As we approach Christmas - 66 days at the time of writing. I look back at a memorable year. Sadie took her first steps, much to everyone’s delight. Michael has been dangled a carrot of a future promotion and, after 5 months of work, has been awarded a salary increase and a three-week holiday. We visited Cornwall to celebrate Robert’s 30th and Somerset for a family weekend away and to celebrate my birthday, all blogged separately. Lauren Bell-Brown is now a teacher of art at a posh school in...

Dishwasher Susan has a Beko Dishwasher, I know, bordering on the bazaar. After several attempts to plumb it in, we finally have an operating machine that washes dishes. After what seems like an enormous amount of money, first to buy the machine, and I was clever, I asked it to be installed. First mistake: install in Curry’s terms, means placing it in the kitchen and connecting the water and drain up. We have a washing machine which is connected, but that means there are no connections for the...

‘Bangladesh thrashed Australia by nine wickets on the fourth day of the series-opener in Darwin to complete one of Test cricket's greatest upsets’. First Test, Darwin (day four of five) Australia 198: (Smith 71; Mahmud 6-55) & 284 (Green 104; Miraz 5-66) Bangladesh 426: (Tanzid 101, Shanto 84, Miraz 65; Hazlewood 6-89) & 57-1 (Mominul 30*) Bangladesh win by nine wickets Enough said, a nation in mourning must be respected. There is a lovely photo of Lily with the family and Sadie. Lily is now...