For the record

Photo: You would never guess they are mother and daughter would you?


Here's some other stuff we have been up to..

Andrew had a good game of footy against Celtic Boys. Although Dunbar colts lost 7-2, Andrew scored and got man of the match for it. It's good to see him on form again after being dropped by Aberdeen FC. The next day Isabelle & Emma did the first cross country race of the season. It was really muddy and they both did well. I had to miss it because I did not want to risk my back injury flaring up. So I did a video of it instead.
Me and Emma headed off to the Rotary Club ball the other night. The 'whose who' of Dunbar were out in force for a meal and a dance. Isabelle turned 12. Our Sarah has had a baby and Emma's sister Claire has had a baby, by natural methods after spending loads of £'s on unsuccessful IVF. We will look forward to them all coming to for Christmas lunch with the other 19. Talking of Christmas, I have been asked to give the address at the Episcopal Church Service on Christmas Eve. That is a big job as it genuinely is the one time of year people go to the church...and more specifically to that service. Finally I went on the most expensive shopping trip I have had in a while today. We bought a new car...delivery due Tuesday.

Let there be light

Photo: My picture on the BBC News website last week.



I made a decision early on that I would try and get involved in the community here whenever I could. Dunbar is the kind of place that still holds on to that community spirit that many towns have lost and if people don't work at it then it is in danger of losing what can be good about it. Last week a sign appeared on the high street asking for volunteers with the Christmas Lights. The lights are a big thing here...the best for miles! I turned up at the old Corn Exchange at 8.30am, and there as already a hive of activity going on. It was quite surreal seeing all the decorations laid out ready for transfer to the top of a lamp post. The snowmen were lined up by the door as if they were trying to escape. The chimney, with Santa stuck up it was there along side the slightly dated looking 'Dunbar Lights' sign. Within the week they would be transforming the dull looking high street into a festive treat.
The community spirit was caught in the range of volunteers helping put. The lifeboat crew, the Rotary Club, the green grocer, the spud farmer, cops, fishermen...and a youthworker! Before the lights went out there was testing to be done. As many were slightly damp having been kept in storage all year, a few went snap, crackle and pop! I had every confidence in the farmers wife doing the testing, until I learnt she knows 'the basics' of electronics. Outside, a fleet of vehicles called 'cherry pickers' were in use hoisting up volunteers to the roof tops to put up the lights. With 'cherry picking' having another meaning I was slightly amused to see the Angel Gabriel and Rudolph both being 'cherry picked'. Fortunately it wasn't Mary as that could have ruined the story of the virgin birth.
Then at around 10am, everyone downed tools and headed for the local Central Cafe, where free bacon rolls and tea were on offer. I managed to get a few snaps of it all, and I sent one in to the BBC news website. To my delight it got selected and used for the photo of the day. The big switch on is Sunday night, and I expect a few thousand will come out for it. I just hope that lot I put up work.

Nicole is dumped

Photo: Kristin, my new friend


The back trouble I have been having has brought some new women into my life. First there was Judith the physio who had me down to my undies within 10 minutes of meeting her. When she told me to get undressed she did check that I had undies on as some of her clients have been known to go commando. Her advice was to do a bit of pilates. She and several other people gave me the names of good instructors, and I had several invites to join some classes. I just could not bring myself to do it. The thought of lying on the floor alongside lots of misshapen women was not one to savour. Also, pilates is a fine way of releasing any trumps you have brewing. I don't have much trouble releasing them in normal conditions, so it would be unfair to gas all these poor souls. Instead i opted for videos.
What better place to find videos than Youtube. Some people were giving me funny looks when I told them that i had found some pilates classes on Youtube, as they wrongly thought it is a website dedicated to filth and dodgy videos. I could see nothing wrong with my video, I am sure it is perfectly normal to do pilates in the buff! Anyway the main benefit of it is that you can stay at home and enjoy the company of Nicole . Nicole's little moves really hit the spot and within a few weeks my back was getting much better. But the relationship was beginning to get a bit stale. She just kept doing the same old stuff and I felt it was about time to part company. So I dumped her for a better model, Kristin. Kristin is the new woman in my life. I found her on a dusty old DVD that we had acquired from somewhere...i don't know where. Anyway she is MTV's pilates instructor and is really putting me through the paces. I can't keep up with her, and my legs won't bend like hers, but she is getting results, although I am not sure I can meet her demand to meet with her 3-5 times a week.

The good news is that all these women have helped me get back into to reasonable health. I managed the town run tonight (6-7 miles) without any discomfort, so I am going to build it up slowly. I've opted out of the cross country for now, as it starts on Sunday.

Mad weekend

Photo: Whoooo! Not the Adams family, just mine.

Some weekends are just too busy. It all started on friday with Halloween. After last years nightmare experience of 'guising' I could not bring myself to do it again. Fortunately it was chucking it down and really cold and windy so only Isabelle wanted to do it and there was no way she wanted one of us with her. Off she went with all her friends looking not much different to what they do first thing in the morning when they have rushed out of the house with brushing their hair. Stuart & Andrew were at a disco and a sleep over...not the same one as that would make my life too easy. Isabelle returned armed with a big bag of sweets which we all helped her eat.

Saturday is now taken up with Andrew playing footy and Isabelle playing hockey usually at the same time. I went to the footy and it as a good result 5-3 against Musselburgh. The hockey didn't go quite as well but Isabelle is enjoying it regardless. Then it was more footy as Dunbar United were playing a cup game that had already been rescheduled 3 times. It's the original football experience, pie, raffle ticket, horrible tea and lots of abusive fans. There's two old gits who really raise the level for shouting abuse at the ref. Then to add to the action a minor scuffle broke out with the two managers and other hanger-onners, with the ref having to intervene. Dunbar lost the game in the last minute of injury time which was very disappointing. After the game there was more fireworks....real ones this time. The annual Round Table display brought in the crowds to the football ground. I only go to see who is there as fireworks are pretty boring...apart from the last big one they always have. This years was even more spectacular because it failed to take off, and exploded leaving a small crater on the pitch and showering the crowd with hot embers. Surpisingly...miraculously there were no injuries except some skater boy whose hair got singed. He needed it cutting anyway as he looked like a big girl with that long hair! Then it was back home to wind down watching Casualty.

Sunday was the leaving service for one of our ministers Paddy. Whilst I was there on business, I would have gone anyway as she's been a good minister and very supportive of my work. The service also included communion and a baptism and an AGM. it was a long haul but we were rewarded by one of those church meals. It sounds horrible but fish lasagne is very nice and so is lime and kiwi cheesecake. After the service it was a rush to Prestonpans for a youth event that lasted all day. Back in desperate need of a drink to sign off the weekend, but only Baily's was available so that's what I got..on the rocks!