Over the years we have made a number of new beginnings, but the decision to move across the Atlantic to the United States for Peter's work was one of the most challenging. The move was made especially difficult because, although we had only lived in Datchworth for a short time we had felt so completely at home there. We would miss the friendship of neighbours, the warmth and fellowship at All Saints Church and the rhythm of village life with its Summer Fetes and Flower Festivals.  So it was with mixed feelings that we contemplated the change, but we decided to make the most of the opportunity and travel as much as we could.  At the same time we would try to maintain our connections with Datchworth and hope that we had lots of visitors to keep us up to date with news.

One new contact that we have established is with Richard and Tricia Abbott, former members of All Saints, who relocated to America before we moved into the village. We met them when they were visiting Datchworth earlier in the year. As they live nearby we visited them over the Summer. It was good to relax with people who had made a similar move and lovely to reminisce about Datchworth and All Saints with people who knew it well.

We now live in a community called The Hills. It is a large housing complex and could have been impersonal, but we have been lucky to find neighbours who have made us welcome, inviting us for cook outs (BBQs) and taking us to local Italian restaurants.

We have also been fortunate to find a church that is active and friendly. Quite by chance we were in one of the local restaurants (Kath does cook sometimes) when the couple at the next table introduced themselves as Nancy and John and started talking to us about where in the U.K. we were from and what we were missing.  Nancy asked about our church and suggested that we might like to attend the church where she is a member. She did have a vested interest, as her son-in-law is the priest!  So we arranged to meet her outside St Luke's Episcopal Church for the next Sunday morning service. We are now attending regularly and have become involved in activities, fund raising at the Christmas Fair and helping at the local soup kitchen.

It has been a new start but the individuals we have met are friendly and helpful. What continues to be important are the ties and friendships that we have made in different places.  We think about Datchworth often and especially over Christmas we miss our friends, the special Church Services and other celebrations.

Best wishes for the New Year.