Xmas 2021

We had a very exciting end to 2020 as we completed the purchase of The Mill in Port Isaac just before Christmas. Our new Cornish stronghold is an old miller’s cottage and converted watermill. Our plan is to move there in a few years but we are open for holidays now if you’d like to visit.

In March 2021 Pepper had a lovely multicoloured litter of 5 puppies. Pepper and her puppies accompanied us on our first family visit to The Mill as soon as lockdown lifted, the children having been unable to visit before. Pepper was an excellent mother and the puppies have all gone to friends and family, with Amy adopting Oggy (our first grandpuppy!).

In June we went on Holiday to Plockton in Scotland. The weather was amazing for exploring the beautiful scenery. While there we met up with old friends and Tristram and family. Dougal and his cousins had lots of fun jumping into cold lochs.

We decamped to Cornwall for most of the summer to explore our new demesne. Lots of friends and family came to see us there – having new visitors every week was great fun!

Amy bought her first house in Bristol and moved in with Oggy and Ziggy her red van. She is a UX designer for Just Eat and hangs out with the ‘Waves and Paves’ girls. Amy, boyfriend Sam, Oggy and Ziggy enjoyed the NC 500 this summer.

In March Ed moved out. He and his girlfriend Phoebe are renting a flat together in Woking though he returns home regularly to raid the fridge. Ed worked for Money Expert selling energy and broadband for most of the year but now has a new challenge learning how to be a financial adviser with Neilson Place.

Issy has been doing the second year of her Early Years Education course at Guildford College and has loved doing work experience in our local nursery, pre-school and primary school. She has been having fun with her new college friends and is looking forward to studying Liberal Arts at university next year.

Dougal has started his GCSE courses at school. Lockdown school went much better this year, helped by a dedicated laptop (no games!) and the school running live online lessons. He did his first overnight adventure with the school for his Bronze DofE. When not at school he enjoys gaming, surfing and skateboarding, both with and without his big brother.

In June Nick passed his Radio Amateur’s exam and now has the callsign 2E0WPM. At the Gophercon UK conference in October he gave a talk about deadlocks which went very well. He’s been working on rclone and doing software consultancy while taking time out to learn Morse Code, do radio experiments and help Loveday make lots of Uncle Rick’s spicy pickle!

Loveday is continuing to do her Masters very slowly. She has been getting The Mill ready to let, doing lots of Quaker related activities including marching with her banner during COP26 and has been volunteering with Zero Carbon Guildford.