Home...

“Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends.”

- Unknown

We came to Kirkintilloch on 18th February 2015, and since that time we have set about creating our Home. We obviously love our house, its been the setting for much memory making and wonderful times. We're lucky in that we have a wonderful place to live, with an equally wonderful garden to enjoy. It's been the heart of everything we've done in Kirkintilloch - a place of safety and refuge as well as a place of much adventure and joy.

But our Home is not just the bricks and mortar that we surround ourselves with. It's the community we live in, the people we interact with, and the collective memories we all make and share together. Whilst our house is a special place for us, equally special is all our friends that we have made on our journey here over the last 8 years. We came here knowing hardly anyone but we now have more than enough friends to keep us going for a lifetime. So thank you to all our very special friends in and around Kirky. You've made the last 8 years a complete joy. May we make more shared experiences together and have laughter that never ends.😍

And so to celebrate our home and many of the friends we've made on the way, we held a joint 50th family ceilidh for everyone. And it most definitely added to our wonderful memories - so thank you all for making it such a special night. We had a complete blast!

Our house, in the middle of our street

The 50th Ceilidh

Videoclip: 50th ceilidh fun

Or you can watch the videoclip here

 

Don't Stop Us Now

The Swimblers

Last Train from Broadcroft Central

Dancing Queens

The Hardcore

First contact...

For my 50th Emily and Niomi got me a birdbox complete with camera. I managed to put it up a few weeks ago so its been a waiting game since. But on 9th February 9:32am we had FIRST CONTACT! 

First contact

Videoclip: First Contact

Or you can watch the videoclip here

And then on Valentines Day they reappeared about 11:10am....This time making a full inspection on a potential new home. Lets hope they decide to move in properly soon! 😀

Birthday treats…

Wow, its been another whirlwind few weeks. I feel like my feet barely touched the ground in January and into February. First up was skiing in Chamonix with friends Colin, Gordon and Richard. And in a word - AWESOME! I’d forgotten how good it is to move through the mountains on skis, and just how good it is for you to be out in the fresh air and experience so much light in the darkest time of year. I left home feeling a bit meh from early January and returned home feeling truly on top of the world. A week of light, exercise, fresh air and the odd bit of partying and I was back in the game. Thanks to all the guys for making it a brilliant trip!

And then back down to earth and right into training for the Loch Ness Etape – a 100k cycle race around Loch Ness in April. And to get me in the groove I managed the Crow Road/Tak Ma Doon loop from Kirkintilloch. I’ve been meaning to do it ever since I moved here 8 years ago but always been slightly daunted. 50k and 700m of ascent later it was conquered on a beautiful January morning. Relieved and tired I slept well that night.

Next day was Niomi’s 8th birthday party – a crafting extravaganza making hobby horses. I think everyone really enjoyed it and it felt a really special affair for her. Her actual birthday was not till the 1st Feb and unfortunately I missed that so I’m really glad that the party was so grand. But bless her she postponed her birthday meal out till I returned! And as for her cake, well in true Niomi style she had a ‘Dirt Cake’ with worms and everything….Love it.

So where was I? Well unfortunately my Dad got rushed into hospital for an operation. Hopefully recovering now but a tornado end to a whirlwind few weeks. I did however get to go for a Balti back in Brum with my old friend Keith, although I could barely walk afterwards I was so full.

On top of the world

Me!

Skiing towards the Chamonix valley

A touch of apres ski

The skiing crew

The Birthday Girl

The Birthday Crew

Videoclip: Happy 8th Birthday Niomi

Or you can watch the videoclip here

Post-op, aged 93 and not looking too bad!!

Clambering around...

She does like to make an impact does our Niomi. A dining table and chairs becomes her new climbing frame, and everyone becomes her audience. She loves the applause but not always the limelight!

Bless her. I do wonder where her adventures will take her! Hurtling down a mountain on a bike? Scrambing up a cliff? Or then there's the other side - kind, caring and concerned. Maybe a job in mountain rescue? Who knows! But for now, its the dining room table.

Videoclip: Clambering around

Or you can watch the video here

Kicking off the second half...

So with my 50th sneaking in just before the end of 2022; 2023 sees me kicking off the second half of my centenary. And there's lots planned including a ski trip which I depart on later today - lots to watch out for in 2023. Exciting times!!

Therefore its a quick round up....

We had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas. Thanks to the Bucks Rookes and Grandad Rooke for making it so special. And, ahem, well done to the Girls for the Cranium victory....It was a lovely time with plenty of laughs, lots of food, games and merry making. Oh, and I got a Tesla :-). Jazoli appeared sporadically - must be hard being part of a festival that you don't celebrate surrounded by people that aren't your family. He seemed to like his presents though and had some good laughs playing games. He even joined us on a trip to Edinburgh...but still camera shy!

New Year saw us at a party with friends hosted by the Gilmours. Thanks to them for a great night and well done to Emily, Niomi AND Tanya for all staying up till after midnight! 

So Happy New Year one and all! May this year bring you peace, joy and love and some cheerier news for us all!

Congratulations to the girls!

My new Tesla 💓😂

On the Edinburgh big wheel

Videoclip: Happy New Year

Or you can watch the video here

Merry Christmas everyone...

To all our family and friends near and far. We wish you a very merry festive season and love, peace and joy in 2023. We have not seen anywhere near enough of you all this year but if you're ever passing please do pop in!!

 

The Christmas gathering - with a camera shy Jazoli missing!

Growing...

Well, there's lots to say and I'm short on time…so let’s cut to the chase. It’s been a kinda crazy, topsy turvy few weeks. As background, since early this year we’ve been undergoing an assessment by Social Work in Glasgow to allow us to have a young unaccompanied asylum seeker live with us. That process was concluded in the middle of October and then its been a (very short) waiting game for a suitable match. After a couple of ‘first meetings’ for us and the girls, we welcomed Jazoli to our home at the end of November. Jazoli is a 17 year old young man who travelled here from Sudan. Its been quite a journey for him, and now quite a journey for us. We are rapidly adjusting to having a 17 year old in the house – a steep learning curve! But we are starting to find our feet just in time for Christmas. I am not sure Jazoli is prepared for what’s about to hit but fingers crossed we’ll all find our way through the festive season together. More will follow in the coming weeks and months I am sure, but for now its enough to say “Welcome to our home Jazoli – we hope you will be very happy here.”

And its not just our numbers that have been growing. There’s been a growing of age too. We have just hosted all the Gedik and Gurney clan to celebrate Baba’s 80th birthday and indulged in some very fine Turkish food (Jazoli coped very well with it all and was particularly delighted with a gift from the Gurney’s of an electric blanket to stave off the cold). I’ve also grown in age to reach the half way point and the marvelous achievement of existing for 50 years. I had a lovely day including a stunning frosty walk with Tanya to kick off my 50th year of celebrations (lots planned). Only downside was my sumptuous birthday meal out was postponed as Niomi was not well – emergency pasta and sauce bringing me back to reality with a bump.

And then the kids have also been growing in excitement for Christmas. House fully decorated, parties galore and treats a-plenty. And with an extra place at the Christmas table we’re truly looking forward to it…

Baba looking a very young 80

Birthday boy with the troops

Lunch walk with the lovely T

Excitement rising!

Winter wonderland