Mark's Message 2008

The highlight of the year for me has to be the opportunity to spend 5 weeks of July/August in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. I was there as part of a university-run scheme to teach maths in African schools. Teaching A-level maths to pupils of my own age was an enjoyable challenge, and a weekend safari and the final week spent in Zanzibar all combined for a wonderful summer.

I was also fortunate to have 2 skiing 'holidays', the first in Wengen with Jim & Helen, but also accompanying school groups to Clavière, Italy as a peak-season rep for a skiing company. Although the company was more disorganised than I am, I was able to get plenty of skiing in, including helping some of the beginner's lessons, and was paid for it. I wasn't complaining!

I am still involved at a church just south of Coventry, helping with after-school children's groups, and was elected as deanery synod representative at the AGM in April. Despite our vicar's retirement at the start of the summer, we are fortunate that a couple of lay readers will be taking the vicarage on a 'House for Duty' basis; hopefully leading to significant growth in the coming year. Anyway, that's enough for now, wishing you a Merry Christmas and an exciting New Year!