We already knew that 2006 would be a difficult year for us, both Grandad Pearson and Grandad Webster were in poor health and were not expected to last the year. This was to prove the case. We started the year therefore with lots of uncertainty and few firm plans.
Mark and Julie went to their first gig in years in February, to see Oasis at the Arena. It was fantastic and began a further interest in live music, and also the beginnings of great interest in music for the kids.
Tom’s 9th birthday was celebrated fairly quietly, with family, but then we went off to Portugal for half term at HPB. It was cold and fairly unpleasant, weatherwise, but we found plenty to entertain as ever, and even managed a day or two at the beach.
We booked our first skiing holiday for Easter, so began some intensive training during Feb/March at Sheffield dry ski slope. The kids took to it brilliantly. Mum was still a little nervous.
With granddad Pearson’s health deteriorating by the day, the ski trip was unclear, as was any other plans we made. Finally however, after a short stay in Compton Hospice, he died peacefully on 30th March, Grandma’s birthday. It was a terribly sad day, also happening to be the day Tom Lloyd also passed away on the pavement outside Lyndale Drive, in the arms of Julie and Andrew.
The funeral, on 7th April was a lovely celebration of his life and the love and support of the neighbours and friends was magnificent and very reassuring. Grandma has not been lonely or lacking in friendship since that day.
So the skiing trip went ahead, to Chamonix, in the French Alps. It was Easter, and the end of the season, but plenty of snow on the higher slopes. We also took a trip up to almost the top of Mont Blanc. Boy was it cold ? I think the kids now are hooked on skiing and it may be a regular thing now.
After Easter we enrolled Tom to Kumon, to help him develop confidence in his numeracy skills. It has certainly made a big difference already. Also nights out for the boys to WWE and for us all to the Chuckle Brothers were fun-packed for all.
By May, the Rugby League season was well underway and Tom and Mark were now regulars at Spotland to see Rochdale Hornets. Even the odd away game too. It was also a chance to see Grandad Webster more regularly in what were to be his last few weeks.
Early June saw mum and Charlotte doing the Race for Life again, and following that a visit from Jackie for a weekend, which was much overdue, and great fun. By this time Julie and Jordan were starting to look at potential secondary schools for Jordan, with trips to Arnold Hill and Redhill.
July 5th finally saw the passing away of Grandad Webster, peacefully. With funeral again a lovely celebration of his life on 13th July.
July was one of mixed emotions, one day the country was celebrating as London, unexpectedly won the bid to host the Olympics in 2012, made even sweeter as it was won against our arch rivals, the French, with their bid for Paris.
We came down to earth with a bump though, as the next day, London was hit by bombs on the underground with several people killed, and our confidence shaken of the security in the capital and the country as a whole.
It didn’t deter our celebrations for Charlotte’s 7th birthday though, which we held at Southglade Sports Centre, a rather boisterous affair.
The summer holidays took us to Tigh Mor Trossachs, in Scotland, with Grandma. We stayed at the magnificent HPB property there. The weather was generally good and managed an active and interesting week, with trips to local attractions such as the Safari Park, Stirling Castle, and the Highland Games.
August Bank Holiday took us for a long weekend in London to see the Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham. Not a great spectacle with St Helens, as expected, thrashing Huddersfield, but a great experience and our first trip to Twickenham. We were back in the area again a few days later as we visited Sarah and Charles in their new house in Thames Ditton.
The Robin Hood marathon again got the active family members running the fun run, and enjoying a great day out, with the usual corporate hospitality.
Jordan joined Greenwood Meadows football team and stated playing regularly on Sunday mornings, as well as training on Wednesday evenings. They aren’t too successful yet, but they are a new team and need to keep at it.
Jordan’s 11th birthday was celebrated with a group of friends going for a pizza and a lovely game of football in the park.
October saw a small Birmingham University Reunion that Julie went to with Nora in Birmingham. It was a short visit so didn’t meet the whole gang, but it was interesting to meet up with a few old faces again. No less than 3 Halloween parties completed the month for us.
November started the run up to Christmas and Mark’s small operation to remove a testicular cyst. All went well.
Mark took in two Morrissey gigs in December, starting a passionate interest, for the time being anyway.
Christmas was busy, with us entertaining Grandma, Tony and nephew Patrick from South Africa. Also a visit from Sarah, Charles and the girls was lovely. We then went off to Ludlow to finally see Andy and Tarn’s house and spend a few days with them. It was lovely. A great end to the year for us all.
