10 things I will never do

Tricky - see Gadgetvicar's blog for why this has become an issue

So – ten things that I would never do

1 Kid myself on Luton airport is in London.

2 Innocently eat Bay leaves

3 Buy a sports utility vehicle.

4 Have both my nipples pierced.

5 Wear denim trousers, shirt and jeans.

6 Play cricket for England, although you never know!

7 Learn violin.

8 Do up a house! Life is too short.

9 buy another copy of championship manager unless I have less to do!

10 The marathon de sables.

Pink trees, autumn in Glasgow and 5 make fun

well 'blogesphere' - we had an annual family photo today in the back garden trying to utilise the pink leaves on the ground. If you have read Mr Silly you will realise why my three think its totally normal for there to be pink trees!

Aaron is covering Suzies growing bump and as for the rest the photo details that we are all well!

Laura is in primary two is Internet versed and has left me a bunch of notes around the study! Aaron is a big chap and is turning into alpha male! I am realsing that as the most unglamorous member of my family life can be tough but hair gel is cheap!We all went to Deep Sea World today which taught Suzie a lot about our children. Aaron sped off and chased the sharks by miself, Hannah went to every tutorial on fish and sharks and starfish and answered all the questions each time!!! Laura led us all round instructing us on the merits of the seals and seal feeding time. Suzie and I were relegated to jacket carriers and picknick providers! With a wee one on the way I am continually struck by how much my children enrich my life more so than i could have imagined and the weekends are phenomenal - especially when they are all around! Suzie has passed the sick stage and is blooming. She has 4 weeks post partum to slim down for Dom and Victoria's wedding which we are very much looking forward to. I have 4 months but a lot more work to do!

Great North run and much more........

Well another 5 weeks has passes. I did complete the great north run and the photo is of me running into the final straight of the half marathon feeling good although I did struggle to move after driving back to Glasgow. I started off a bit fast given my paucity of training running the 5km in 21 mins and 10 km at about 54 - so I slowed down accelerating through the last 2 miles to 2hrs 5. Sub 2 hours next year!!!

Daniel, Emily, Jude and Amy Fisher are staying with us and have had the grace to produce another Angus Fisher which has been great. They are here for another month and although Mayhem with at times 6 kids they have been brilliant to have around and its done wonders for our bunch! Amy is the worlds most vocal and flirtatious 1 year old. Daniel and Emily have a massive task on their hands in teenage years with her!!! They brought Chickenpox which Aaron has been immune too thus far but 3 others enjoyed.

Aaron has an ever expanding vocab and now says Dada, More, Cars and Tractor - his Dad is an Aberdonian!!! Work is going well and Suzie and I are both busy but enjoying it. Our last baby is growing away and is due 4/4/7. Laura and Hannah have gone down the Henna tattoo stage!!!

No Daddy's allowed

Aaron!

The girls

Hannah and Laura had a great time this weekend and here are up to date photos!

What a weekend!!!

Much to blog on but much has happened since I last came here - I have spent some time as an In patient, we are expecting again and this weekend Aaron was dedicated . It was a real experience and given his prediliction for throwing cars and dummys and his reluctance to stay still David did very well!! On Friday night James and I went to go and see Robbie Williams, on Saturday after Ballet and Kelvingrove Art Gallery Suzies brother and girlfriend Victoria, her parents, James and Suzie and I went to Roast it Bobbly Jocks for dinner. The dedication - sort of christening without water - was followed by a church lunch and the champagne and cake at Helensburgh Drive. Many thanks to Jenni for the cakes and all for coming. I think today was a bit of a come down thereafter. Hannah keeps asking people if they are going to stay!! I insert a photo of Aaron and his Godparents Stu, Sarah and Mary - he is a lucky chap.

...a beautiful wife....

As many have said......how on earth.......? But naturally only those who have not experienced my wit.

Beach tastic

And a holiday in Northern Spain

Yep - 2 weeks in Northern Spain have now come to an end and what a bummer. A holiday is coming in september to Wales but this one was a real winner. we went to the cottage pictured which was an old converted grain store with a massive garden that Hannah and Aaron enjoyed immensley. What I think Aaron enjoyed most was the spanish food which was great with lots of frech salad, paella, fish, beans and of course..ice creams. We got along to see Ros and Bill and Amia and the phenomenal Guggenhiem and ....we'll be back.

Ros and Suzie in Bilbao, more to come

Some house photos....

Bathroom, hall, bedroom, study and communion table

some good photos...

Wee Aga ...............................................................Wee Aaron, a star!

...tales from washington

I thought that a few exercepts from my trip to washington were relevant.

I was giving a wee talk at the American Diabetes Association which was a bit of a dampener on the rest of the trip as I woke up constantly at 5.30 am to adjust the talk. Suzie will be glad that I wasnt with her when that happened. I was staying near Georgetown which is an excellent area. Did a fair bit of shopping in Banana Republic. Gadget vicar had sent me in the direction of this chuch which was top stuff - 3,000 happy americans in an Anglican church that was controversy free and a wee bit away from Washington DC. American beer was a bit disappointing and I failed to go to the famous 9.30 club as there were no gigs at the correct time although I just missed Artic Monkeys & KT Tunstall. Got asked to a gay celebration party and watched the World Cup in an Irish pub.

