One Tree Hill?
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.
Dropped Tomos off at his Gran's this morning and popped up Heolgerrig Mountain. The view was breath taking.
I saw this tree stood all by its self. It reminded me of the lyrics to "One Tree Hill" by U2
We turn away to face the cold, enduring chill
As the day begs the night for mercy, love.
A sun so bright it leaves no shadows
Only scars carved into stone on the face of earth.
It reminded me that as ever I'm lucky where I am both physically and metaphorically.
It is so easy to see the bad things in this world. As I was reminded last Sunday by a visiting missionary to our Church. When we here of Africa, images of famine, HIV and war come to mind. Not the beauty of the Serengeti, Victoria falls or Kilimanjaro. Or the dignity of the tribes who in our western eyes are backward, but if we think about it they are often the lucky ones being so close to each other in real family communities.
Yes living where I do is a privilege. I have the sheer beauty of nature around me and the love of my family and friends.
H&W ship yard Belfast
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.
Its our 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow. It seems like yesterday that I was sat in my dressing gown watching Spiderman and Chris’s then girlfriend flapping that we had a matter of about 90 mins before the start of the ceremony.
I had a full head of hair then too!
I’m currently sat in the BE lounge in Belfast City airport. Its raining here apparently its snowing back home. I’ve been away from home for 2 days now. I hate it. I find it exceedingly hard to talk to the kids when all I want to do is cuddle them, which is a bit difficult when you are on the other side of the country.
So on Saturday we have a house warming / 10th wedding anniversary party. We have around 50 family and friends coming along. It should be good fun. The move was hard work and stressful. However we had some great help from our friends and family.
I hope the next 10 years are as much fun and bring all of the love and challenges that the last 10 have.
Well that was 2005.
With just a few days left in this year and our daughter's 5th birthday tomorrow it is for me a time for reflection and thought. We have had a good year, yes there have been sad parts, The loss of our neighbours Roy and Mary withing about 6 months of each other is hard to believe. As I said to their son - I hope Rhian and I have that sort of love for each other in 40 years time. Roy was so lost when Mary past away. Well they are together now. And we lost our cat Mac.
We had many happy times too. The summer holiday was just great. The children are growing so quickly and give us so much pleasure and fun.
The rescue team has had another busy year . With over 60 jobs again, we have saved numerous lives found the lost and not so lost. But most of all we have had a good time working and playing with each other.
The coming year is going to bring more change. We move house soon and that is scarring the crap out of us. Tomos will start nursery and Erin infants class!! Where does the time go?
My sunset over Merthyr
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.
I sat here in front of the computer last Sunday evening dreading the week ahead. I was interviewing for my new team all day Monday and Tuesday. The house we are buying had its survey on Wednesday, Our son Tomos had an operation on Thursday morning and our current home was being surveyed by the new to be owners on Friday. And to top it off we had our Christmas party in the rescue team last night that I organised!
The interviews were long and needed lots of concentration. But it was so hard to do that with the thought of Tomos going under the knife! Thursday morning arrived after very little sleep the few nights before. We left home trying to be positive and not show our fear to Tomos. After about 30mins on the ward we headed down to the operating theatre. The next hour was probably one of the hardest of my life. Holding Tom in my arms as the anithstatis put the mask on his his face and watching Tomos drift off was hard. The letting him go was just impossibly hard. Walking out of that room e escorted by one of the operating team was simply dreadful. We then sat around for about 44 mins awaiting the news that he was fine. Of course he was and there were no logical reason why he should not be but as a parent logic goes and emotion and complete irrational thought takes over. Tomos is fine and acts as if nothing had happen.
So after the worry of Tomos, the fact out current home was having its structural survey seemed far less important.
Then it was onto Saturday night and the teams annual party. I had organised it so was quite worked up worrying about its success. I need not have worried. When its comes to drinking and enjoying ourselves we excel! The ladies were suitably and in some cases quite interestingly dressed! We had a great night.
So I went out this evening at sunset to take a few pics. I thought this sunset was quite apt. The end of a good weekend and a long week.
Stress is a very interesting feeling. For the last 5 years I have had the pleasure of have Neuralgia as a consequence of shingles. It would come each time I was tiered and under some sort of stress or pressure. My family and friends would know I had it as they would see me holding my head as if it were about to fall off. However I had some new drugs about a month ago and it has completely cleared up.Hurrah!
So in the last week we have sold our house and not got one to move onto. I have got a new job and this week have been interviewing for my new team. This morning we went to look at a new home. I have not had any head pain at all. but just so that I know I'm stressed my stomach has been in knots and I have had very little sleep.
I suppose the stomach ulcer is only a few years away!!
But the real reason for this blog is a photo my wife took. Our cat Mungo has just discovered the goldfish bowl. She took some great pics 
The rest of the pics can be seen here.
So you never know I may have a new team to lead soon and a new home and you never know Mungo may let the fish live long enough for them to see the new house!
Beacons
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.
Took my children out for a walk today. So we went up the road heading for Morlais Castle. We had great weather and wonderful views.
When Erin got onto the top I called up to her and asked what she could see. The reply was great! In complete excitement she shouted " The top of the World Dad, The top of the world!"
It is times like this that you realise how alive you are, How luck you are and all of the worries and pressures of work just drifted away into the background.
