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On reflection this has been a busy year for us all and we seem to have achieved a lot.

At the start of this year, much of my time was given to helping Mum, stalwartly trying to keep Dad comfortable at home.  She did an amazing job with invaluable help from “carers”, and managed to keep him at home until three days before he passed away, very peacefully , in a nearby hospice.  We all miss that lovely man, but were relieved for him when his latter struggle was over.  His funeral was a wonderful affair.  Many friends and family came to swell the singing and help us to celebrate his marvellous and fulfilled life.

Since then, Mum has done very well to pick up her life.  Not easy after over sixty years with Dad by her side.  She belongs to a very active church congregation and two bridge clubs and keeps herself as busy as possible.

In March, shortly after Dad died, Mum and I went to dear old Aberdeen for a few days.  I was there to visit friends and attend a school former pupils’ centenary dinner.  Great fun to see so many faces from the past.  It was a timely break, especially for Mum who had been confined to their flat for several months.

On a happier note, in June, Nicola and James presented us with our second grandson, Kyle Henry, a brother for Jamie Mark, who will soon be four.  They are lovely children and Jamie, who now loves going to nursery for a couple of hours daily, is a very fond big brother.  Nicola enjoys being a home Mum and James now works near their home, on the catering side, in a detention centre for young boys.

Mark has spent another busy year in the R.A.F.  Recently, Ian and I spent a proud few days with him, in Cranwell, where he was given his well earned wing brevet, as he graduated as a weapon systems officer.  Now he is based in Lossiemouth for eight months, to put his training into practice in the Tornado GR4 jet.  A few weeks ago, Mark also delighted us by becoming engaged to Jo.  They have been together now for four years and she already seems like a member of the family.  The wedding is to be in 2008.  Jo is from near St Albans but we have managed a couple of meetings with her parents and I’m confident it will be a happy alliance.

In May we spent two weeks in and around Cornwall.  It rained a lot.  Every day!  We still had a lovely relaxing break, the highlight being a visit to the Eden Project.  Fascinating!  In August we spent a quiet week at our timeshare at Kinloch Rannoch.  That’s always a welcome rest.

Our best getaway this year was in October, when we went to Dubai for two weeks.  Staying with David and Mandy Stapleton was just great.  The years peeled away and it was just like being back in the 80’s, Doha style.  We had a lovely time getting to know their precious children and picking up where we left off with David and Mandy.  We spent a fun, nostalgic evening with Brian McFarlane too.  Dubai has changed rather radically in twenty five years!  I’d like to go back in a few years when they’ve finished building and tidied up.

On our return from Dubai, Ian was given a couple of weeks notice of a heart operation we knew he was to have.  They gave him a new aorta valve and his recuperation is going very well.  We have nothing but praise for the way the N.H.S. have treated him – that is apart from the food!  Six weeks after the op, he’s driving again and doing his consultancy work.  The weather recently has been appalling, but he has still managed to take regular walks and is building up quite a pace and distance.  He’s been a model patient!!

Ian was well fit for the operation due largely to his continuing love of golf.  Even the day before he went into hospital!  He has had a good year, on the course.  Handicap reduced to six, winner of the Balmore Golf Club Seniors Open Championship and a member of the Balmore Past Captains’ Team which won the Andra Kirkcaldy Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

From Linda