Holiday Activities 2009

(Linda) There's nothing bad about being a missionary in Scotland at Christmastime. The Scots love Christmas and decorate and celebrate and give gifts just like we do in America! It's been fun to experience the holiday season here. From our blog, it would seem that all we do is play as missionaries. It's just that we only take pictures on P-day or when there is a special occasion. We really do work at the archives 40 hours each week!

Christmas Eve dinner at the mission home. Our mission president and his wife are looking Christmasy in red and are wonderful people who work awfully hard leading this mission. It's always so fun to mingle together with other missionaries. After the dinner, we met with the Edinburgh Ward for their annual Christmas Eve Carol Devotional which was so well done and inspirational. The musical numbers were beautiful and it was such a nice way to spend Christmas Eve and be reminded of the Savior.

On Christmas morning, all five couples working in the archives gathered in one of our flats for a Christmas breakfast, American style with waffles, eggs, ham and sausage. Yummy!!! Above are two of the sisters we work with at the archives. The sister on the left and her husband leave in a month after serving for 23 months. The sister in red only arrived on their mission two months before we did so we will try to hold down the fort with them and keep the work going when the other three couples go home in the next 1-3 months. These are wonderful couples who have enjoyed their missions, served faithfully and who we have quickly grown to love. They have been so helpful in easing our "settling in." Anyone want to come join us? We will immediately need more couples and this is an experience we can't imagine anyone not wanting to share with their spouse. The Scottish people are so warm and delightful and this land is beautiful.


Our first view of the Firth of Fourth on the north side of Edinburgh. That probably sounds crazy to you like it did to us in the beginning but a firth is the mouth of the river as it flows into the ocean or sea (in this case, the North Sea) and the river here is the Fourth River . . . so you have the Firth of Fourth. In Scotland there are many firths: Firth of Clyde, the Firth of Tay, etc. Cruise ships come up to this spot spring, summer, and fall to dock and allow their passengers to tour Edinburgh. The rail bridge behind me was built over the firth in 1890 and 58 people died building it. We were told today that it's the longest span bridge in existence (at least that's what they told us). Here at the firth in Queensferry, it's a tradition for hundreds of people to jump in the river at noon on New Year's Day (Hogmanay in Scotland) and hundreds more gather to watch the crazy spectacle. The water is so cold that they have ambulances and paramedics ready to give medical aid, if needed. I'm standing next to a typical post box in the UK. Fun, huh.

The Rail Bridge Pub and Bistro directly across the street from the above rail bridge where we ate lunch and had fish pie and fish cakes.

Christmas Day!!

(Ned) We expected Christmas in Scotland to be different this year, it was, but it was special. Some things made it a lot like home, however. One was the SNOW. The others were gifts from the heart from, and contact with, family. Video conferences were great and so were the phone calls.



We were not expecting a white Christmas. Snow does come to Edinburgh, but it is not the norm to have so much. We are told that they haven't had snow like this for fourteen years. We will take it. A white Christmas is nice!!!

Katie and Kara and families sent us a package with something to open every day in December until Christmas. We loved each card and gift and looked forward daily to what we could open. The cozy socks on our feet were for the 25th - nice and warm and will likely be worn out by next year. We also got DVDs from Andrea's family and from Dan and Autumn, an "I Love Grandma" apron and neck scarf and cards, notes, emails and pictures. Just GREAT!!

One family sent these pillow cases with lots of interesting stuff on them - scriptures, quotes, sweet notes and pictures. We will love to lay our heads down on loving thoughts from our kids and grandkids.

And Santa dropped off some hot water bottles for the two of us (red and blue!). Our flat is warm and comfy, but the sheets are cold and so are the feet (old feet just seem to be cold).

We send our love, best wishes for the holiday season and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Christmas in our "flat" away from home

We're making Christmas a real Christmas for us in Edinburgh. Our children and grandchildren are helping bunches and bunches with their calls, letters, packages, and video chats. We're playing Christmas music, enjoying our Asda artifical tree decorated with paper snowflakes and red bows, and participating in all the church Christmas events of the season. Singing the Christmas hymns at church has had more meaning for both of us since our visit to the Holy Land a year ago. We are taken back instantly to our night on Shepherd's Field when we sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and the birth of the Savior and His gift to us is vividly on our minds this season. Making this week extra special, we attended the baptism of Sachin Kunwar today in the Edinburgh Ward. He's a university student from Nepal and is very impressive. As he grows in the gospel, if he stays the course, he will be a great asset in his homeland. The Edinburgh Ward had another baptism yesterday, a Chinese girl who is also a university student here. This ward has had 58 baptisms in this calendar year! Great missionaries and great ward members to fellowship these new converts!

