#1. Being that is was Father’s Day, what is your greatest memory about your Dad or about your husband when he became a Dad.

My Dad:

I used to enjoy going to The Glasgow Barras for a wee day Daddy / Daughter day out of a weekend!  The Barras is a famous indoor / outdoor market in the East End of Glasgow  City Centre, selling a wide variety of wares (new & second hand). My Dad liked to buy electrical goods and computer software, and I liked to spend my pocket money on button badges (Michael Jackson & Wham!)  Dad would always treat me to a candyfloss or toffee apple, while we were browsing the stalls!  We usually would bring home some new tropical fish for our aquarium from the pet shop across from the market.  I  loved those Daddy / Daughter afternoons! 

My Hubby:

Hubby was working away from home in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands (about a 2 hour drive from home), throughout much of my pregnancy and when the girls were first born.  When I went into labour six weeks early, Hubby was up in Aviemore.  My waters broke at 00:30, and when I phoned Hubby he did not answer his mobile.  Fortunately his brother was working with him, and fortunately he answered his phone.  He was able to break the news to Hubby, who had to drive down to Glasgow (a two and a half hour drive) to meet me at the hospital. A couple of hours later I had my twin daughters by emergency caesarean section.

He often has to work long hours, weekends or away from home, but Hubby is a very hands-on Daddy who works hard to provide for his family.  He is always full of fun with the girls, and loves nothing more than taking the girls out on their bikes or to play at the swing park!

#2. How will/do you teach your kids about being healthy?

Ha!  The simple answer to this one is…

With great difficulty!!!

My daughters are such fussy eaters it drives me INSANE!!!

They eat quite a bit of fruit – strawberries, apples, tangerines, bananas, grapes, melon, raisins – but they eat very little vegetables!  As toddlers, they would eat peas, carrots, sweetcorn and cucumber, but now they point blank refuse anything but baked beans with their meal!! :S

There’s actually only a limited amount of things my girls will eat!  Fish fingers, fish cakes, chicken nuggets, spaghetti bolognaise, pasta in tomato sauce,  sausages, French Toast, potatoes (mashed, boiled, baked & chipped), minced beef , yoghurt, bread, cereal and not much else (except ice cream, jelly, cakes, biscuits, sweets and crisps – all in moderation, of course!)

I wish they would eat a more varied diet, and I certainly wish they would eat more vegetables!  However, they actually don’t eat a lot of sweeties or fizzy drinks.  Their favourite drinks are actually milk or water!

We had just returned from a family holiday on 30th June 2007, when two terrorists stormed the airport with a jeep loaded with petrol cannisters.  The terrorists then started attacking a policeman who had run to the scene, before one of the men actually set himself alight!  My husband had been packing our suitcases into the car when the attackers struck.  At first he thought it was just an accident, but pretty soon he realised that something far more sinister was unfolding, and he ran to the aid of the lone policeman who was under attack by the terrorists.

A scuffle ensued, but unfortunately, Hubby ended up lying on the ground next to the burning jeep, with his leg broken in two places, before being pulled to safety by female security guard, Mary McCandlish and baggage handler, John Smeaton.

On the day of the attack, when Hubby was lying in his hospital bed, I said to him:

You are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid!  I’ve not made my mind up yet!

However, I can now confidently state that:

My Hubby is a hero!  He risked his life to save others, and I am so proud of him!

Since the attack, Hubby has received many accolades for his bravery, including The Sunday Mail Great Scot Awards, The Pride of Britain Awards and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

Hubby is such a reluctant hero too!  He doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about, thinking that anyone would have done what he did!  Sure, there were several brave men who intervened that day, to help thwart the terrorists’ plans.  However, there many others who fled in the opposite direction, and others who just stood and watched, some even filming the events on their mobile phones!   My Hubby acted on instinct, and his instinct was to help the policeman and stop the attackers.  That makes him pretty heroic in my book!

Asides from his bravery, my Hubby is the wonderfulest because he works hard to provide for his family, is a very hands-on father, a loyal and loving husband, well-liked by everyone who knows him, generous and down-to-earth.

We’ve been a couple for more than twenty years, married for thirteen.  He is my rock.  He certainly is my Mr Wonderfulest!!

I’m linking up with Mama M at My Little Life and her Mr Wonderfulest contest! (If you like my post, please “Like” it on the Linky!… Thanks!)

WHAT I OWE MY MOTHER:

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.

2. My mother taught me RELIGION .

You better pray that this will come out of the carpet.

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL

If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!

4. My mother taught me LOGIC .

Because I said so, that’s why!

5.My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .

If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.

7. My mother taught me IRONY.

Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

Shut your mouth and eat your supper.

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM

Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA

You’ll sit there until all that SOUP is gone.

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER

This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY

If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE

I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION:

Stop acting like your father!

15. My mother taught me about ENVY:

There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION:

Just wait until we get home.

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING:

You are going to get it when you get home!

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE:

If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.

19. My mother taught me ESP:

Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?

20. My mother taught me HUMOUR:

When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me!

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT:

If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.

22. My mother taught me GENETICS:

You’re just like your father.

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS:

Shut that door behind you!  Do you think you were born in a tent?

24. My mother taught me WISDOM:

When you get to be my age, you’ll understand…

25. And my favourite… My mother taught me about JUSTICE:

One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!…

Celebrating two decades with my Hubby!

Remembering Why I Don’t Like Exams!

1. What is your current favourite book, and why?

Hmmmmm… It’s hard to pin it down to just one book.  I have a couple of recent favourites:

•  The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium Trilogy Book 2) by Stieg Larsson.  This is the second book in the wonderful best-selling Millennium Trilogy, and I could hardly put it down from start to finish, as it was just soooooo exciting.

• The Helpby Kathryn Stockett – This stunning debut novel made me laugh out loud one minute and moved me to tears the next.  The wonderful characters were so vivid and engaging that I missed them terribly at the end of the book. 

My all-time favourite is “The Heartsong of Charging Elk” by James Welch, which is a profoundly moving tale of  Native American of the Lakota tribe abandoned in France by Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show after a riding accident.  This book made me weep, gasp and sigh!  It touched my heart!

2. Do you go to the dentist regularly?

No, not as regularly as I’d like.  Certainly not the recommended 6-monthly visits!  I’m ashamed to say that I’ve not been there for over a year, and so should really get on the phone to book a check-up…

The thing is, my dentist is still the same as when I was at school in Glasgow, and I now live in Stirlingshire.  I actually don’t want to change dentist, as I really like him, and I know from my experience of working in the Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, many years ago, that good dentists can be hard to come by!

It was easy enough to fit in a dental appointment when I still worked in Glasgow.  Now though, I live and work in a small Stirlingshire town, and my dental practice is a good half hour’s drive away.

3. What is your worst memory from High School?

I really didn’t like High School very much at all, so I have quite a few bad memories that haunt me!  *shudders*

• Home Economics class – because I was awful at it (especially sewing!)
• PE class – as above!
• Bullying – Unfortunately, I did tend to be a target for school bullies, as I was incredibly skinny, with specs, braces & spots!  *cringes* I also got picked on for being a swot because I was quite a good scholar. 

However, having said that, I so also have some fond memories of my High School years.  I made lots of friends, many of which I am still in contact with today.

4. What do you hope to be remembered for in your life?

I would like to be a successful best-selling author, remembered for my work.

I’d also like to be remembered by my daughters as being a good mum: fair, fun-loving, attentive, inspirational…

5. Are you superstitious or do you have any superstitions?

I don’t really think of myself as very superstitious, but I suppose I do have some superstitious quirks.  I avoid walking under ladders and splitting poles.  I also tend to throw salt over my left shoulder if it’s spilt at the table and I touch wood in the hope that a potential bad scenario I’ve mentioned won’t happen!  I would also freak out if I was to break a mirror!!  I also can be found crossing my fingers for good luck on occasion!

Hey!  Reading all that back does make me sound like a superstitious nutter!!  LOL

You can join in the Q&A fun that is 5QF over at Mama M‘s blog – My Little Life.

Happy New Year!  I hope you all had a great Christmas!?  I had a lovely time with the family!  However, all good things come to an end, and I was back to work today.

