Fouch Family Newsletter 2013

Hard to believe it is the year end already! So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a big 'Hello, how are you' from all the Fouch Clan (Chatham Chapter).  Yes, we are still here in the jewel of Medway's crown... and getting more and more settled as we get well into our second decade here.

It has been another year of changes, but then there would not be much news if there had not been a few!



Aimie turned six this year, and has got well stuck into Rainbows (the precursor to Brownies), which has taken her caving and visiting a police station (the latter not for any misdemeanor... on this occasion at least).  Caving has been a particular favourite (father feeling slightly anxious about the costs involved in starting this particular hobby!).  On the downside, she ended the summer holidays with a vicious case of chickenpox which nearly kept her off the start of the new school year.

And school has continued to be great fun - despite saying a fond goodbye to one class teacher (Mrs Hurrell) who left a the end of Year 1, Aimie is now loving her new class, enjoying writing and reading at any opportunity, looking forward to starting swimming lessons in the new year.  Aimie also got to be part of the school team at a Tri-Golf tournament (not a Tri-Wizard Tournament, as Sam would have it!).  She was an angel in this year's school nativity, which caused her some anxiety, but in the end was a great success!

Sam had a very full year, the highlight of which was his school trip to Adventure International in Bude for a week of outward bound activities in early September - everything from surfing to rock school to abseiling. He says he felt really free, and came back buzzing and at least an inch taller!

Going up into year six has been an anxious and unnerving experience, as was saying goodbye to his favourite teacher (Mrs Willis) who left the school in the summer, preparing for his last year at the only school he has ever known! He has a great new class teacher, who also happens to be a close family friend, which has also been a bit odd for him, but he is getting used to the idea of calling her Mrs Hall rather than Liz! We have spent the last few months deciding where to go for his new school in the coming September - his first choice is St John Fisher, and while he is really looking forward to getting into the science labs there, he is anxious about coping with moving between classes for each lesson.  The coming year will be one of a lot endings and final chapters for Sam, and he is feeling sad about leaving St Thomas Moore.

As a massive Doctor Who fan, the big event of his year was the 50th Anniversary back in November, but the lack of major events to mark it in his own life was something of an anti-climax (although we did go to see the anniversary episode live on the big screen in 3D, which was something of a compensation).

Hannah is now in year eight at Rochester Grammar for Girls, and lapping it up. Even when it means spending the whole evening wading through homework!  She really enjoys science, music and especially German.  She is also getting stuck into the school orchestra with her flute (with which she got to Grade 2 this year, and hopes to get to Grade 3 early in 2014).

One of the big events in Hannah's year was her baptism in September, with both her Dad and her Poppa doing the dunking. Not only was this an important chance for Hannah to speak out publicly about her faith, but it was wonderful to share the experience with so many school friends, family and family friends.  She continues to be active in church through the worship group (playing the flute again) and Pathfinders

This November Hannah turned thirteen and so finally entered her teenage years in style with a day long shopping binge at Bluewater with her friends and a rather bewildered father!

Debbi hit her fortieth birthday this year, and decided to celebrate in style with family and friends at the lovely
Cara's house (ours being too small and crowded to fit any visitors in!).  We also managed to fit in seeing Peter Gabriel at the O2 as part of the celebrations.

In August, after eighteen months of learning the ropes, Debbi took over the running of Kings Pre-School.  She has been learning the hard way about pre-school education, running a small business, being an employer, a staff manager, a financial manager, a diplomat, and a politician! She has a great staff team who have been willing to work with her on bringing in changes, a lot of which have come from the brain of her best friend and number 2, Claire Graham (in picture left).

It has been a steep learning curve, but she has had a great deal of support from the local authority.  On top of all of this has been juggling family and church. She has been thankful for the support of Steve and the kids as she has buried herself in her new role over the last few
months.


Steve has had a turbulent year with work, managing a team and an organisation through quite a few changes, and a change in his own role.  A lot more of his time has been spent at home, supporting Debbi, catching up with the kids, rediscovering the local area.

But the real news is that he has finally got into a marathon (Brighton). This means that Debbi and the kids no longer see him in the mornings and at weekends because he is always off running somewhere at stupid times of the day, Yes, he is a MAML (Middle Aged Man in Lycra), and a crushing bore about running - always talking about things like 'plantar fasciitis', 'mid-foot strike' and 'threshold runs' with his other running friends. Sad really.

Apart from that, camping spring to summer, and a growing range of hats, his year has been quite dull - he has not even really read any books.  Saving it all up for 2014 (he says).