Fox Cottage Herald 2025
Early Arrival and the Birthday girls
The year was supposed to start in January as per usual, but baby Lucia had other ideas and came into this world early on Christmas Day morning,, all bright and breezy ready for a Christmas Steve and Frannie would never forget. Andy, Cathy, Verity Juliette and Axel had a Christmas evening trip to the Lister Hospital – singing carols all the way to see the new-born Santas helper. Frannie was not going to miss all her Christmas dinners and left hospital the very next day to join in Cathy’s Boxing Day birthday celebrations at the Red House in Longstowe, The staff were delighted to have a 1-day old as their special guest, and they will all be there again this year to celebrate 1 year on.
Weddings and Babysitting. – sometimes both
With the arrival of Lucia babysitting turned into fun trips. A wedding in Devon turned into a weekend away in Dartmouth. While Fran was at the wedding, Lucia, Cathy Andy Juliette and Poppy enjoyed the cream teas and Fish and Chip delights of Dartmouth, Steve was not there as he was running Hadrians Wall ultramarathon coast to coast. As the route passed through Newbrough, Cathys Bro and sister-in law, Paul and Mandy, came out to see him and cheer him on, providing much needed support and a quick photocall before he successfully completed the run to Newcastle in an amazing time .
Later inthe summer, a Mediterranean wedding called on babysitting duties for Andy and Cathy in Corfu. Perfect weather, lovely coastline and a cool villa with a pool meant there was plenty to do for the grandparent babysitters
The whole family attended Andrea and Carl’s wedding in Chester Zoo. As well as the married couple and old friends, penguins, red pandas and snow leopards were also in attendance.
A historical holiday in Sussex.
Andy, Cathy and Poppy had their own holiday In Sussex this year – and made good use of their National Trust and English Heritage memberships. Visits included Battle, Sissinghurst, Knowle Park, and Bodiam Castle. A visit to Batemans, the home of Rudyard Kipling, led us to a unique poetry reading from a Kipling- how wonderful.- the cafe was also a highlight as he did make exceedingly good cakes. Other highpoints included Rye, Hastings, and an ice cream on the fab prom at Bexhill-on-Sea. Poppy was walked off her feet !!. Their favourite trip was to the Seven Sisters and Charlston House garden- the love of the artist Vanessa Bell. A&C were inspired to turn Fox Cottage Garden into such a beautiful artists paradise, and we will see what transformations 2026 brings.
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Weekends away with friends
Whitby was the location for a weekend away with Martin and Fiona and Dave and Sally. Staying near Hogsmead station they took a historic train ride to Pickering and a more conventional ride to Whitby- where posh fish and chips was on the menu. Then in November they met with 18 old Uni friends in a Vicarage near Bridport.
House Renovations
This year we finally came to the top of the thatchers list, and Fox Cottage got a new thatched roof. To finish the sprucing up of the house, it was also painted and so now looks as good as a 400 year-old house can look. The whole village was delighted in the renovation- but the big question of the summer was “where is the fox ?”. The answer was that making straw finials are an even more skilled job than thatching, and a fourteen week waitlist finally reinstated a fox on Fox Cottage – this time a stalking fox – although A&C declined having a rabbit on the roof as its prey, The resident pigeons will have to do
Retirement
Cathy has been in semi retirement for a few years, although she works up to 17hrs/week as a specialist mentor at University Cambridge. Now Andy has finally decided to hang-up his lab coat (although he hasn’t been in the lab for 20 years ! ) and is planning to retire from AstraZeneca after 37.5 years at the end of December. What he will do next is undecided, although local auction houses will be a big pull, as will gardening projects, and walking the dog. A&C hope to do more travelling, and catching up with old friends. Andy may even keep a little academic side-line – watch this space
Christmas 2025
2025 has been a busy year – and A&C are looking forward to this Christmas and their new life. Verity and Juliette will be at Fox Cottage Christmas Day and Fran Steve and Lucia will be visiting for a reprise of the the Boxing Day lunch. Great Gransden is in party mode, and a number of ,mulled wine, and New Years invites have already been recieved, all within a 25 yard distance of Fox Cottage.
We wish all our friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year