Welcome to Francis s eighteenth electronic Christmas Newsletter. As usual, I don t buy cards, but make a charity donation.

I am now 81 years old, and a fourth power, for the fourth and last time in my life. I am beginning to get rid of possessions which I know I shall not use again. Many of my instruments have now been given away or sold, but I still play my violin. The picture shows me forming part of a trio providing music for London Pride's annual dance.

I am enjoying my new status as a bass singer in London Gallery Quire, rather than as Musical Director. I still do a spot of conducting from time to time when required. But I have the fun, and the new MD, Phil Price, has the problems. The committee decided to present me with the certificate shown opposite, in recognition of my having founded the quire, and being MD for 26 years. I value this gesture greatly.

I taught music at Churchfields Junior School, the local primary school, for ten years; golden years, as it turned out. A reunion of past teachers and pupils was held in June. There seemed to be many of both who remembered my period there, although I left in 1981 to take on an advisory role. It was good to hear of pupils who had made successes of one sort and another. One of my colleagues made a cubist style portrait of me, opposite. What do you think?

For our holiday this year, Judith and I took a cottage in Little Coxwell, near Faringdon in Oxfordshire. There were all manner of places to visit, but the most striking was the prehistoric site at Uffingon Castle, a stone age fortification similar to the better known Maiden Castle. The picture shows a burial site, mysteriously misnamed "Waylands Smihhty".

In July I went on a bridge holiday for a week, at a well appointed hotel in Ramsey, the second town of the Isle of Man. Although I went as a singleton, most people there were partnerships whp played regularly in clubs. I turned out to be of middling ability; some players were better then me, and some worse. I learnt much about fashions in bidding, in particular, that many players share my doubts about modern artificial bids.

I know the island very well, having done much of my doctoral research there, and have friends to visit, so it was a most enjoyable week.

For the second year in succession I made a visit to Germany, a country which I always enjoy. Judith and I were invited to a wedding of one of her Quaker friends in Freiburg. A Quaker wedding is quite different from most others. The couple marry each other; no priest or official is involved. The picture shows most of the 147 guests.

81 year olds need new interests to keep their minds and bodies active. I tried a one day course in Japanese cookery. I love all aspects of Japanese culture, but in particular I am fond of "washoku", Japanese food. We learn how to make Japanese omelettes, various types of sushi, and how to prepare and present sashimi, or raw fish, and my favourite.

If you are regular reader of these newsletters, you will wondering what has happened to my go activities. I decided not to attend the European Go Congress this year, as I feared that the weather in Toulouse would be too hot for comfort. And so it proved. The bridge holiday took its place. And I am sad to report that, after 58 years, my regular go club at Wanstead has had to close. We never recovered attendance after lockdown, and the dwindling attendance meant that we could no longer afford room rent.

But I still play regularly, in private homes, and weekly at the London Go Centre. This is housed in the Mind Sport Centre, which we share with bridge and chess players, and occasionally other games. The TMark Hall room, dedicated to go, was established by means of a legacy from TMark, a well loved and long standing member of the go community.

I wish all my friends and family a convivial holiday period and a peaceful 2024.