News snippets

This section is mainly news about what myself and the family are up to, so may not interest many of you!

This past year has not been an easy year business-wise. We mainly supply small shops in Wales, and many of these have been struggling or even closing. However, sales through the website from people such as yourselves have really grown and helped offset the downturn. Thank you very much for your continued interest and support.

I was recently interviewed by Aled Jones for Songs of Praise. The programme is based on Snowdonia and should go out sometime around St. David’s Day (1st March) next year.

Our eldest, Abi, did very well in her A levels, and has now moved out to Kenya for a gap year. She is helping in a Christian school there, St. Andrews, Turi. She was recently sent out to a local primary school to teach a class of 60 children on her own, with no training and no lesson plan. She got on really well and loved it so much that she is now visiting the school weekly. We are lucky enough to be going out to visit her over Christmas, and will look forward to seeing what life is like there.

Earlier in the year our family climbed a mountain called Adam’s Peak, which is 7,500 feet high and is in Sri Lanka. It is an attractively shaped mountain that is used as a pilgrimage by 3 different religions, but mostly by Buddhists. We climbed it overnight in order to be on the summit for dawn. We certainly attracted some attention, as I don’t think too many Europeans pass this way.

We spent a few days at Soul Survivor early in the summer holidays. This is a Christian youth festival, based at Stafford County Showground. I do not like mass camping experiences at the best of times, and my fears were heightened when it poured with rain as we tried to set out tents up. However, my spirits were lifted by the events of the week, despite the rain and mud. There is something invigorating about being amongst a large group of young people who genuinely want to worship the Lord. We all came back refreshed and excited about what lies ahead.

The second year of my return from cricket retirement has gone surprisingly well. Jonathan, Jack and myself have been playing for Dolgellau. I should not be trying to be a pace bowler in my 50’s, but somehow the wickets still tumble. I also discovered that I can still swing a bat a bit. However, the best thing is being able to play in the same team as the boys and see them develop into good cricketers. Jon is now a very capable bowler at adult level.

The family are now all qualified as scuba divers (PADI Open Water) and I am very much looking forward to introducing them to some of the underwater delights of the Red Sea.

Ali bought me a day out at Silverstone in a single seater. After a time of training and practice, I ended up in a 32 lap race with 13 other people. You can rest assured that my 4th place finish will not get me a seat in the Ferrari team next year, but I really enjoyed the experience.