December 2016 was a good example.  At the beginning of the month we learned that our elder daughter, Emily, is pregnant.  Such excitement as Alessandra has long been longing for a grandchild (subsequently Emily and her partner, Luigi, have been told that she is having a girl – so far as Alessandra is concerned, so much the better).

The next ‘thing’ was Sibu’s & Andile’s wedding which was held in our front garden.  I guess that Sibu is our protégée as we have seen her through school and university and the early stages of her career.  Andile had been her constant boyfriend for about seven years.  That was a very happy event and we continue to be delighted by their progress.

The third ‘thing’ was when Sophie, our younger daughter, announced her engagement to Greg.  Greg is arguably somewhat on the young side but on the other hand how many young people do you know who have spent two years working in the Antarctic and several months, on and off, in some of the less salubrious countries in darkest Africa?  December was a very exciting month.