Jack Bolton

Merry Christmas Jack!!

I hope 2014 has been a good year for you. It will have been a big year at school and I think you will be doing well; you’re a bright lad with a good attitude.

You’ll be tall now, not far off your mum I reckon. And strong with it too. I think this year you will shoot up again and it won’t be long before you could look me in the eye too!

So I wonder what you’re doing for Xmas and how all the family are doing. Well I hope. I am sure Santa will be generous!

So what news here? Well, I’m still working in London, commuting every day, which is tiring but at least I get to come home to family each night, which is important to me.

Home itself is moving soon. We are still at Rebecca’s house but will be moving to Kinoulton early in the new year when the house is finished. You will remember my old offices behind Nanna Vicky’s farm? Well, I built a large extension, which I don’t think you saw finished. But you might remember a big crane lifting a large blue Portacabin office, which was the start of that project. Anyway, I built the extension, then sold the business to new owners, who rented the office from me for three years. Then I moved them out so I could convert the building into a house. That work is nearly done now and a beautiful home is emerging from a building site. It has four bedrooms and plenty of space. The living room has one wall entirely of glass, looking out over our fields and across the pond to the Vale of Belvoir. A nice big field to run around in – I’m going to have to buy a sit-on mower to cut all that grass! It will be a fun house, with music and laughter and lots of family. Maybe one day it, and we, will welcome you too – that would be amazing!

Anyway, it’s Christmas Day and you will be busy with fun stuff. I have a dinner to cook so I’d better get on. Just know that I think of you every day. Nanna Vicky, Grandad Roger, Phil, Suzy, Edward and Oliver all send their love too! Edward is seriously tall now and getting into rugby big style. Oliver is getting into everything else, mischief included! He’s a lovely lad. And my Christmas wish is that you are growing up strong, healthy and happy and turning into a fine young gentleman.

With love, Andrew

Well, it’s that time of year again. Happy Birthday Jack!

I always think of you extra lots on this day each year, wondering how tall you are now and what you are up to. You’ll be getting to be a big lad now, with lots going on, I’m sure. Are you being good, or a bit cheeky? Hopefully a nice little mix of both!

I hope you have a great day with lots of fun and maybe some nice presents too. Perhaps you had a family day with your cousins, which would be nice. Well, this family are thinking of you and Nanna Vicky, Grandad Roger, Grandad Norman, Uncle Phil, Aunty Suzy, Edward and Oliver all send their love.

So, once again, happy birthday to you and all my love!

Do you remember the offices and outbuildings behind Nanna Vicky’s house, where I used to work?

Well, the people who bought my old business have moved out of the buildings (hurrah, at last!!) and I am converting the buildings into our new home. It is going to be lovely, with a huge glass wall overlooking the fields and pond.

I still have my bungalow in Hickling, where you used to live. Grandad Norman lives there now and he would love to see you if you are passing by. I suggested he move back to the Vale of Belvoir to be closer to the family and this has been a great success. Family is so important, don’t you think? A good family gives support and love to everyone and carries you through the tough times.

Anyway, the builders are doing a brilliant job. It is going to be a wow-Eco-house! Lots of bedrooms, biiiiiig living area (I want to put a log burner and a great cinema system in) opening to a gorgeous farmhouse kitchen, a large chunk of field with our own pond and great views. It will be a little piece of paradise and a safe haven away from the troubles of the world. I would love you to see what we’ve done to the old place. I’ve put in a couple of not-very-good pictures of the building being worked on and I’ll take some better ones soon.

School’s nearly done I guess. I hope you have a good holiday all lined up with some exciting plans. Maybe you will be going on a family holiday with all your uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and of course Grandma Mary. How are they all doing I wonder? Lovely people.

Be good; no, better than that, be amazing! Yay!!

With love, Andrew

Hiya.

Can’t believe it is April 2014 already. Which means it is Easter time and therefore 3 years now since we last had time together, when we went on the train with Oliver and Uncle Phil at Quorn. I keep asking him for a photograph of that day but he never gets around to it. So, what has been happening? Where to start?

About that Easter time 3 years ago, I sold most of my business. A good move as it gave me some much needed time off. I started a smaller business, which is called Bulmer Estates, located in West Bridgford, Nottingham, which is ticking along nicely.

I got married to a very nice lady called Rebecca just a year ago. She has three children, Lauren, Sam and Emily who are all pretty grown up now either at college or university. Rebecca is also a surveyor and she now mostly runs my business, leaving me free to spend time working for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors down in London. Rebecca is also a very kind, gentle and funny person; you would like her. I am a lucky man. You might be curious to see a photograph of Rebecca, so one below…

My office is on Parliament Square, right opposite Big Ben, which I can hear chiming every hour when I am at work. I have to admit that the novelty of popping up from Westminster Underground Station each morning right beside Big Ben still hasn’t worn off. Long days though; the journey is 2.5 hours each way, every day. I get up at 5.45am to catch the Grantham train so I am at my office for 9.00am and I get home again around 7.30pm if I am lucky. It’s good fun though and it proves that if a job interests you then putting that effort in is not a problem.

Sometimes I have to go on telly and talk about things like house prices. So far I have done BBC Breakfast telly and also the One Show with Matt and Alex. I also met Holly Willoughby when I did the One Show – she is a very smiley person!

Oscar and Garfield come with me every day to Grantham Station but stay there rather than come to London. However, they did come with me to Sri Lanka last year and even had a ride on an elephant. See the pictures below. Great fun!

That’s almost all the news. Oh, moving house. Grandad Norman is now living in my bungalow in Hickling and we must get around to finishing that old Land Rover still in bits in the garage. Do you remember my old office behind Nanna Vicky’s house, in the old farm barns? Well, I built a great big office extension about 4 years ago. When I sold my business the new business owners rented the offices from me. Well, I have asked them to leave and I am going to convert the buildings into a nice big house. I am hoping to move in before this Christmas, if the builders do a good job. It would be great for you to see the place again and how it has changed. See Nanna Vicky and Grandad Roger again too.

Anyway, there we go. That’s pretty much my news I guess. That just leaves all your news and I am sure there must be lots. I do wonder what your news is and what you are doing these days. I reckon you will be doing pretty well at school and also some sports. I also think you will have a special hobby and you will have a lot of friends too. I can only guess but it gives me pleasure to imagine what you are up to. Just a little bit of mischief too I hope! 😉

Be good! All my love, Andrew