January saw Yasmin reach her 6th birthday celebrated with friends, whilst Julian reached the grand milestone of a half century. We actually had a lot of snowy weather making the investment in a wood burning stove last summer well worthwhile. Of course half the country seemed to shut down, probably because the government told schools to close because of the danger that snow poses to Elves (very important is Elfin Safety).

Still the cold weather has gone, and we are finally in the creative and constructive planting stage of the garden having ripped out pretty much everything that was there when we moved in. We have planted a new hedge, a raised vegetable garden and a herb garden, and extended the front lawn.

Julian is now working hard organising the Village Summer Fair and we are looking forward to that and the Bramley Music Festival that we are now �Friends Of� - see www.bramleymusicfestival.org.uk for details. We went to a launch party for the festival at Beaurepaire House, the entrance to which is across the road from us - but you still need to take the car as the house is a mile into the estate, and across the moat.