Dear Mike and all others
It is great to catch up with you all, we are looking forward to the reunion. My computer skills are very much, one finger of one hand, instruction book in the other ! Hence the following SHORT story!
Starting in 1960:
Went toGlasgow for one year , back to E.R. to work on farms for a year and a bit, met Joan Calder at Bayfield. Then to Aberdeen for three years, got engaged to Joan. Early in 1965 I did teaching practise at Elmwood Col. in Cupar. Got offered a choice of 3 teaching jobs in Fife each with a house! Very interested! Settled on one in Glenrothes in April 1965. Thought it would do us fine for a few years, got married in 1966, in 1967 Douglas arrived, in 1969 Morag arrived.
About 1972 Joan got back to teaching English. After about 9 years I moved to another school teaching Biology and Horticulture. In about 1975 I started to become more involved with S.S.T.A. union work, at first locally in Fife and then later at national level as well.
In 1986, I became a bit unwell in February, eventually had 4 months in hospital and caused Joan some anxiety; a modified version of me got home in mid August and I got back to work in November. At the end of 1991 my G.P. gave me an ultimatum, so I got early retirement in August 1992. However I kept up most of my union work, but stopped that in 1998.
Son Douglas after his Highers took up Horticulture as a career; about 1996 after getting married he was in charge of ground maintenance at Mossmorran working for Shell via The Wood Group of Aberdeen, but decided he would rather work for himself, so he set up in business on his own. With me retired, the number of Dad "can you's" increased from odd days to a more regular 1 or 2 days and the odd holiday cover. He has 1 or 2 lads working with him now.
In 1998 we had a super holiday in Canada, visited Isobel and Allan
in Victoria and toured B.C. Four days after getting home I was
back in hospital again. Just 3 weeks this time; got home on a
sort of D.I.Y. basis, visiting the nurse and or hospital frequently.
After a year I got a qualified O.K. provided I did less , and
more of what I was supposed to do. I'm O.K. now.
Joan is retired now. Biggest problem is finding time to go on
holidays. We are looked after by Grandson Fraser, aged 3 3/4,
for 2 1/2 days a week. He keeps us right and shows me what to
do on the compooter!
Our daughter, not married, lives in Elgin and works for Moray
Council when not curling, golfing etc.
This year we started that over 60's pastime - researching family
trees. It's an eye opener! Great fun though. Most of our visits
north of Inverness now are to St. Duthes and Rosskeen cemeteries;
though we are up regularly to Alness to see my Aunt in a Home,
it's just up in the A.M. and back home in the evening.
We are both looking forward to meeting everyone again. Where did
the 42 years go?
See you all in August .