Norma and Malcolm

Every now and again Norma and I meet at a favourite tearoom for bacon rolls and morning tea! This usually stretches to scones and hot chocolate a while later (sometimes with cream and marshmallows - but not every time!), and sometimes even to soup and a roll for lunch! Today I had the bacon roll and the soup while Norma could only stay for the scone. The thing is, now she's married she has someone else to consider, and had told Malcolm she'd be home for lunchtime.

You could have knocked us down with the proverbial feather when the news was announced early last summer that she and Malcolm were engaged! Norma had always protested that she wouldn't marry again.... but in October there was a wedding! Her elder daughter was matron of honour, while her younger daughter, over from New Zealand for the occasion, "gave her away". In true Scottish tradition Malcolm wore the dress kilt - and doesn't he look good in it! I do like to see a man in a kilt! It looks great either dressy as Malcolm's outfit is, or casual, with a coloured shirt to match with the tartan, casual thick-knit socks and a nice pair of shoes - or boots even!

Malcolm is a retired shepherd! I use the term 'retired' very loosely! He seems to spend a lot of his time working with his son, also a shepherd, and sometimes Norma goes too. This is a picture of the two of them out on the quadbike with Malcolm's dog, whose name I just cannot bring to the front of my mind right now! These 'senior moments' are becoming all too frequent these days!!!

Norma is also retired - just - from her job as a receptionist in her local medical practice. She turned 60 at the end of 2007. It's amazing to think that when we all set out on our careers all these years ago we thought work would go on for ever... and here we are, we're the oldies now, ready to retire - well I have a bit to go yet, and even then I think I'll stay on in my job - with reduced hours - if they'll have me and if I'm able! It's the hips and knees that are giving way these days! Well, mine are anyway! I really should take a lot more exercise, and get walking in our beautiful countryside. I'll show you some views soon. In the meantime, I'm off down to Melrose, to the Borders General Hospital, as I heard last night that Vina has been taken in again. She's just not getting enough fluid down her throat and is dehydrated which is not good.

So, all for now, and I'll talk again soon.

Take care.