1. STEVENSON / BROWN 65 Inskip Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 4AJ 0191 477 7574 CHRISTMAS 2010 We hope you’ve had a very merry Christmas and wish you health and happiness for 2011. Liz, Andy, Elizabeth, Milly and Pogo x xx

2. Biz As I write this Biz is in Dallas, Texas and we’re all feeling a bit sad. They flew out on December 27th and Sandra (Biz’s Mum) and the kids will be back sometime in August ready for Biz and George (Biz’s step brother) to start school in year 9. We’re really going to miss her and Sandra, as they’re a massive part of our lives. Exciting for them though! Andy hopes to go over at some point to see them. Biz has grown up so much this year. She’s the same height as Liz and you would never know she is only 12! She’s still enjoying school and doing well, but has really got into music in a big way. She is permanently attached to her ipod and spends a lot of time at the O2 Academy in Newcastle seeing different groups that we’ve never heard of! She plays and is still learning guitar and is also quite into the Ukulele. She got a ‘flying V’ one for Christmas, which is apparently seriously cool… She went to Florida with Tim, George and Sandra in April and had a fantastic time, only to have it cut short by the sad death of Tim’s Mum, Monica. Then Sandra and Tim got married in June and Biz got to be bridesmaid yet again! Tim is now based in Dallas and the big house, pool and hot tub seem to be fairly appealing. (We can’t understand it!!!) So, a big adventure ahead for Biz this year and she doesn’t seem phased by it, so we’re hoping it works out as a huge opportunity and that she has a fabulous time.

4. Milly I can’t believe the difference in Milly when I look back over the slideshare we did last year. She has grown up so much too. (If only she would sleep through the night!!!) Milly still goes to her Little Movers dance class and has gradually grown in confidence throughout the year. She will happily do everything except a solo turn, which is serious progress from crying in the corner facing the wall! She even danced on the stage at The Little Theatre in Gateshead in June – much to our amazement. Andy’s Mum still looks after Milly on Monday and Tuesday and they continue to have a great time together, often going to the library, Metrocentre or garden centre. Milly still goes to Deckham nursery and still loves her time there. Maureen is panicking about what she’ll do when school becomes full-time. The big change for Milly this year has been school. In September she started at Carr Hill Primary for 2½ days a week and she absolutely loves it. She has great teachers and has come on in leaps and bounds. She is doing homework, writing her name, is confident with letters and numbers and full of interesting bits of information! Miss Kimber can do no wrong! We got to see her perform at the Harvest Festival and Nativity and it was great – I love it. She is still a girly girl and wanting to be Aurora when she grows up, but we’re going to struggle to get costumes soon, as she’s a good head and shoulders above everyone else at school. She was virtually speechless when we bumped into Aurora at Disneyland Paris, a short while after entering the park. Needless to say we have a house full of Disney Princess stuff.

6. Liz and Andy Andy is still working for BT and this year has been more settled for him. He started a new position in the spring and is still enjoying it! He’s working in a good team and enjoying the job, although is dealing a lot with Indian time and colleagues, which sometimes makes life interesting! He travels a bit, but not so much, so we’ve had less juggling to do this year. Personally he’s struggled through the year with what he thought was a painful hip, which has been a great many things diagnosed by a great many different doctors. However, it now seems like we have the right diagnosis with confirmation from the private system. So, a date for a spinal op’ is set for January to pin vertebrae back together, which will probably mean a 3 month recovery. Although a bit scary, it should make a huge difference to the pain he currently lives with. Liz is still at Spennymoor and feeling like part of the woodwork. She stuck with the 4 days and although not loving it, it is a good balance. Despite the plug being pulled on the new school, the schools are still planning to merge and January should bring news of funding and support – if any. So, big changes and decisions to be made soon for Liz and her future at Spennymoor. She’s fairly pragmatic and will see what comes along.

7. Trips and Holidays We’ve had a busy year! You don’t realise until you look back over it. Shona (Liz’s friend) came up for a few days in February. Fred and Alice (Andy’s Dad and stepmum) have been up several times throughout the year and Liz and Milly also went over to Kirkudbright to catch up with Shona and had far too good a time. We’ve caught up with Nicola and Paul in Doncaster a few times too. In April we had a week in a caravan in Filey (Liz wasn’t keen on the caravan idea!) and although on a big site, we used it as a base and had a great holiday. It was freezing cold, but that didn’t stop picnics, Flamingo Land, the beach etc. Andy and the lads had their annual weekend away in Ambleside this year and seemed to have a good time. Its best not to ask really! Liz and Milly flew down to Bristol in May and stayed with Dave and Pauline (her Uncle and Aunt) and did Longleat and stuff. Milly had a great time, but we think Dave was glad when they left so he could stop pretending to be the big, bad wolf! In July we headed off to France again with Liz’s parents and back to Mortagne-sur-Gironde. We had a fabulous two weeks and Dave and Pauline joined us for one. We had another great day in Cognac and generally chilled out and lazed by the pool with the odd trip to the beach, or to do some sightseeing. Andy and Bill (Liz’s Dad) have got into Whisky tasting this year and been to several events in Newcastle (all of them seem to end in a headache…) but in September we headed off to Glasgow to ‘Whisky Live’. We stayed with Delia and John and whilst the men drank whisky (and got pissed) the ladies did the Kelvingrove Gallery and tea and cake. It was great weekend and I think another is in the planning stages… Milly was 4 in November and a few days later we headed off for a long weekend at Disneyland, Paris with both girls. We had a really, really good time and have some great photos and I’m not sure who enjoyed themselves most… It is a magical place!

9. Pogo Pogo doesn’t change and apart from running into a chicken wire fence (twice) and skinning his forehead and trying to get under the back gate and skinning his nose hasn’t done himself any harm this year! The vet must be missing him! He is still the most affectionate creature and so easy going. He has spent lots of time with Maureen and Bill in Sunderland (Andy’s Mum and stepdad) and likes it there. (He gets peanut butter and toast for breakfast and gets to go out to the park for hours on end) and he’s been to Burnopfield a few times too and just loves it there with Bill, Jeanette and Wallace. Pogo has had the best time ever this last couple of months with the snow. He LOVES it! He gets so excited it is comical. Bill and Jeanette call him the cartoon dog and he really is when it comes to snow.