I took a complete break from my websites over the holidays, but I’m now ready to get back into the swing of things!!

What better way to kickstart the New Year, than one of my favourite blog memes – Working Mommy Wednesday

#1. A Christmas memory… from this year or year’s past

My answer to Q2 on this post is all about very happy Christmas memories: 5QF – Christmas Presents Past and Future

Here’s some photos of our recent Christmas celebrations:

#2. Biggest challenge for the new year

• Work – Managing changes and challenges presented due to budget pressures in the public sector.
• Study - I have two modules to study this simester, which will finally conclude my degree course.  I will be attending university every Monday and Tuesday evening for twelve weeks (on top of working full-time!) – I know it’ll be tough going, but it’ll be so worth it when I graduate this summer!
• Blog – I really want and need to re-vamp this blog!  I have so many ideas but too little time to make them come to fruition.
• Writing- Once I complete my degree I want to concentrate on my writing.  I have several ideas for novels, which I’d like to develop.

You can join in the WMW fun over at Work, Wife, Mom, Life!

The worry you feel while pregnant is NOTHING compared to the worry you feel once the baby actualy arrives!

In the early days, major achievements will include getting dressed, having a bath/shower, having a proper meal, never mind getting a couple of hours sleep!

Whenever you and your partner manage to spend some “quality time” together, you’ll find that your ONLY topic of conversation will be your ‘little darling’.

For the next couple of years, you will be obsessed by ‘poo’: frequency, consistency, colour, etc…

Becoming a parent leads you to a better understanding of your own parents.

You will soon find that you are turning into your own mother!! You will be mortified to hear yourself dish out the same old phrases that she said to you, such as: “I’m not going to tell you again.”; “Because I say so!” and “Remember, Santa Claus is watching you!”

I’ve read a lot of books that I can truly say I’ve LOVED.  However, there is one book that stands out from all the others.  One book that still haunts me.  One book that gives me goosebumps.  What is that book?  Well, here it is…

…My ALL-TIME FAVOURITE book is….

The Heartsong of Charging Elk


I read The Heartsong of Charging Elk by the late James Welch back in 2000, and ten years on, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!  It moved me to tears.  I literally sobbed my heart out while reading this heartwrenching novel.

A member of Buffalo Bill’s touring Wild West Show, wakes up in hospital in Marseille, France, after a riding accident.  Seemingly abandoned by his people, and unable to communicate with anyone, the story follows the adventures of this exotic stranger in an alien world.

Based on historical precedent, Welch’s powerful narrative provokes a myriad of emotions.  It is very moving!  I loved it!

Have you read this book?  Have you read anything else by James Welch?

What is YOUR all-time favourite book?  Join in the blog hop over at Beauty Queen Gene.

This week saw many of my Facebook friends change their profile pic to one taken in the 1980s.   A meme spread through Facebook stating:

It’s 80s week!!!! Everyone has to change their profile pic to one of them
taken in the 1980s. Be a good laugh to see how many of us have changed … for
the worse … or better!!! Change your pic and repost this

It transpires that many of us had hideous huge eighties perms, so my friend, Jane, said:

It’s eighties perm week!

Here’s the photo that I uploaded as my profile pic:

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo. My scanner is not working at the moment, so I ended up having to snap a picture of my photo with my Blackberry and then send it to my laptop via email!!

I was about 16 or 17 years old in that photo.  I had my hair permed throughout most of my teens, and often back-combed it and sprayed liberally with hair lacquer to make it even BIGGER!!!  LOL 

Throughout my Primary School years, however, I had a different hairstyle…

…the Paige Boy (AKA the Bowl Cut!)

The photo above shows me with my wee sister, Elaine, and our Gran.  It was taken circa 1982, when I would have been 10 years old.

Now, to finish off my 80′s Revival, here’s one of my old school photos:

I’m third from the left in the front row, with a big bowl cut and fetching National Health specs!

This photo was taken circa 1980, when I was 8 years old and in Primary 4.  I am still in touch with many of my classmates.

Join in the fun that is Friday Photo Flashback at More Than Words.