Christmas Newsletter 2004
Hello and welcome to my 2004 newsletter, my second on-line. Click on the hyperlinks if you want to see more information. I have also updated my website with some new features, including "Rushden - The Early Years".
Like last year, Kate has banned me from sharing any of her news on this site, so suffice to say that her music degree (now in its fourth year) and other enterprises are going well. [I don't think Kate will mind though if I mention that she organised a concert in our local church featuring the internationally-acclaimed clarinet maestro David Campbell, raising £1500 towards the "Grand Piano Fund".]
So what have I been up to this year? Work has settled down now after Pfizer's acquisition activities of 2003; extremely busy still but generally satisfying. I have visited London, Paris, Rome and Washington, as well as San Francisco, New York and Boston this year, both business and leisure. This is also my first year as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry & Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group (visit our website here), which included chairing a newsworthy session at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester in September. I became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in January. A friend from my Unilever days (1985-87), Andy Tudor, came to work for Pfizer this year - small world.
I have not had any time to go fishing this year, but have managed a lot of cycling - 1950 miles so far to be exact, beating last year's effort of 1488.4 miles comfortably and well on track for my target of 2000 miles. The monthly stats are: mean 191.3 miles, median 189.9 miles, min 131.2 miles, max 268.3 miles (n=10). Spot the analyst! Most of this has been to and from work, however I also took part in the 2004 British Heart Foundation London to Brighton ride, 58 miles in all. I didn't take my camera (to save weight) so you'll just have to take my word for the beautiful Sussex countryside and the killer gradient right at the end at Ditchling Beacon. I might ride it again next year, maybe this time with Maxwell, although I am semi-seriously looking at some longer distance rides (maybe the Thames Path in 2005, or Lands End to John O'Groats for my 40th in 2006 - "LEJoG" to the officianados). I did also manage to see my "home county" Northants overcome Kent in the Totesport Cricket League to maintain their Division One status.
We have had a number of holidays this year, Rome and Sicily being the most noteable by virtue of the places we visited (photos here) and being organised entirely on the internet. We had a cottage holiday in Warwickshire in August and I took the children on a half-term break in October to Liverpool. The Maritime Museum, Tate Modern and "The Beatles Story" exhibition at the Albert Dock are all worth visiting. We went on a Magical Mystery Tour, visiting notable locations associated with the Beatles, including the childhood homes of Lennon and McCartney now owned by The National Trust ("Mendips" and 20 Forthlin Road respectively). We have also visited the RAF Museum at Hendon this year.
On the family front, Maxwell and Harriet continue to enjoy school (I think), cubs, brownies etc., as well as persevering with numerous musical instruments. Maxwell plays his trumpet in the Pfizer Wind Orchestra training band and has just taken his Grade 2 exam. He was 10 in November - doesn't time fly? I also became the treasurer of the 9th Deal (Ash) Scout Group in May. We had some sadder news as my uncle, John MacDonald, passed away earlier this year, however on a brighter note, my uncle, Paul Robinson, celebrated his combined 60th birthday/retirement with a "surprise" party in August. My brother-in-law Jonathan and his wife Zoe also celebrated the fifth addition to their family (Riannon) in September. Ladbrokes have apparently closed their books on number six.
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| Lightning conductor | This man is 60 | |
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| Prince Charcoal (Netherland Dwarf) | Beer taster |
So with that, it just remains for me to wish you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. If you are visiting East Kent (maybe en route to France) then please drop in, we are about 20 minutes' drive from Dover. As if that is not sufficient incentive, they have just converted the pub 200 yards up the road from us into an Indian Restaurant.
Stephen
P.S. It would be great if you could sign the guest book, which is somewhat under-populated!
Last edited 20/11/2004 13:39