Introducing Us

Hi, for those who don't know us a brief introduction; and for those who do know us, an update. There's a lot going on in our family at present. Daniel and Kim produced their first son, Dominic, our first grandson six weeks ago on Dec 11th. On New Year's Day Owen and Kim got engaged watching the sunrise at Brimham Rocks and in May Bethan and David expect to give birth to their first ?? We've just come to that stage in the life of our family where a lot seems to be happening without our input - quite nice really. Lucy is growing up faster than we ever imagined possible and enjoying being a student. Mary works most days in Bethan and David's shop in Ripley - a completley new experience for her, but one she is enjoying, after having done supply teaching, on and off, for at least thirty years. I still work full time in Life Destiny Church along with my son-in -law David, and am pleased to say that I enjoy the work more than ever. The church has a really healthy feel to it and is beginning to see some growth. We often reach between 90 -100 people on a Sunday morning and rarely dip below 85 these days. Still a long way to go and a lot of work to do but there appears to be a real sense of unity, purpose and focus in the church at present.
Back to the family for a moment. Mary and I spend our days off on Wednesdays walking in the Yorkshire Dales or Moors. Walking is something we both enjoy for slightly different reasons. Mary enjoys working out routes, reading maps etc and I enjoy the hard exercise of climbing hills and mountains and taking photos of the surrounding countryside. During the last month I have reverted to film photography, buying an old 35mm cameral off E-bay. I just wanted to try something different with a variety of lenses you can buy cheaply off the internet now that digital has caused the 35mm market to crash. In addition to the walking and photography I bought a brand new Kawasaki ER6F 650cc of pure exhilaration which has been thrashed across the country roads of the Yorks Dales on a few occasions over recent months. Unfortunately I have had to take it off the road for the winter due to the salt on the roads which ruins bikes. Then over the last five months I have got into cycling - bought a mountain bike with town slicks - partly to keep fit and partly to save wear and tear on the bike and car - but I've got to really enjoy it and am gobbling up any books, magazines, route guides I can lay my hands on. The great thing about cycling the 2 or 3 miles to work is that you can keep fit whilst going to work and save money on fuel etc. etc. Planning to do some longer motorbike and cycle rides when the weather improves in the spring.
In the longer term we have a wedding this summer, a new grandchild in May, Summer holidays to Cornwall (if Mary gets her way) to France or Spain (if I get my way); I will probably be travelling to India again in Oct / Nov and who knows what else may be fittted in between now and Dec 31st?