its been a real pleasure to have read more than a few christmas letters recently. i like such things. im such a poor communicator that its good to get a proper catch up in one go. i also feel a great sense of pride in knowing that i know people doing great things. be it globetrotting or still in the same job, and loving so. clichely reading so many has got me thinking. i felt i must have a long list to write as well. i started one in my head butwas shocked with what i pondered. i realised the list of things i haven't done this year is much longer than the one of things i have done. okay, so we've moved house, i watched my friends build me a small skate ramp, and i now teach year 2 and not year 4. in fact for some reason unbeknownst to me, they made me head of the year group. so i've also me handing out certificates in assembly, managing the best teachers and assistants i know, and attending seven am meetings. but really, that's about it. it bores me. but here's what i haven't done: kept in touch with you; taken a risk; opened my home to others. i don't know why, but this year has caught up with me most embarassingly. i realise that i missed it. except for when i look at our amazing son and realise that the words local people always say when they see ben are deeply, deeply true. marsha allah, God has blessed us. "His name shall be Emmanuel; God with us" may you all have a jolly christmas. marsha allah.