Jill and Adrian Chatfield's Christmas letter 2018

2018 has been a reminder for us that though life has its routines, life itself is rarely routine. It began predictably enough with a final trip in our old caravan to the banks of the Thames at Chertsey, in freezing temperatures. Though we miss it, it's lovely to have central heating and a toilet in the (nearly) new Lunar Ariva, and so far we've taken it to Anglesey, to Dorset and to Derbyshire.

At the end of July, we flew to the Alps for a long-awaited week with Adrian's sister Clare and her husband Didier. We got in two days excellent walking, and then all hired electric mountain bikes to do some off-roading. It was exhilarating until Jill came off on a corner, and the bike landed on her leg. It seemed to be a very bad sprain, and she managed to cycle the 20 km. or so back with her poorly ankle. Plan B then was for the three to continue walking while Jill explored the local town. That evening, we had a phone call to say that Jill's dad had fallen again, and was not expected to live long.

So we sadly left and flew back, missing our connection in Düsseldorf in the process. In the event, Jill's dad lived until August 22nd, and died peacefully that evening. Meanwhile, Jill was walking with crutches fairly well, but it twinged badly if she turned. An X-ray showed a clean break, so Fracture Clinic put her in an airboot. By the time the funeral came, Jill was able to conduct the service using only an arm crutch, but it was a stressy time. We are glad that Ray is no longer struggling: he had grown very tired of life, and conversation had more or less dried up by the time he died at the good old age of 91.

Since then, it's been strange to have so much time for ourselves, with no driving in and out of Nottingham to his care home. As always, bereavement is a funny mix of emotions, but life is beginning to take a new shape.

All of this has curtailed Jill's hospital ministry. She has been volunteering at the Nottingham Hospitals for some time, and is now on the bank of chaplains. On Christmas Day she will be back on the wards taking communion to those who have not been discharged, and hopes to pick up the pieces in 2019. Adrian continues to offer spiritual direction and lead weekends and retreats, three of which Jill was involved in: the Church of Ireland Curates' retreat in April (County Laois); Linby and Papplewick parish weekend in July (Dovedale) and the annual Launde Abbey Advent retreat, which we led together at the end of November.

So the end of the year looms. We're looking forward very much to catching up with Michael, Helen, Hannah and Naomi, with whom we were supposed to spend a holiday in August. The ankle put paid to that, though we were able to see them briefly at the Royal Albert Hall when Michael was singing with his choir, the wonderfully named London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Rachel, Dave, Charlotte and Lucy live seven miles away, so we do see them with some regularity! Then in January we go to County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland for two and a half weeks looking after the most north-westerly parish in Ireland.

In the midst of the political turmoil, bleak news and economic uncertainty, we are very grateful for the grace of God made known to us in Jesus Christ, and the quiet peace and assurance that this gives us. We've been glad to pray for many of you over the year, and if you'd like us to continue doing so, you only need ask! In the meantime, we wish you all a holy Christmas, and an approaching new year of hope and peace.

Adrian and Jill
63 Wesley St
Ilkeston
DE7 8QW

adrian.chatfield@btinternet.com
jill.chatfield@btinternet.com