Last Christmas: Francesca, Ross & Amy helped me put up the tree
during a pre-Christmas weekender. Amy was an enormous help. Enjoyed bucks fizz
& canapés with the neighbours on Christmas morn followed by lunch at The
Hoy which lasted all day. Tea at the Ritz courtesy of Louisa for my very belated
40th birthday present was very decadent, but even by my standards 18
months is dragging it out a bit. Saw in the New Year at Margate Winter Gardens
where we endured/enjoyed a dodgy duet, soggy chicken/chicken- substitute in a
basket, comedy glasses & a cheesy disco with the lady from the chemist.
January: Had lots of horrible tests including bloods & MRIs which are
nothing like you see on the telly. The good news is it’s nothing too serious;
the bad news is I have all manner of gynaecological growths.
February: Lesser-known band Stornoway played a tiny venue in Folkestone
where their instruments included hammers & saws. Later in the month, slightly
better-known band Space played a slightly bigger venue in Herne Bay. Kemi &
Isidore had a day trip to Margate & were snowed on along the seafront.
Warren’s dad Gerry sadly died after a steady three month decline. We said
goodbye in an honest, heartfelt, humanist service where I had the honour of
reading the eulogy on Warren’s behalf. We miss him.
March: Warning: building a pond can seriously damage your relationship! We survived it & I’m relieved to
say that the fish & frogs survived the gradual reintegration to their new
pond too. Margate Beer Festival with Fay & Stu was... well, it was an
experience & the skiffle band almost sent me running for the hills. Quex
Vintage Fair was prettier, smelled sweeter & was more my cup of tea. I came
away with a French cockle net.
April: I signed up for a pottery class under the watchful eye & attentive
tutelage of my friend & maker Imogen. I’m still at it 8 months later &
finally producing things that I like. Sort of. Relatively speaking. Simple
Minds were the 1st live band I ever saw circa 1990 & I think they
brought their stadium equipment to the tiny Margate venue – we were blinded by
the lights & deafened by the decibels. Warren’s birthday weekend
incorporated a bizarre piano recital at Quex, a day trip to lovely Rye &
lunch at the Oxo Tower overlooking the London Marathon. He felt spoilt & it
wasn’t even the big one. That’s next year...
May: Chas
& Dave were dahn in Margit again – they’re still going strong & I still
love ‘em. I sipped Jubilee Lambrini with Janey & Lily to numb the pain of
the Eurovision Song Contest while the boys ate KFC & watched unsuitable boy
films. My new to me car is a convertible Dhiatsu Copen, affectionately known as
the chicken (copen/capon). It’s silver on the outside, red on the inside, looks
like a Noddy car & drives like an Audi (according to the car salesman).
June: Stephen
Reed spent a farewell weekend with us before his permanent move to Texas. We
spent it reminiscing, looking forward & taking photos. Listened to Wayne
Hemingway share his plans for Dreamland & yes, you know it by now, I spent
3 long, arduous weeks marking exam scripts online. When will it end??!!??
July: Summer
finally arrived & was hot, hot, hot.
Visited the Olympic Park where I loved Vampire Weekend but wasn’t so keen
on Mumford & Sons (as predicted). Theatre triple whammy included Bromstone
Primary’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory with sound by Mr Chambers, a very
camp Richard III on the beach not in a car park & an outstanding Miss
Saigon preformed by 6th form students in Canterbury. Thanks to my
boyf’s interest in history, our French weekend began with a visit to the
battlefields of the Somme which were beautiful & poignant. Then to
Versaille where I’d decided to spend my bonne anniversaire inspired by Monty
Don’s French Gardens. We stayed in the most amazing hotel right by the palace
which was fit for a queen. The weather was beyond scorching & we welcomed
the frequent storms & downpours. The chateaux was horribly crowded but the
gardens were jaw-droppingly beautiful, especially the little hamlet of Marie
Antoinette which we reached by petit train. On Saturday evenings in July, they
happen to have the most fantastic fireworks, perfect timing for my Saturday in
July birthday. Birthday week continued with a Birthday Monday a la Janey, Lily,
Oscar & a Birthday lunch with Yvonne.
August: Flew to Dublin’s fair city to see 2 boys with a special place in
my heart; one who’ll be delighted by his mention & one who’ll never know.
