New Beginnings

The start of a new year is almost upon us and I am still wondering where last January went!

On the domestic front 2004 has been eventful, joys and stresses in equal measure. Among the highlights was the birth of our third delightful grandson, Torin, and the Priesting of our eldest daughter, Paulette.

One of the unwelcome stresses of the year is the illness of my father who has advanced prostate cancer. Intensive radiotherapy has hopefully slowed down the progression of the disease a little, but the prognosis is very poor.

On the world stage, the news from Iraq is still grim, but eclipsed by the unparalleled devastation and tragedy in the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean after the tsunamis struck. This disaster would be horrendous at anytime of the year, but as it occurred at Christmas it seems to make it worse, if that were possible.

2005 is a year of new beginnings for us. My husband, David, has come out of retirement and accepted a three appointment as a lecturer in science education at the University of Sussex, near Brighton. We are to rent a pleasant apartment in Eastbourne, whilst keeping on our North Wales farmhouse. I shall be dividing my time between Eastbourne and Wales, which will be interesting and different, to say the least!

No doubt the coming year will bring its own set of joys and stresses. We have an imperfect view of the distant horizon; fortunately, for us, God can see the big picture.