Is there anybody out there?

I stopped writing as I didn't think anyone was reading any more! Well, that and getting out of the habit.

So what's new? The Poms are getting excited in anticipation of winning the Ashes in Aussie. We won't shed too many tears for Ponting and co will we?

We had a visit from W, R and L - it was great to catch up with them after what's been a while now. Lunch with C, M and M on the weekend, followed the next day with a stroll through Bath and a few beers. Good times.

C and O have been with us for four weeks or so now. It's nice to see them, and they seem to be enjoying their stay. They've been to Belfast for 4 days, Edinburgh in the snow for  week, Cardiff, Salisbury, Stonehenge and Avebury. Next they're off to that London.

Dangerous move!

The family at Clifford's castle, York

York Minster

The Edinburgh trip coincided with the coldest weather in 21 years, with -15 deg in central Scotland and snow everywhere. We managed to drive up in OK weather, stopping for a look at York on a crisp, clear wintry day. The car was snowed in in Edinburgh but we didn't need it anyway, and we managed to drive back in a brief warmer spell at the end of he week! The city was lovely in a mantle of snow, and we managed to fill in the time OK. I got two days in the aerial photo archive so that was a bonus.

Leith monument to seamen

Calton Hill Acropolis

Arthur's Seat from Calton Hill

Edinburgh under snow

It's coming up Christmas - last day of school tomorrow, though their break is shorter. I am unemployed again after a spell as Data Manager (temp.) and a few days as supply teacher (I'm in a class writing this -the students are studying kidneys but apparently don't cut them up). Who knows what the new year will bring?

The book continues to fill some of the time with the big task now of proof-reading so it can go to the printers. It will be published in April all going well. It may not be the book that I thought it would be - photo archives have raised their prices to ludicrous levels so around half my pics have been dropped - but it is still looking very good. What will I do in May?