Patrick continues to be the first and last thing on our minds. He is mad as a box of frogs and a wee blether to boot, but you've got to love him.
As Spring turns into Summer, Sarah is really getting into her gardening. Nice way to relax at the end of a busy day of work. We went and saw some slightly bigger gardens down in Cornwall in the first week of July.
Patrick was christened towards the end of May. Afterwards we all went to Zizzi's and he did impersonations of Granda McGowan.
In May we headed down to London and had a lovely weekend with Toby, Rachel and William. We checked out Borough Market, then the Lady Diana memorial kids park in Kensington Gardens, which is fantastic! Popped into the V&A for a spot of paddling! And spent Sunday in Kew. It was stunning and Patrick and William were very cute.
We popped out to Pembroke for a weekend by the sea. Found Barafundle beach, which is an amazing spot. Patrick got his first taste of a seaside holiday - won't be his last if his Mum has anything to do with it. Headed out to Skomer and checked out the Puffins.
Patrick was christened towards the end of May. Afterwards we all went to Zizzi's and he did impersonations of Granda McGowan.
In April, Michael came down for the HONC. I think this is maybe the first time the Gales have ridden the HONC.
Over the Easter week, we took Patrick to the Cotswold farm Park. He loved it! We kind of enjoyed it too - Sarah in the petting zoo! He'd never come across an Easter egg before, but he seemed to know what to do:
Did a Burn's Supper again this year. Turned into quite a big event. Which doesn't explain this behaviour.
We got our fist ski trip in to the Chamonix Valley in Feb 2009.
Cheltenham got it's heaviest snow since the 80's during Feb 09. I went skiing with Dave and Jules on Lekky. Then sledging with Sarah on Shab Hill. And finally decided to saw down a tree or two - as you do. The tree felling was legendary. I was at the base, Dave had the rope, it all went a bit sideways, but worked out fine in the end!
Fitzy did his last Munro in October 2008. A great day on Liathach.
Summer
We got married on 22nd August 2008
Came across a book called Wild Swimming. First stop was the Windrush beyond Burford.
Had a great ceilidh wedding celebration in September.
Winter
He's only one little man, but our family got a lot bigger in December.
Summer
The climbing and skiing continued into the early summer. Although that would be difficult to tell from this picture.
We had a another summer party at the flat. Who needs a reason.
We met some new friends in Italy.
Steve and Jasmine got married.
Confirmed the addition of a new member of the clan.
And finaly figured out how to get rid of the telesales people.
Spring
Went skiing with friends old and new in January.
Biking and climbing in Wales in Feb.
Popped down to London and caught up with Toby and Rachel. Even managed to get excited about the lunar eclipse. Next time we'll have an even better viewing platform!
Wee Michael came down to see start of Polaris event at Innerleithen.
And every now and again, you've just got to give it some.
Christmas
Caroline hosted Christmas dinner at her place in Clober road and a good time was had by all .....
September
Dad finally succumbed to the leukaemia on the 17th of September .
August
Geraldine and Etienne tied the knot on 25th August. Lots of French visitors came over to enjoy the festivities on Loch Lomond side. Ross Priory made a great setting. Everyone was looking very glam. Some folk couldn't wait to tell the world. I took the visitors round some of the sights in Glasgow. We got some excellent biking in during the same week.
June
Finally got out to Germany after 2 years. Ash came along as well and we all caught up on all that had happened and all that hadn't.
May
Couldn't resist going with Dave, Jules, Andy and Rachael to see the cheese rolling at Cooopers Hill.
Popped up to Glasgow for a long weekend. Timing was based on seeing the UK premiere of Roam. Movie was excellent. Place was rammed with what seemed to be every biker in Glasgow. Me and Michael now feeling very inspired to go and pump up the tyres at least :o)
Went shopping for dresses with Shell and Ashleigh!!! This wasn't the one Shell bought. All the excitement was draining, so we decamped to Gandolfis for gorgeous lunch.
Managed to make myself useful at Clochbar by laying some lawn. The happy customer, now wants to invest in some croquet lessons.
It wasn't all grass and skirts though. Got a couple of decent nights out in West End with Brian (it was his birthday!!) and the rest of the bro's and Michael and separately with Fitz.
Steffi sent me a great pic of Jamie aged 6 and 3/4!! Quite the little fella.
Apr
A lot of stuff on the family front with the death of our Mum.
Went skiing in Feb with Dom/Shell/Garan/Sara/Stu/Pia and climbing with Raph and Ali.
Had loads of med' stuff done in Mar, but managed to clamber back aboard the bike for the HONC in April.
Jan
Got in loads of biking. Road biking with Francis, Dave and Jules and MTB with the usual crowd.
Nipped down to London with Ali to spend a weekend with Toby in Little Venice. Wandering round the canals and into the west end was great in the wintry sun. Took in Wildlife Photographer of Year at Natural History Museum, wandered down Portobello Road market (spot the serial killer) and took the boat down to Greeenwich for the market and museum. As ever, London was great and Toby was his usual chilled host self.
Winter
Winter's focus has been on Challenger thus far. But the ski/climbing season beckons :o)
Ashliegh found this cracking pic of Dezmond. Anyone know when it was taken?
