Anniversary Celebration with our family

The 8th July is our wedding anniversary as I reported in the last post to my blog. Mary and I had a very pleasant treat that same evening when our kids took us out for a meal at the Broadstraik Inn, Elrick. Our whole family was there including Fiona and her husband Richard, Linda, Philip and his girl friend Laura ( missing from the above photo - we need to get that fixed). Laura is the most recent addition to the family pool and she is a real delight to have around ;-) We have to dogs too - Hollie and Abbie - they definitely becoming part of the family too.

Back to the family meal, we had a really enjoyable evening and the food and company was excellent - to be recommended if you are into rather large portions! I had Surf and Turf - first time for many years and it was brilliant ;-)

I just wanted to note that having a relatively long marriage is a delight in its self - but having family like the one we have been blessed with is a real privilege without a doubt. Every one of them is unique and make their special contribution to the whole. It is a real privilege to have seen each of our kids mature from the little babies they were (vague memories of the first few weeks of life, interrupted sleep for feeding etc...)! Of course none of us are perfect and we all exhibit less ideal traits from time to time (infrequently I should add) - but the fact is that are all still essential parts of the whole family unit and we would be much poorer without any one of them ;-) Because we are family together we are there for each other at any time and the support provided starts from being paternal ( from parent to child ) but as ttime pass we start to see the support becoming a two way flow.

Who could have predicted all those 32 years ago that we would be where we are today? But there you go! We must continue to live each day to the max and never unduely worry about the future taking pleasure people that we are blessed to be surrounded with. A family starts of as a very close group of people but as the years pass, physical distance can become a separator but its wonderful to know that when we get together its like we were never apart ;-) Happily, we are able to do this on a fairly regular intervals and every time we are together serves as precious reminder of relationship that bind us together - where ever we happen to be.

Today Linda will head back to Glasgow where she lives and works for now and we will be apart again - but not for too long ;-)

Another great occassion so roll on the next time we are able to get together as a family again ;-)

Mizpah

"It was also called Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other."
Genesis ch 31 v 49

Wedding Anniversary - 32 years together

Well today is a very special day - it is our wedding anniversary. Mary and I have been happily together for 32 years and were engaged for about 3 years before that! So its kind of a landmark day!!! I just wanted to mark this special day by taking a few moments to thank Mary for her loyalty and for being not only my wife but "bestest" companion all these years.

From my point of view it's been a wonderful time with so many special memories to reflect on! We have shared many experiences ranging from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows - that is what life is made up of after all.

I remember our first date as if it was yesterday! There is a story to tell - but not here ;-) The notable thing is that I had 'fancied' Mary for a couple of years when I would have seen here at the annual Church Youth Christmas parties. Mary was from Peterhead and I was from Fraserburgh and we attended each others respective church parties. The young folk in the church did this on mass - they were great times ;-) I however thought that she was much older then me ;-)!!!!! Actually, she is about 6 months younger - I thought that it was inappropriate for a loon ( term for boy in Fraserburgh) to go out with a quine ( term for girl ) who was older ( old fashioned idea really! )

In any case when I discovered that she might be younger than me, it was all downhill from there on!!!! We dated for the first time and never looked back since then. We have had so many good times together - too many to recount!

We married in Peterhead on the 8th July 1977 and moved into our one bedroom flat in Aberdeen. After two further years of study ( I was the student and Mary was the bread winner) we then moved to the Scottish Borders where we lived in Tweedbank for 10 years when I was working at a school there as a "Techie Teacher". Our family started whilst there when we had out first of three children - Fiona - at who's wedding the above photo was taken. Linda and Philip followed in due course too!!! Philip the youngest is now almost 20 - now that is scary!!!!.

It is amazing to reflect over all these years and to appreciate that love really does grow stronger as the years go by. On the occasion of our first wedding anniversary I gave Mary a gold ingot - the type you wear around your neck. I had the following bible text engraved on the back of it.

