I don't think my parents will be inviting guests to stay again...not after the catalogue of things that have gone wrong since we arrived!

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It was Christmas evening when something in the boiler broke and the hot water went off, leaving nine of us to wash with just one electric shower! (Thank goodness we still had heating!) Then the day after boxing day my mother went to the tip. She dutifully sorted out all her recyclables and threw in the last handful off rubbish for landfill - along with her car keys! Then on Saturday morning the fridge freezer, obviously bulging at the seams with food for nine people, also broke!

Still, despite all these calamaties and internet access being slow, to say the least, it has been a nice relaxing break for everyone but my parents. We haven't done a lot with the boys, just a bit of football, biking, walking and enjoying the countryside around us, including the new lambs in the fields surrounding my parent's house and their holiday let. (See http://www.rookerybarn.net) for more details.

In fact, one could say that even the limited internet access has been a blessing, as logging on today I found an email from Carole Baldock at Orbis to say that she has been unable to use one of my poems she had earmarked for the winter edition. (She is keeping it for consideratuion for the spring issue but I'm not going to hold my breath!) Still, that as they say, is life. And here's hoping for a more fruitful new year on the creative front.

Happy New Year everyone!