In
March 2020 Dorothy and Murray went to our house in Crete for two weeks, to put things in order. We returned to the UK, this year, a mere 15 months later! Greece has had its brushes with the pandemic but generally we felt safe amid our 25 olive trees, caring for the assorted cats and two noisy hens.
We had plenty to get on with.
Dorothy, with her colleague, kept their property investment business chugging along. She worked long distance on the renovation of a charming property on the high street of a Berkshire village. Now, where there were two empty retail outlets, a thriving barber’s shop serves the local community. Next door an artist offers a bespoke service to well known celebrities who wish to augment their natural beauty with discrete tattoos.
This coming year, the rest of the Victorian building will become a two bedroom cottage and one bedroom flat
Murray
brought his new book, The I of the Storm, to print readiness. In it, he had poured over twenty years of experience from his consultancy days. Although it is aimed at teachers who might be looking for a mid-life change in their career, the principles apply to anyone seeking to change their life direction and fulfil their dreams.
With help from those who know about these things, the book was successfully launched and achieved International Best Seller status over a five day period. A hearty thank you to any readers here who helped Murray achieve that!
Staying
in Crete so long gave Dorothy’s green fingers a chance to work their magic. The northern border of our Cretan house has vines beginning to flourish (no grapes as yet!). Fruit trees adorn the eastern run. Our lawn, green – with various flora, some of which may be grass – now has a surrounding of vibrant bushes and exotic plants which delight the eye and change appearance with the seasons.
WE
felt very blessed at the beginning of the year. Natalia, Dorothy’s younger daughter, came to join us for three weeks. The flight cancellations meant she stayed three months in the end. We felt very blessed, and Talie had a chance to reposition her career as a film maker. Since she returned to the UK she has been sought after for her videographer skills and may well move to Bristol this coming year to continue working with the company that made My Octopus Teacher (if you don’t know the film it is an absolute ‘must watch’ on Netflix).
Roxanne
moved on from her stint as a policy specialist with the CBI. She was head-hunted for her ‘dream job’ at Channel 4, continuing her specialism in digital policy. Channel 4 has been in her sights since she left uni but in the end the opportunity came out of the blue.
On the eve of her first day in her new role we were due to meet at a BBQ. Roxy had to pull out as she was running a high temperature. Luckily, it was a common or garden fever, but meant her first week at her new job, was experienced through the haze of paracetamol and perspiration.
With
restrictions lifted, Roxy and her partner Maude were able to visit Crete in the late summer. We spent a great week together, doing justice to the excellent seafood restaurants. The cats were particularly pleased to have friends old and new to cosset them.
