We are once again surrounded by the many signs that winter is "a-coming in". Travelling into work this week, Alan and I saw a large flock of Canadian Geese hungrily attacking the last green blades of grass in one of the Dagenham parks ... no doubt saving some park-keeper the end of season job of grass cutting. Nearer to home, the autumnal leaves are quite magnificent when still on the trees, but when they are lying around in your front garden waiting for the gardner to dig them in, they form a less attractive sight. The Head Gardener (resident at 16, Ashleigh Gardens ... just around the bend!) has made several tours of inspection, his last gift was a bag of horse manure - this is also waiting for someone to dig it into the rose bed! Maybe the snow which is forecast will cover this last offering!! ... after all we do like our neighbours.

            As a family we seem to have packed so much into 1988 - a bumper crop of happiness, and a sprinking of sadness too.

           Nicola and the Almighty appeared to reach an understanding regarding her "A" level results. Success has led her to the College of her choice, Christ Church in Canterbury, where she is reading Education (BA Hons.) with Art and Craft as her specialist subject. She is particularly interested in children between the ages of 7 and 10 years; already some of the stories from school are quite enchanting - this year Nicola is doing her teaching practice in Sittingbourne. At times the house seems so quiet without Nicola, but it's lovely to see her happy face when she does pop home. We are given frequent progress reports of life in Canterbury from Andrew, Nicola's boyfriend. Andrew parks his black mini "Wellington" in our drive, and then walks up to the station on his way into work at Prudential Bache, as an Analyst Programmer. On Friday evening Alan and I took Mum and Dad down to Canterbury Cathedral to hear the College Choral Society singing. Their programme included Faure's Requiem and Schubert's Mass in G. A very different style of music to that sung by the Havering Youth Choir, but very interesting to hear and of a very high standard. In the Summer Nicola, as a member of the H.Y.C., joined 3000 young people at an International Youth Music Camp in Hungary. She enjoyed the experience of singing with so many others in the international language of Latin - how sad it is to think that this subject is being withdrawn from the syllabus of so many of the English schools. Also of interest was the opportunity of seeing how a communist regime affected that country - culturally, socially and economically.

             It seems incredible that Suzanne is now a member of the Upper VIth - she will sit her "A" levels in Maths, Economics and Computer Studies in May/June next year. She seems to lead an increasingly hectic life both in school and at home. Her sports activities include Hockey - she plays for the 1st.XI, Rounders and Netball - her loyalty to the P.E. department was rewarded at prize-giving when she received one of the school service prizes. Occasionally at the weekend she is invited to play hockey with the Havering Colts. At home Suzanne has been a magnificent support; for the last few months we have been without domestic help, our home-lover does all the family ironing and frequently helps with the housework too! It is very difficult to express just how much I appreciate this help, when you come home to an orderly scene after a 7-45a.m. to 6p.m. day, it's magnificent. Her reward is financial assistance with a holiday in Spain next July. Stepping out of the cold recently, into the steamy kitchen, I was faced with a beautiful bouquet of red roses - Suzanne and Ian have been going out together for a year now ... and to think that I was in "clover" when their father presented me with one red rose (No need for the accompanying violins!!). Ian left school in the Summer and joined a computer graphics firm "Burlington Graphics" - his skills have been incorporated into a certain lady's "A" level computer project. Suzanne has stayed true to her decision not to go to University, and she has now decided to look for a job as a Trainee Accountant.

             The taxi service has been boosted by the addition of another driver - Suzanne passed her test at the 1st attempt 3 months after her 17th birthday. So we are now a one car 4 driver family. Perhaps that dream of owning a red mini will one day become a reality; at present our rust coloured Vauxhall Astra will have to suffice.

           Master Douglas is no longer our little one, he is taller than both of the girls; no doubt my turn soon ... but I have reminded him that although his ears are too high for boxing, his kneecaps are not too far away from the ground! He's still our lovable clown, and maturity is improving his social poise and confidence. At school if as much effort was put into his academic work as he musters for rugby, basketball, badminton and cricket, we would have reason to feel very proud (We have just been given a reason for restarting a financial incentive scheme - a request to go skiing again in February 1990!). Next year is the year of big decisions, when he has to make his G.C.S.E. choices - at present accountancy seems to be fairly high up on the list of possible career choices. Outside school his days with the Havering Young Singers are over. His voice was beginning to go and I think that he felt it was time for a rest. E.M.H. is still his football team, although as most of their matches are now played on Sunday (and attendance at church at least twice a month is compulsory because Mum says so!), Dougie is less involved than he was last year. Not to be outdone, he has replaced his Wednesday night singing with playing badminton at church (Homework seems to get done, although I have my doubts about quantity versus quality). At Church he has taken on the responsibility of helping in the Beginners' Department, once a month - I think that some of the little ones think that they are sitting next to a giant.