Katie and Kara's families sent us a package with a gift to open everyday in December until Christmas. We've had a great time opening them and looking forward to that "event" each day. All those packages we've sent to our missionaries and kids living away for birthdays and holidays, has really paid off! We've also received other packages and letters from our kids and grandkids . . . though the postage is atrocious and no one should send much or very often! But we do love them for remembering us and appreciate their thoughtfulness so very much. They are our greatest joy!

Our tree is cute and the paper snowflakes we got from the grandkids (see our glass balcony door) helped us determine the simple decorations for our tree.

And here is our cozy little fireplace all ready for Santa. It's only a fake electric flame but it heats up our living room quickly and we need that here in Scotland and use it nightly! It will be a warm and wonderful Christmas as missionaries in Scotland this year.

Peebles on the River Tweed - 12/19/2009

Ned in his Andy cap crossing the bridge over the River Tweed. Church in the background rang out Christmas carols while we were walking High Street and looking in the shops.

Ruins of Cross Kirk in Peebles- Late 13th Century Trinity Church.

Our favorite British lunch - fish and chips at John Jacks in Peebles.

Driving back home from Peebles was a white-knuckle event as we got into a blizzardy snowstorm. We didn't expect this much snow in our entire stay in Scotland but it was a white-out! Some spots were especially bad as cars could not manage the hills and we were stopped for some time at a one-way bridge. With Linda's prayers and backseat driving to get Ned to go really slow, and Ned trying his best to stay on the road, we made it, and were happy and relieved to get back to our flat and snuggle in for the night.

P-day at Peebles on the River Tweed

A crisp winter day the week before Christmas visiting Peebles, located an hour drive south of Edinburgh. What a beautiful drive to a beautiful village. We can't wait to return in the spring and take a walk along the River Tweed.

This friendly man was waiting for his wife to arrive and kayak seven miles down river to their home in 28 degree weather. We asked him if he was brave and he said, "no foolhardy!"

High Street (main street) in Peebles Cute fruit and vege shop.

Getting into the spirit of Christmas on the "pavement" (sidewalk to Americans).

Missionary Work at the Archives

(Ned) Thomas Thomson House - The facility we work in Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is not a public archive and there is a metal fence around the premises, a guard arm to block vehicle entrance (we have a clicker to open it), plus three locked doors that open with our security badges before we arrive at our camera room to work. This picture is deceiving because we arrive in the dark and leave in the twilight at this time of year. The camera made it look light!

Linda (can't be Sister or Elder at the archives. The Church contract doesn't allow any church discussion or reference while at work at the archives) in front of our archive building. This building was built in the mid-90's and is a warehouse for many Scottish records. We work in pants and very casual clothes as the books are big, heavy and sometimes dirty. Also no missionary badges to go along with no missionary titles. Only 50 employees (counting our family search team of 5 missionary couples and our supervisor) are employed at this non-public facility.

Linda at her desk quality checking camera work or paginating volumes.

My camera station. I raise and lower the glass cover over the book pages with foot pedals and take the picture with my right hand by hitting a large button near the computer screen. While clicking the button, I check the computer screen to make sure the picture is straight and the page is completely captured, not blurry, not under or over-exposed, has no extraneous material in it like my hand if the computer is running slow, or if material from the previous page is showing underneath it. If any of the above happens, I retake the picture. By the end of an 8-hour day where you have to concentrate every second while you're taking pictures, I am tired! I also need to double my output . . . I'm still learning! Last week our team of missionaries imaged over 41,000 images and Salt Lake only rejected a couple of pictures in each of three volumes. Not too bad for a week's work. That production actually wasn't exceptional though because we had one camera broken, one missionary was out sick for a couple of days, and I'm still a beginner.

General Register House in downtown Edinburgh - Scottish Archive headquarters.

First Trip into downtown Edinburgh - 12/15/09

(Ned here) Edinburgh is the magical city. It certainly is for Scotland. This was our maiden voyage - in the bus, with two of the couples from the archives.


Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh's most famous landmark. And it's Christmas!

Downtown Edinbrough - just a feel for this very old, quaint city.

Our archive missionary friends with Edinburgh Castle in the background.

And at Christmas they put up a big Merry-Go-Round and a huge Ferris Wheel. And yes, proof we were there.

P-Day in Biggar Scotland

Saturday is P-Day!!! We were not caught up on everything at home but couldn't wait any longer to see a part of the country of Scotland. We were told that there was a renounded Fish Shop in Biggar and Biggar was just about the right distance - about 40 miles, most of it in the country. So Biggar, here we come!


We were doing 50 in a 60 on the tiniest of roads, so we pulled into a "turn out" to let a stack of cars pass. What a photo op. Sun, clouds, green grass in December and a sheep farm. It was breathtaking.

More breathtaking!

And YES, we did find the Fish Shop. The fish and Chips lived up to their billing - award winning- and the mushy peas were just as nasty to me as they were 46 years ago.

What is there not to like about a little village like Biggar. It was founded in 1451. They didn't publish the population, but it is small. There were a few newer homes, so it is still growing Biggar- slowly.

