Christmas letter 2011

Dear friends-
As another year draws to a close, it seems fitting to reflect on the past 12 months and to share our proudest moments with you. This is where we will casually drop names and list our children’s achievements in no particular order. The goal is to amuse you and keep you feeling in touch with our lives.
Except that waxing lyrical about our smug life isn’t actually going to make you feel warm about us at all. We think our offsprings’ little habits are darling but given the extra drinking many of you are doing this season, reading such bile will only serve to exacerbate your hangovers. With this in mind, I think it worth trying to share the unvarnished truth.
We have neither moved house, travelled extensively nor completed any triathlons. We haven’t traded in our car, acquired a pet or had any run-ins with stars of Xfactor. No one has been identified, recruited or headhunted. Alex and Emily haven’t particularly distinguished themselves at school, business has been patchy for both of us and Andrew’s corns have played up. My book isn’t finished and, in certain light, I reveal the unmistakeable signs of a permanent moustache problem.
That said, loved ones who waited endlessly for children either adopted or through the miracle of science became parents. THAT is joy to behold. Other A-listers in our entourage were given the all-clear or came back from unspeakably dark places. We are endlessly thankful for the forces that guided and/or granted these outcomes.
Our families are well. On Andrew’s side, the oldest generation is travelling far more than we are. My brother is enjoying his new job and my parents are too busy with their own lives to be on tap whenever the need to call or visit happens to strike me. When it works for everyone’s diary, we enjoy their amazing hospitality as a precious getaway or they come to us and smother the kids with nibbles and treats.
Andrew makes me weep with laughter. Through thick and thin, he makes me snort, giggle, cackle and literally wet myself with mirth. That has to be worth a great deal. He has been incredible about keeping his weight low. This has in no way inspired me to visit the gym any more often.
The house is alive with Alex plonking away at the piano. I’m not saying he’s good. I’m saying he enjoys it. Emily spends an awful lot of time turning art supplies into stuff. I’m not saying she has a gift of any kind. I’m saying it absorbs her.
There are fingerprints on the walls and dust bunnies where there shouldn’t be but the house is alive with laughter and music—of sorts. We do loads of things together like snuggle in bed on weekday mornings, ride bikes and picnic and cook. The things we do at church make us feel happy to belong to something bigger. They also contradict that biddy who said we only went to church to get into the school.
There is always a duvet waiting for you and a meal to share. Just make contact on andrew@iskratv.com or cynthia@coleman-consulting.co.uk and we can take it from there.

All our love this Christmas.