Ruth Chapter 1 Vs 16 which says "for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God"

This was representative of my commitment to Mary as my life partner. And this feeling still stands today - we have been so fortunate to have enjoyed so many favours over the years in terms of the opportunities that have come our way! But one thing is certain and that is that we have been blessed in ways that we could not have predicted and teh good time have certainly out weighed the bad times! I thank God for being our compass and guide at all times and in particular for bringing us together all those years ago! It certainly was love at first sight for me and that love is stronger today that is was then ;-)

So the last 32 have been better than I could have imagined ;-) and I now look forward to many more years together - God willing of course.

Luv you more each day Mary - James xx

Marriage Proposal at Disneyland

Picked up a reference to this on Twitter and thought it worth sharing ;-)

Seems like a fairy tail story ;-)

Interesting road sign!!!

Just back from a trip to Inverness - wonderful day and the weather was great! During a walk by the Caledonian Canal we came across this important sign which has been put there to instruct people which way to turn. as you can see from the multi language instruction ( 6 languages ) we need to turn left.. At first glance the we were uncertain what language was used in the bit at the top on blue?

Walk by River Don - and a first!!

Well, I walk by the River Don regularly especially when we have one of the dogs staying over!
Here are some photos from yesterdays evenings walk - it was a really beautiful evening and we saw something for the first time ;-)

First photo looking along the river towards the bridge - the Heron was in this area too!


then a little further along some wild flowers - beautiful colours ;-)


Then a view of Bennachie and Mither Tap on the homeward stretch


But this was the "first"! See below - the path is strewn with what looks like fluff. Overhead, there is a very big Scented Poplar tree and this is how it spreads its seeds. Usually, there is wind and the fluff is carried on the wind - a bit like what happens with Dandelion seeds.


Mary "Googled" this and came up with the following link http://scatts.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/tree-fluff/ where someone had already reported on the same thing with a few more photos. The post also includes the bit about the Dandelion !!!
We are so fortunate to have all of this right on our door step!!!

Some photos of Linda in her younger day ;-)

I just wanted to add a few additional picks of Linda from her younger days!

In this photo you see Linda - in the push buggy and Fiona her big sister at the helm! Just look that cheeky face!!!! Always full of cheeky fun is Linda !!!!



This might have been the first time that he get her self behind the wheel of a car! Thankfully, this one was on a track so no chance swinging from side to side what ever you did with the wheel!!!! Just as well as she is clearly distracted with something??? Not paying attention to the road ;-)


Again clearly excited about something - I cannot recall what now ;-) Perhaps someone scored a goal???


A more pensive moment???? I remember that pretty red and white dress - it suited her very well! Linda is always a deep thinker - seems like she has something on her mind here!



And more recently another pensive look - or perhaps just a bit tired after a day at one of the theme parks in Florida ;-)


But here she is laughter abounds and giggles too ;-) I think we just did a big ride together ;-) Happy days!!!!

Happy Birthday to Linda ;-)

It's Linda's ( my daughter ) birthday today - last week on my own birthday she drove all the way home from Glasgow to be at home for my birthday - that was a great surprise and very much appreciated. Today its her birthday - and unfortunately we cannot be together so I have made a short video message for her so that she will hopefully not feel too lonely today.

So lots of luv and hugs and happy birthday Linda xxxxxx


I thought it would be a good idea to add a few photos below ;-)


Linda and Mary on holiday at Crovie - Abbie in foreground ;-)

Linda and Abbie at home in Glasgow - a very young Abbie - yes Linda is quite young too ;-)

Linda resting after having been walked by the dog ;-)

Some more photos blogged - Click here

Swine Flue hits Japan - sort of!

I was interested to read this article which seems to indicate that the Swine Flue Virus has infected Japan - but no people patients!!!!

click here to read more

Happy special occassion!!!!

Today is a special day for me - one that comes around on this day every year!! You can guess I am sure ;-) Made more special cause at about 12.30am a couple of visitors arrived at our home in Kemnay! Linda (daughter) and Abbie (grand-dog) arrived having travelled all the way from Glasgow just for the occasion. Great to have them here for a couple of days - we will have to have a barbee or something to mark the occasion ;-)