A bio of sorts......redone on Sunday, November 13th, 2011

This blog started out as a gift for our son. Gregg and I had often said how much we would have loved to know more about our own parents’ lives, from the most important events down to the trivial ones. At this age - Gregg is 64 and I am 61 - we realize that even those trivial tales are just as important now that our parents are no longer with us.

I quickly add that we are still blessed with Gregg’s father who thankfully is fit and healthy at the age of 91, but his Mom passed away several years ago, as did both my parents.

Gregg encourages me throughout this blog, even offering ideas at times, as we both wanted our son to have some kind of recorded history of our every-day lives, which include the memories that pop up every now and again. I also share some of Gregg's photos occasionally, as we both have a fondness for that particular hobby.

The blog has evolved somewhat as it has also become a way for our family and friends to see what we have been doing when we get behind in our letter-writing.

It has gotten pretty eclectic as I share anything and everything, whatever I see that I feel needs a photo taken to preserve that moment in time, whatever pops into my head.

It is a window into what I enjoy in life, my family, my friends and my never-ending love of wildlife and nature in general.

On Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008, after living in America for 33 years, I became a US Citizen. You would be correct in thinking that, "she doesn't rush into things". I never have, always being considered overly cautious in just about everything I do, until the day I met my future husband that is. That day I knew I had met my soul-mate. I still have a great love for the land of my birth, but I have also grown to love my adopted country.

My journey began in 1975 when I met and married Gregg, who at the time was in the US Navy and on an exchange tour with the Royal Navy.

I was born in the Midlands (Smethwick to be exact), and we moved to Wednesbury when I was five years of age (just as a matter of interest, Smethwick is pronounced Smethick and Wednesbury is pronounced Wensbury). When my father retired as a Detective Inspector with the CID, after 30 years on the Staffordshire Police Force, we moved to a small village in South Devon when I was 15.

Ten years later Gregg, still my soul mate and best friend, literally sailed into my life when his ship dropped anchor in the middle of Torbay.

Four years later we were blessed with our son.

Another exciting event took place on June 27th, 2009, when Brad married Lisa. Our extended family now includes our lovely daughter-in-law and her family and friends. We are very blessed.

For a further read of how Gregg and I met where I go into a lot more detail, you can click here and here.