Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Message 2010

Another year has gone by and it feels as if my feet have hardly touched the ground....

So, at the end of 2010, what's happened this year? Not that much of note really. The most significant is that Mari finished her Masters in Veterinary Epidemiolgy and Public Health. This is dependant on the results of the final 2 exams that she took in the Autumn, but given her track record there is no reason to think that she hasn't passed them.

So, that just leaves her to Focus on her PhD which is intensifying, with an expectation of her first publication early in the new year.

My work is much the same, still enjoyable and challenging and not too much travel this year, the most notable being a couple of weeks in Meddelin, Columbia in January.

Une is growing and developing at a rate of knots. Talking and asking questions all the time. He is fully fluent in Norwegian and understands everything I say in English. His English vocabulary is also very good, but there is naturally still a tendancy for him to mix in Norwegian when he speaks in English. We are still very happy with his kindergarden, which he attends full time. He also loves it and is part of a good gang of 2 year olds. We have been very lucky to end up in this Kindergarden.

We had a great summer holiday with a visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed (something that Une still talks about frequently), a week with family in a holiday home in Dingle and a week with Grandma, Grand dad, Aunty, Uncle and cousins in Cork.

My free time during the summe mostly dissapearred 5 metres up under the barn roof. A heavy winter left us with 3 broken roof trusses so major sugery was required. Due to this pretty much every other planned project went out the window!!

Mari hasn't had the chance to proof read this before publishing so I've probably forgotten something...... I at least will not forget to

Wish you all a merry Christmas, and all the best for 2011.

Regards to all
Andy , Mari and Une.

3 comments:

mum of all said...

Thank you for the lovely message.
Its good each year to see how you viewed your time.

Congratulations to Mrs VL on finishing her MA. Good luck with the PHD publications and the rest of the work. Hope you can relax a little too.

And its good to know that FBS can understand and speak English. Very necessary for when he next meets his definitely uni lingual Grandma. I did vow to learn Norwegian, but as we only travel to Norway infrequently, I forget in between what I have learnt.

But I'm pretty pleaased to have mastered a Norwegian knitting pattern and managed to produce 3 tractor jumpers. PLease can you do a photo call while they are all together!

Hoping as I write that the next door neighbours get to Norway tomorrow and that you all have a lovely holiday together.

We'll be thinking of you all, unless they arrive back here having had to abort the trip.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2011

Charlotte Hukvari said...

Gratulerer til Mari! Flott aa hoere at hun endelig har faatt Master Degree.

Gledelig jul og godt nytt aar.

Unknown said...

You have a lovely barn, and it’s a nice move to make certain changes on it, particularly on the roof. It’s a tough job, but I’m glad that, after a while, you were able to complete the new trusses. Two thumbs up for a job well done!

Noreen Mayweather