First Scottish event-Edinburgh Stake Ceighley ("Kaylee")

The first Friday after we arrived, we attended a ward party to honor Scottish heritage, a Ceighley. It was such a happy, wonderful introduction to these people and this land. Many of the men and boys wore kilts and and the group danced the night away to a live band and lively, fun music. The 31 year old Edinburgh stake president asked me to dance and arranged for a university student to dance with Dad and we had as much fun as the Scots, despite our three left feet.

The people have been incredibly friendly and helpful to us since our arrival, people both in and out of the Church. They recognize our American accents immediately and are eager to help us and warm and welcoming. The Scottish people are definitely the "sunniest" part of Scotland at this time of year. The weather is cold, misty most days, cloudy even when it isn't raining, and night arrives early (by 4:30 p.m.). So attending the Ceighley was a warm way to welcome us to Scotland and made us so happy to be here. The Edinburgh Ward is very strong and very international (Edinburgh University brings many cultures to the area) but outlying branches and wards struggle. Our mission president has asked us to attend the Edinburgh Ward for 2-3 weeks until we get settled and have gotten comfortable with our archive work and then he'll assign us to a branch or ward for our mission. We are eager for that assignment and anxious to help in any way we can after we've completed our daily archive work. As a senior couple, we are learning there are many similarities to home. We will still have to prioritize our time and energy in order to serve 40 hours/week plus travel time in the archives (traffic is horrible here), keep up with personal finances, shop, cook, clean, laundry, scripture study, connecting with family at home, and time for service and reactivation in our ward or branch. The couples we're working with find that balance in different ways and it seems to be a very individual thing for each couple. There is no pressure from the mission president or the area records preservation supervisor from England who interviewed us last week for one "right" way to serve. Some couples have only the energy or health to work their hours in the archive and then go home to gear up for the next day. Others are serving several nights each week at far distances from their flats in Edinburgh in addition to the archive work and feel pretty tired physically, but fulfilled spiritually. We're trying to feel our way along to determine what works for us so we're definitely still a work in progress but eager to be among the people and do our part to strengthen where we can and praying for extra energy and health.

Live accordian band and drums played great music and everyone danced with everyone of all ages and had a grand time!

Favorite things about where we live!

I just realized that I've done it again! Put these posts about our flat in reverse order. Maybe one day I'll figure all this stuff out, but then again, maybe I won't! The things we've had to figure out and convert in the past few days is still pretty impressive for two old bumbling people: conversions of gms to pounds so we can shop for food, pounds to dollars, a raft of different coins, celcius to fahrenheit, stones to pounds (pretty scary to stand on the scales we found in our flat and see four numbers pop up!), driving on the opposite side of the road, etc. We now know that 20-21 degrees makes us comfortable in our flat, 1.059 pounds/litre ($7.94/gal.) is a good price for petrol, if the temperature in our Vauxhall Meriva shows -4.5 C, it's a really cold day, and you set our oven on 177 if we want it to cook at 350. Whew! It feels like our brains have been constantly whirring.

We live on the third floor (but in the UK that is called the 2nd floor since the first floor is the main floor) and this is what we see looking to the right on our balcony and we're not too far from downtown Edinburgh.

Looking out our kitchen window, which is on the front of our building.

Things we love the most in Scotland!!! Our children and grandchildren, the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, my friendship pillow from Sue Smedley, and my Mother's Day plaque from sweet daughter-in-law Jenn. Nothing makes us feel more happy than to glance at this shelf and see a bit of home!

The beautiful butterfly Morgan gave me is hanging in the kitchen alongside one of Sierra's tender notes to us before we left. We're here doing this so that other families can be eternally connected and feel the joy that our family brings to us!

More flat pictures

Our flat is little but a bit more spacious than some of the other archive couples, but our bathroom is definitely NOT where our floor space is located. It's small! There is no cupboard of any kind in the bathroom (hence all the stuff on the windowsill) and mirrors in bathrooms here are rare we're told. The shaving mirror you see is it for mirrors in our bathroom. Check out the button to flush the toilet on top of the tank.

The lack of mirrors in a bathroom is frustrating but the UK definitely has it right when it comes to showers. I love the hand-held feature of their showers. No shower curtain or door, just glass to keep the water in and it's freezy to shower as early as we're up and going in the mornings (up at 5 a.m. and out the door at 6:30 a.m. for the archives). But check out below! The radiator heat in the bathroom makes the towel so warm and cozy!

The owner went with a Japanese style bedroom set and it's like crawling onto an air mattress every night. Not our favorite. Until we got extension cords, this was me trying to get ready in the mornings. I'm only a little better set up to get ready in the bedroom now (which has a full length mirror on the wardrobe), but at least I'm not doing it on my knees anymore! Oh the laughs we've had and the memories we're making.