It's almost the weekend again...

... can you believe it?! It'll be a week tomorrow that we travelled up north to spend a long weekend celebrating my birthday. I can't believe the time has past so quickly; but then I guess that's what a busy week at work will do for you. We had a wonderful weekend away. We traveled up on the Thursday and arrived at Forres around 5.40pm where we were picked up by Kristine; the owner of 'The Old Kirk' guest house where we were staying. She drove us the short distance the the guest house - what a beautiful place! Our jaws dropped when we pulled up outside the old converted church. The kirk has been converted, keeping many of its original features and it really is stunning:

We spent that evening relaxing in the guest lounge, infront of an open fire, drinking wine, playing chess and chatting.

It was wonderful.

We spent my birthday with my family and had a wonderful meal in Forres. It was fantastic to see my folks again; especially Dave (my brother) and Laura (my sister in law). I haven't seen either of them since their wedding last year in July, so it was great to catch up and finally see them.

'The Bump' is getting bigger by the day and I was lucky enough to feel the baby kicking - I'm not broody! Honestly!

The rest of the weekend was spent talking walks, relaxing and spending time with my partner Mike. To be honest it's made me realise just how much time we waste watching the tele or surfing the internet. It was nice to have time together, talking, playing chess and generally enjoying each other's company.

So - all in all, it was a brilliant Birthday.

I've posted some more images from the guest house below; the link is:

http://www.oldkirk.co.uk

Our beautiful room

The Guest Lounge

More of the lounge area

Mum and Dad

The Atkinson Clan

Sunday, Sunday

Well - it's Sunday again.

This week has been so busy, and spectacularly stressful, and as usual the weekend has flown by just a quickly. Back to work tomorrow.

*Groan*

It's my birthday on Friday; Mike and I are travelling up north to stay in a lovely looking guest house for three nights. Wonderfully, the Guest House isn't that far from my parents home so we'll be meeting up to spend some time together and go for a birthday meal. I can't wait to see them again.

I'll also be able to catch up with my brother and his wife. Laura is expecting their first baby and I can't wait to see them and 'The Bump'.

Well - Mike is listening to the football... time for me to start the house work.

It never ends does it?!

The beginning...

Well - time really does seem to be flying by. I can't believe it's almost the middle of February 2006. As my mum said on her blog recently; time does seem to speed up the older you get.

It's 10 years in August since I first moved to Kirkcaldy, Fife, to attend drama college, moving away from my family in Elgin (the north of Scotland) as a young teenager. In many ways it feels like only yesterday; I still feel like the same excitable 16 year old; but when I look back at all I've experienced, learnt and been through I realise I'm a very different person.

Of course, everyone changes as they get older and wiser (or in my case, more cynical!). But it's a frightening experience to wake up one day and realise you're an adult, with responsibilities and commitments!

I've always been a very independent soul. I don't do things the easy way, especially emotions, and tend to make life somewhat difficult for myself. But, although it's been hard in many ways, I feel that the journey has been worth it... I wouldn't be who I am today after all if it wasn't for my experiences.

So where now?

Well, over the past two years I've been becoming more and more homesick. I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful partner (Picture evidence of the lovely man himself below -)
























Mike supports me in ways I can't describe. He's my whole world - the thought of him makes me smile and it's that thought that gets me through each day. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Anyway - enough of that mush!

As I was saying, I'm lucky enough to have a wonderfuly partner who happens to come from a large Catholic family. His family have welcomed me into their lives and I'm grateful for that; but it's just not the same as having my own family close at hand. I see my family only a few times a year and I miss them dreadfully.

I think it all began when my Dad, Dave http://www.akshot.blogspot.com/, had his heartattack at the end of 2004. It frightened me, plain and simple. I felt a million miles from home and the journey from Kirkcaldy to Aberdeen on the train was one of the longest of my life! From that moment on I've been desperate to get home, be closer to my family and be a bigger part of their lives. I feel as though I've missed out on so much. My brother, David, married his partner Laura last year and they are expecting their first baby. There is no way I want to be a distant Auntie who only sees her niece/nephew a couple of times a year.

Again, I'm fortunate in that Mike is happy to move back up North with me. I mean, who great is that? He's willing to move away from his own family in order for me to feel closer to mine. What more could a woman ask for?

That's it for now... I could go on and on but I'll give you a break from my ramblings... for now!