Asturias, astonishing and astorming CD

Sorry - once more for being a brutal blogger but between you and the rest of the blogsphere the reasons have been multiple. I will try and outline some of the interesting things that have happened recently. We go off to Asturias to Northern Spain tomorrow at 5.45 am - cannot wait to wake up the kids just to show them what it feels like! We have been to Northern Spain before and we have friends who live there Bill(common spanish name) and Ros(from Northern Ireland). They also have a wee girl and a thousand steps and live in Bilbao. We are about three hours away.

Well a wee summary of where we are in the grand scheme of building and I will endeavour to add some new pictures maybe even tonight if all goes well. So.........a year ago now we found building firm x.......and in january with much optimism and vigiour we moved out into a flat in the west end for a fistful of money for 4 weeks. We moved back in in May.........helped by a week in friends and then renting a flat from another friend which was vacant. The 'job' was supposed to take 6-8 weeks but took 5 months and there is still some residual stuff to fininsh. Looks good though but the fininishing touch was the addition of the speakers into their stands in the kitchen last night. Suzie and I build an Ikea desk last night, I couldnt help but be impresses at how cleverly it all fitted together once all the components were the correct way round and how the instructions baffled us. When we are away hopefully the painters will have resurrected the hall and the plumber finished the last few bathroom components. Thereafter the carpets should arrive in August, the replacement tumble drier in July and the baliffs in Novemeber. Astonishingly it looks like the finishing straight is in line!

I will be packing ipod, logitech speakers and shades and some books. Hannah is a bit concerned about the lack of TV and is keen I take my computer.

A storming selection of Johnny Cash American Recordings have been blessing my kitchen and ipod and I cannot tell you how amazing they are!!!

Washington, work men and wireless

Ahh blogsphere its been some time since the tinkling of the keyboard here has been possible. We moved back in about three weeks ago but had real problems with the phone lines, wireless and ADSL fliters and many geekesque things that have slowed me down. Suffice to say that many hours between myself, BT, Sitecom router and a firm from Bearsden who put the new wires in and a long chat to Wanadoo and low and behold its all working!

The workmen continue but are on their last legs - as are Suzie and I and hopefully another few weeks should complete things. We have learnt a lot and lived in a wee flat in the South side for 4 months which we thoroughly enjoyed......its great to have the HiFi back and the AGA and communion table combo has been much enjoyed. The boys from our church group came round for stew, wine, beers and singing and utilised the facilities.

Aaron is now walking and very pleased with himself. He has not stopped eating for the past few months. Hannah and Laura are very pleased to be back in the house too.

Must dash as I am off to try and fininish a talk I am giving in Washington DC on Monday

Progress, promise and practice

Yep

The house has taken too long, week 15 beckons but progress is ongoing and next week we will be back in. The house is looking fantastic and we shall soon say bye to Shawlands and hello to Jordanhill. Aaron is now walking - he was stationary when we left and it was snowing!

Ed and I went to go and see Morrisey on Thursday which was good but Sons and Daughters displayed the promise of years ago!

Otherwise the pratcice of medicine is going well and its more medical recieving this week....

Still out.......but not down

Sorry for the lack of posting but we are still out of the house - its come on somewhat from then but still has someway to go I think! Plumbing problems now being solved by our mate Graham. Suzie and I are both 33, the kids looking forward to returning to the house, another week of nights in the bag and much much more...more upon our return!

Up up and away

Sorry - not been the best blogger recently but we have been away from our house which is currently looking like this! The builders are hard at it and we will be back in in about 2 and a half weeks. We anticipate a massive party on May with Aarons dedication over the same weekend so watch this space.

A wee synopsis.......

Currently in Rollestone with Suzie's family which is lovely and Hannah and Aaron are having a wonderful time. Congratulations to Eddie and Rebecca on Wee Owen. Aaron has started crawling .......timing not ideal but he's very happy. Aberdeen FC have now just achieved victories over Hearts and Rangers, Scotland beat France and then themselves.
Listening to a lot of U2, Mogwai, Pearl Jam, Belle and Sebastian and isabel campbell and mark lanegan. Doing a lot of dull stats and hopefully off to go and see the film Walk The Line this tonight!

New Year

Well bogsphere - Its been a while since I was on this site but suffice to say that since we last bogged we have moved out, work on the house has started, 2 weeks of medical recieving, 2 talks and tonsilitis(Aaron). The wee man hasnt quite settled into the new flat and isnt really sleeping which is not ideal.

The photo is from Hogmanay with my old flatmates Stu(White shirt) and Col(Blue Shirt). The girl back right is Sandy who is marrying Col on the 29th of April, the girl infront of her is Elaine Mrs Stu. The party was excellent - great food, company, Champagne and games!