Festive greeting

Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010!

Amazingly twelve months are gone by and we are again reflecting and reviewing the year that is passing. People say that it is a sign of longevity, so as a proud owners of a bus passes perhaps they are right and time does pass faster the older one gets and we reflect more, regretting and rejoicing!
A year to remember for consolidating our lives, making plans and saying some great welcomes and some sad farewells. Presently we are still living mainly in Fife because of work commitments but look forward to “retire” in 2010. Certainly my thinking on this issue was focused after my gardening accident in August and subsequent recovery from the garden fire burns and recently biopsy test for prostate cancer, the former leaving me with little scaring and the latter proving negative! So being both relatively healthy we could be looking forward to an active retirement, we know we would have plenty to occupy our time.
In Austwick we have invested a great deal of resources in having a new kitchen, the house looked after, being very grateful to Anne and George of doing so such for us, and again George and his team for the dry stone walling between Elaine and our home. House guests have usually arrived in the midst of the work taking place and plans went a little off beam for the “60TH Birthday” celebration for Ray and I. However we coped and Andy Joan and Ray understood that the laying of the kitchen floor tiles just had to be done at that time! Prior to this we did have a supper night at Austwick Hall with good company and wonderful dining! Our visit to Andy’s new home in July was a haven compared to what he had to put up with on his visit with Joan and Ray!
May saw our first street market attendance making our presence felt with Doogie and Rod coming down for long weekend to discuss their wedding, something that got a mention over some good food and wine but predominated the street market were our stall raised over £300 for the village event and WAD funds! The event of the year was indeed their Civil Partnership and Wedding celebration in Anstruther! A lovely setting with the sunshine adding to the day, something we could not plan for which just happened. The professional video caught every moment and should be found on Amazon!
The end of October found me in Malta at the ILGA Europe conference once again representing Unison LGBT Scottish Committee as a part of the UK delegation. Malta for a conference venue was excellent, with the ILGA conference being very stimulating and for those interested, most of the presentations can be found on “You Tube”! Little time was available during conference sessions for looking around but gladly we had scheduled a day at the end for sightseeing! Malta should tick all the boxes as a great holiday destination; beautiful weather, locations of historical interests but unlike my feelings about Vienna in 2008, it really did not ring those must return feeling! Actually attending the National Delegates Conference in Cardiff did ring those bells and a return visit in 2010 is on the cards!
As we look forward to our Christmas and New Year in Austwick, with friends joining us for over the New Year period, the challenge of 2010 is not under-estimated!
Leaving Scotland will not without its sadness but some personal events in 2009 have made it much easier and we will leave with many fond memories looking forward and not back! In planning moving we have had to break some long standing ties such as working with colleagues and friends at DAPL, and those within Fife NHS and Council. I will certainly miss my role as branch officer in Unison for the LGBT self organised group and co-Equalities Officer. Unison Fife has been a major support and factor in my life especially since I left Fife Council in 2005 and worked within the community and voluntary sector and I am grateful for all their comradeship. Our company “MAJAK” continues get established and is one Fife-based aspect that I intend to keep my involvement. So from time to time I will be back in the Kingdom with my former contact being an asset in MAJAK’s work!
Frank’s bits:
The ending of funding for the Fife Men Project is regretted but perhaps has run its course in providing information and support throughout Fife. I doubt if I will miss this role although working as a part of the team in FIRST will be a real miss. The practical difficulties of having two homes is just so demanding and it is time to focus and I hope it will give members of my family the excuse they need to come and visit us! Ironically we may see and speak with them more often there!
So prepared for the challenges ahead and looking forward to learning a new language – the Yorkshire English dialect with the hope that they will be learning from my Lochgelly Fife accent.


We wish you all a peaceful and healthy 2010.