January

On the first Saturday of the year, Steve took Ruby and Olivia to Apple Howling. This strange sounding ceremony comprises a torchlit procession to an orchard where cider is poured onto an apple tree and a cake placed in its branches, before children beat its trunk with twigs. Then there is Morris Dancing, another procession back to the barn where cider is drunk and wassail cake consumed. The whole thing is organised by the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men, who are celebrating their 50th year this year.

February

Ruby's birthday celebrations took the form of a "make-over" party for her and several friends. They all got their hair, faces, nails etc. done. There was a karaoke machine to keep them busy while they were waiting their turn.
Deirdre is now Treasurer of Barcombe School Parent Teacher Association (PTA). As a result we were invited to a cheese and wine party (in Ringmer). I thought such parties had died out twenty years ago!
A couple of weeks later the PTA held a '70s & '80s Disco in the village hall. Steve went as a punk and Deirdre as a New Romantic.

Olivia went to her first party - at a farm where you can stroke weird-looking pigs and hold rabbits - you probably know the sort of thing. The boy whose party it was goes to the same nursery as Olivia. She has been steadily increasing her attendance, and at the time of writing (May) she now goes two and a half days per week to Early Years in Lewes. She calls it "Ingoes" which is how she says "Flamingoes" - the class she's in. (All the classes are birds' names - like Sharon, Tracey...)

March

Daniel and Lauren returned to the fold for about two weeks while they built up the courage to fly the nest (or rather the country) altogether and go interrailing around Europe. Anyone who is anyone (to them) will have been receiving regular updates for a while now...

We all went up to Suffolk to Steve's cousin's "Conception Party". The idea being that, since he will be 50 on the day after Boxing Day, no-one would want to go to his birthday party, so he held it nine months early. Unfortunately, Olivia contracted a nasty tummy bug which kept her (and at least one parent) out of action for most of the weekend. Ruby wasn't too impressed at the first manifestation of this bug, which was projectile vomiting at her from the bows of the rowing boat we had hired. Neither was the boat's owner, methinks!

April

All the Jarvis boys (and their other halves) came round for dinner - we had an Arabian Night, with some pretty poor puns on the menu which don't actually merit repetition here.

The four of us went on a week's holiday to the Isle of Wight. We stayed in a little village called Bonchurch, which is next-door to Ventnor, on the south coast of the island. We were only minutes walk from the beach, which the girls loved. Steve enjoyed the fact that we were only a few more minutes walk from a beach-side pub.

May

Ruby's school put on a dancing display on 1st May (May Day). There was country, maypole and line dancing.
The May Day Bank Holiday saw the usual Garland Day Parade through Lewes. Ruby and Olivia took part (but not in an official capacity) and Deirdre and Steve went along for the beer (or Gin and Tonic!)
In the afternoon we visited Glyndebourne for a cream tea and a walk around the gardens. All in aid of Barcombe School PTA. Very nice. We really must get to go to an opera one of these days...

This same weekend was tragic from a football point of view. Bad enough that Lewes failed to achieve a promotion spot (despite a convincing 6-2 victory which Ruby and Steve attended) and ManUre won the Premiership again. But worst of all, Brighton were relegated back to Division Two (from whence they were promoted as champions only last season).

Daniel and Lauren have returned from their European adventure. Who knows where they will venture next: Cornwall? Wales? Scotland? Watch this space (and their numerous hotmail bulletins). (Thought: they really ought to set up their own website to chart their progress around the world!)

Work news: Steve's company has re-named itself KMR Software (from KMR-SPC) - which is a waste of time and money - and decided to relocate to Ealing - which will be a disaster. An extra 80 minutes travelling every day means the idea is a non-starter, and unless home working can be arranged, guess who will be looking for another job!

June

We started digging an enormous hole in the back garden. The plan was to extend the patio. Paul (Steve's brother) helped with the concreting. Then we realised that we couldn't get any paving slabs to match the existing ones - the company that makes them has changed the colours. Daniel and Lauren flew back to Brisbane - after "doing" Britain in about four weeks.

July

We went to see George Melly at Hever Castle.

Ruby's school took part in an arts Festival which included a procession round Lewes carrying an enormous spaceman model!

August

We went to Norfolk, to spend ten days in a caravan in Mundesley. We had a lovely view of the sea from the top of a small cliff.

September

Finally decided on which slabs to get for the patio. They turn up - one short! I'm beginning to wonder what was wrong with the old patio! The suppliers arrange to send another - which they do. Only problem was, it was the wrong size. Finally the shop got hold of one the right size for us.

Paul and Vanessa became the proud parents of Anna.

2003 is the Cliffe's 150th anniversary. There was a party down the torch shed to commemorate it, but unfortunately we had to come home before the fireworks were let off as the girls had to go to bed. Steve and Ruby started their bonfire night preparations by helping to make 150 crosses which are going to decorate the firesite.

October

The patio is finally complete. Now all I've got to do is build a BBQ. And a fence. And a pond. And a fireplace. And a pergola...

We all went to Roedean School's indoor pool to watch Ruby have a trial SCUBA diving lesson. She spent about an hour in the water, practising things like sharing air and clearing her mask. She looked like a natural! The group organiser suggested not to let her learn until about April, when the sea will start to be a bit warmer. (I would have left it until August!) So all Ruby needs to do now is save up for the lessons proper.

Steve and the girls took part in Nevill bonfire celebrations - Olivia completed the whole of the first procession.

November

More bonfire - this time Newick, Lewes and Barcombe. This year was the 150th anniversary of Cliffe Bonfire Society so there were more than ever marching with us on the fifth. Firle BS were supposed to be with the Cliffe, but were advised by the police not to take part, in case of any trouble that might occur. For those of you who have been on another planet (or maybe just outside the UK) Firle caused an enormous stink by choosing as their tableau a "travellers'" caravan. Some silly woman living in Firle reported it to the Commission for Racial Equality, and the police are threatening to arest and prosecute members of the society. What a load of codswallop - the bloody politically correct do-gooders try to bring race (or sex) into everything. It's high time they just pissed off and let us get on with our lives! I don't recall any CRE interference trying to stick up for the landowners whose land was being covered in human waste by the so-called travellers.

December

We went to Australia - click here to see our holiday pictures.
Highlights included: