Happy Birthday, Ava

This little scamp is 6 years old today. Doesn't seem like five minutes since little Ava came into the world and brought so much chaos so much joy into my life....

Siblings

Grand-daughter Hannah tries to give big brother Jack a hug

But Jack isn't too keen to accept his sister's attention...

However, Jack soon realises that women always get their own way.

If you're wondering where the other one was - Ava was too busy looking after her stomach in the garden...

Halfway Through a Momentous Year

The first half of 2015 is nearly complete. The next six months promises much but it's already been a momentous year for the Auld Reekie Ranter.

My wedding to Marion on Valentine's Day was one of the happiest days of my life. Marion has transformed my life and made me happy once again and for that I shall always be grateful. Although I jest about how lucky she is to have me as her husband (I'm sure she gives thanks every day...) I know that I am the lucky one to have such a wonderful, beautiful and talented lady as her - she is the rock in my life.

At the beginning of this year I made the decision to quit my job with a housing association, a job I had held for more than seven years. With echoes of a similar life-changing decision I made in 1990, I didn't have another job to go to. However, I am training to become a Hypnotherapist and Counsellor. It's a three year course and the first year is concentrating on hypnotherapy. It's a subject which fascinates me and I am thoroughly enjoying the course. If all goes to plan, I should qualify as a hypnotherapist by the end of this year and I'm already planning to set up my own hypnotherapy practice in early 2016 (book now to avoid disappointment!)

I was no longer enjoying my work and the continuous high pressure and the demands of the job were beginning to affect my health to the extent I was off work this time last year. At that time I underwent counselling and found it beneficial, not only at the time, but as something I thought I could make a career out of. Hence my decision to undertake my training. I left my job in April and the break from the daily grind has benefited me hugely.

Of course, bills still need paying and I have now secured a position with Napier University in the Human Resources Team for a year which will take me to next summer. I start this job on 6 July and, for the first time in years, I'm genuinely looking forward to it. The year's contract will give me more than enough time to set up my own business next year and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

Daughters Laura and Michaela continue to make me proud. Laura has just been offered a managerial post and is mulling it over against the backdrop of family commitments. I always knew she was managerial material. Michaela is already a manager and she gave a presentation to senior managers yesterday, who have already been impressed by her managerial skills and aptitude. Michaela is getting married next May and this will be another momentous occasion. She is marrying a fella of the Hibernian persuasion but, despite this, he seems a decent chap...

My four grandchildren continue to bring unbridled joy to my life. Their unconditional love brings a tear to my eye. I love being with them and I want them to stay as children for ever. Sadly, of course, they will become adults before long - Jack is now 10 years old and Ava starts school in August - but I hope they retain their kind, loving nature which does them and mum Laura huge credit.

At the other end of the family, my mother is always there to provide support and it was great to see her looking so happy at our wedding. She thinks the world of Marion and sees her as the daughter she never had. Of course, I am her only child - understandable, as how can you top perfection?!

2015 has already been a great year. In recent years, I have been in the depths of depression and didn't know what lay ahead. Now the future is clearer and infinitely brighter. A new career. A new business. Loving wife (that's you, Marion). Maturing daughters. Wonderful grandchildren. And I can't let the feel-good factor pass without mentioning my football team. Hearts are now back in the top flight of Scottish football. I'll be taking Jack to Tynecastle this season as a season ticket holder. While I'll no longer be contributing to the Hearts matchday programme, my musings on Hearts  - and other ramblings on life in general - will still be posted on The Edinburgh Reporter.

Self-hypnosis has helped me to evaluate my life. I am more confident, more positive and happier than I've been for many years. Sure, there will be setbacks - everyone has setbacks - but I'm now able to overcome these with the knowledge that my life is moving onwards and upwards.

Some people thought I was crazy when I gave up my job, house and life in Aberdeen in 1990. But it was the right decision, as my life in Edinburgh has proved. And there have been some people, a quarter of  a century later, who questioned my sanity when I quit my job in April - although, it has to be said, there have been some who have given me huge encouragement and for this I am truly grateful.

My philosophy is that it doesn't matter if it's a job, relationship or lifestyle - if it doesn't make you happy, let it go. Let yourself move to the next chapter in your life when the time comes you feel are stuck on the same page. You will soon realise there is so much more to the book of life than the page you're stuck on.

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time...

The Grand Kiddies

                     Jack the Lad fast turning into a young man.

                      Ava  - unusually for her - being camera shy

         It's hard to believe that Hannah is still 7 years old...

