From: "the hardparcels" <hardparcel@pmail.com
To: <friendslist>
Sent: December 20, 2012 10:01 AM
Subject: End of Year Newsletter from the Hardparcels.

End of Year Newsletter from the Hardparcels.

Well, what a thrilling year it has been! Right up to the excitement of Angela’s December accident putting up the frieze of plastic reindeer, the high speed ambulance ride to hospital with siren blaring, the tremendous collision at the roundabout with a dustcart and the strange skirmish in the casualty waiting room that went on for hours. But Sister Walter was marvellous and says Angela should be able to walk again in three months and go to the loo by herself.

The year started with a bang, of course, with the left-over Guy Fawkes fireworks. Who would have thought that a lawn-mower spark could start a volcano? Still, the insurance paid out in near record time and we had the new roof on by July - after the big thunderstorms, but you can’t have everything. And the insurance is paying for most of the flood damage.

We had tried to save on the summer holidays by booking a package tour two years in advance and so we had to cancel part of the Syrian trip, though not before seeing some fantastic recent ruins. The Syrians were mostly charming and hospitable, even if we are not quite sure what they did with the other members of our party.

The Somalia leg was also most colourful and we got the best out of it with an extended stay until the ransom was paid.

That’s when we made our contribution to science with Keith’s discovery of what may be an unknown species of Somalian coral snake. At least that’s what they thought in customs, and the TV news was full of how Heathrow immigration had to be closed when it escaped.

Back home again we needed to rest from our exertions and spent a quiet few days going through our old photograph albums. How we chortled at the pictures from the seventies when Angela was still in the home, sitting on Sir Jimmy Savile’s knee.

Keith’s GCE results were a little disappointing, but we are sure he can pass one next year. He has been trying so much harder since he stopped the medications. Third time lucky!

And so to the end of the year with all the traditional festivities, not forgetting November 5^th when silly Keith started the lawnmower too close to the fireworks again. There can’t be many families who get two new roofs in one year! And of course it was the howling gale in the living room that made it a bit difficult to put up the reindeer frieze.

So, we wish you all a 2013 just as much fun as was our 2012.

Love from Terry, Angela, Keith and Flotsam the dog.