This year we made a conscious decision to take more breaks and to do more ‘stuff’. We work most Sunday evenings running a pub quiz in a local pub called The Cocked Hat - so weekends away are always difficult, however we don’t work bank holiday weekends, so we bought a folding caravan which makes it easier for us to go away.

In January it was Terry and Tasha’s wedding - so we went to help them celebrate. Terry’s dad was part of my Sealed Knot regiment when I first joined.  I met a lot of people I haven’t seen for ages, however I was too busy gassing to take many pictures. 

In February we finished up in  the Lake District for a couple of days. Lake District Pictures.

Over Easter we went to Texas to visit Brendan, and for the first time we were able to take Ian to the USA with us. We all had a great time and got to see and do all sorts of new things.  Texas Pictures.

May Day Bank Holiday we spent a weekend at the Greenhill Farm campsite just outside Salisbury.  Salibury Weekend Pictures.

In late May, a second weekend camping took us to a New Forest campsite. It was very basic, but right in the middle of the forest and we almost had ponies in the van with us. However the weather wasn’t very good, we didn’t get many pictures and we came home early! New Forest Pictures.

Early August we used up a prize that Ari won in a radio competition. I got race driving lessons in a Lotus Exige around Thruxton Circuit. That was a lot of fun, and Ari managed to get a few pictures. Straight after racing we went onto the Wickham Festival – saw Jethro Tull that night and many other bands over the weekend. It was a great weekend - unfortunately we didn’t take any pictures so you will just have to imagine it. 

And then for August Bank Holiday we went off to a camp site at a place called Sparkford near Yeovil, in the West Country.  We spent Saturday morning looking around Wookey  Hole, and the afternoon in Wells.  Sunday saw us in Cheddar, then back for a karaoke in the pub close to the campsite.  West Country Weekend.

In October, The Eagles got together to perform a single gig in London to promote a new albumn.  You  couldn't buy tickets at any price as they were all intended as freebies for the music business.  Not to be beaten Ari entered Win-a-Ticket competitions on all sorts of websites, and eventually eventually won tickets from Virgin Radio, so we got to see them after all - Ari is really good at winning cool stuff!  Thank you Virgin.  However, as always, w only managed one bad pic taken on a camera phone  :)

Then in November, Ari had a job interview in Dudley - she didn't get the job but we did get to visit Ironbridge gorge.  Ironbridge Gorge Pictures

Christmas!  We went to Ari's works Christmas dinner, and left too early to see if anyone got drunk and made a fool of them selves - The Office Party Pics.   Later on, I got to play 'Santa' for the Students' Xmas Ball at the college I work for, which was a lot of fun - but again I left early enough to miss any late night shenanigans.  Ari went to celebrate Christmas with her family in  the US and  Jazzy's boyfriend Steve came to visit Xmas day - Brave or what?