           My life is much the same, however full time work leaves few opportunities in which to fit in the little extras of life, in fact several things have had to go by the board. I have to confess that I have not finished the patchwork quilt for our bed; my excuse is that my friends are no longer relying on my babysitting services (Tiny Tim no longer needs tucking up). My weekly Badminton is also a casualty, regrettably this results in there being more of Ann, definitely a matter to be taken in hand early in the New Year. Work at L.P.N.S. is pretty hectic at the moment and, I suspect, for the next few months ahead. "Grading" is probably highlighting the many deficiencies in the nursing service of the present day. For those of us who belong to the "old school" the writing has truthfully been on the wall for sometime, changes will have to come. Away from work, I am still involved with the National Women's Register, enjoying our regular fortnightly meetings; the book group, which meets every six weeks (thanks to the daily underground journey I have the opportunity to read more) and the Mahjong group, we try to play once a fortnight. Brownies are on Tuesday evenings, perhaps they should introduce a retirement age for the "Owls". Also once a month on a Tuesday evening I have the Church Management Meeting - this year we have had to repair the damage brought about by last year's hurricaine, in fact we have had to have a new roof, and virtually rebuild the organ - the rain leaked through the roof into the organ loft. Choir takes up Wednesday evenings, our new musical director (who is an organist and Gentlemen Chorister in Rochester Cathedral) is certainly making demands on us, and so far the results are pleasing. Just occasionally on a Friday evening Alan and I have treated ourselves to tickets for either the theatre or ballet, in fact Covent Garden has received our patronage throughout the year. On 3 occasions Sandy very kindly invited us to be his guests at the Opera, although five and a half hours of Wagner's Parsifal was a test of strength for all!

            Now to the older generation. Mum and Dad Greig have kept remarkably healthy. Mum's arthritic hips have been giving her pain for some time, thankfully she seems to gain some relief from attending an osteopath. Both Mum and Dad are so terrified of becoming geriatric junkies that the suggestion of her taking even an aspirin is considered unreasonable.

            In April we received the sad news that Dad Woodhurst has a Carcinoma of his lung - an immediate course of radiotherapy boosted him for several weeks after the initial diagnosis, then followed six weeks when he was seriously ill, first pneumonia and then a stroke ... but if willpower keeps you alive this old man seems to have more than his fair share, he's incredible. Alan and I try to visit Coggeshall every other weekend but it's not always possible, we usually just stay long enough to do a few jobs. All being well we will have Mum and Dad Woodhurst with us for Christmas.

            The rest of the family are all well. Sand and Sue pop up fairly frequently to see Mum and Dad, so we enjoy seeing them too. Alex is now a boarder at Hurstpierpoint College - and he's loving it too. Lydia, Warrick and the family are happy and healthy - they stayed at Easter and we had several "grand" family gatherings.

            Now the co-author takes over the epistle! Ann has left me to describe the delights of Portugal - our last family holiday was decreed to be one to remember for everybody, so we splashed out and flew to Lisbon en route for S.J.Estoril. With other activities already booked, we could only manage one week, which was over all too soon. Our nice modern flat was only a few minutes from a relatively quiet beach, where a relaxing time was assured every day with guaranteed non- stop sunshine. Good food and interesting sights, including a bullfight, added to our enjoyment of a super break.

       This term the impending retirement of a colleague has given me extra responsibilities, mainly as course leader for part-time students taking BTEC HNC and HND Computer Studies. The department's computer network, which I manage, now has two connected "rings" with a total of eleven computers, including a CD-ROM library of over 500 million characters.

       Baha'i Sunday School flourishes, with extra teachers and my draft syllabus (covering 15 years!) to co-ordinate our efforts; the children's singing to the Mayor etc. has been much appreciated. My main musical activity is still with our choir, supplemented by occasional piano playing for the ballet school.

       We all join in wishing you a very happy Christmas and a healthy and successful New Year.

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