A Year in pictures - What a huge year it has been!

Its been an amazing year. So many big changes, so many adventures, so much happier. We have moved from our wonderful house and garden and are renting until we find the right permanent place. It hasn't been easy, but life is easier, less stressed and I do like having a smaller house to look after. Middle son has left home to go to University in Glasgow and has settled in very well. Older and younger sons are doing really well at college and school. My divorce was finalised in October so now I can really move forward. I left my job in November to take a year out to study, kick back and have some time to get back to the things I love doing and enjoy life. A massive (or mad) thing to do, but absolutely the right thing for me at this time. Life's too short not to take time and risks and see where life takes us. I am happier, calmer and content, something I have never really had before. Its taken hard work, nerves of steel and support from some wonderful people to remove all the negatives from my life and get me here. It was so worth it. Lets hope 2015 is equally good.

Here is a snap shot of my year in pictures:

JANUARY: A trip to two disused mines in the south of Scotland to record
hibernating bats with David

FEBRUARY: A long weekend in Northumbria: walks on the beach,
wood burning stove, Bamburgh Castle and lots of good food

Bracken in the sea at Bamburgh, Northumbria

MARCH: A walk up to The Falls of Clyde at Lanark with most
of the kids and Bracken

APRIL: A trip to The Burrell Collection and Pollock House in Glasgow

Easter Holidays and a walk around a ruined gunpowder mill and
secret abandoned near home, good for photos and exploring

Another Easter holiday day trip with the kids to Balmino Den in Fife,
then a walk on the beach at Crail and fish and chips in
Anstruther on the way home

A walk along the disused railway from Peebles to Innerleithan and the bus
back to Peebles. We stopped off on the way home to walk across the viaduct
and through the abandoned tunnel at Neidpath

MAY: A trip to Dawyck Botanic Garden near Peebles,
full of spring colour

JUNE: Edinburgh in the rain

A walk round Thriepmuir Reservoir in the Pentlands

A long weekend in Oban, travelling through Inverary for lunch then up to
Oban, visiting some ancient burial mounds on the way

A boat trip out to the island of Staffa and Fingal's Cave. I've always wanted
to visit and we had a fantastic day out, I even coped with sailing in a small
boat out to the islands and back

Fingal's Cave

We then travelled to Lunga to see the Puffins

They were amazing, so many and so close: an amazing experience

JULY: A trip into Edinburgh to visit David's brother
Ian and his exhibition at the Leith School of Art, then dinner with Becky

A weekend in York, visiting David's parent with Adam, and a trip on the
North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Whitby

Walking along the pier at Whitby

The Angel of the North, something else ticked off my
bucket list

Bracken in the garden of our new home. having had to move house in late July.

AUGUST: Summer holidays and a trip to North Berwick and the Beach

The Bass Rock from North Berwick, fish and chips for tea

Me and my boys. A walk to the top of Tinto, a fabulous view,
great weather, even if breezy

Bracken in Dumfries and Galloway when we had a day out and visited Threave, where I was a
student a long time ago

Looking down the valley to Leadhills, a trip on
the Wanlockhead and Leadhills Railway

A night out on the town, its the Edinburgh Festival, great fun

Edinburgh at sunset, festival nights

SEPTEMBER: Another disused railway tunnel near Penicuik

Mosses at Benmore Botanic Gardens

A visit to the derelict 1970's village of Polphail

Polphail is noted for its street art

These huge murals are amazing

In amongst the dereliction

A trip to Edinburgh Zoo when David's mum and dad were up for
the weekend

Fading sunflowers at Edinburgh Botanics

OCTOBER: Venice, somewhere I have always wanted to visit, and now I
have been, it was everything I thought it would be

and so much more, warm, good food, beautiful architecture and art,
Italy, love it

NOVEMBER: I stopped work, taking a year out to do some studying and
get back to the things I love doing. This is one of our local views
whilst out walking every day