Christmas Greetings 2001 from Ian, Joan, David (NY) and Matthew.
This year Ian and Joan tried their first cruise, a not insignificant venture for Joan who, despite being the granddaughter of a sea captain, has a great dislike for things that bob around on waves.
A March
visit to the western Caribbean included Jamaica (Ocho Rios, Dr No Quay) Mexico
(A nature reserve where even suntan lotion was banned) and Key West (Yes, the
taxis were pink). An enjoyable break, despite having to eat with the crew.
In fact it was such a success that a second cruise in
August was proposed by Joan. “Not during the hurricane season” was the advice
given, “Great” said Ian, “Then we should go to the Baltic,” said Joan.
This year Ian and Joan went on their second cruise! Plans to visit the Wirral were postponed and in August they visited Stockholm (Boy did it rain!), Oslo (Kon Tiki museum, the Viglen statue park and a Royal Wedding), St Petersburg (Hermitage museum was amazing, everything else a bit rusty), Estonia (watch for Tallinn in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest) and Copenhagen. (The little Mermaid by day and Tivoli gardens by night.)
Joan met Hans Christian Andersen who, apart from having a waste bin on his head, seemed more interested in the Tivoli gardens across the road!
Talking of book matters, Joan is still at the Library, and surprised everybody when she asked for a computer of her own so that she could take the European Computer Driving Licence.
In between the two cruises, Ian and Joan took a trip on the London eye. The weather was good, and it would be interesting to try an evening trip.
Matthew completed his first year at Oxford Brookes He is still keen on rowing and worked his way up to the B crew, who qualified for the Temple cup at Henley They won their first race and were then knocked out by the Irish National Squad. The Brookes A crew were well favoured, but lost in the Temple final to an American crew. It serves them right for loaning their two best rowers to row in Pinsent’s four!
It was sad that later in the year we were to loose another Beatle, George’s son Dhani had at one time coxed for one of Matt’s housemates and the three boys had enjoyed a drink together during Henley.
We all thought that was it for the year, then in September David phoned from NY to say that he had just seen a plane fly into the World Trade center. David’s office is about three blocks away from the Empire State. He was due to return home for a visit that Thursday, so plans had to be put back a week. Quite a stressful time for us all.
We must thank everybody who phoned up to ask about him. David carried on working, but it was, difficult for him to say “good morning” when some fellow travelers were wearing gas masks!
We especially remember his phone call to say he had walked home over the 59th street bridge and could now see the statue of liberty from his balcony. Fortunately David missed out on the sweeping cuts seen in the travel industry after those terrible events. Here is a shot of Matthew and David taken during an earlier visit to NY.
The year rounded off with Matthew’s 21st in November, and on Sunday 9th December he phoned to say make room for two more tankards. After winning the S3 eight at Wallingford head, four of them raced back to the start and won the coxed fours! Matthew here in the bow seat at an earlier event.
This Christmas, David will be cooking his own Turkey in NY, Matthew will be working at Tesco and Ian and Joan will be relaxing at home trying to decide, Southern Caribbean or the Wirral?