 WHAT WERE WE DOING IN......
1997 was quite an eventful year for our family. Michael and Ann’s book "Mormonism: A Gold Plated Religion" was finally published and at church they got involved in evangelism, running their first Foundation Course. Their work with Reachout Trust continued to grow, and they were looking forward to making plans for the opening of the Mormon temple at Chorley, near Preston, in the summer. Ann won her fight for a re-grading and a pay rise. Michael was managing to do everything he wanted to despite his arthritis. He was writing more and more every day and mastered the computer. And yes…he was the sane member of the family back then too!! Maggie also celebrated her 80th birthday in June, with a family party, which was a great success. We all got together for the first time in ages…it was wonderful. Vincent began work in February in Customer Services for Midland Bank, and after training and assessment, was confirmed as a permanent employee in October. (Little did we know how successful he would become!)
Little Toni Marie was nearly 2, and growing more delightful every day. She’d started talking and had a very firm idea of what she wanted - and made sure she got it! LOL Daniel became a DJ on hospital radio and learned to play guitar. He volunteered for Radio City, the radio station at Swansea's Singleton Hospital, and was given his own show on Wednesday evening. Everyone who heard him said he is very good. Carrie left school with 8 GCSEs and we were very proud of her. She started studying A levels in Music, Accounting, and switched from Biology to Business Studies. She hoped to qualify as an accountant as a backup to a career in music. Her instruments belonged to the comprehensive school and had to be given back, but luckily Ann’s pay rise made it possible to buy her a saxophone and clarinet for Christmas. Angharad was very sad to leave the junior school but settled well at Dillwyn Llewelyn Comprehensive School, where her brothers and sister went. She was learning the flute, and she also asked for a keyboard for Christmas. We are quite a musical family! She also went back to dancing after 2 years away due to bad knees. She performed with her dance school in "The Bumbles of Mumbles", an annual children's production at the Swansea Grand Theatre. The Thomas Family bought a better computer this year and had a lot of work ahead learning how to get the most out of all this sophisticated software. We also got the Internet for the first time. | 
