Patsy and John's Web-site

2015 has been a mixed year which has seen plenty of changes for the Atkinson family. John's had hoped that his new medication would improve his condition but at best, it has only maintained it. It has also changed his range of side effects, in particular, his leg strength/walking ability (low haemaglobin level) and taste buds. He now has to have regular transfusions of blood and a 'bone protector', Zometa. With his previous track record of squeamishness, he has had to develop a whole range of diversionary tactics to see him through. These were also necessary at the beginning of December when he had a cataract removed. He had to wear an eye patch so circulated friends and family as he felt that this would make getting a present easy - parrot, wooden leg, three cornered hat or crutch. 24 hours had not passed when he found a parrot in his lemon tree (see below). What was less impressive was that while John was waiting to be released from the ward, a youngish lady started talking to Patsy who was asked if she had any problems when bringing her dad to the hospital. I should have been insulted but decided that all the money that goes on trying to keep Patsy looking young must be working.

Hopefully that is all the negatives out of the way and I can provide a brief summary of our more cheerful news. John has been able to continue with his quest of refurbishing our house, our bedroom being the main target for 2015. Although it has taken much longer than expected, it has been worthwhile. The living room will be his 2016 venture but should not require anything like the same effort.

With the Open being at St Andrews this year, Patsy and John spent a full week there, paying an eye watering sum to the University for the priveledge of staying in the Agnes Blackadder Hall of Residence. The high winds added to the expense as the cancellation of a day's play resulted in John treating Patsy to a Galvin Green waterproof top (even the reduced price is still expensive).

We also managed a holiday in France which because of John's strict pill regime, coincided with our 45th wedding anniversary. He currently has to take up to 15 pills of which 9 are mandatory which certainly tests his planning capabilities. Some are to address symptoms of symptoms and others have affected his taste buds. As this includes wine, we may have a little difficulty getting through the 80 bottles brought back from France. We did manage some walking on the beaches of Northern Brittany but we were a bit restricted by John's haemaglobin levels which resulted in rather a lot of breathlessness. However the delights of French cuisine certainly made up for this.

In addition we had a very enjoyable day out at Woodhorn Colliery Museum where some of the poppies that had been on display at the Tower of London last year had been sculptured into a water fall from a pit wheel, something that even John found impressive (unlike the tea and scone to follow).

As any of you with children will know, given half a chance, they will always help you spend your money. Stephen has always been good at this although to be fair, he has often produced very good ideas. This year he excelled by suggesting that our patio which needed quite a bit of refurbishment, could be replaced by a putting green. It was probably more than twice the cost but it does look better and is an enjoyable addition to the garden.

John, Just After Cataract Removal Some thought the eye patch was an improvement	Lemon Tree, Complete with Parrot Well You Didn't Think it Would be Real	The 18th at St Andrews, the Red Building Behind the Green Used to be a Residence Where John (1964-6) and Patsy (1966-8) Both Stayed in as Undergraduates
French Cuisine Arguably, Our Main Reason for Holidaying in France	Patsy Enjoying the Cuisine	The Putting Green Not Quite Augusta	The Poppies of 2014 from The Tower, on Show at Woodorn Museum               Home to the Pitment Painters

Following the surprise marriage of last year, Jan and Dave have again managed to provide some unexpected news. Dave has now left Rolls Royce and returned to the world of academia, taking up a senior lecturer post at Coventry University. In spite of a long commute at present, he is enjoying the change which suggests that he has made a good decision. Jan is working part time in London which again appears to be a suitable arrangement as she can provide a useful service but not work the rediculously long hours that she used to. They are busy sprucing up the converted barn with the hope of selling after Christmas.

Conversely, Stephen and Clare's news is probably similar to last year in that they are still teaching at the same school and continue to partake in triathlons. They have extended their repetoir to the Olympic distance. Seth, who is now 6 going on 7 is still sports mad and has the advantage (like his grandad) of being left footed. He has become a prolific scorer for his football team (there was a better picture but thanks to the skill of the photographer, it ended up as a 'spot the ball' competition). Seth is also extremely numerate and actually enjoys mental arithmatic, something that is a feature of the Atkinson family. Another area where Seth shows frightening similarities to an Atkinson is thrift. When John visited water theme parks, he would always seek value for money, in particular to achieve a cost of less than one dollar per ride. Have a look at Seth's report below to see that this policy has not been lost on him. Seren is now 3 and pretty mature for that age. She will proudly tell you that she is the only girl in the football group and has been player of the week recently. She will often surprise you by asking a deeply searching question or as can be seen from the last two pictures, doing the unexpected. I know that Patsy and I are biased but the two are a delight and a great credit to their parents. Patsy takes care of her on Thursdays when the rest of the family are at school.

Seth and That Sweet Left Foot	Not a Bad Running Style Either	Is it Me or Is the Left Arm Just Ahead of Where it Should Be
An Extract from Seth's Visit Report to a Water Park	Seth With Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow (after watching England beat New Zealand)	After the Same Game, Seth Starting to Follow the Family's Memorabillia Tradition with an Autographed Bat.
New Kit Pose, One Has Got the Idea Slightly Better than the Other	Who Needs their Mum or Dad When Big Brother Provides Bedtime Reading	The Family
The Left Seem to be Correctly Kitted for the Game; Not Sure About the Right	Footballer of the Week	The Make-up Artist With Full Pose

The Style is Good, Can't Comment on the Sound

Patsy still has a very busy life; apart from her caring and childminder duties, she now does most of the driving (John does drive but doesn't tend to do so on days that he takes steroids) and keeps herself pretty fit with aerobics classes. She has also had to take over mowing duties to add to her gardening ones (a robotic mower is on the wanted list for next year).
Another, albeit a more minor target for 2015 was that John (and anyone else willing to participate) would have a drink on Christmas Day with a wedge from the infamous lemon tree. As you can see, John managed without difficulty and was joined by Jan although hers did substitute the G&T with hot water

The Lemon Tree with Christmas Cactus
(that was rescued from Swan Hunter when John left there in 1995

Ceremonial Cutting

The Finale

Link to 2014 'Letter'

Link to 2013 'Letter'

Link to 2012 'Letter'