Rebi was very despondent at the beginning of the year, she had missed a lot of her A’ level course due to gallstones & a gall bladder operation and was falling behind. The decision was made in February to leave college and start a more suitable course at college in Cambridge in September 2008.
Rebi worked in a charity shop as she was having difficulty finding a job and felt it may help her find a permanent post, we just thought it would keep her occupied!
A job at Next followed keeping her busy until September, but they weren’t willing to let her work part time around college. She is now looking for a part time job that does, we gave her this term to settle in at college first!
Rebi started a Btec National Diploma in Forensic Science at Cambridge Regional College in September & loves it. The course comprises of Math’s, Forensic Photography, Biology, lab techniques, Criminal Psychology, Crime scene techniques, Chemistry, Computing & Industrial science to name just a few!
Rebi was asked to be a Godparent to a friend’s son in September which she did with great pride.
Rebi passed her driving test in October and we’ve barely seen her since!Our daughter has grown into a fantastic young lady who no longer needs us, this new found freedom is liberating for all of us!
Archie posing rather Begrudgingly!
I had just two operations this year! The wonderful news however is that after 10 years of ill health (believe me no details needed!) in June I got the all clear, Hurrah I am healed at last!
Thankyou to my good friends & family, who have helped out, prayed, visited, cajoled, bullied, pushed and dragged me through the last 10 years.
Lifetime achievement award goes to Kevin who without complaint been by my side throughout.
Honourable mentions go to:- Angela, Sue, Carol, Audrey, Ann, Sally, Dr’s Tobin & Doyle & my consultant Mr. Bekdash whom I hope never to clap eyes on again!
And finally Rebi who from the ages of 8-18 has fended for herself far more than it was reasonable to expect and has been wonderful.
David & Liisa's Wedding day.
We went along with lots of friends & family to Tallinn, Estonia for my brother David’s wedding to Liisa in August. Our sister Lucy and her fiancé James also came from Australia.
It was a beautiful ceremony in the grounds of an old manor house & the weather was glorious. The reception was inside the manor & there were some odd (to us, not to our Estonian friends & family) customs upheld, one my sister & I would rather not have witnessed was our brother running around the grounds in pants & a bow tie in order to win back his “kidnapped bride”.
Rebi was one of the bridesmaids and will resume her duties for my sister Lucy next June!
We spent a lovely couple of days with the family en masse although we missed our cousin Ric who had died suddenly in June and is much missed.
At the end of August Rebi and I had a 58th Birthday party, to celebrate my 40th in March and her 18th in October which was great fun. I spent the summer & up until October feeling better than I can remember.
I was enjoying fabulous health, was full of energy and had joined the gym, I was going for an hour every day, losing weight, & feeling that life really did begin at 40!
Then… Pleurisy hit and I spent a couple of nights in hospital at the end of October & 3 weeks feeling very poorly, I was just starting to feel better when I got a nasty flu virus at the end of November resulting in a trip to hospital yet again. I have been unwell ever since & seem unable to shake it. It would appear that I have just been particularly badly hit by the virus & it’s going to take time to recover, Kevin enjoyed 10 days of my completely lost voice however!
We received the unpleasant news at the beginning of December that Kevin will be redundant as from the 31st December which after 18 years with Cemex (previously Rugby Cement!) came as rather a shock.
Kevin has had a couple of interviews, with some more over the next couple of weeks; & has given his C.V. to every agency within a 50 mile radius!
As you are probably aware the current climate is not a great one for job searching but we are hopeful that the search will bear fruit soon.
Millie posing very happily!
Not wishing to end on a gloomy note, we have much to look forward to in 2009; My sister Lucy is getting married to her Australian Fiancé James in the U.K. in June. They will be embarking on marriage just six months before Kevin & I celebrate our 20th anniversary!
Another close friend is getting married in October; there will hopefully be a new job for Kevin & a return to good health for me.
We wish all our friends and family a very happy Christmas & a healthy 2009.
Much love from Kevin, Kate & Rebi xxx
Kevin in Estonia!
