Increasingly we feel like techno-dinosaurs, we definitely need a resident teenager.

This is Luke (no longer a teenager) in action sorting out new mobile phones for us. He was on his way to give some Lectures in Cambridge. Luke builds robots, fights with Rhododendrons and purely for enjoyment, plants trees, and entertains a pair of cats, in the Highlands.

Ross joined us in Robin Hood’s Bay this year, having blagged a new GB Passport. Ross employs people to explore the theoretical side of Astrophysics to integrate much mathematics and physics, and hence, better to understand the way the universe works. (Can you tell that I don’t really know what I am talking about)?

Clearly Ross does know what he is talking about as the student body at the Faculty awarded him the annual prize for teaching. (Click the pic).
This is a great honour, Ross was thrilled.

Ross ran the half-marathon between Copenhagan and Malmo across the Øresund Bridge and Tunnel, and also enjoys the Scottish Rhododendron campaign when given the opportunity.
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Christine’s dramatic activities (from which Peter benefits) have carried on apace. Hull Truck love us so much that we get to see the occasional technical rehearsal as well as going to see the plays.

To Infirmity and Beyond” was performed in June 2025, and the next play, which is based on a true story, is “Old Habits”; scheduled for June 2026.

The Grand Hotel Scarborough, Terrace view, see left. We finally managed to get to the Grand Hotel in Scarborough (as part of a trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre). A good place to visit but there are better places to stay.

The Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. And we also managed a brilliant weekend in Edinburgh, taking in the Lyceum Theatre, The One World Shop, and the National Museum of Scotland.

We have been adopted by an urban fox. She was first spotted down by the pond, curled up in a pool of sunshine, snoozing. Latterly she has taken to looking in at the back door, cocking her head, and making eye contact with us. She’s a bit picky about food, chicken giblets and the odd slice of bacon get consumed happily, and an occasional suet ball, (meant for the blue tits) also goes down OK. Good-for-you veggies, no thanks.

The garden has improved with the owners of No 31 suppressing the excessive growth of privet and ivy, the too-tall sycamores could do with a dose of die-back. A random, self-seeding wild plant would normally be classified as a weed but we have welcomed the evening primroses and foxgloves, and their attendant insects. Which reminds me, we have a bug hotel made from pallets, and in-fill.
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Back in 2007 two of our shop volunteers invited us to join their book club which had an extra purpose of raising money for Action Aid. In 2014 the original leaders left the area and Peter took over, and 11 years on we are going strong with 12 members. This years reading finished on the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, so we happily partied in her honour.

The connecting theme, Fair Trade, is still going well even after we stopped running the shop. Hull City Council now has Fairtrade City Notices at the city boundary on many of the main roads.

Fairtrade City – Hull, 2025 = 20th Birthday.

We had numerous excursions during the year, here's a few of them

Excursions include The Lion at Blakey, our favourite pub, where we met up with Jonathan Tite; Knaresborough (for Handbells); South Bank of the Humber (Walking); Yorkshire Sculpture Park (spot the Christine?); Hull Fair (hard to describe in a word or two).
There was a serious outbreak of highly coloured rats inspired by the outbreak of Larkin's Toads (pronounced so to rhyme with "words") which were evident in 2017 when Hull was the UK City of Culture. This rat was spotted at Mires Beck nursery near North Cave.
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Dramatic activities

Christine’s other drama group had a couple of plays towards the end of the year, a play about suffragettes, and also a mummers Play at Christmas.

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Bits and bobs

Quite a bit of handbell ringing happened in 2025, 40 quarter peals, 3 full peals, and two date touches:
1875 for the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Avenues Estate. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1908013,
1775 for Jane Austen’s birthday. https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1920439

Sadly, Peter’s desire to experience the 50s and 60s music at the show entitled “Rave On” was scotched by an attack from cucurbitacin poison from a toxic squash. However, we did get to see and hear some excellent Jazz from our friends Pete and Frankie (Mambo Jambo) and percussionist, Gary Hammond.

Following the flare up of Arthritis in 2024 Peter has been gentle on the knee joints and has had generally few health issues to deal with. Christine’s hearing has improved dramatically with hearing aids linked to her mobile phone.

And then it was party time.

Just before Christmas we hosted the annual Advent Calendar walk, which was followed by mulled wine, mini spies, and a buffet.

Christmas was blessed by a visit from Ross and we had a dear friend Anne with us for Christmas Dinner.

The year ended with a lovely dinner invitation from two of Chris’s dramatic friends which included a super fireworks display from Newland Homes.
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So onwards to 2026, subtract the 1946 for Peter’s entry and we have a big zero year. Please may it go better than the last big zero year.

Best wishes for 2026. Pete and Chris

Starters

Mulled Wine - Hot, sweet, cinnamon and citrus fruit.

Carrot Soup and Bread Bun

Savouries

Feta Cheese and Olives Savoury Cake
- contains milk, cheese, eggs

Mushroom & Cashew Nut Flan
- Vegan,but not allium free

Veggie Rolls
- probably Vegan

Jacket Roast Potato
- choice of fillings

Smoked Mackerel in Mayonaise Filling

Red Cabbage Cole Slaw

Creole Banana Salad
- savoury and sweet flavours with a bite

Pepperdews stuffed with Cream Cheese

Olive Bread and Hummus

Muhammara -
Roasted Red Peppers and Walnut dip

Crackers -

Crudities -

Sweets

Certosino
- Italian Fruity cake
loaded with flavour bombs

Mini Spies

Flapjacks

Trifle