The Year of Relativity was a title Greg, my husband and best friend of 31 years, Benedict [Beni], my son of 18 years, and myself, of feeling younger than I am years, decided upon as a way of giving meaning to a very special year we have just embarked upon.

We began this year of adventure on August 1st, 2011, when we set out for the Deep South in America visiting newly discovered relatives.Our journeys there took us through Georgia, Alabama, Lousiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida.

On October 22nd , 2011, we are moving to the UK for the year where I will be teaching on an exchange programme between Canada and England. I will be teaching a mixed grade class of students in a rural Church of England called Pollington - Balne School near Selby in North Yorkshire. I have not taught in the UK since 1988. My UK colleague, Lesley Marson, will be coming to live in our home along with her 2 children and husband John. We will be living in their converted barn in Camblesforth, a small Yorkshire village. We exchange homes and cars so it is a wondeful situation to be in.

Greg is on sabbatical from his job as the Head of Counselling at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, our home sweet home...after many years as a family therapist he is so looking forward to his year "off' and who knows what will happen..he would like to play music, ride his bike and maybe start his book about The Soft Touch [to be explained later!]...or not... :)

Beni has just graduated from High School and is a singer/songwriter who is so longing to live in Europe playing as much music as he can. He is passionate about his music and has been since inutero by music surrounded by musicians all his life. We founded the Prince George Coldsnap and its predecessor, the PG Folkfest. I have been a promoter and agent as my passion on the side since 1986 when in the UK. Greg for his "therapy" has always been in bands. I am sure, I know for a fact we will have lots of music experiences whilst abroad!

The Year of Relativity is about....being with my relatives in the UK, France and America, having friends visit, encountering whole new experiences. Greg and I are at a stage in life where life is all too short, each moment counts and is precious...for me my teaching experiences will be challenging and powerful I know, being with my soon to be 91 year old Mum will be a blessing, being with my sister Rosemary in London, her family along with my darling big brother Richard in Bordeaux after so many years in Canada will be so great...for Greg I am so grateful and for Beni, we are all so excited for him!

So...welcome to our year!!