News from John Skrine 

High time to report to you, and all our generous friends rounded up by you for that most memorable party, on what we have done with all that money, and what we are up to.

Unsurprisingly, we have settled into Hermione's home town and the bosom of her family without difficulty; rather too easily, perhaps, for our sense of loyalty to Crediton! What with our ready-made circle of friends,a lovely, sunny, south-facing garden, being within walking distance of practically everything we need - and much handier for London - and I can cycle everywhere on the flat(!), I guess we would have had to have made a very bad decision not to be content, at least, with our lot.

But we miss all of you, of course. Though we are heartened by the fact that two couples have already found this a handy place to stop on journeys they are making. So we hope you will do the same - or just come anyway

I also have to report, as someone who had an interest in the High Street trade, that the Corsham retail experience is no better (good bookshop, mind) and in some ways worse than Crediton; many more empty shops. And as for the bread . . . . no real baker, and any loaf that purports to be good is hideously expensive and pretty nasty. Long live Olivers and Stevie B. So thank goodness for the bread maker with your name on it. It has now baked nearly half a dozen loaves, and even now one is cooling for our lunch. We are terribly pleased with it. Who needs bakers (unless they live in Crediton)?

Having bought the bread maker, there was still a little left over, so that has contributed to a nice new garden fork which was badly needed. So I feel that you have really contributed to the essentials of live in our new home. Thank you all. And we hope to see you before too long.