Happy Birthday, Hannah

This wee girl young lady turned 9 years old today. But she wasn't spoiled in any way. Certainly not by me...

Not Giving In

Grand-daughter Hannah isn't very happy. Life is tough as an 8 year old....

But it's important that parents and grandparents stand firm and don't let the children get their own way. Discipline, that's the key word here...

Happy 8th Birthday, Hannah

The apple of her Papa's eye...

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...

Happy Birthday, Hannah

A very happy birthday to my lovely grand-daughter Hannah who is 7 years old today. She is pictured above with her brother and sister Jack and Ava, my fiancée Marion and the old man in the middle...

More pics to follow at www.auldyinwithacamera.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Hannah

'I've had a lovely day today, Marion. My Papa gave me a lovely twenty pence piece for my sixth birthday.

'Did he, Hannah? That's ten pence more than he gave you last year...'

'My Papa asked me to bring all my birthday money with me tonight'

'Did he? Why?'

'Because he is going to use it to pay for this meal in the restaurant'


Okay, okay - it's Hannah's birthday today. I'll pay half the bill....

Happy birthday, darling. The fact she has spent all day with her Papa and is sleeping-over tonight has made it extra special for me.

Happy Birthday Hannah

My darling wee grand daughter Hannah is 5 years old today. She emanates so much love and brings so much sunshine into my life  - even in those dark days. It's remarkable to think 5 years have passed since she arrived so dramatically into the world - she was born at my daughter Laura's house - and the world is a better place for her presence.

 I'll be heading over to see her after work today - save your old Papa some birthday cake, my wee princess.

The Mind of a Child

The other day, my darling grand-daughter Hannah leapt on to my lap in her usual, ebullient style. She wrapped her arm around my neck and asked 'So, Papa.' There was a pause.

'Yes, small child?' I asked.

She flashed those blue eyes at me. 'Have you got any kids?'

Naturally, this took me aback somewhat as it's not something you would expect to hear from a four year old. 'What did you say? I asked, in case my hearing was failing me like everything else seems to be these days.

'Got any kids?' she asked once more.

'Well,' I replied, a little bit warily, 'That's my kid sitting over there' as I nodded in the direction of her mother.

Hannah wasn't convinced. 'No, Papa - don't be silly - that's mummy'.

'Yes, little one' I went on, 'but your mummy is my kid, just as you are mummy's kid'

Hannah considered this for a moment. 'So, did mummy come out of your tummy?'

I tried desperately to give this conversation some meaning to one so young. 'No, my wee angel, your mummy came out of her mummy's tummy'. She thought about this. 'What? Granny?'

'Yes, pet'

She jumped off my lap and headed to her bedroom to join Jack and Ava in demolishing the play area.

I expect further inquisition this weekend as she tries to make sense of it all.

Happy Birthday Hannah

My darling grand-daughter is 4 years old today. She brings so much love and joy into my life.

Thankful for Small Mercies

It's been a bit of an up and down weekend for the Auld Reekie Ranter. Friday night was meant to be a quite meal out at the splendid Illegal Jack's in Edinburgh's Lothian Road. The food was great - I can highly recommend their Haggis Burrito - and very affordable. The plan was to have a quick drink afterwards then head home. That was until I received a text from my brother-in-law from Aberdeen, a fella I haven't seen for a few years. He was in Princes Street, having come down from the Granite City en route to Aberdeen's cup semi-final in Glasgow the following day. Did I fancy a pint he asked? Well, he twisted my arm...

On Saturday I had to forego my customary trip to watch the mighty Heart of Midlothian FC at Tynecastle as a result of having a hospital appointment  - something I've been waiting for since early November. I could have postponed the visit to the ENT but given the present state of the NHS I thought it best to head to the hospital for my 2.00pm appointment. It wasn't a pleasant experience - having a camera stuck up one's nose is most uncomfortable. Worse still, further tests are now required although when this will be is anyone's guess.

However, my Saturday evening was brightened by having my darling grand-daughter Hannah stay with me overnight. She may be just three and a half years old but she already has considerable experience of melting hearts and this she did with customary expertise this weekend. I may have been bleary-eyed when I got up to make her breakfast at 7.15 on Sunday morning but her show of love and affection made it worthwhile. I hope she never loses her ability to bring such happiness into my life, particularly when times are difficult in more ways than one.

And so another working week beckons. It's the end of the worst month of the year tomorrow. The days are beginning to get slightly longer - it didn't get dark in Auld Reekie until just before 5.00pm today. On Friday I stop work for a week's holiday. I may not be a well man but I'm not one to complain. Things could be worse....

Christmas in Scotland - Part 3

Unlike my grumpy old Papa, I love Christmas!

Happy Birthday Hannah

My darling grand-daughter Hannah celebrated her third birthday today. Cue party time at my daughter Laura's house and Little Angel Eyes melting everyone's hearts. Naturally, I'm biased but Hannah is such a loveable wee soul whose unconditional love brings a lump to my throat. Or that might have been when she jumped on top of me from the top bunk of her bed...

Happy birthday, sweetheart. I hope you never lose your sweet charm and endearing affection.

Oh, Belt Up...

TV character Peppa Pig will be seen wearing a seatbelt in future episodes, after parents raised concerns over children following her example. British animation company Astley Baker Davies said it would also re-animate scenes from the first and second series to reflect the change.

"We were very naive when we started making Peppa," co-founder Mark Baker told Broadcast magazine. "If we could turn the clock back, we would," he said.

Aimed at children aged two and above, Peppa Pig won a children's Bafta in 2005 for best pre-school animation. Shown on Five and children's channel Nick Jr, it follows a five-year-old pig named Peppa, her family and friends. Astley Baker Davies had initially considered including seatbelts and child seats in the show but felt it might limit the characters' range of expressions.

But it reversed its stance after a parent complained that her daughter had refused to wear a seatbelt because Peppa did not.

From the BBC News Website

My two year old grand-daughter Hannah adores Peppa Pig - when she's not running circles round her beleaguered Papa. You can guess what Santa brought Hannah at Christmas. But the politically correct brigade just can't let things lie. Perhaps someone may wish to point out that Peppa is a cartoon character.

As for the final paragraph in the story some people just aren't meant to be parents...

Monday Monday...

...will be so good to my darling grand-daughter Hannah. She will be two years old on 10 August and so it will be round to daughter Laura's house after work to join the festivities.

Wee Hannah may be just two but she already has the majority of my family wrapped around her little finger. She only has to flash those blue eyes and they all melt before her. But not her Papa, oh no. I can see through the little mite and I let her off with nothing.

I do, honestly....

Happy Birthday darling - Papa will be round later...