Finished off the year up in Glasgow. Had a gorgeous morning up around Mugdock with a thick frost over everything. Spun round the Highlands with Michelle buying a bunch of snow gear and ended up having a few days climbing around Glencoe. Got some nice bits of biking in with Michael and did some indoor stuff with Fitz over at Ratho.
Autumn
Autumn has started with a trip to California with Fitz. All went well and met up with some new folk in San Francisco.
Summer
Spent a week up in Glasgow in August which coincided with Steffi and Jamie being over. Did the Pedal For Scotlland ride with young Michael and the Leukaemia ride with both Michaels!
After the success of the UK Challenger event, most of the summer's focus was on biking and climbing. There was the regular biking during the week, the big Alps bike trip with Crispin and the big Alps climbing trip with Leo, Julian and Steve. There was a week up in Glasgow in August where I caught up with Fitz to plan the California trip and obviously a lot of catchup wit the family
All of that didn't leave much time for other folk, but at the start of September, I finally managed to get up to Chesterfield to see Andy and Annie. We met up at Chatsworth (which was excellent) and then did a bunch of running and walking the next day. Lots of quality pubs with great views, including this one. Check out the name! Never having done much walking in the Peaks, I was well impressed with the place. If you get over there, don't miss Uncle Geoff's Diner in Over Haddon. He's stone deaf, so you need to write all the orders on notes for him. Definitely the sort of place you'd fit into your evening bike run if you lived in the area. The locals are very friendly and these wee girls were raising money for Make Poverty History by flogging their artwork.
Jun
The Challenger stuff went from strength to strength and our close working as a team was the key to the win. We're likely to lose a couple of team members in the months ahead and we'll need to form a strategy for the Worlds in the light of that.
Steve passed another milestone this month and Rose laid on a cracking BBQ in their secret little garden to celebrate. Nice chilled evening, but a bit of a late start on Monday!
Apr - May
Met lots of new folk through Challenger. Lots of training and a few great nights out. Most recent was training weekend in Cambrian Mountains in Wales. There's no easy explanation for some of these pictures, and it's not always clear what the link to Challenger is, but everyone seemed to be having a good time :o) And despite appearances, it wasn't taken too seriously. Find out more about it on the new page.
Got up to Glasgow at the end of the month and get a bunch of biking and climbing in. Spend a fair bit of time getting wheels sorted for the Pompino out at Wheelcraft. Mum & Dad come out, which is a nice link as Dad used to race singlespeeds in the forties for the Nightingales which is the club that Alistair at Wheelcraft is still a member of. Lots of "Did you know old Charlie ...".
Feb
Got down to Toby's in Little Venice. Top hospitality and top boozers in Maida Vale, but he's taking these spinning classes way too seriously. Met up with the Fishers on the same trip. Great fun to see them all again and help them get the best out of their short trip to London. It was bloody cold in town, but we got around and checked out St.Pauls, The Tower, the Globe and The Eye. In what turned into a busy weekend, it was good to catch up with Lynne from the Morocco bike trip.
There's now a regular film thing happening. Merchant of Venice is the best of the bunch this month. Gimme a shout if you want details of when & where.
Back up in Glasgow towards end of month and, among other things, ended up spending time with Iain at his 40th (nice pirate look in the Buff). Good to catch up with Dick Gorman and Fitz as well.
Jan
Years got off to a good start with plenty of biking, skiing and climbing already and it's only Jan!
Andy sorted out tix to go and see Gloucester playing Stade Francais in the last qualifier for the Heineken Cup. Unfortunately the Shed's expectation were not lived up to and the few high points that Gloucester had came to naught. I reckon we should go to the final in Edinburgh anyway :o)
Went for a wander around Ardmore with Brian and found an odd souvenir. Turns our there's a bizarre link between the tug the life ring came from and a boat yard that Dad worked at - amazing what you find out on the web.
Hannah Spence passed away in early Jan 05 and the whole family got together to celebrate her life.
New Year
A new year and life goes on. It seems to me that we're closer than ever. Need to do something about some of the hat selections though.
Bit of a difficult year for all of us, but as ever, looking forward to a better year in 05 :o)
Dec
As 04 came to an end, a few folk came round for beers to welcome Ian back to the UK.
There was a bikey theme to the weekend, but not everyone felt up for it the next day. It will take a bit of effort, but we'll hopefully work the bike group back up to the numbers in the US.
Pheng arrived just before Christmas and joined the rest of HQ in Wetherspoons on the last working Friday.
Nov
Met a bunch of new folk on a trip to Morocco. Biking is the common theme, so looking forward to meeting up again in 05.
As time marches on, the nieces and nephews are branching out into their own lives. Hopefully at least one of them will land a job in New Zealand so I can come bike/climb/ski and most importantly - visit :o)
Staying in touch with Steffi and Jamie will be important this year.
Jul
Did some biking with some old friends as well. Look forward to more in 05.
Caroline and John moved out of Crawford Road and into Clober Road. Laughs all round as Ashleigh suggests Caroline gives her the keys for the Boxster. Meanwhile, the pooches are preserving their dignity and energy by soaking up some rays.
Over all the mayhem, Mum & Dad just keep doing their thing.
All the while, Dezmond is in our hearts and minds. As close to us now as he ever was.
I'm looking forward to meeting up with Thomas and Carmen in their new place in Winterthur.
A lovely shot of Dezmond and Jamie mucking about on the shores of Loch Lomond.