Lots of Music2008 was a somewhat busy year for the family, just like any family.
Lots of MusicHarry, Evie and Kim all enjoyed various performances throughout the year with a choir called Joyful Noise. Its major production this year was Mary Magdalene by Roger Jones. In December they took part in concert for the Hope Charity. Early next year they will start rehearsals for a performance of Roger Jones' new production, Rock.
Evie still plays her viola and got a distinction in her Grade 2 and the "Most promising instrumentalist" at her School Prize day. This meant she was asked to prepare a solo for the day and we were mega proud parents as she played Hornpipe. When she moved into senior school she was invited to join Sinfonia the more advanced Orchestra. At Watford Music School she still plays in an orchestra.
Not to be shadowed by her big sister Kim continues with her double bass and now has lessons every Monday evening. The 8:15 start on a Saturday for orchestra hasn't put her off although Harry is looking forward to her progressing to a later orchestra.
Both the girls have started steel pan lessons at school and Evie performed in the school Christmas concert. The music department seem very keen on steel pans and the sound is quite amazing to listen to. The girls both attended Musciale, a summer day camp in Harpenden and again the performance was impressive.
Laura plays the all important part of the audience and now is on the committee for the Friends of Watford Music School.
Evie was awarded an academic scholarship for senior school. Before leaving year 6 Evie took part in a show called Splash and also did very well in her Sats. She is loving senior school with more freedom and more variety in lessons. And slowly she is becoming more organised.
Kim is loving school and at the end of term did a Maths challenge a year early and got awarded a bronze. She still struggles with her writing and after various tests is going to start a physiotherapy treatment at a local clinic to help her. School have been very supportive and made sure her writing has stopped her progressing. Kim got a merit in her English Speaking Board Exam and is preparing a drama for a drama contest in March/
Laura was form rep but this last term decided to step down. Administration was never my strong suit. Laura is still Snowy Owl for the school brownie pack and enjoys the social side and will continue even when Kim leaves later this year.
This November Laura hit the big four zero and got given a wonderful digital slr. She still is getting used to the hundreds of buttons but is getting there slowly. Next year's letter will include more photos... maybe! Laura's work has been hectic and she was turning work away towards the end of the year as she just couldn't fit anymore in her diary. How the credit crunch will affect the training world is yet to be known but the first half might be tough.
Harry still works for BT and is slowly moving off the Steria contract. His reputation for willing to try to fix anything is catching up with him.
This summer the girls went away to Scripture Union camp for a week. They had a great time and made friends with lots of people. As a first time away without us and to strangers it seems to have been success and one of the tasks this holiday is to book next years camp.
In the summer we all got a little better at cycling and enjoyed plenty of bike rides across Ashridge. Harry's mum Frederica bought a wheelchair this year so we've been exploring various places that have flat enough paths for her.
At the end of last year we all became members of the British Museum. We
visited the First Emperor exhibition which was a great success and the girls
loved it. We also went to the Hadrian exhibition. He seemed to love statues of
himself and we were surprised to see just what a great architect he was. The
final exhibition we saw this year was Babylon. Although there was superb artwork
through the ages at what people thought Babylon looked like and of the biblical
stories there seemed to be little of what Babylon was really like in biblical
times.
We also visited the Tutankhamen exhibition at the O2. Although there were some very impressive pieces and the history was very detailed the whole experience felt slightly disappointing. Maybe after the First Emperor that was to be expected.
Harry and the girls all spent a night at the British Museum as part of the girls' membership. They had a great time doing lots of activities about the Olympics and then sleep in one of the galleries.
We still attend St Marys in Apsley and Harry sits on the deanery synod. Laura does Sunday school and loves making up new games and craft for each story. Kim decided to get baptised this year and we had a wonderful Pentecost service by our curate Claire with a party afterwards.
We'd love to hear from you. We know we are not the best at keeping in touch with people but this is our attempt at changing that a little.
The best email to use is family@grumpalump.co.uk
Just in case you are wondering on the domain name, it is the name of a great book. If you know any small children its a great excuse to go find a copy and read it to them.