We're Back!
Dear <<First Name>>
After a bit of a break, we are now beginning to settle back to our life on the canals. Since you last heard from us, life has been rather different.
 As you may recall, Tim's father passed away in July 2015, when we were doing the sponsored walk along the Kennet & Avon Canal. We stopped the walk at Newbury, resuming it in October with the final push to Reading. We then returned to the Newbury area, where we have remained ever since.
In Janua  ry 2016, we were "summoned" to Bournemouth to look after Tim's Mum. Apart from a few short breaks, we stayed there until she was taken in to a care home in the July. Once she had settled in, we returned to the boat in Newbury, but travelling down to visit. On 7 August, we got the shock news that Tracey's Mum had passed away overnight. Very peacefully, but totally unexpected. We therefore spent some time in Worthing with her Dad until after the funeral. Exactly 2 months later, Tim's Mum passed away.
 In the middle of all this, Guide Dog Puppy Raymond (in memory of Tim's Dad) has arrived. We are delighted that Mum met Raymond. We are also delighted that we became Grandparents for the first time. Our youngest surprised us with the news, and on 23 April Hallie made an unceremonious appearance. She was born with Gastroschesis, which is where the intentines grow outside the body. She had the  "least worst" case of this condition, and was operated on within hours of birth. Mum met her great granddaughter a few times, including a trip to St George's in Tooting when she was born!
Obviously, we have had a fair amount of admin to deal with since then, and in fact this is still ongoing. However, we managed to spend Christmas with our daughters, their respective other halves and, of course, Hallie! We then managed to spend the New Year aboard our own boat. Then, we had a beautiful cruise to Aldermaston, where we left our boat for a bit of a refit, while we went back to Bournemouth to start clearing out Tim's parent's flat.
 The plan was to finish that by the end of January, and return to our finished boat. We ended up over-running by a week. Even so, our boat was nowhere near ready. We therefore treated ourselves to a short stay in a Reading Hotel, enjoying a bit of luxury and relaxation! The boat was still not finished even after this stay. However, the boat yard have put us up on a Hire Boat (feeling of deja-vu here!). It is small, but comfortable, and it rocks in the breeze! We can also keep an eye on the work. What has been done so far looks really good.
 Tim has renewed his PCV (Bus) licence. He had let it expire when the medical was required, as we thought he would have no further need of it. However, a local charity, the Bus of Hope, was looking for drivers - even temporary ones! Although the vehicle is a double decker bus, it is not taxed as such, and therefore can be driven on a normal car licence. The insurance, though, require drivers to take an assessment - the cost of which was more than the medical. So, it was logical to renew the licence, as this lasts 5 years, and will enable Tim to help any other similar charity we come across (if we stay in an area long enough).
We are also getting on with the planning of the Mission in Thatcham & Newbury, which is happening later this year. It is good being close to Newbury, as we have various meetings to attend. We are also enjoying being back with Bridge Church in Newbury. They have really made us feel at home, and have supported us through what had been a difficult time.
We still have a lot to do, but we feel we are getting back to what we have been called to do. Please pray for us as we settle back into life on the canals, and as we finish sorting Tim's Parent's estate out. Please pray especially for the Mission - for the preparation as well as the event itself. You can keep up to date with what's happening on the Mission front at: www.boatsofhope.org.uk.
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