Empty Nest Syndrome

Well, they've all gone now. Carole, Gary and Luca are back in Inverurie getting ready for their trip down south tomorrow to visit Carole's family, and Kelly and Craig snuck out at 6:00 am this morning. They had said they were getting up at 5 and I awakened then but they didn't actually rise until 5:45. I laid in bed awake expecting them to come in and say goodbye but the next thing I heard was their car pulling out of the drive! I wasn't even going in to work this morning and could have had a long lie, but thought I'd better be awake to see them off!

Ah well, just Ross, Jo and I now.

Got a meeting with the Laird this morning concerning the squash courts - not holding my breath, but we'll wait and see.

Tree

I thought I'd previously published a photo of our beautiful (and expensive) tree on my blog, but, on checking, I hadn't after all - so here it is.

Back to work for a few hours this morning, then Jo and I are starting our search for a new suite for the back room - hoping that Stan England will eventually do the work on the window and stairs that we've been waiting a couple of years for.

Boxing Day

Gary and Ross played computer games and snacked through the night last night - until 3 am apparently. No compassion from Carole, however - Gary was the one to get up with Luca in the morning. I was already up and getting ready for golf. By the time I returned, Craig and Kelly had arrived from Peterhead. Like Gary they had a late night and it wasn't long before they both went off to bed.

By the time Jo had the steak pie ready, there was only Carole, Jo and I awake to eat it - so we had to rouse Kelly, Craig, Ross (of course) and Gary who had crashed out again on the settee - see above.

Craig has gone in to Aberdeen this evening to meet up with friends, but Kelly has opted out. Before he went,I managed to get the family photo above.

It was our 35th wedding anniversary today and I bought Jo ear-rings and a necklace from Ortak - she's modelling them above.

Christmas videos

Christmas

Jo was only just up in time to get to Mass, but she had to go alone - shower queues etc. Kelly and Craig waited patiently to see Gary, Carole and Luca, who were delayed a little - Gary said the roads were pretty slippy. They got here just before 1:00 pm and Kelly and Craig left about half an hour later to go to Craig's family in Peterhead.

Luca was all dressed up for Christmas in his Santa suit and Gary and Carole were looking pretty festive too - lots of photos and videos attached.

We finally got Ross up and had our Christmas dinner - the first half to the sound of Luca wailing away in his cot. The turkey crown Jo had bought at the Co-op was actually very nice and so was the rest of the meal - Carole had made the trifle.

As usual, we crashed out afterwards!

Christmas Eve

Well, Craig didn't make it to the football - chicken or what? Was he secretly worried that the pensioners would show him up? He didn't get up until 10:00 am and then went to Aberdeen to surf, so there was no way he was going to make it to the football in time for the 1:00 pm kick off. He did, however, make it to the pub - Jo and Kelly had gone over to Inverurie anyway - but even this was too much for him - they had planned to go out tonight, but he and Kelly just crashed after tea of Spag Bog.

Lucy phoned tonight and I mentioned that it was my Dad's birthday on Friday - he was 87 - the shortest day. He's fine in his own wee world - no longer stressed about lack of memory etc - and long may it be that way.

The team photo from this afternoon is above.

Looking forward to Christmas.

Pre-Xmas weekend

Got most of the groceries on Saturday and we watched Casino Royale on TV - pretty good I thought.

Golfed on Sunday morning and then took Ross and Gary to Pittodrie again to watch the match against Rangers - an honourable draw in the end.

Kelly and Craig arrived about midnight - but we were asleep by then. Kelly got up at 6:30 (thinking it was 7:30!) because she was so excited! We woke Jo so that they could chat and I headed off to work for a few hours.

We're playing football on the astroturf at DATA for Dave's birthday today - and Craig is making a guest appearance!