** West Hill
Wembley Park
Middlesex HA9 9RR

3rd January 2007

Dear Rita and Lex,

My delayed letter will reach you in the New Year to keep you up to date with my life story.

There has been illness and hospital stay due to atrial fibrillation. An attempt was made to do a cardioversion to bring the heart back to a normal rhythm. This failed and I am on medication to keep me going. There are times when I tire easily and have to adjust my life style. Since I am happy where I live, I have applied and received planning permission to convert my garage for downstairs use with shower, toilet and rest room (if needed) and I am also modernising my kitchen.

Towards the end of December I spent three days in Brighton with Jonathan in brilliant sunshine and calm seas shortly before my birthday which Daniel and Jayne hosted in their house in London with the family present and fabulous food and drink, laughter and tales of bygone days and disbelief how quickly grandchildren become adult.

Michael has qualified as a medic and has just returned from a 2 month stay in Israel working at a hospital near Tel Aviv in the A & E department and assigned to a professor dealing with trauma. There were students from Germany and even Australia. Paul, on the other hand, is at Harvard steeped in Classics and archaeology. He worked on a dig in Turkey in charge of ten Turkish workers (there are some wonderfully funny stories); then he was sent to Vienna to learn German which he has to be able to read for research. Stephen loves Cambridge where he reads law at Gonville & Caius, Leslie’s and Daniel’s former College.

Ruth’s work takes her most weeks to Brussels with the British delegation; Leslie has successfully completed a case in Hong Kong where his expertise was in demand; Daniel is the financier of the family and the others are involved in community projects. Jonathan has been included in a book of 20 great UK social entrepreneurs in his capacity of Head of Social and Community Affairs to Guardian Newspapers Ltd. etc….

Living in a global village has changed perspective and expectations. Nevertheless, the future beckons with possibilities and progress and new understanding.

This is a brief overview to let you know what is happening here and to wish you a happy and successful 2007.

Much love,

Lore.