2003 started quietly, until Amy and Keith visited a home buyer’s show. Shortly afterwards whilst on a stroll along the Grand Union Canal, we passed a new development of apartments which over-look the canal and a recently-created marina in Apsley, a mile from us.

Keith went to Chicago in April where it was -10C with a blizzard - having left UK in a spring heatwave.

Amy moved into her apartment in May (photo: view over canal and marina from her living room) whilst Keith was away on another surprise….. .
having been invited to navigate for Count Hugo V Zuylen in the Tulpen (Tulip) Rally, who won the first Tulpen in 1953! An amazing experience, being driven flat out around Alpine hairpins on snow and wet leaves by a Dutch Count. Keith’s job was also to keep the Javelin going. Hugo wore the brakes out after two days with three still to go.

Immediately after returning with the Javelin Keith was off to Prague to present at a conference. The photo is of one of the Prague puddings.

There followed a few weeks of laying floors throughout Amy’s new flat.

June saw the wedding of Bryan and Suzanne Black, with Amy acting as chauffeuse to the groom’s parents in the Javelin: also the baptism of Jen’s cousin Laura’s daughter.

Keith won a world business challenge with his team from Italy and US and as a prize went to Paris for a course. Picture is from the Eiffel tower.

In July, Keith was also roped in to drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the gravity fed soapbox, designed and built by us. (pics: Team with ‘box; Josephine Jupiter on display) We met many great names in motorsport, including Montoya.
Keith also attended a Microsoft Architects ‘conference’ at Turnberry Golf complex; amazingly that ball went on the green and was putted in.

In August an old friend from Germany, Uschi, visited us with her son: she is seen being strapped in for a blast in the Jup. We also visited Babs (Keith’s mum) for her birthday and went around some gardens near Tiverton. Tony and Lynne from Canada came to visit us, so we had to sample the local brew. We also had a small party to welcome our new neighbours.

October: The highlight of the year was the World Cup Rugby in Australia; (pic: with Tim Horan who noticed us in the bar in Perth prior to the England/South Africa game) just a snip of a hundred amazing experiences in Oz , where we made many friends. We came back via Kuala Lumpur – a return visit to both is a must.!!
Keith suffered another culture and temperature shock when he visited Warsaw.

In November there was Alf’s (Keith’s dad) 90th birthday celebration, closely followed by a company Christmas party which was fancy dress themed on film stars. Everyone else dressed as film characters – but have you spotted the celebs????

Just last week we were following the Saracens rugby team to Roma; the Fez Boys seen here after the match doing the Dambusters song.

That quizzical-looking 83-year-old bloke in bottom right corner? Jen’s dad.

Ten countries visited this year. Perhaps next year will be quieter……!!.

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