not get paid when I am off of course but I believe in work/life balance - heavy on the life please.
The trip to Florida was a gift from my parents, who really wanted the kids to experience Disney and the lovely Gulf Coast. We stayed with them for the first 2 weeks in a house with a pool by the beach and had a really relaxing time. The last week the 4 of us went to Disney World and immersed ourselves in it for a week. It was hard work but great fun. It certainly is tacky and man made but if anyone can do tacky and man made well it is Walt Disney. We did like it way better then we expected and would probably take the kids back there one day.
It was also super to spend so much time with my parents and we all got along famously with out a single strop or huff from anyone (kids excluded of course) but they did really well. Anyway a great time had by all.
The trip to Prague was a last minute plan when we suddenly discovered that Simon (due to a short term shift change) had an unexpected week off. Faced with the option of staying at home with kids (ours and friends of ours) in and out of the garden and his peace disrupted or jetting off for a holiday, the holiday of course won.
The great thing about Prague is that EasyJet (Budget Airline) flies there and EasyJet is really cheap so the flights were not expensive. We were also lucky enough to stay in the Prague Marriott cos I have a friend who works there and can get me special rates. So we were all excited. Prague is a truly beautiful and very historical city with a history from the middle ages and earlier and architecture that goes with it as well and a fascinating recent history of communism which we were all interested in. Another great bonus is that it is very cheap in Prague once you are there especially in comparison to other capital cities.
The kids and Simon and I loved it, we did and saw new and exciting things every day and would definitely go back. We were very proud of the kids for showing an active interest. The weather was great and the views of the city we enjoyed were spectacular (see photo)
More news is that Simon bought a new motorbike a few months ago and the whole family, but especially him, enjoy going out on rides. He just bought it out of the blue which was extremely spontaneous for him and he loves it (He may be rediscovering his youth!!! Not in leathers yet, though). I have been telling him to buy a bigger bike for years (He had his last one for 9 years, so he's not exactly high maintenance) but he just kept saying "when the time is right". Well the time must have been right cos he did it. Once again see photo attached.
Both the kids have done very well at school especially Claire who sat her final SATS before going into the comprehensive and got top marks. Both children got excellent all round school reports so we are really happy with their progress. Claire is starting her new school and is confident and excited with just one or two nerves. A big issue for her is whether she will look good in her uniform??
Simon's Mam and Dad are both well and have also has a couple of good holidays this year. Dad had had a few stomach troubles recently and has had to have some tests; he is fine though and just 'keeps taking the tablets'. Mam is just the same, she copes well with the pain and they both have a quiet and enjoyable time. They certainly enjoy their holidays and have a real laugh with their friends when they go. They always have lots of funny stories to tell when they get back.
We have been trying to see more of them recently cos we had a few months where our busy lives took too much priority but we have remedied that and now, holidays permitting, we try to get together most weeks.
John is fine he has just booked up to go to Dublin in Ireland with his mates for a Guinness Frenzy.
That's all folks. Think I have covered most things. We really hope you are fine and would love to hear some news from you.
Lots of love
The Geordie Knowlesies
P.S. Simon said to say he and John watched the Air France crash on the telly knowing that it was their flight and yours when you returned from seeing us. Glad that everyone was OK though and doesn't it just show ‘you never know’. So live life for the day I say, and be happy.
Archival Wedding Photo - April 30, 1983 
