A Christmas Address

Rather than write a round robin letter, like we did last year, we are taking the easy way out and directing anyone who's interested to this blog. So a very Merry Christmas to one and all and best wishes for 2009!

2008 has been, in football parlance, a year of two halves. It started in the worst way with Gran (Bessie's Granma Kay) passing away in February. Whilst she had not been in the best of health towards the end of 2007 her loss was no less sudden or saddening for that. She has been and will continue to be greatly missed by everyone that knew her. But in that strange symmetry of life, the mood of the second half of 2008 was set for us by the fact that we are expecting another addition to the family. Bessie's little brother or sister is due in the spring 2009.

And in between these two key events life has gone on. Bessie has turned from a toddler to a teenager in the space of 12 months, still keeping us in fits of laughter the vast majority of the time, but also testing our patience and nerves to the limits (and beyond). She started 'play group' in September for two days a week and becomes more independent by the day. So far she hasn't won any football trophies, gained any 'A' levels or been offered a scholarship to the School of Performing Arts and as such is a bitter disappointment to her parents. However, she was awarded a sticker for tidying up at play group (if only she would do the same at home.)

We took our first tentative steps towards self-sufficiency in response to the credit crunch and took on an allotment (with mixed success). As usual rugby gave us some highlights, but this year what highlights! Not only being at the Millennium stadium to see Wales win the Grand Slam, but also seeing Nick Koster play for the Barbarians at Wembley. We also managed to see some bands, some films, some comedians and some heroes. We made three trips to some fabulous seaside resorts (thanks Salcombe, Padstow and Kingsand) and generally had pretty good - no, excellent - weather. Ali is still pretty much a full time Mum although she does work freelance for her old employer looking after their website (as a bit of light relief!). Brian is still enjoying working as a local authority planner in Chippenham (but there are big changes ahead for local government in Wiltshire in 2009, so there is a frisson of uncertainty and apprehension in the air).

We failed to visit anywhere much further north than Birmingham this year, Brian failed to run a half marathon and Ali failed to get to see Coldplay - there's always next year.........although I suspect we may be rather busy for other reasons (not least being a rash of fortieth birthdays - including Ali's). Feel free to browse around our blog. Go on, have a look, you might find something interesting, informative or vaguely amusing.....there are some pretty pictures to look at too........oh, please yourselves!

Here's wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2009.

With Love Ali, Brian and Bessie

We're on our way to Wembley.....

Hey the Taylors get to go out again!

This time more rugby, but at Wembley Stadium. Alis's cousin Nick was (as regular readers will know) picked to play for the Barbarians against Australia. So the Cirencester Branch of the Cullip family (including Bess) set off for the smoke to meet a large contingent of the South African branch to watch.

The new Wembley is a fantastic venue, more of a hotel that just happens to have a stadium attached than a football ground. I've never seen stewards on any ground wearing suits and ties ("can I help you sir?"). Nick was starting on the bench...but what a bench with Shane Williams (officially the finest player in the world and pictured above with our Nick) and George Gregan keeping him company. The entire Barbarians team was a roll call of the best players in the world - so it was a real thrill to see Nick even warming up along the touch line.

The atmosphere was fantastic everyone who wasn't Australian (and there were a lot of them) was cheering on the Barbarians. It seemed odd to sing 'god save the queen' with only few englishmen in the team, but Bess belted it out with the rest of us. It was a really exciting game and played with a lot of passion (as a number of injured Aussies will testify). Nick played for most of the second half and played well, no doubt securing himself a place in a future Springbok team.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and the score, although the Barbars lost, seemed immaterial. Bess enjoyed her second international rugby match, singing, cheering and even eyeballing the lads sat behind us who had knocked over a beer. And we enjoyed the occasion and meeting up with a whole bus-load of South African relatives.

Twice in a week

I don't go out for weeks, months even and then my body is sent into shock because I take it out twice in a week.

Saturday night The Feeling at The Oasis in Swindon (exotic location, but actually not a bad location and I think you'll find that the group 'Oasis' actually named themselves after The Oasis. so there). My highlight was the fantastic cover of Take on Me by Aha - please listen.

And then on Wednesday night Scouting for Girls (at The Oasis the aclaimed venue in Wiltshire). They also did a superb cover of Video Killed the Radio Star by Buggles.

They were both really, really good and I'm getting quite a taste for it now.