Well here we are in December 2019 – I wrote the last Blog about 3 months ago and seems like yesterday.

Personally have been very busy at work so the website has had to take a bit of a back seat but I am spending more time at the weekends working on catch up.  Am pleased to announce that I am now working on Submissions from early 2017 – much of which has been done already but due to the Big Windows Crash am going back through to make sure they haven’t been lost.  So far so good not many need sorting.

As usual at this time of year I compile a quiz.  This years its based on the public houses past and present of the county.  If you wish to take part then you can find the questions either on the Facebook Page under files or visit the website where you will find the questions on the home page.  There will be a small prize for the winning entry.  This will be decided either by the person who submits the most correct answers or if more than one person with the same number of correct answers then we will do a random draw.   Entries should be submitted to Teresa Lewis either via the Facebook page or by contacting her via the website or you can send direct to her e-mail address if you have it.  Of course you could ask for it too.

This Christmas is going to be far more sedate with us at home.  Last year my partner was suffering from severe anxiety and depression and was off work for 4 months.  Thank goodness he is well enough to work now but in a lower capacity than he was previously.  This means that I have to keep working now not because I want to but because I need to.   Sadly this means not so much time for the OPC project but I still try and get through stuff when I can.

As many of you know I am a big sports fan and my passion is Stoke City.  We won’t say anymore about that at present.   My other passion is music and over the last two years I have been lucky to to see live concerts of some of my favourite bands and artists from the 70s and 80s.  UB40, Shalamar, Tears for Fears, Alison Moyet, The Osmonds, David Essex, Suzi Quatro, Hot Chocolate, China Crisis, Status Quo and Alexander O’Neal.  Why am I mentioning this – well Alexander O’Neal did a Christmas Album called My Gift To You and at this time of year I play it often and as a gift from me to you I would like to share it.  Two tracks are very special to me and I want to share them with you all.  The first is Our First Christmas this was the first song my partner every played to me when we first met 12 years ago.  The second is a timeless classic with a twist – The Christmas Song it brings back memories of my mum and dad playing the Nat King Cole Version – but my dad being a bit of a soul man would have loved this version.  If you want to listen to the whole album then I would highly recommend it.

Back to the website.  I finish work for the holiday on Christmas Eve lunchtime and don’t return to the office until the 7th January.  So apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the 28th I should have lost of free time to get stuck in and do some serious uploading, prepping and transcribing.

In the next blog in a few months time I will update the vacancy list and the meet the team sections of the blog.  If anyone fancies taking on a parish or helping out with admin or transcribing then please let me know again via the Facebook Page or via the contact me section on the website.  All help gratefully received.

So from the OPC Team and Admin – we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Hoping you all achieve your wishes and goals in the New Year.