Timothy Owens,

20 Braytoft Close,

Holbrooks,

Coventry, CV6 4ED

(01203) 680670

12/2/1999

Phthrrt 108

Dear all,

Well, folks, I thought it was time for another letter. Much has been happening in the Owens clan; Bronwyn has completed the last assignment of the last module of her long running diploma (8 years, at latest count) and is hoping for a good grade. Nick and Rebekah are about to have another child (well, just Rebekah actually, but Nick is in hand to mop up afterwards) due in about March / April. The child's name is "Smidge", and may change shortly after birth.

For those with web access, there is now a Braytoft website, including a Phthrrt section, at http://www.braytoft.freeserve.co.uk/ . For those without web access, this letter can be accessed by carefully dismantling the outer wrapping and unfolding the contents. Please be sure to make a backup copy, in case your house is accidentally deleted during the night.

Belinda is alive and well and still in Wrexham. She's been doing a cartooning course, and is still working on her project on "The Four Dimensional Word c/o the Universal Language". Much has been happening in her family, and it hasn't always been easy, but she's still attending the AoG church at Wrexham and it sounds like she's been doing her best to encourage the pastor!

Many thanks to Nick and Rebekah for looking after us for our (i.e. Tim and Nick) joint 31st birthday. Bronwyn made a chocolate (of course) cake in the shape of a quaver, with the complete tune of "Happy Birthday to You" written on it in icing sugar. She didn't quite have room to add the treble clef, key and time signature, but it tasted just as good. Nick produced a Christmas cake, announcing that he wanted a decent fruit cake for once (or is that him as a decent fruit cake). Daniel was confused again, staring at both "daddies" for a few minutes before clinging on to the one who made the familiar silly noises. If I ever have a child and develop the same silly noises (as a mode of communication) my child will be even more confused...

Finally got the doorbell working. When you press the button, it rings upstairs, downstairs, and announces "there's somebody at the door!" on a speaker in the porch. So far the local kids haven't found out yet. When they do, we'll hear the bell ringing all afternoon. Also recorded the "BONG.......You Rang?" from the Addams Family.

That's about all for now. Nick's planning a trip out to sea (or at least round the corner and back) in late summer. Might have another get together before then, but so far nobody's offered, and Nick / Rebekah will be occupied most of the spring and summer adjusting their ear protectors and converting their washing machine into a rotating baby bath mechanism.

Phthrrt!!,

Tim (& Bronwyn)