Summer holiday in the Lake District with Samuel – sad Eleanor could not join us. Don’t mention camping in the rain, and rain and rain …

Buttermere towards Haystacks
  • Walking out from our campsite at Ravenglass
    Walking out from our campsite at Ravenglass
  • Best day hiking up the Esk Valley
    Best day hiking up the Esk Valley
  • Linda happy to be with her boy finally
    Linda happy to be with her boy finally
  • Two old ruins
    Two old ruins
  • Wasdale is just stunning
    Wasdale is just stunning
  • Great to visit our old friend Kris on their farm
    Great to visit our old friend Kris on their farm

Norfolk 2020 – we were finally allowed to use our summer house in June (four months late)

  • Oh I love that Hunstanton beach
    Oh I love that Hunstanton beach
  • Another socially distanced photo - with Liz (and Sean)
    Another socially distanced photo – with Liz (and Sean)
  • The Norfolk Lavender fields on a visit with Mum
    The Norfolk Lavender fields on a visit with Mum
  • Sheringham - ouch a wasp had just stung
    Sheringham – ouch a wasp had just stung
  • Meeting Cynthia outside at Old Hunstanton - Mummy is in our bubble so we can be close again
    Meeting Cynthia outside at Old Hunstanton – Mummy is in our bubble so we can be close again
  • And then there was August - really it was - freezing
    And then there was August – really it was – freezing
  • Look there at the USA flag remembering the war. Fitting as Tom prepares for dual citizenship.
    Look there at the USA flag remembering the war. Fitting as Tom prepares for dual citizenship.
  • Cold August couldn't stop us
    Cold August couldn’t stop us
  • And September was so different - reviving memories at Drift Farm Orchards
    And September was so different – reviving memories at Drift Farm Orchards

Lockdown images – a spring like no other

  • We got in a hired vehicle around Ferry Meadows before lockdown came
    We got in a hired vehicle around Ferry Meadows before lockdown came
  • Easter on our own. No trip to Norfolk as we were banned from going. No church services in person - Thankfully there was Zoom!
    Easter on our own. No trip to Norfolk as we were banned from going. No church services in person – Thankfully there was Zoom!
  • Eleanor's 23 birthday was quiet - yes we managed to get her home from Thailand just in time!
    Eleanor’s 23 birthday was quiet – yes we managed to get her home from Thailand just in time!
  • Happy birthday girl - garden birthday. Samuel not allowed to travel.
    Happy birthday girl – garden birthday. Samuel not allowed to travel.
  • The lockdown bike rise to visit Oscar ( and Liz!)
    The lockdown bike rise to visit Oscar ( and Liz!)
  • First lockdown visit to Peterborough us in garden and Mum in house!
    First lockdown visit to Peterborough us in garden and Mum in house!
  • Sorry Mummy we are keeping you safe!
    Sorry Mummy we are keeping you safe!
  • Finally we saw Samuel in Epping Forest, joined by Jan (who is now in New Zealand)
    Finally we saw Samuel in Epping Forest, joined by Jan (who is now in New Zealand)
  • Visit number two - suitably distanced in conservatory with Mummy consigned to the back room to eat
    Visit number two – suitably distanced in conservatory with Mummy consigned to the back room to eat
  • One of the saddest lockdown pictures - Eleanor's only contact with her grandmother through glass
    One of the saddest lockdown pictures – Eleanor’s only contact with her grandmother through glass
  • Visit two to London - all distanced and also seeing my 'god daughter' Margaret
    Visit two to London – all distanced and also seeing my ‘god daughter’ Margaret
  • We will always know which photos were taken in 2020! Visiting Helen in Leeds and dropping off Eleanor to her new home
    We will always know which photos were taken in 2020! Visiting Helen in Leeds and dropping off Eleanor to her new home

February – we didn’t really know what was coming! The pandemic was in its early days so we had a marvellous visit to Eleanor in Thailand via Qatar

  • Blue lake - amazing
    Blue lake – amazing
  • Fun at Thai cooking school
    Fun at Thai cooking school
  • Our girl on the beach
    Our girl on the beach
  • Oh so good to be together
    Oh so good to be together
  • Yummy coconut on unspoiled beach
    Yummy coconut on unspoiled beach
  • Thai festival for locals
    Thai festival for locals
  • One of the highlights of our lives - bathing the elephants (rescued)
    One of the highlights of our lives – bathing the elephants (rescued)
  • Sipping cocktails on the beach
    Sipping cocktails on the beach
  • Cruise on a Chinese boat
    Cruise on a Chinese boat
  • Divine rock pool after a big climb
    Divine rock pool after a big climb
  • Oh beach paradise
    Oh beach paradise
  • Kayaking in the mangroves
    Kayaking in the mangroves
  • The end of a simply wonderful holiday, although we sadly had to leave Eleanor behind (she came home quicker than expected!) What a wonderful place for her to be teaching.
    The end of a simply wonderful holiday, although we sadly had to leave Eleanor behind (she came home quicker than expected!) What a wonderful place for her to be teaching.

Well this has been an unusual year! It started well. Here is January…

We missed Eleanor over Christmas and New Year as she was still in Thailand. Thankfully we could keep in touch.

  • Linda's birthday was spent in London
    Linda’s birthday was spent in London
  • So good to have a day out with Samuel
    So good to have a day out with Samuel
  • On the Thames
    On the Thames
  • Oxford Street lights
    Oxford Street lights
  • Ooh go on Tommy get on that horse!
    Ooh go on Tommy get on that horse!
  • The Straw Bear Festival Whittlesey
    The Straw Bear Festival Whittlesey
  • Great dancing at the festival
    Great dancing at the festival
  • Festival with my longest friend Liz
    Festival with my longest friend Liz
  • There wise monkeys!
    Three wise monkeys!
  • A reunion of the three of us from Canterbury 1980s Andrew and David
    A reunion of the three of us from Canterbury 1980s Andrew and David, with Karen and Jess
  • Lovely reconnection with my college room mate Helen
    Lovely reconnection with my college room mate Helen
  • The two T's - Tom and Tim!
    The two T’s – Tom and Tim!

The Bartlett Christmas message

Do sit down with a cuppa or a glass of your favourite tipple and enjoy our year. Scroll down and ‘view all posts’. There are many all the way back to Christmas 2018.

We wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas, with joy and laughter in abundance. It can be a busy and challenging time on many levels, but we hope that you, and we, can hang on to the central message of peace and hope which comes from our Christian faith. We are trying hard to keep remembering to put The Christ at the beginning of Christmas! We feel grateful that our faith fills us with love and forgiveness and a quiet peace. Central to our celebrations will be our choir practices and services at St. Faiths in our village.

As well as our faith led Christmas we will be revelling in time with family and friends. We always wish we could be split down the middle on either side of the ocean. This year we will be spending Christmas Day with Linda’s brother in Lincolnshire.

We have lots to be thankful for at the end of this busy year. Both younger Bartletts are gainfully and happily employed, with good friends and are having exciting experiences. The senior Bartletts are settled in work and find it fulfilling and interesting. Our home is our sanctuary and a place of calm.

You may want to reminisce and look back at our old blogs: http://bartlettschristmas2015.blogspot.com http://ljnbartlett.blogspot.com http://bartlettschristmas2013.blogspot.com http://bartletts2012.blogspot.com It seems Linda has been a rather erratic blogger over the years!

So, Happy Christmas to you all! Do send us your news. We really do want to know.

With much love from Linda, Tom, Samuel and Eleanor x

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