No change in the menagerie but they have caused a change in our lives. Simply Smudge is still at my mother's house so we take it in turns to dogsit each night.
Family
No major health problems this year and one very good piece of news – Christine passed clear for the cancer checks for the fifth year in a row !
No the main problems this year were the continued aftermath of the death of Douglas's mother. As an example it took the Halifax over 8 months to release her account during which they managed to send all the account details to an address in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. On our part we still have not been able to donate all the 67 crates of wool that my mother left.
Menagerie
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No change in the menagerie but they have caused a change in our lives. Simply Smudge is still at my mother's house so we take it in turns to dogsit each night. |
Holidays,trips, concerts and happenings
We finally got to see Meat Loaf in concert
Some hit and run driver caused over £1000 damage to the Volvo which took several weeks to repair
We flew down to London and walked down from the Edgware Road to Buckingham Palace and the Queen's Gallery to see the Faberge exhibition. Douglas bought a paper knife there and then remembered about the flight restrictions so we had a merry panic trying to find wrapping to send it by post. Thankfully we did.
Christine bought herself a new Ford Ka
We both went to Astrofest 2003 and then wandered around Covent Garden
April Memorabilia at the NEC and met Julie Stevens, Linda Thorson, Colin Baker, Nicholas Courtney, Robert Llewellyn and Madeline Smith
We went to the Halle Film scores concert but Christine was badly affected by some aftershave nearby so we only saw half of it!
The May Day Steam at Abbotsfield Park in Urmston had reasonable weather
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In June we went on another day trip to Jersey and met up with the Martins and the Egres. |
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On a cold blustery Midsummers Day we went on a Rose Scent seminar at David Austin Roses at Albrighton near Wolverhampton. Amazing, simply amazing |
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Douglas went to see Suzanne Vega at The Lowry theatre in Salford in July ( whilst the World Cup was on ) and it was a very luxurious concert venue Extremely comfy seats! |
We both made it to the RHS Tatton Park show
We got seats at the very top of the M.E.N. Arena for Simon and Garfunkel ...this is when Christine felt most unsafe during the year
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2 days later we had VIP tickets for the Cliff Richard concert at Chatsworth. We got there early and watched the soundcheck then Christine fell ill so we made our way though the crowds and went back home without seeing the main show. |
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On a gloriously sunny August day we made our way to the row of cottages, nestling beneath the moors, where Douglas's mother was born in Walsden near Todmorden |
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August Memorabilia had Jenny Linden, Nicola Bryant, Madeline Smith ( Nice long chat with her ) and Danny Jules-John. It was much quieter than usual and much more friendly
Eyam for the Wells Dressings at the Late Summer Bank Holiday
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We took Christine's mother to Chatsworth ( including a side trip to the Farm Shop ) in September in the new Ka |
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We walked up the slope of the great cascade .... |
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...to a well earned rest at the cascade house |
About now Christine persuaded Douglas to shave off the beard which he dutifully did.
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We took a day-trip to Cologne for Photokina where Douglas had a lot of fun playing with the new Pentax digital SLR *IST-DS but also heard that Bronicas were being discontinued. We came back by a no-frills airline Hapag-Lloyd Express which was more punctual and pleasanter than BA. |
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This time Douglas was 12th in the queue for the Terry Pratchett signing |
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A concert by Chris De Burgh in October at the Bridgewater Hall but it was the night before Christine's cancer check so she made Douglas go on his own. Pity as we had front row seats but anyway Douglas swapped those with an American couple who had flown over just for the concert. |
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Similarly we missed the Autographica at Coventry
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November Memorabilia was packed and included people like Sylvester McCoy, Robert Llewellyn ( Both shown in the photo ), Katy Manning, Claudia Christian, Traci Lords, Richard Kiel and Madeline Smith ( who does recognize us now ) |
We are due to go to 2 Halle concerts in December - the traditional Carol Concert and the James Bond night
Jobs
No changes this yearWe hope you have had a happy and healthy 2004 and with our good wishes for a great 2005
Douglas and Christine
dis@cix.co.uk and chrissie@cix.co.uk
The online version of this newsletter is at http://www.cix.co.uk/~dis/xmas2004.htm
Douglas I. Smith, dismith@dis.cix.co.uk 
