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DH (44): James Eugene Hall (RowenaRavenclaw)
DW (44): Alexia Cosmina Hall, nee. Vidraru (skinnyminnie)
DD (17): Sofia Victoria Hall (JuliaF)
DD (13): Elisa Jasmine Hall (cher529s)
DS (9): Joseph Anthony Hall (JuliaF)
DDog (dec): Lucky (Story)

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Sofia’s friend (18): Mateo Cesar Serrano-Cruz (Cinnabar)
DCat (1):

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Alexia’s friend (48):

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After much thought and discussion, James decided to take a leap of faith and apply for teacher training. Rather than a full-time course that would take only 9 months to complete, but require him to leave his job, he chose a part-time course that would allow him to continue working while studying. This meant attending courses at the weekend and completing projects in the evenings, a tiring endeavour that often took him away from his family. His children showed support by assisting with lesson plans and offering their own opinions of what made a good teacher (no homework was at the top of the list). The process of receiving his certificate ultimately took two years and then began the even more frightening process of completing his career change. He found employment after six months of searching, though not at his daughters’ school. It is far from an easy job, but James finds it more fulfilling than the hamster wheel of never-ending problems he was on before. At least as a teacher, it is possible to find a sense of accomplishment, and he enjoys getting to share his love of literature with his students.

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Alexia has also returned to school. Inspired by her trip to Italy, she decided to start learning the language and signed up for a night class at the local college. She has picked it up well over time and can now speak at a decent level, albeit with the vocabulary of a schoolchild, and she has not yet mastered the art of understanding native speakers. The class offers annual trips to Italy for practice and Alexia has been able to go on two, one to Rome and one to Milan, and hopes to make it to Florence with the group this year. She has become particularly close friends with an English woman whose Italian grammar is making very slow progress, and many Saturday afternoon ‘tutoring sessions’ have turned into lunches with wine and a lot of laughter.

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As her parents return to the classroom, Sofia is preparing to leave it. Despite her love for music, she has decided not to pursue it as a career, disliking the idea of public attention. Instead she is planning to study economics. She is uncertain whether to apply to the local university, which would allow her to stay close to her family and best friend, or go further afield to a more elite institution with courses that would allow her to study abroad. Both have their merits, though her parents are trying to gently encourage her towards the second option as they feel it’s important for her to spread her wings, see new places and meet new people.

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Mateo left school at 16, but he and Sofia have remained friends and are almost inseparable by now. Mateo is almost another member of the Hall family as he spends so much time with them, often preferring their company to listening to his parents’ marital problems at home. Both Elisa and Joey regard him as an older brother and James treats him like a son. Alexia suspects he may end up being more of a son-in-law, and is keeping a close eye from the background to ensure nothing happens before Sofia completes university. Since he turned 18, Mateo has moved away from his parents’ house and into a flat share, celebrating his new independence with the purchase of an elegant British Shorthair. The cat likes to act aloof, but gives his heart to anyone willing to scratch behind his ears. He receives a lot of attention from Mateo, Sofia and Joey, the last of whom has decided the cat is his best friend and frequently insists on third-wheeling his sister so they can play together.

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Elisa’s artistic ability has grown and she can now, as hoped, draw recognisable scenes. Her most recent painting, a beautiful scene of two elephants walking beneath a giant sunrise, was displayed at a local art show and bought by her family to hang with pride. Like her sister, she is not going to pursue a career in the arts because it “wouldn’t make enough money”. Instead she wants to be a police officer, or more specifically a detective. She has no interest in wearing a uniform or chasing shoplifters, and is hoping to find a fast track route to start solving murders like the detectives in her favourite dramas. Forensic science seems like the best course to take, if only she was any good at science.

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Joey received a book of Andy Rouse wildlife photographs for his ninth birthday and has now decided that he wants to do the same thing – not only take photos of animals, but specifically lie down in front of them to get the shot, which looks more exciting than using a long lens. To hone his skills for his eventual career, he has now taken possession of James’ camera and is snapping Polaroids of everything. The family sitting around the table? That will probably be a precious memory one day. Elisa pretending to be a model? That too. A diagonal shot of the bathroom? Hmm, maybe not that one.

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DCat has a diminutive Spanish name shared with a basketball player from the Spanish national team (past or present.)

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Alexia’s friend has a traditional English name and her middle name comes from Irish mythology. She goes by a nickname based on her first or middle name. Her surname is occupational.