New Year Dear Family and Friends,

Transcription

1 New Year 2010 Dear Family and Friends, 2008 had not been the best of year as, between March and December Frank had had to be treated for breast cancer on the other hand was totally uneventful in the health department: no surgery, no pain, no sorrow. Frank was his usual vigorous self all year and Annette didn t do too badly herself. It was an exciting year for the kids as career changes occurred. Averil started the year with a change of job. She had stopped being excited with the sale of spare parts for cranes and bulldozers, so she applied for jobs left and right and managed to get her first choice, a managerial position at Materne, our main jam manufacturer, complete with car, blackberry, laptop and a fair amount of interesting traveling. The best feature of the job is that the plant is NOT located in Brussels but in the countryside, about a 30 minute drive from her abode with no traffic concern - the only jams she deals with are made of fruit. It must have inspired her boy-friend Hakim because one year later he also resigned from his job (in Brussels) and is about to start a new one in a few days, also in the food distribution area (Deli XL), some 35 minutes from home in the right direction, away from Brussels. It also comes with all the benefits, so all is well, no worries about cars, gas etc. They have just returned from Costa Rica where they had a marvelous 20 days vacation. Hakim is an eager photographer so he had the greatest fun taking pictures of the incredible flora and fauna that the country offers. Annette had told

2 them not to worry about getting a house right now: travel far away while you have no kids, she had said, enjoy life, see the world. Obviously they listened.. but guess what, they also bought a piece of land and are already working on the blue prints of a house. Very close to their parents, which make the latter happy, although they do worry a little about how that house will be financed. Different story with Pascale and Matthieu. Pascale is the only one who did not change job in She still works for IBM in Brussels and boys, does she work. Late hours, sometimes weekends too, she has a demanding job and painful commuting on busy highways, but she does not complain. She even managed (how does she do it?) to finish a second thesis and get another universitary degree, in Business Management, this last August (must be these excellent Woodruff genes she inherited). Here she is with Annette and Matthieu the day she defended her thesis. Matthieu had a lovely job at the university some 15 minutes from their apartment but he decided that he was getting bored, not enough challenge, so he also resigned and looked for another position which he found in Brussels in the air traffic control department. They have their own apartment in Mons so are not talking of moving but have nevertheless made a big decision: they will be getting married in the New Year. After dragging their mothers from castle to old farms all over the countryside they eventually agreed on where the event would take place and when. It will be on 2nd October at the Abbaye d Aulne, an old monastery in ruin near Thuin. You can watch a clip on the place here:

3 So, as you can see, all is jolly on the Belgian side of the Woodruff family and I am touching wood as I type away... may it last! We did not travel an awful lot in 2009, but did manage a couple of dancing weekends in Germany, and two lovely weeks on a Swedish island last Summer. For 2010 we are planning the same trips, nothing terribly far and expensive. With a wedding and a new house in the near future, we have to restrain ourselves. We are still teaching round dancing Annette keeps saying this is the last year but then again we dread that if we stop we ll just get lazier, fatter and.. who knows a little bored? We hope that you are all well. Frank having recently lost one brother and one sister (a sad double blow), we do count on the rest of the family to stay stubbornly healthy and strong. We think of you all at this change of year with much affection and a little longing. We wish we could see you more often but must be content with keeping you in our hearts. Annette & Frank P.S. We have pasted a few more pictures of last Summer on the following pages

4 Pascale (L) and Averil at our home on their 27th birthday Matthieu (extreme left) and Hakim (next to him) play in a band.

5 Neighborhood barbecue, Aug 2009 Annette followed by Hakim coming out of our house Back row: Matthieu, Averil, Pascale, Julie, Fanny, Hakim Frank flirting with a neighbor, Anne-Marie (Julie s mother) Averil, Julie, Hakim, Fanny

6 At our annual Dancers Barbecue (at home) Our back yard last Summer