Julie and I got together about 4 years ago now. She has been the driving force in getting this part of the family back together. For a while we lived over the Leonard Ley surgery in the flat. Three years ago we started looking for somewhere else to live, and found the Orangery as the first place we looked at. We wanted somewhere run down to restore together. It was so hard to buy as no one will lend money on a wreck. Eventually the project had to be financed through the business. We were sure that we were going to get it, but it took 5 months, and nearly was bought by others at least twice. It was auctioned at one point, but the vendor was too greedy to let it go. Fortune smiled on us a year later when we started work with the most brilliant small builder. Three men did most of the work, but the builder recommended some really excellent contractors for the joinery, plumbing and electrics, and all are amazed at the stunning results. I supervised the work, and we did all the clearing and the garden, and decorating and planning.

Julie’s daughter Laura lived with us at the flat, and has continued there with her boyfriend. Samantha lived with us at the Orangery for a few months but now lives with her boyfriend in Lowestoft. She was very stressed after living on her own and then a difficult job in Portsmouth. Now she is working in the office at the surgery. Amanda finished her nursing training at the beginning of the year, and has been working since on the medical wards at the James Paget Hospital. Christian has settled quickly into a new school at Belton after they moved from the rented farmhouse at David’s work in Westleton, and bought their own home in Belton. Gina has been over with children, and Marion visited also with Casey, and we had a most wonderful evening with the three youngsters together (Casey, Luis and Sofia). They ate themselves silly also.

We held a party to celebrate my being 25 years in practice in Yarmouth combined with a year of our marriage, and a housewarming for the Orangery. There was a marquee outside the front of the house, and we had a disco in that, and there was live music in the Orangery. Samantha sang, as did Julie, and I; Julie playing the grand piano. Then Laura and her friend took over, and later one of the local gynae consultants and his family continued on after midnight with accordion and guitar. Fireworks were spectacular and the noise summoned the police it appears, though they never came up the drive.

We discovered a small musical soiree venue in a barn near Beccles, that holds regular evenings with singers and piano. Another time we were out at Wymondham looking at gardens to inspire us. Radio Norfolk had said there were 20 or so gardens open for the weekend, but when we got there we found none at all! There was a rectory garden open in a nearby village that we visited, and after that we drove around to go back to Wymondham. We somehow stumbled on a large hall well off the beaten track that advertised pick your own strawberries, and I said let’s go in to snoop for interest. It so happened that they were also advertising a concert, but when we came out of the walled fruit gardens, Julie suddenly remembered she was supposed to be baby sitting in Gorleston. We jumped into the car and raced away towards Norwich, but it was clear that we were too late.

Julie’s niece Alicia had been successful the previous October at the BBC in London, in winning the title of BBC young chorister of the year. We had driven to London to lend our support, arriving ten minutes prior to the start, which was a bit nail biting. However Alicia won this year, having been runner up the year before. Julie had recorded the initial entry with her and arranged the music. You may have since heard Alicia on the radio, or seen and heard her on “songs of praise”. She was on this particular afternoon singing at St Nicholas in Yarmouth. She also sang for us at our wedding.

Having decided we couldn’t possibly make it to Gorleston, we decided after some phone calls not to try. The decision then was to return to the concert at Kimberly Hall, but then we couldn’t find it again, and no one in the vicinity knew it either. Eventually we discovered it again, but missed the start of the concert, and were sat in the middle of the choir. We were encouraged to join in towards the end. During the interval we got talking with Ronald Buxton, the owner of Kimberly Hall. He had bought the place in 1952 and had been at one time elected as a conservative who displaced a member of the Wilson government in a famous by election at Leytonstone. His wife was the conductor, and he himself plays piano and organ, Julie was invited to see his collection of pianos after the concert. We were subsequently invited to attend the next concert, at which was the Norwich boys choir. We then were sent off to buy a picnic as everyone else had one for the interval, and managed to miss the first half of that concert as well. Then we had a tour of the house and the roof, and Julie played on the organ at the top of the grand staircase that made the whole house vibrate. We understand that we will receive an invite to the Christmas concert.

Recently we have been visiting Aylesham which is a delightful small country market town about half an hours drive away and quite unspoiled. One week we went there just as the local auctioneers were closing and the auction shed had items in it left unsold from the previous day. They had tickets on with the reserve prices for next week. As a result I bid for a harmonium that we spotted unsold, and we have now that item obtained for a mere £50 on display in our “Baronial” hall. It plays nicely with Julie at the pedals and we sing hymns and psalms at it.

Another time we went on the off chance to Aylsham and there was a book auction held over from the week before. Knowing a little about antique history books I was able to make some famous additions to my collection, and hope to be able to start a successful? Internet book business as a result. Time will tell. See yourlocalhistory.inf

I have now completed/ invented a new card game with Julie’s help. We hope that it may prove saleable – again time will tell. Called “Match It”.

Christmas this year should prove exciting as we have invited all the extended family, and Mum and Dad and Mary and family, and Angela and family as well as more immediate family are to attend. Currently we are visiting Aunty Frances in Gairloch; looking out of the window is a fantastic scene with snow-capped mountains. I have here completed the family history CD Rom, and just about finished the local history also. I hope to have managed to give that a wider appeal, again who knows.

At present I play tennis once a week and only occasional golf. The latter at Sheringham, which is a bit of a trek but well worth it. Any visitors are welcome to a game, or a set or two. At home, you can relax, and Julie will entertain you at the piano. We have two spare bedrooms, so let us know when to book you in. I am hoping to gradually phase myself out of general practice and fully retire from medicine fairly soon now. I have plenty else to occupy me. My next venture will really amaze, but that is for the future.