This is a post we wrote a while ago, before the move and other things took priority, but thought we would share it now anyway... I feel like we have neglected to introduce ourselves properly. Some of you will know us well, and some not at all. So if you're curious, keep reading.
Liz: I was born in the tiny village of Potterhanworth (population less than 600), and grew up in Lincoln with mum, dad, and a younger brother and sister. We lived in a house bordering farmland where we could explore, build dens and ride bikes to our hearts' content. We thrived in the outdoors, riding go carts, climbing trees and enjoying the fresh air.
I did averagely at school, with three Ds at A level, and went to study nuclear medicine, working in that field for 10 years. I scanned people, from newborns to elderly, for everything from bone cancer to blocked tear ducts, and Parkinson's to kidney failure. It was a fascinating job and the patients were amazing. I loved feeling like I had added value and helped people.
After ten years of long commutes and 5.30am starts I decided it was time for a change. My wonderful tai chi instructor, Colin, said they were looking for a centre manager to run a new suite of serviced offices and I accepted in 2013. I grew the business from 16 empty offices to 45 fully occupied offices and eventually the role outgrew me and became too stressful. So, I was glad to be poached from there by one of tenants, Fox Windows and Doors in 2019 and am still working there today.
Along the way, we have spent a couple of years fostering kids on respite, but ultimately decided it was not for us. Now, I sit on foster care panels for Focus Foster Care making sure that all the due diligence is done when monitoring carers.
Hobbies include listening to a varied selection of music like Dire Straits, Del Amitri, Deacon Blue. I love a lot of what my parents listened to as we were growing up, but I also love pop music from the 80s, club music from the 90s, and some of the house and garage from the 21st century. I also love movies, especially action stuff from my childhood, like Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, The Goonies, and kookie ones like Submarine, Donnie Darko and The Young Poisoner's Handbook. Reading is also a favourite pastime that I don't get to do enough. I'm a huge Ian Rankin fan, but will always look for unusual books and am quite picky. If I'm not grabbed in the first 20-30 pages it's history! I've also been learning tai chi for nearly 20 years. I think I've become proficient at open hand forms and with fans and swords, but my memory isn't the best and I've not been going to class regularly for the last few years since covid. I hope I can remember enough to practice it out there on the hillside at the new house, in the calm serenity of the glen.
We go to church, I write and read the intersessions, and sometimes lead the matins with the old floor length robe on. It's nice, and the church is a great community - a family really. St James is run by the congregation, and it's small and friendly - the sort of church were people come to get married because it's so cute - in fact we were married there in 2000.
Over the years I've done a lot of volunteering. From driving people to medical appointments, delivering prescriptions, writing the newsletter for the local MS Society group, managing the church website amongst other things.
John: Originally from Yorkshire, I became an economic migrant at 18 and headed for the Midlands and the automotive industry. Although I've spent most of my waking hours in a factory or office, I love getting out and active, whether that's cycling, walking, running or just doing work in and around the house and garden. That comes from my upbringing where mum and dad raised both myself and my elder brother, by 4 years, outside a town and outside of a village. You had to learn to make your own entertainment.
Academically I got lucky. Dad was Second Master at a local Grammar school so we got good chances. My brother, Richard, got into Cambridge and I saw a wonderful and privelleged opportunity that may be possible. I worked hard for my A levels and got what I needed or thereabouts.
University was hard work, the terms were short, intense, and I went from being top of the class at school to bottom of the class in my chosen subjects, but I got through and had many wonderful experiences along the way.
I met Liz when I was 28. I'd lost my way a bit, having ended up marrying the girl I met at university. There are multiple reasons why that path played out as it did and I won't go into that here. Ultimately I didn't have the courage to call time on what I knew was wrong, and one fateful night I met Liz.
Liz was waiting-on a posh country hotel just outside of Lincoln (Branston Hall) and I was there as the 'factory representative' for the local dealer launch. At the end of the evening we ended up talking until the wee small hours - completely out of my character, I promise you, and the rest is of course history
Liz was different, and challenged (and challenges) me in different ways - she drives me forwards and so many things I have done, and we have done together, I simply would not have done had I not met such an amazing person - like skydiving!
With a bit of an age difference and me heading for 30, I wanted to have kids pretty quickly - I didn't want to be the oldest dad watching the school play or picking up results.
Amber was born in 2001 and Charlotte in 2003, grew up good kids, went to uni, Amber qualified as a vet nurse and Charlotte is now a qualified Assistant Practitioner in radiography. They are finding their way in the world and this step of selling the house is he biggest decision we have ever made as a family. The girls aren't thrilled at the idea but we think it's time for them to forge their own futures and work out where they want to be and go and get it.
Being a dad was amazing, I look back at little video snippets of when the kids were really young and cannot believe the energy, joy and sparkle I had. They gave us both such purpose in life and we are both so proud of what they have become.
As I get older I find that if I don't force myself to do something active in the early evening I simply fall asleep on the settee! Being a engineer, I like practical things and problem solving and, having spent the last 5 years in project management, I can't wait to layout a project or maybe programme plan for our new house in Scotland. Establishing clear stakeholder buy-in (with Liz) will of course be top priority. But joking apart, I'm sure we can enjoy the journey as well as the end product.
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