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since 27 September 1998
Katrina is a longsuffering and wonderful person who runs our family and generally keeps the house and everyone and everything in it under control so I can get on with other things.
I have known her since she was a teenager and have not regretted being with her since. She is a good mother to our children and buys me interesting presents like flying an aeroplane and driving a racing car!
She qualified as a registered nurse (mental health) in May 1997. She was fortunate enough (I prefer to think convincing enough about her abilities and personality) to be appointed to an elderly assessment ward in the community in Chelmsford, run by the Mid-Essex Health Care Trust. After more than a year there, she decided to take on a challenge and move to a ward with a wider ragne of illnesses. She works for Thameside Helath Care Trust at Basildon Hospital now as a deputy ward manager.
Richard's a teenager who is really mad
keen on drums. He's doing quite well actually. Just two months after starting
to learn percussion, he did a sponsored three-hour drum solo to raise money for
charity. Three months later he achieved honours in the Guildhall grade 2 exam
in drum kit. On recommendation from his teacher, John Willson, Richard (or
"Rich" as he prefers to be called) is a percussionist for the Southend Youth
Symphonic Wind Band, which for two years running has taken the trophy for being
the best band of its type in the area, and also he has joined the ranks of the
Essex Young People's Orchestra in which he played for a couple of years before
being 'promoted' to the Essex Youth Orchestra.
In February 1997 he had his first driving lesson - yes at the the age of 13. At Brands Hatch (that world-famous racing circuit) he had what they call "Earlydrive" where young people under the legal age for driving (but over the height of 4'11") can learn to drive on private roads. He was driven around the indy track at top speed in a 2-seater racing car by a professional driver. OK, so his dad drove a BMW318iSE and Formula First racing car around the same track. He continued with driving lessons. A legacy from his grandfather helped fund a car and he passed his test 6 weeks after his 17th birthday.
On June 7th 1997, Richard — sorry, Rich — got his own Home Page. In September 1998 it moved to a better ISP. Visit his Home Page and send him an Email. He'd be chuffed to hear from you.
July 1997: Merit in Guildhall Drum Kit (Grade 3) exam (he assures me it would have been Honours if he had not felt very unwell during the exam!) and Honours in Grade 2 Orchestral Percussion
July 1998: Honours in Guildhall Drum Kit (Grade 4) exam and a pass in Grade 4 Orchestral Percussion
April 1999: Merit in Guildhall Drum Kit (Grade 5) and Merit in Grade 5 Orchestral Percussion
June 1999: GCSEs!!!
He got more grades for music, but I just can't keep up!
June 2000: Got a car for his birthday - Escort 1300
August 2000: Passed his driving test at the first attempt; he can now drive his car on his own
May 2001: Got an early 18th Birthday present - and Escort XR3i!
Just to prove Rich is a natural driver, here's an mpeg video of an ultrascan of him in the womb, and here's an mpeg film of him doing his driving test.
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A sweet teenager by the name of Katie.
Loves animals, especially horses.
What a pity we can neither afford or have the room to own one. Perhaps one day?
Well at least she helps look after our domestic menagerie of a Golden Retriever, cat, and heaven knows how many fish in the pond!
She has been getting a lot of accolades recently. As well as rosettes and what have you for horse riding and equine care, she has earned a badge for trampolining. Well I suppose it will help her bouncing up and down on the horse! She is also a keen swimmer (maybe good for the water jumps?)
Katie loves retail therapy. She knows everyhting about every shop and shopping centre—or so it seems. She has unofficially appointed our family's Shopping Director.
Musically, she is learning the flute and piano. Having achieved Grade 2 piano at the end of 2000, she's out-graded her dad on that instrument!
For her career she wants to be a choreographer but it's difficlult finding out how to go about it. When she approached our 'wonderful' Essex Careers Service they said "research it and let me know the outcome"! If you can help her foind her way, please email her.
As part of her dancing, she like to keep fit and do athletics. She represents her school an d at the last competition she did rather well in long jump, 4x100 relay and 75m hurdles.
Katie has a a very creative streak. She is first class at using DTP software. So good in fact that a teacher refused to mark a piece of her work because she thought it was professionally produced!!! Katie also enjoys photography. Here's a small gallery of her work
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