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Christmas 1998

Seasons Greetings!

Lez at University

Well, I am now in my 3rd and final year and starting to think about what I am going to do next year. First, though, results from year 2:

Late Baroque (history)

12/16

15th Century Music (history)

14/16

Classical Style (history)

13/16

16th century counterpoint (harmony)

12/16

Editorial techniques

14/16

Orchestral techniques

14/16

These results show that I should get a 2:1 (maybe even a first?!). I bought a Cor Anglais (big oboe) in the summer so I can use if for my recital in May. I am also studying composition and history (medieval). I've played in Ripon Cathedral and have performed in 3 other concerts so far this year.

Teacher Lez

I spent the first six months of this year being a peripatetic woodwind teacher for Warks County Music Service. I taught clarinet and flute to 8-10 year olds in 2 schools each week. I did really enjoy the teaching, but not anything else about the job (well, okay the money was useful!). So, I have decided that I don't want to be a full-time music teacher. So what do I want to do? Read on.

What next for Lez?

I am planning on taking on further study next year, but not music. Instead I am looking to do an MSc in Information Technology either in Leicester or Coventry. I've got the application forms and need to work out how I can pay for the course since I am unlikely to get any outside funding.

Car boot sales

For years our loft has been full to bursting with stuff too good to throw away and very suitable for a car boot sale. Andrew didn't want to go to one on a Sunday and a Saturday Car Boot is like a four leaf clover. Until you visit Dunchurch that is. We've sold lots of items, and hope to continue next year.

Cars

The Chevette needed work on the body for the MOT this summer. Andrew decided to sell it because at the same time his Father-in-law was selling his Volvo (1985 model 125,000 miles) and Lez never liked the Chevette. For a time we were a 2 car family.

Nobody wanted the Chevette. One company offered me £25 to take it away - I pay £25 and they take it away! Scrapyards wouldn't touch it and eventually it was sold to a '1970s dealer' (who wanted the tyres) for £10. The Volvo has had its interesting moments like an alternator failure, together with a flat battery, leaving engine power but no lights on the M69 at night. But it's not let us down yet on a long journey.

Bikes

In February Andrew stopped at traffic lights in Leicester but the van behind didn't. I know who owns the van, but the person who was driving doesn't exist and the police can't trace him. I have repaired my cycle and my back no longer hurts. It's just a shame that there is no way I can pursue anybody for the pain, suffering and damages to me and the bike.

Summer saw us on a camping holiday in the Lake District - Grizedale Forest. Andrew decided to hire a bike for the day and was so impressed he bought it! It was a struggle to fit it in the car for the journey back. After adding a saddle, mudguards, pannier rack, bell, lights and reflectors, it has now been put into service in Leicester.

Shortly Andrew's 1955 BSA Regency will be available. Do you know of any collectors of these? It's got lots of original and period parts!

Canal Holiday

In the week before Easter we went on a canal holiday to Hinckley! Lez's parents and brother joined us on a narrowboat holiday from Warwick during the wettest week of the spring. Many rivers were flooded in the Warks area. Andrew and Lez's Dad went into Leamington and saw the floods there. However, the canal we were on was higher than the river and so we were okay. It was a very scary and wet experience going through locks with thunder and lightning overhead for three hours. Every evening saw us trying to dry out ready for the next onslaught of rain the following day. Some days we were on the go for 13 hours. (This was in order to get to a particular pub for dinner!) The most difficult steering part was turning into the Ashby Canal - 65 foot of boat into a 7 foot gap with a 90 degree turn. Not easy - and, of course, lots of people watched us struggle to do this! Coming back we did it perfectly - and there was no-one to see! Typical.

With love

Andrew's signature     Lez's signature

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Christmas 1998

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