End of August...end of an Era...

Working in Aberdeen today and tmors morning then hot footing it ( hot training it  by rail)

By Thursday evening, David and I will be collapsed in a heap in Aberdeen, having driven up a van and a car with  Lucy cat in it....She's a rescue cat so she might  need psychiatric support as we move her, after only 17 months chez Getliffes !?) No...she will adjust quickly as long as she has food, water and a litter tray.

Last week I had the joy of visiting a lovely smiley wee lady ( the elderly are not all like this as you will know). She was in a cottage hospital having fallen, and had a sling for her dislocated shoulder. She laughed when I joked that she'd have to stop nudging the men on the dance floor, if that's what happened.. After a wee favourite hymn that she couldn't remember the words to, and a wee prayer, I was off to let her daughter continue visiting regularly. Having lost my Mum in 2000, and speaking to a chap in the office today whose Mum is 91 and blind, it is such a bonus when more than one sibling or carer comes and shares the visits. I hope when I get older that I won't be so crochety that no-one will want to visit me !!??

Also last week on the bus home, I got talking to a woman who is a practice manager in a specialist GP surgery near the harbour. She told me that because folks with addictions and/or homeless people, if they miss 4 doctors' appointments , they are struck off most Gp's lists. SO.... this system was set up for folks with 'chaotic lifestyles' in Aberdeen and they understand the nature of their difficulties and let them come and go as they need, often treatment for their feet is top priority if they have been on the streets and sleeping rough.
At the end of our conversation, I said to this lady that since I was doing the service that Sunday, I would remember to pray for the clients and staff. She seemed genuinely grateful that anyone would do that for her and her patients. I know about this place now, so we can signpost potential 'service users'..such are the jargon phrases these days !? I also offered to give some of our upcoming Harvest Thanksgiving food donations to their place. watch this space...I hope Mannofield folks agree...

SOLD!!!

At last, the SOLD sign is up outside ye olde hoose!
I know it may sound pedantic, but David and I have been waiting for confirmation by new buyers signing missiffs. ( What a strange word !? I must do my Miranda Hart impersonation ....straight to camera...missifffths, mithiffffs...oh just legal jargon..)
So.....LD !! So...this means I shall spend tomorrow in Hamilton, not Aberdeen, informing ye Utilities and ye other companies of the our imminent move, and therefore cancellation of this and that.
I found a fabulous page to print off from the net on bbc.co.uk/homes, which gives you a tick list of people to tell that you are moving...wonderful time and brain saver...
No more for now...must pack...am so grateful for folks prayers and well wishing.
PS Yesterday at church, there was a mountain of baking left over from the rained out High Blantyre Gala Day, so along with a "thanks for being our neighbours for 11 years" it felt great to alkso pop through the letterbox gingerbread men for the families, and home made choc chip cookies for the others ....aw...

Up to my neck in the Ionian Sea!

Just back from the Greek island of Corfu. What a privilege it is, to be able to afford a holiday.
God reminded me while away, that everything we have ( or own) is a gift from Him. So, when I was moaning about not getting the value of the house we have sold in Hamilton, I was acting like a spoilt child. ( Sorry God) or worse, behaving like the world around us...where all there is is what they have or own, so they cling to their rights as limpets to a rock....back to the Ionian Sea...inky midnight navy blue at its deepest, then melding into azure turquoise clear green hues and as you reach the sandy shores, some grey green colours. Magnificent! We went by boat one day to the nearby island of Erikousa to sunbathe. Then I had the local delicacy of  fresh sardines. I will never forget the taste of my soggy bread as it soaked up the flavours of the Mediterranean...lemon, olive oil, herbs and fish.
Enough of my foodiness...here are two funnies..
Breakfast was continental in the hotel we stayed in. Every morning, the waiter, Christos, would ask if we wanted the small oval cup of protein with our toast...asking "boileg? boileg? wan? two?"
Another evening he caught me reading a book at the dining table, saying "wot you read? Dirty book?" I looked at the title and laughed as I told him it was a book about prayer "Fuelling the fire!"
I am now brown on arms and legs below the knees...thankful to God for the heat of the sun,and lashings of sun cream! Oh and it was SO nice to be able to wash through our clothes and hang them on the balcony of the hotel room, knowing they would be dry in a couple of hours... oh to do that in Scotland!?
By for now...next blog will be about the move....the furniture, the chats about what we keep what we ditch...aaargh!!!!

Aw...is it August already????

July was busy and stressful- mainly because I had to try to keep the house in Hamilton reasonably clean and well kitted out with candles to mask the smell of cat, while viewers viewed and we showed them round. Those of you who empathise, will know that the blue candlewick bedspread that matches the recently purchased blue lamp from an Aberdeen charity shop, will also know that not every husband bothers with these niceties and prefers to talk about how many watts the garage light uses up!!!???
At "under offer " stage now, so in faith, we are de-cluttering slowly but deliberately. I just sent THE text to both daughters, saying, "I will be ruthless!!! Take your stuff away before the end of the month, or it will be THROWN OUT"
Looking forward to an early start at 4am for flight to Corfu...can't wait to get away from house selling and a settling in/names to faces, faces ( oops...nearly put an extra vowel in there!?)
 to names in 3 months of new church job with almost 1000 folks on the roll. Still enjoying the challenge. Biggest joy so far, is that I am meeting monthly with someone who is keen to let me into her life to mentor her in her walk with God. I gave her "homework" as she called it, and she texted me today to say she now understands something in John's Gospel that is pertinent to her just now, and she is so grateful. Makes it all worthwhile. to hang with getting less than the value of a house in a flat market....Life and people are precious, extra bucks will always come and go, and in the end you can't take it with you. Investing in family and church folks, is real investment in the Kingdom of God, and it's this that will never fade away !!