Busy doing nothing

I'm off for two weeks just now - annual leave that's put into our rota so we dont' really get to choose when we get it. And while i'm extremely grateful for the rest and the chance to do a bit of extra sleeping, i find myself at a bit of a loose end with frances still at uni and studying hard for finals.

i'm trying to catch up with a few friends, and do fun things like go climbing and finish the book that i started in april (war & peace - fantastic book, well worth the effort of reading) which is great to do, but i'm a person who is used to being busy, and i tend to function best when i'm going at full tilt, so to have time on my hands like this always comes as a bit of a shock to the system when it happens! although given how hard i'm finding it to get up in the morning, i think i just need to rest a bit!

today's plan is to fix my bicycle, which has a wonky back wheel, and if i can't fix it, take it to the bike shop. and then shopping for some nice food to cook for a little 3rd anniversary dinner for us. might go to the amazing Fish Plaice, a tiny fishmongers near tollcross.

but in the meantime to help me fill my day, here's a few pics from the honeymoon for your viewing pleasure

one of the very cool buildings in tavira, portugal





on safari in south africa





lots of lions





Mozambique - unbelievably beautiful





collecting shells



and here's a big fish wot i caught for dinner!

Oops

So it turns out that i'm actually quite forgetful, and the pictures that i promised many months ago have never made it onto the blog. there are probably very few people who bother to check this blog now anyway seeing as i haven't updated in so long!

but just for you PK, here's a couple of pics.

by the way - it's 5:30 am and i'm on nightshift - how fun for me!

all the boys

the happy us!

Long overdue

My humble apologies to all of you out there who regularly check the blog for updates, things have been rather hectic, and this is honestly the first occasion i've had to sit down and write a bit.

it's been an exciting couple of months, our wedding day was incredible! we couldn't have asked for it to be any better, wonderful to have all of our family and friends there, and truly the happiest day imaginable for us. i think the highlight for many people was seeing me blub my eyes out at the altar!

It was wonderful to be able to share the day with so many family and friends, all of whom bring something unique to our lives. so thanks to all of you who made it - and we can't wait to catch up again sometime soon.

the honeymoon was fantastic too! i've been trying to post a few pictures, but it's not working too well - will try again another day. we were in portugal for a week, then back for andy and julie ashworth's wedding (which also was fantastic) and then we disappeared again off to south africa and mozambique for two weeks! paradise! the nicest holiday that we'll have for years i think.

and now i'm well and truly stuck into working life - been at it for a month now. still pretty unnerving at times, and still seem to spend a lot of the day running around like a headless chicken!! but on the whole it's going well. needless to say the weekends have become extremely precious.

and our new flat is working out really well too - we've been busy with painting and decorating, and it's quite amazing how much we've managed to fit in here - we're having people round as often as possible just so we can show it off!!

anyway, i'd better go and put the oven on for dinner

It's finally arrived...........

.........the single most exciting week of my life so far! I just cannot believe how fast it's come around in the end. It seems that no matter how much you try to prepare for something like this, it still comes as a slight shock in the end! And this time next week i'll be a married man - crazy.

I think it will only really hit me on thursday when i travel south with mum and dad, because at the moment i still have so many other things on my mind. i finish my work shadow in the hospital tomorrow, which has been a very valuable experience. I've found it totally exhausting though (to my shame!) not because it's been particularly demanding but more that i've had to get back in to a routine of getting up the morning after 5 weeks holiday! Then wednesday is graduation - another surreal thought that my five years of university are now over - and then it will be thursday!

Church this morning was wonderful, and i'm so thankful for it. So many people were passing on their prayers and best wishes for the wedding - and it was wonderful to feel the love and support of the folks in the church. Funny to think as well that the next time we make it to church we'll be a married couple. wow! And the sermon this morning could not have been more appropriate. David speaking on 1 Peter 3, highlighting the roles of men and women within marriage, and emphasising the fact that men and women have different, but equally important parts to play, and an equal responsibility to make the marriage work. A lot of people when they read this passage don't get beyond the first line "wives submit to your husbands" before judging it and deciding that it's out of date and not worth reading - but in fact, the responsibility placed on husbands "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect" carries as much emphasis. And indeed when placed in the context of other teachings from the bible, "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph5:21) and "husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church (Eph5:25) it can be seen that the responsibility lies very much with both husband and wife.

And i cannot wait for saturday! I've been looking forward to it for so long, and i hope and pray that the Lord will bless us richly as we embark on our life together.

Chaos

So much for the restful post-exam period! this last few weeks have seemed busier than ever! My bedroom is an absolute tip as i try to get all packed up ready for moving to the new flat on monday - very excited about that, can't wait. However, the downside is that i have to finish packing today (thursday) because tomorrow we head to Dunblane for my graduation ball, and then on saturday we have an early start to drive up towards Aberdeen for John and Ruth's wedding.

And on top of that, i'm playing in the band for the service, so myself and a couple of others have been practising away for that. busy busy busy.......

it's sad to be dismantling the room which i have so enjoyed living in over the last 3 years, and i'm certainly not looking forward to unpacking at the other end, trying to find new nooks and crannies to stash all my junk in! a few trips to ikea are most definitely in order over the next wee while.

so wish us luck!!

oh, and it's only 4 weeks and 2 days until the wedding - amazing!

I'VE PASSED MY EXAMS!

Ever so slightly happy!

Now to start getting stressed about starting work.....

Fond memories

Last friday my aunt passed away, she had been ill for a long time, and was in great suffering towards the end, so in some ways - especially for her we feel a sense of relief. We will all miss her enormously though. She was truly one of life's most wonderful characters, someone who radiated joy and integrity wherever she went.

I was home for the funeral, and it was lovely to see so many of the family, albeit under awful circumstances. I think the reading that summed up best how we all felt about her was from Proverbs 31, chosen by dad to be read during the thanksgiving service following the burial.

"A Wife of Noble Character"
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant's ship; she brings her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls. Shegoes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.

Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.

She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."