More new beginnings

Well I've come to the end of my first contract (and delivered a week early) and have had another decision to make. Do I move on and do some work for another client, or do I take the permanent job they've offered me? For loadsamoney. Open the box or take the money?

Something to take into account - the Missus is giving up her Cover Supervisor job at Thurston Community College to become a real teacher! Yes, she has been accepted on the Norfolk and Suffolk Graduate Training Programme for the next academic year. She is going to be a 'mature student'. Wow. And not earn much money for the next year.

So... Well, if you've seen the career discussions previously, I think you may have guessed it. I've decided to work for the French - Capgemini on the Aspire account. In fact, I've already started. More than that, I don't think I'm allowed to say. Of course I know that if I don't like it I can always go and do something else. I can work from home 1 day a week, but it means getting somewhere to stay during the week in Shropshire. And maybe some more adventures. As exciting as Australia? I very much doubt it, but watch this space!

Clan Gathering

Now here's something we would have missed if we had gone to Australia. This year is my Mum and Dad and Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversaries.


Well you don't get events like that too often! I'm not sure who suggested it (but I suspect one, the other or both of the fun-loving girl cousins), but many months ago it was decided we would get all 3 generations of both families together for a mega-party. In fact, as the majority of us are Scottish, it could rightly be called a clan gathering!

And so, last week, we all gathered at the fantastic venue of Crieff Hydro in Perthshire. We took over three of the lovely stone built 4-bedroomed houses for 3 nights - this is one of them...

Cousin Hazel was the ring-leader of the bossy girls who organised everything. We booked in advance for Archery, Golf, Quad-bikes and Pony-riding and we also made use of the swimming badminton and tennis facilities. Here is the Missus at the archery...

She was much better than me!The golf course is quite challenging and has some lovely scenic views...

It's about 12 years since I played regularly, but I had one or two decent shots (and lots of bad ones). Talking of decent shots, we hired a professional photographer to take some group photographs on one of the mornings. They will make a lovely souvenir for the golden oldies.

And of course I took lots of pictures too, and put them on Flickr. With the aid of the self-timer I managed to get a group photo of my own on the final morning before we dispersed.

The younger generation of cousins had never met before but got on really well together and everyone had a fantastic time. The party lasted four days but we didn't want it to end.