Blur played the Irish Museum of Modern Art & they were louder & jumpier
& better than ever. We saw the sights on an open top hop-on/hop-off bus
accompanied by live commentary with singing. We met Cormac & SH for drinks,
dinner, clubbing, Moet & Chandon. My dear old friend doesn’t realise that
our clubbing & drinking days should be resigned to the past, to be sure,
but a great night was had by all. The night ended in an Asian drinking den, by
special invitation, with a friendly Asian, a transsexual & a homeless
Irishman at 6am. We missed breakfast. We hopped on the hop-on/hop-off bus but
didn’t hop-off until our evening flight home. Margate Carnival apparently gave
Rio a run for its money but we slept through most of it & much of the next
few days. The Human Tide part of the ‘I’m not dead I’m in Herne Bay’ festival was
rubbish but Doug’s Wheely Groovy was really groovy. Fay & Stu initiated us
into the world of micro-pubs. I like them. Ross (11) & Amy Grace (6½) came to stay
for a week without mum. The weather was perfect & we spent every day at the
beach. When it rained we made jam. What a Vintage Carry On & a family
barbeque with the Belseys & McKays ended a lovely week. Met some interesting
folk & drank champagne cocktails at the Noble’s are 100 garden party with
Imogen & Doug. Baby Ruby-Mae Smith didn’t arrive on my birthday as planned
but arrived fashionably late & safe & well.
September: The surprise birthday party of the smartest, sassiest septuagenarian I know was suitably fabulous. We sipped kir royale, ogled Freud’s
couch cake & had a ball. We left before the dancing got going although some
guests had already hit the floor (literally) in order to attend Clair’s 50th
birthday party on the same night. I had to leave that one before I’d
danced too. Apparently, it was nearly midnight, I was very drunk
& Warren had something planned for the next morning. The next morning Warren
ran his 1st half marathon ‘To The Beat’ in Greenwich Park. I was so
proud of him completing in 2½ hours & recovering quicker than I recovered
from my hangover (I think it was a cumulative effect from Dublin). He was
cheered on by a group of sober supporters including Lou & Wayne who brought
baby Ruby to meet us, which was as much to Lily’s delight as watching Jessie J
perform on stage. Warren also took on his first class of his own & is
learning to plan & mark while simultaneously watching three screens. It’s a boy thing.
October: While digging up a grapevine I heard a tear. But I didn’t hear
it on the grapevine; it was inside me! Diagnosis: pulled ligament in my lower
back, which is apparently very common in people of my age, tear in the hip
joint, a bulged lumbar disc & trapped femoral nerve. Ouch! Three weeks of
near debilitation & misery were followed by several more of treatment &
‘taking it easy’ – something I’m not so good at...
November: Spent a long, leisurely, emotional & well overdue afternoon
with my good friend Andrea. Bought Dreamland art at the Open Studios but missed
the Dreamland open day. And nearly missed Sheridan Smith (from my old school)
prancing around in a Midsummer Night’s Dream because on arrival at the theatre we
realised our tickets were for the week before! Note to all: open your mail
& check your tickets. Thank you kind box-office lady for letting us pay
again & see the show, it was really good. My sister Francesca, single mum
of 3 with a full time job, passed Year 1 of a Law degree with flying colours. I
travelled to Bury St Edmund’s for a girl’s weekend with Kemi & Lou &
baby Ruby-Ruby-Ruby-Ruby made 4.
December: coming up: Christmas
party at St Augustine’s, Big Reunion at O2, & a weekend with Francesca,
Ross & Amy. I’ll also be saying adieu to CAMHS in Ashford where I’ve worked
for 6 years & relocating to CAMHS in Broadstairs. There’ve been good times
& bad but the graduated change is already doing me good. Meanwhile, Sea
Psychotherapy, my private practice, is going from strength to strength &
I’m doing lots of writing & editing & reflecting-on for my column.
Looking forward to Christmas a deux followed by the annual 12 days of Christmas
present exchange with my very best friend. Although I don’t know why I’m mentioning
her here because she never reads my Christmas letter! Think 3 french knickers,
5 Primark rings or anything with a bird bearing the slightest resemblance to a
hen, a dove, a swan or a goose.
******* With
thanks for being a part of my 2013, in person, via facebook or in spirit. I wish you &
your kin a merry little Christmas & a healthy, wealthy & wonderful 2014. With much love
from Jeanine *******