And the youngest grandchild, Max, a happy wee boy. Until his father begins taking him to Easter Road...

Five Years On

Happy 5th birthday to my darling grand-daughter Ava, You may think from this photograph taken yesterday that butter wouldn't melt -  but....

Happy Birthday, Ava

Four years ago today, my third grandchild Ava was born. Quiet, unassuming, barely a cheep out of her. As we say in Scotland, aye right! She can drive her poor mummy demented at times but knows her Papa is a strict disciplinarian who won't let her off with anything. Oh no.

Like I say, aye, right...

Happy birthday sweetheart.

Happy Birthday, Ava

My youngest grandchild is 3 years old today. She's replacing the tantrum throwing terrible twos and replacing them with.....the tantrum throwing terrible threes.

As you may detect from this photo, butter wouldn't melt. Happy birthday, sweetheart.

Happy Birthday, Ava

My youngest grandchild is two years old on Friday. Butter wouldn't melt....Happy birthday, sweetheart.

Another Seasonal Greet

Jack, Hannah and Ava wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Guid New Year. Judging by the sudden facial growth, the wee fella does seem to be maturing remarkably quickly for a 6 year old...

Coming out in the Wash

No wee angels were harmed in the taking of this photo. And neither was grand-daughter Ava...

Please May I Have Some More?

Grand-daughter Ava has a look which is asking 'Papa, please may I have some more ice cream?'

To which Papa replied 'Go away, you small child'.* At 13 months, she already knows her way around the kitchen...

*okay, I gave her just a wee bit more...

A Tough Week

It's been something of a tough week for the Auld Reekie Ranter. Mrs Smith took unwell on Tuesday and had to be admitted to hospital. Initially it was believed she had a heart attack but after numerous scans and tests the docs say she has angina. She's now recuperating at home (there's a sinkful of dirty dishes, three days of dirty washing and the place could do with a hoover...)

It has been a scare for us all and it was sad that grand-daughter Ava didn't have much of a first birthday last Wednesday. We'll hopefully be making up for this on Sunday - health permitting. It's hard to believe a year has passed since she came into my life. Happy Birthday Ava.

Sometimes you realise what is really important in life.

You Never Stop Worrying...

Being a grandad and hurtling towards my half century are, perhaps, contributory factors in one of my more obvious traits i.e. I do tend to have a moan now and then. Now I realise, dear reader, you may find this hard to believe. You're sitting there thinking, surely not, isn't Mr Smith one of the happiest people in the land, never complaining, just getting on with life and always happy with his lot...? Well, I can understand you thinking this.

I woke up this morning at ten minutes to six. I usually waken at six - but today is Sunday, normally a time for a bacon roll and a lie in and a chance to try and recover from the stresses of the week. However, today I just can't get back to sleep. Pressure at work? Money worries? Younger daughter changing jobs and approaching what is a difficult time of the year for her anyway being the anniversary of the passing of her fiance? These don't help. The price of brandy increasing and Heart of Midlothian Football Club doing their best to throw away a place in next season's Europa League? True, this adds to the increase in my blood pressure. The infamous Mrs Smith giving me grief? Not really, as this has been a constant since 1982...

No, my lack of sleep may well be down to thinking about my baby grand-daughter Ava. Three weeks before her first birthday she has been sick for most of this week and there is the possibility she may have to go into hospital if things don't improve. Hopefully, she'll be fine but being a born worrier I'll be happier when she's back crawling around the floor and sinking her newly cut teeth into my fingers. I'll be heading round to see her later today along with her brother and sister who will undoubtedly set about me with their usual gusto.

Children can give you so much love and joy. But no matter how old they are you never stop worrying about them...

Me and My Girls (and boy)

Papa - I've been good, can I have my sweets now?

Papa - I've also been good, can I have my sweets now?

Papa - what do you mean I'm too young for sweets? Waaaaahh!

Aye, go on then - just don't tell your mother...

Just Like Her Papa...

It's been said my six month old grand-daughter Ava is quite like me. Namely, she has no teeth, little hair, drools a lot and sits about in her vest all day.

A little harsh, I'd say...

When a Child is Born - Part 2 (well, 3 actually...)

My third grandchild - Ava - was born at 5.18pm on Tuesday 11 May 2010 at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary. She is - like her big sister Hannah and her even bigger brother Jack - a little diamond. Then again, I'm biased...! I thank my daughter Laura and her partner Nicol for bringing another little bundle of joy into my life. I am proud of each and every one of them...