Highlights of 2014

It has been a very busy year for the Murnaghan family, with lots of change and new opportunities as the year goes by.

Sarah Driving test 2014January started in style with Sarah passing her driving test first time, which was also a skill developed as part of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award. Liz joined her sister and nephews in France for a weeks skiing; the first time for 27 years – the gap won’t be so big next time (she is going again in 2015). Adrian visits Hyderabad in India on business.

In February we enjoy a half term trip to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote with pleasant sunshine and a relaxing break. We visited the ‘Fire mountain’, eat tapas and swim.

Sarah 18th birthday kicks off March. Luckily for us the trend is for pizza & DVD celebration with friends. A lot quieter than we expected. Adrian also has the opportunity to visit Scottsdale in Arizona for a conference and as well as the wonderful weather gets to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West campus – well worth a visit.

April – the Devizes to Westminister again! At a New Years eve party Liz was telling one of the Club juniors all about the event. She takes him out and after 3 months training they compete in the Junior / Vet class, coming 4th overall, but beating the winning time form last year. Peter is home from Uni with his final year project to write up. Sarah was revising for A levels.

In May exam time and Liz sells three kayaks and buys half a canoe…

June saw Liz and Matthew at Scoutabout, a huge gathering of Scouts and Guides from all over Surrey held every 3 years. Fimley District’s contribution was making recycled paper. It took quite a lot to convince the admin team that we didn’t incur any expenses to run the activity – Newspapers were free (Metro & Evening Standard), the equipment paid for and they weren’t charging for the utilities. In a joined up world we would have been sited next to Lightwater District who were marbling – Ah well can’t have everything!

Peter's GraduationIn early July we had the pleasure of Peter’s Graduation from Reading with a BSc in Computer Science. It was a lovely warm day and very proud parents. Matthew is also off to Scout Camp in Wales.  After months of preparation Liz is off to Uganda as a leader on an International Guide expedition for 3 weeks. The trip involves volunteering with a Ugandan village development project, supported by the Quicken Trust – a small UK charity. Liz gets to try bricklaying as well as working on an education project and decorating the local school library. The third week of the trip includes sightseeing, white water rafting down the Nile, safari and crossing the equator.

Sarah is off to Windsor for a International Gathering with Rangers. When Liz comes back in August we have a big family gathering at home. Liz’s dad dozes off during a display of Liz’ Uganda photos – there were quite a lot of them!

Peter starts work in September for Kobalt Music, and international music publishing business in their software team. He is not far from Waterloo station so he decides to live at home and commute to work. He buys a bicycle for the 5 mile trip to Farnborough station. As the winter rains fall he decides that learning to drive is a good idea!

Sarah goes to the University of Nottingham to study Geography in October. Liz, Adrian and Matthew have a short break in Barcelona where Matthew loves getting around the city by Metro, tram and funicular railway.

In November Sarah enters her first trampolining competition. She came a very creditable 5th out of 30. plans for future competitions are put on hold though when she dislocated her left elbow in training. Liz gets a part time volunteer role working on a telemetry project for the Basingstoke canal.

December sees the usual round of Christmas celebrations and reflecting on where another year has gone..