UK & Business

Earlier in the year we decided to move South to be closer to Stansted Airport so that commuting to France would be much easier - It's a 4 hour drive to Stansted from North Yorkshire, which not only doubles our trip time, it is very tiring, especially inbound. Our initial target area was around Stamford. We spent a few months searching for the right property, made two offers that were rejected for higher ones from other purchasers, and eventually offered the full asking price on a village property between Stamford and Grantham. The owner accepted it.

 Two weeks after this the vendors estate agent came back to us,  said the property had been undervalued and asked for an additional £40,000 - as you can imagine we told him where to stuff it, and even offered to help him put it there! Although we had had a good offer on our house we had not accepted it so in the end we thought we'd save ourselves £'000's in removal fees plus the £25,000 or more in stamp duty and stay where we are! 

Entertaining

Because of this, medical problems and traveling we have not done very much entertaining in the UK this year. However, back in May, we did take in a couple of itinerant Aussies,  Kerry and Colleen Stephen. We had met them earlier in the year whilst cruising between NZ and Oz and they were on a 2 month tour of Europe so we had invited them to stay. Thank goodness we did for they arrived the day Jill was coming out of hospital and seemed to spend the week cooking for us - and excellent tucker it was! We were sorry to see them go. 

Left - Kerry & Colleen

Left to right - Chris, Lizi, Shireen, Geoff, Les, Jill , Brian ,Dick

in the Mess at RAF Linton

Left to Right - Dick showing off his bus pass to the

amusement of Les, Chris, Jerry & Brian

We did, however, manage a few reunions with old "89" mates including a lunch party at the Saunby's, when we celebrated his getting old. (Chris and I were born on the same day Trafalgar Day 1944 - I supposed we should have joined the Navy!), I few of us got together in the mess at RAF Linton for the York RAFA dinner in October, and I joined the SLOBBOS of "89B" Squadron for a memorable dinner. We've also got to know quite a few 96 & 94 Entry "old boys" thanks to a superb annual lunch (through to supper party) as a guest of "Deacs" and Pauline Elliot'.

Left to right - Les with the "SLOBBOS" of 89B Squadron, Dick, Nigel, Shimo, Simon (up front) Paddy, Henry, Tony & Andy

For more "89" information go to www.w4u.co.uk/89 

Business

Business has been booming. I introduced a new highly cost effective CCTV DVMR system which I import from Korea which has proved very popular with small businesses and domestic clients alike. The only snag (there's always a snag in business!) is a shortage of staff. This hopefully will be remedied in the New Year. Our business websites are being re-vamped in the new year, but if you need to increase your security go to www.afid.co.uk or www.alarm-monitoring.co.uk  We cover from Penzance to Edinburgh and Holyhead to Flamborough Head!

Last Page                                                                                                                                                 Next Page