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Dear All 2014 has certainly been a busy old year for the Chard family. The year started off with us moving into our new home. Slowly but surely, and with help from friends and family, we have decorated, cut holes in things, moved things and added all those personal touches that make it ours. We were actually able to get away early in the year and spent a relaxing weekend at Center Parcs with the family.
I also found myself back in my hometown, as my friend Charlie held his Stag Do in Bristol. This provided me with a great opportunity to catch up with my London-based mates, whilst consuming some absolutely tremendous cider. This was followed in June by the wedding itself! C & I embarked on a good old-fashioned road trip to East Anglia - a part of the world I'd only ever visited through Alan Partridge before! A-haa!
There were more West Country shenanigans in April, as I toured to Yeovil with the Old Expendables. And, speaking of hockey, things went pretty well for both C & I and our respective teams. Bridlington Ladies got promoted, despite having thought they'd fallen at the final hurdle and Driffield were crowned Yorkshire Champions and promoted to North League Division 2 East - the highest level I have ever played at.
Off the field, both C and I were getting into our running and I was due to run the Hull 10k. However, a pulled calf muscle meant I had to drop out and C replaced me. Whilst my running has fallen by the wayside, C went on to complete the Brid Half Marathon.
Little E continues to grow and is learning new words every day. She finally graduated from the cot to a bed in August and is doing well sleeping through the night. Meanwhile, Big E is doing well at school. His maths and reading are excellent. But his FIFA15 skills are probably better!
C
celebrated a milestone birthday this year (although I'm not allowed to
mention which one) and we were able to have a nice trip away to the
wilds of Hertfordshire together, catching up with Harry Potter along the
way. Cycling fever hit Yorkshire in July as the Tour de France came through the county. Big E was lucky enough to witness some of it live, but we were content with watching it on TV.
A day or two later we had a visit from old friends of mine. Ambrish, Sharon & Neel travelled all the way from Germany to visit us.
If cycling fever didn't really catch on in our house, football fever certainly did! The World Cup in Brazil had a profound effect on Big E (much like the Mexico 86 World Cup had on me at the same age) and since the summer he has gone
absolutely football mad, to the point that he will sit and watch any
football match televised - even Bristol City! He has now taken up football and he's proving
to be a pretty handy striker for his team. Even now the weather's turned cold, he wants to be out and playing!
Towards the end of July, we went on our first family holiday abroad, to Zante in Greece. Despite a somewhat stressful airport stopover and flight, we were soon in a more relaxed mood. The weather was gorgeous, there was plenty for the kids to do, and, when not lolling about by the pool, we made a few trips to the beach. C enjoyed herself a bit too much one night and ended up as part of the hotel entertainment!
Towards the end of August, we had a small-scale Aston Uni Reunion in Birmingham - although the city has changed massively, our favourite old Indian Restaurant hadn't changed one bit - to the extent that we recognised one of the patrons.
C & I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary in October. We did have grand plans to celebrate, but in the end, partly due to tiredness (we are parents you know!) we ended up having a quiet meal in the very same hotel we were married in.
And so to Christmas! We are looking forward to the first proper Christmas in our home. The tree and lights are up and everything looks properly festive!