25 Years and Counting

Yesterday Rick and I celebrated our Silver Wedding.  It is so hard to believe that we have been married for that long.  In some ways it feels like just yesterday but 6 children, grey hairs and the amount of "stuff" we have accumulated all go to show that we have indeed enjoyed each other's company for a good while.  I can genuinely say "here's to the next 25".
I have had quite a lot of work on recently and working 4 long days on the trot meant I was really tired and ready for a day off so it was a welcome relief.  Rick gave me a lovely silver necklace with a real pressed rose in the centre which I love.  We had some lovely cards and it was great to get some from people we don't hear from often.
We went for one of my coastal walks (see http://footstepsbythesea.blogspot.co.uk/ ) in the middle of the day and then had a takeaway for tea before going out for a night walk in the forest with the head torches.  Perhaps one of the highlights of my day was being proved right on a certain forest trail which Rick thought finished a long way from where it did.  It's not often I am right when it comes to navigation so being right then will be remembered for the next 25 years!  I love the forest for all sorts of exciting reasons.
Main celebrations are this weekend when we go away to Crieff Hydro for a weekend of pampering which is very rare for us as we are used to roughing it.  Hope we don't feel too out of place but I know we will enjoy the luxury.
Then the next weekend rounds it all off wonderfully with all 10 of us together for a meal here which the children are cooking (I hope)
I was on a course today and got home after a long day of travelling and studying to find this pie made for our tea.  Rick is finding his inner chef at last.  Note the romantic message on top!

Views

Had a nice 2 mile run with the head torches this evening with M.  I had thought it would be chilly and wear headband and gloves but really didn't need them.  It feels good to be out with the head torch again though.  I do enjoy autumn/winter running.  I have set myself a goal for a spring half marathon so will be getting back to consistency - and also watching the weight!
I was working last weekend and was quite busy and also worked a half day on Monday which was a bank holiday here.  After I finished work we went out for a short walk and I asked Rick to find me a walk with a view - I love seeing the beauty of the hills and although we didn't have time to do a hill walk I wanted to see the hills.  He delivered as usual....

Goings on in the last month

Today I had a lovely run in the forest with the dog and my running friend.  It was a beautiful morning.  Autumn running is so wonderful and after a really busy working week and juggling life around it, it was amazing to be out running again.  Had a big disappointment in the week as our relay team didn't manage to get a place in the Highland Fling ultra marathon but I have decided to do another half marathon next March which means I will need to get my head down and focus!

The dog having a great time and getting clean at the same time!

Great to see all the lovely fungi growing again - they make lovely patterns

She doesn't really like having to get out of the water!!

We had a lovely time at the concert recently listening to the Creetown Silver Band which 14yos is a member of.  He plays the cornet.  He wasn't well at all but managed to drag himself there and they played some lovely music.  The band were celebrating getting new uniforms and they look really smart.

8yos and I had a great walk together up by one of the beautiful waterfalls in the area.  We had taken Rick out about 8 miles so he and the dog could run home and then we stopped on the way back.  Lovely place.

Last weekend we headed south after I finished work, to spend some time with Rick's parents in Manchester. We were picking 14yos up from school at 3.30 when he finished but just as we travelled along the road about 3 miles from the school we heard a loud hissing sound and realised we had a flat tyre.  It took Rick a long time to get the bolts off but we managed to get the spare on and were only 40 minutes late for picking 14yos up!!

We called at Rick's brothers house to drop off 8yos and 12yod as that is where they were staying and on the Saturday we picked 24yos and his fiancee up.  It was so good to see them and to spend time with them.  They are so "right" together and that is all a mother can ask for!

12yod with her cousins

Rick ran Chester marathon in 3.15 which was a PB.  We met some other friends from the running club and also spent some time in Chester city centre.  It's a really lovely city.  Perhaps I'll manage to run the marathon one year..............
It was quite a not day really and we had a great time.

Rick approaching the finish line

Exhausted

Waiting for Debenhams to open in the centre of Chester

 We went into Manchester and the girls had a nice time playing some of the piano in Forsyths - a great music shop in the centre.  We then went for a Chinese Banquet to celebrate Rick's 47th birthday and his brother's 45th birthday.  Lovely.

 Below is Rick and 8yos with Rick's birthday cake.

 Becoming the stay at home Dad means that Rick has had to take over some of the cooking......he is really good at it but won't admit it yet in case I hand over all the cooking to him.  I really don't enjoy cooking so he has a point!

 Barnaby won a trophy in scouting recently for the best contribution to the scout group over the last year.  Here he is being presented with the award by one of the scout leaders.