Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2025 has been a momentous year full of joy and sadness. In January the whole Midha clan, representing four generations gathered together to celebrate our mum's 90th birthday. Sadly, she passed away in August after a long and eventful life. December marked my granddaughter's first birthday and we all gathered together celebrate in London. I continue to spend my time between Alexandria and Langland, as always on the move: Morocco in January then Paris in March to watch Alex run the marathon; a Cambridge reunion in March where I saw all my old pals and realised that time indeed is making its mark on us! Parsifal at the Hungarian State Opera House on Good Friday; a trip to Porto, marred by a mugging in the first ten minutes and the sad loss of my Rolex; Albania and Istanbul, Riyadh and Cyprus; snorkelling at Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba. I've been able to catch up with many friends and family and continue to teach part time. I wish you all the joy of the Christmas season and best wishes for the New Year.