Oakwood as usual, 31-Dec-2015


First, a merry Xmas to you all, we hope 2015 was kind to you, and if not, that Xmas provides comfort.


January

January was not the quiet month as is the norm. Two weeks earlier on the 14th December, our CH boiler decided to burn itself out and because specialist parts could not be found in time, Christmas was a little chilly at Oakwood, with "all's well" finally being established 3 week's later at 6.00pm on New Year's Eve, when we roasted during the 24 hour testing phase.

Being lulled into a false sense of security, 2015 began with gusto on the usual catch-up for work and the athletics club, although our Dotty was a worry, needing veterinary treatment throughout the month. Here she is taking the more soothing social drug of Catmint to supplement what her doctors were giving her...



Just two week's into the New Year our house heating failed again, not because of anything inside, but this time out in the road with the Mains gas supply, which had been incorrectly attached to our premises 18 months previously. Needless to say, it took another 10 days to have the road dug-up, our garden turned over so plants were growing upside down, and another 4 days to get back to normal with heating again established. Thank heavens the winter was mild.

February

A fairly quiet month although your scribe got a county cup for shooting the longbow and we all trouped off to see Ennio Morricone at the O2. This was spectacular and when they played the theme from "the Good, the Bad and the Ugly", there were people thundering up and down the aisles sat on each other's backs doing horse impressions. Only kidding, but your scribe was sorely tempted. Meanwhile in a former colony, far, far away, Leo finally got his hands on the first investment in their Singapore startup.




This is the elderly gentlemen's Surrey longbow cup. If you can carry it home, it's yours.

The legendary Ennio Morricone blasting it out.

At last ! Stage 2 starts (the really hard work ...).




Dotty now firmly a Catmint pole addict, but feeling a tad better.

One day of snow in the entire winter:

Your scribe bathed in the sultry glow of giant LED screens produces yet another paper destined for obscurity.




Another bad month for our pussy cat. This time a fox savaged her tail ...

... which had to be amputated leaving her looking like a mobile lamb shank until it grew some fur.

And then the tortoises woke up. Here Totto explores the possibility of doing disgusting things with your scribe's slippers.

March

Went on a history tour of Malta.




Gillian smiles while lady strolls by inexplicably dressed in a quilt.

This was going to be an ancient town but they lost the instructions.

Maltesers adore children.




Maltesers offer friendly advice to passing tourists.

Enterprising Maltese cold drinks salesman peddling his wares.

Typically ornate church. The picture doesn't come close to doing it justice.




Suit of armour for very tiny knight used for attacking ankles in combat.

Rowing boat offers to race super-tanker round the harbour.

Nice view from St. Agatha's tower.

April

Eureka, Felix became a fully paid up architect at last. Architecture is becoming the first profession where the first action after graduating is to retire.




Felix passes his final Part III architecture exams.

And here is the proof ...

Meanwhile, Totto assumes his normal duties. Trampolina decides it's not worth missing lunch for.




Gillian decided that Family Easter roast dinner should be followed by pink blancmange bunnies in green jelly for desert, just for a change. Best not to ask.

Felix and Alannah show up with big yellow van. Unfortunately, it died shortly afterwards.

Still pond in Richmond Park - always a spectacular sight this time of year, although perhaps not quite as spectacular as a blancmange.

May

Went to a castle for a wedding of dear friends' daughter.




Felix and Izzy with the truly magisterial MC, Simon.

Very silly person in boater with adoring wife.

Izzy rehearsing strictly routine wearing green lampshade.



June

Idle of Wight trip, slightly late and then off to Singapoops to see Leo, during which our lovely pussy cat Dotty finally succumbed, but attended by Isabelle at the end. We've not really recovered and still expect to see her padding around the house or collapsing on our laps at the slightest opportunity.




Gillian and friend Cherry trying to look sane after playing in trees.

One of the reasons we keep going back to the Island ...

and the other ...




Enterprising shopkeeper appeals against Singapore's strict no-swearing laws.

Tired of people jumping red lights, Singapore government takes extreme measures.

The view from our hotel room.




Singapore experiments with growing new mushroom.

Gillian offers to wash up to pay for lunch in Malacca.

Traditional Malaccan chef rolling dumplings in his armpit.




Gillian and Malaysian friend sing the Duo de Rosina et Figaro from The Barber of Seville to surprised diners.

Your scribe's attempts to engage local wild-life in conversation are less than successful.

Gillian and Leo by his office pool.



July

Opera, domes and trips to the far North. Gillian not at all well this month after eating something in Malaysia which continues to disagree with her.





Sphinx head falls on lead tenor at Izzy's opera Aida after suspicious flat note.

Felix' Dome appears for the first time.

Felix makes new friend. Your scribe does not know what else to say.

August

Busy month. A trip to Islay and a wedding in Scotland ...




Best man and groom on Islay with Dad as designated driver ...

and again outside Bunnahabhain distillery, a splendidly faded institution.

Black pudding and Lagavulin scallops grown to Godzilla size by virtue of living by the outlet pipe at Lagavulin distillery. Apparently, other scallop fishermen complained to the Scottish Tourist Authority about them having an unfair advantage. Your scribe has little sympathy with this point of view.




Speaking of which ... (If you can hear Jaws theme music in the background, it's the scallops).

The ethereally beautiful view from outside Bowmore distillery across Loch Indaal.

The Jura ferry with the Paps behind. We would shortly take the 10 minute trip there and back so as not to miss the flight back to Glasgow and on to the wedding preparations.




Alannah and Felix's big wedding bash on a camp site in Scotland necessitated ...

amongst other things, unloading 8000kg of straw bales, assembling all the buildings and in fact doing everything else. Family and friends responded magnificently and we had a splendid time, culminating in ...

Awwww ...




Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Bride and Groom all standing on top of the mini-dome.

The Bride's family, recovering slowly from a hard week's preparation.

Groom's father doing a respectable George Melly impression accompanied by adoring wife.




Music in the dome ready to go.

One of several really good bands with Izzy having a blow.

Inside the dome was really quite fantastic.

September

A recovery month from the Scotland Wedding and visit from the Singapore branch. Sadly, Leonora our neighbour of 34 years passed away just before her 85th birthday.


Leo comes back for business in London and New York. Meanwhile Leo's business partner Alan and your scribe have to slave away in Cybershed although Alan did get some time away with his girlfriend Peiling.

October

We decided to go to Lisbon where Izzy was Assistant Director on Madam Butterfly at the Teatro Nacionale Sao Carlos.




Gillian strolling down the steps from the Castle.

Gun carriage. Unfortunately a bunch of sailors from Liverpool had liberated the wheels a couple of centuries earlier.

A quiet square in Lisbon.




Splendid guitarist outside the Castle.

Your scribe in a relaxed moment.

Inside the Teatro where Madam Butterfly was about to kick-off.

November

A mad rush to get 17 of our oldest radiators (pre 1985) changed before the heating is put on, in the fond hope that we have no leaks, blockages or ANY heating/plumbing problems this coming Xmas. Also the month to find the cause of damp coming into 3 rooms on the south side of the house. A crazy month of heating engineers, builders and painters but satisfaction that all appears to have gone well.



December

Good grief, a warm house at Xmas ! We can't believe it. No need this year to roll around the house looking like San Marino sheep.

Round-up

We hope you and your families are well. We wish you a very merry Christmas and health and happiness in 2016.