Jack Bolton

Merry Christmas Jack!!  I hope you’re having a really good time, with tons of stuff, too much chocolate and lots of family around.

Our gang are with their dad today, so it’s just me and wife Rebecca until we wander across to Nanna Vicky’s and Grandad Roger’s.  Grandad Roger is getting very old and frail now, so we’re having lunch at Nanna’s.  Uncle Phil, Auntie Suzie, Edward and Oliver are coming too and we’re all bringing food.  I’m “Officer in charge of Bread Sauce”.

Weird weather!  It’s 13 degrees!! Partly sunny skies. I’m looking out on bright sunlit fields!  See pic below.  I lit the log burner this morning, it being Christmas and all that, and we’re now melting even though I’ve turned it right down. Keep opening the door!  

Good music playing right now, while I write this little message.  Mark Knopfler – “Speedway at Nazareth”, since you ask. Stunning drums, bass and lead guitar, really captures American NASCAR racing. https://g.co/kgs/vPF3ua

I digress…  Lunch will be after Queen’s Speech at 3.00, then an evening of games and Christmas telly.  Lauren, Sam and Emily rock up tomorrow for Boxing Day.  Along with everyone else.  You used to come to Nanna Vicky’s on Boxing Day and play with Edward, Oliver, Maria and William.  I’ve got some photos somewhere – must dig them out. 
Ooh, now Mark Knopfler’s “Sailing to Philadelphia”.  Slow track but gorgeous.  About the American Mason-Dixon Line that divided the south from the north. Lots of interesting history in that story. But Dixon was a surveyor, like me.  So the true story has an extra reason to be interesting for me.  https://youtu.be/OTvc-bEP35I

On which, I’ve moved jobs. I now work for the Institute of Residential Property Management.  Still in London, commuting every day.  So, getting up very early and to bed late.  But really enjoying it.

Anyway, that’s my news right now.  I hope you have a lively and lovely Christmas holiday with all good things and happy families. 

With love, Andrew

Wandered off down the Grantham Canal today to Hickling. Walking towards the sun, my shadows fell behind me. A stiff Northerly breeze blew the cobwebs away and cleared my lungs of London grime. I felt like a young man, eager to run and play. It felt good.

After, I met Rebecca at Tollerton Airport, nearby. You and I used to go watch planes take off and land there and once, do you remember, a nice pilot let you sit in his plane, in the Captain’s Chair no less! These days there is a great little cafe there that does killer breakfasts. That’s killer as in fantastic, also as in huge! Well, it seemed almost rude not to… 😀😀

Hello you! It’s that birthday time of year again!

School’s out for summer – hopefully you’re going somewhere nice, maybe hot, maybe with the family. Whatever, wherever, I hope you’re having fun.

I’ve been having some fun too. We’ve got a lot of grass here, so I needed a sit-on lawn mower. Then Grandad Norman had a cool idea. Instead of buying an expensive mower that will fall to bits in a few years, get a classic tractor! Fit a mower attachment on the back of it and, hey presto, a lawn mower that won’t break and, in a few years, will be worth more than I paid for it. Yay! So, here is Magnus the Massey Ferguson. Yep, a bit sad naming a tractor, but, well, so what? It’s fun.

Meanwhile, here’s a picture of a very big Edward rowing the dinghy on the pond with a mate. He half fell in shortly after the picture and got wet feet! He still lives with Uncle Phil and Auntie Suzy in Kinoulton.

So, here’s a Happy Birthday wish to you and I hope you’ve had a really good day.

Lots of love, Andrew