This year has been a year of birthdays. Everyone in the family had a birthday this year. That is quite remarkable in itself. Notable ones were Rob 18, my Mum 90, Annie 50, Vicki 21 and Joe 21. It would have been really expensive if I’d remembered any of them. And I have reached the age when eyebrow gel is on my Christmas List. Good grief, I look like I’m wearing a Klingon party mask (scary eyebrow edition). Most people grab their hats when the wind gets up (ooo-err) but I spit on my finger and smooth the little rascals down. Ha!

If music be the food of love, then I’ll have egg and chips twice, as my Mother used to say. Na, not really. That was me. This year I have mostly been playing lots of gigs (around 60 over the year) – for example…

Scratch ‘n’ Sniff – wedding in Nuffield College, Oxford (April)

Pandemonium – Save Radley Lakes celebration (April)

Shady Grove String Band – Chamber of Commerce social in Dick Squires’ garden (June)

JigWorks – wedding in RAF High Wycombe (September)

Vale Islanders – weekend of music and dance Crediton Folk Festival (April)

Greengage – Wantage Craft and Antiques Market (September)

Howard & Chris – King Alfred’s Head (May)

Its got to be said, and here is the place to say it. The friends with whom I play music (see above) are simply the most lovely people I could ever hope to spend time with. The music, the friendship (and the beer) are just so darned special. Thank you all. You’re gorgeous with a cherry on the top and a side-order of pork scratchings.

Wantage and Grove Street Pastors are a group of volunteers from local churches who love God and their home town and have chosen to care for people on the streets every Friday 10.30pm to 2.30am. Yup, that’s Annie and me, that is. Cool or what? Absolutely perishing some nights actually, but its such good fun and so very rewarding. I am so very proud to be able to be part of this team of amazing people doing amazing stuff in my town.

Annie and I had a our 10th wedding anniversary this year (February) and went away to Deven for a nice little second honeymoon. As I sat beside the wood-burning stove, I thought to myself, this is a bit of all right. So when we got back home, we booked another holiday. This time in Devon (hmmm). Then a few months later we went to the Lake District to see our lovely friends Richard and Jo, Dick and Sue. Then a few weeks later we went to Lanzerote to celebrate Annie’s birthday. Oh aye, and we spent a weekend in Crediton (in Devon) for the Folk Festival. More holidays next year. I knew this had to happen one day. Love it!

Gordon and Rob moved out of our house and rented a house in Wantage with Jamie. We decorated rooms – lodgers (laden with cash) moved in. Whoop! Vicki moved out to live with Daniel, also in Wantage. Decorated room. New office for Howard! So happy that all the wonderful Hills still live in Wantage and we have Sunday lunchtogether each week. They love their new freedom and the extra space. We love our new freedom and the extra space (and the cash). Couldn’t be better.

Mum’s house in Whitley Bay has been sold and all the money is poured into her accommodation, as is the way these days. Porche goes on the back burner yet again.

Well, I guess I feel a little better now that Annie has joined our ranks. She’s still totally gorgeous though. Phew!

Both mothers are very well, given their enormous and well-deserved ages. Emergency call from my Mum only last night (16 Dec) as her Christmas Tree lights had gone out. Some people have no respect for tradition – they’re meant to do that. Anyway, Annie popped in and fixed said lights and I sat at home feeling guilty as I practiced Christmas Carols on the concertina. Actually, my Mum was very ill in March and was in hospital for a week. Touch and go. Nearly lost her and that was such a shock. I visit her at least once week and we still have such fun chatting to each other, as we have done for as long as I can remember.

No news.

Gone. Yum.

Howard

Have a brilliant and wonderful Christmas y’all!