As we seem to have acquired a PC (which is obviously the highlight of the year) we thought we'd have a stab at summing up 1998 in this convenient, if impersonal, genre. So what happened?

January

Ruby started school full-time (having been going mornings only for her first term). Steve went into hospital for a hernia repair (yes, another one!) this time in and out the same day. It was two days before his birthday, and he was warned quite definitely not to drink whilst taking the painkillers. So he had to make a sacrifice, and do without the painkillers on the big day!

February

Steve joined the committee for Barcombe Bonfire Society. This basically means that he's getting roped in to help raise money to buy fireworks for the big night (see November). Here is the badge he designed for this year:

March

Steve bought some lights for his bike so he can cycle to the station (and home again) in the dark. Can't see this lasting! (It didn't!)

June

After weeks of painful expectation, Michelle (the younger of Deirdre's sisters) and her two girls Bianka and Niarrie arrived for an almost indefinite stay. We were prepared for her presence even until Christmas! The Jarvis brothers attempted to teach Michelle how to drink. Unfortunately at a Kondoms concert they rather overdid their task, leaving Michelle to run a mile at the smell of hock henceforth. (The Kondoms are a rather average covers band in which brothers Mark (vocals) and Paul (drums) play.)

St. John's College, Cambridge held a re-union dinner, and having missed the last one seven years ago, it was good to meet up with lots of old friends. Surprised to find that another fellow Johnian lives in Barcombe!

July

We went for a short holiday in Norfolk. We first stayed one night in a tent in Essex so we could go to a wedding, then on to Mundesley on the north coast of Norfolk, to stay in a friend's caravan. On a day trip to Cambridge, our punt was rammed by some idiot Japanese tourists and Steve fell in the river. Luckily, being an old boy, he was allowed to use the college laundry and dry out his clothes.

August

Steve, Ruby, Bianka and Niarrie went to see Lewes vs Brighton in a pre-season friendly. It remains the only time this year Brighton have played in Sussex, having been playing at Gillingham, Kent since the sale of their ground two years ago. Toys 'R' Us now stands on the hallowed ground, in case you're interested. (You mean you're still reading this?!) (He's talking about football, or soccer to you aussies). We all went to Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn lived before marrying King Henry VIII. It was an interesting day out for all; there was a jousting show as well as static displays etc. The girls especially liked the old fashioned costumes. Michelle decided that she'd had enough of England (or was it just us?) and returned to Brisbane with the girls. Maybe it was the dread of the encroaching Bonfire season!

September

Ruby's second year of school, appropriately named Year One, begins. The three of us went to Dieppe for a day trip - Ruby's first time in France. We went on the now-defunct fast catamaran from Newhaven (just over two hours). Ruby asked if next time she could go to the 'Real France'.

October

Er, dancing- (or rather drinking-) in Harvey's Old Ale. Which was nice. Torch-making for Barcombe Bonfire starts. Ruby and Steve went to stay with a cousin in Nuneaton for Half Term. Deirdre didn't have any spare holiday (see below).

November

Without a doubt the most important thing this month was Bonfire. Both Lewes' and Barcombe's nights were great successes. The main tableau (built by Steve's brother, BJ) was Bill Clinton dressed as Captain Viagra, emerging from a Viagra bottle sitting on a missile (!). It was entitled Hard at Work, but was sub-titled In Gob We Thrust. The whole thing caused much hilarity as we pulled it through the streets of Lewes. Steve dressed as an Hussar for Lewes and Wyatt Earp for Barcombe two days later; Ruby dressed as a saloon girl on both occasions. The following week they both went as smugglers to Nevill. Exciting stuff isn't it!? Oh, and Deirdre went to Sydney for nine days for Vanessa's wedding.

December

The Cliffe Bonfire Society's annual Black Tie dinner went down with the usual hilarity and hangovers. Vanessa and Paul (Steve's brother) moved into their new house they bought and had a house warming party - it was absolutely freezing that day! Christmas was the usual array of drinking and eating to excess. Christmas day we spent down the Juggs at lunchtime and then came home and devoured the turkey and had Ruby doling out all the presents from under the tree. She did that quite well now that she can read just about anything. We had no snow and reasonably mild weather to go with it. New Year's Eve came and went with the usual bang - we stayed in - Deirdre hadn't been well and had only a glass of champagne and watched television. It was excitement plus.