Segaran Family News 2015

To family and friends all over - we hope you find this summary of events in our lives this year interesting.

Jane has been working very hard throughout the second half of 2014 on a project to acquire and run a holiday cottage in York. We were able to have Mayfield Cottage ready for launch by January 2015. This is Jane's main job now and certainly the popularity of the cottage has kept Jane busy. She has had guests from all over the world including Australia, Greece, France, USA and Germany. Here is a link to some photos.

Luke has been working for a software company in York as part of his Year in Industry. He has enjoyed this very much and home conforts was an added bonus. He is back at Sheffield for his final year. He had an interesting trip to Ukraine which included a tour of Chernobyl. We also had a short break with him in Krakow. Luke is still passionate about music and made it to Glastonbury this year.

Emily started her new job at the Youth Hostel Association this year where she is Activites Manager. She is having great fun and enjoys the interaction with school groups and outdoor activities. She is also very active with the Scouting organisation and frequently goes climbing - now as an instructor. Emily is still involved with fundraising for Oxfam and organised a fun Oxjam day this year.

Joseph continues to enjoy life in Amsterdam keeping busy between working at Watersones, doing art commissions and promoting his silk screen prints, postcards and greeting cards. Here is his website. I took Amma across to stay with him in April and we went on a tour of the bulbfields. He is a great cook and certainly impressed Amma with his efforts.

I continue to fill my time with electronics and books. On the electronics side the new products are aimed at home automation like monitoring freezer temperature and switching appliances on and off remotely. I helped two authors with publishing their books as 'print on demand' versions. One was "Evolution of an Ethnic Identity - The Tamils of Sri Lanka" and the other was "Endless Inequality - The Rights of Plantation Tamils in Sri Lanka". 

Jane and I felt able to visit Sri Lanka after the recent change in government. We were able to travel to all parts of the island freely and so we did by visiting Jaffna, Trincomallee, Battocaloa, Kathirgamam and Galle. While in Jaffna we visited Manipay Hindu College where my grandfather was once the Principal. It was good to see the money that the Navaratnam family fundraised for sports being put to good use. There seemed to be new optimism in all parts of the country.

Wishing everybody a peaceful 2016.

Segaran Family News 2014

Much has happened in 2014 - here is a snapshot of some of the more memorable events.

Jane and I have settled nicely into our new home - not so new as we have now been here more than 18 months. The log burning stove is in, woodpiles ready, the new patio done, two internal walls demolished and currently awaiting new kitchen in a few weeks. I am looking forward to sampling the end products of Jane testing out the new ovens. It's a nice area with lots of open spaces and we have some great neighbours.

Luke has finished 2 years of Uni and was fortunate enough to land an industrial experience position for his 3rd year at a software company in York. So he has been at home since June and cycles off every morning with his carefully made and generous 'pack-up'. We bought him a road bike when he turned 21 in July and he has been away on long bike rides after work with colleagues.

The tour-de-france came to Yorkshire this year and the county went crazy over it. Yellow bikes and bunting cropped up everywhere. Large crowds turned up to cheer the riders on - a never to be forgotten experience.

Since coming back from her South American tour Emily has thrown herself into life in York. She has her own place about a couple of miles from us and is stamping her own mark on it. She ran York Oxjam in 2014 (a music based fund-raising event for Oxfam) and raised much needed funds for them. 

Joseph turned 30 this year. He came to York and we had a joint celebration for him and Jane's mum who turned 90 around the same time. After a tea party for 'Gran Mary' we drove across the North Yorkshire Moors and spent a night at a delightful apartment in Whitby.

Jane gave up working for the council this year and we put in motion our plan for running a self-catering holiday home in York. The last three months have been very busy for both of us in decortaing and furnishing the cottage. Jane has done a fantastic job and Mayfield Cottage is now available for breaks in Yorkshire.

I have been making full use of my 'free days' and have launched into helping authors publish and market their books. Working with a family friend (Thiru Arumugam), we successfully re-published 'Hundred Hindu Temples of Sri Lanka' which was written by his father, Sanmugam Arumugam.

Every Christmas, Jane and I look forward to letters from family and friends and one in particular is always thought provoking and challenging - from a lady of some 94 years who still rides her bike around York. Her letter deals with the growing gap between rich and poor and finishes with: 

 'So this Christmas season let's take time to pause to reflect to discover how we can help in the progress we long to see towards understanding, honesty, fairness, peace and justice!'.

On that note wishing you all a peaceful 2015.

Jane and Seggy