Hey!  I’m Diane and I have lived and worked in Aberdeenshire all my life.  I'm now back living on the family farm I grew up on with my husband and we have two daughters who have now flown the nest and who are currently living their best lives with their partners.
 

We now have two grandchildren in the family, Richie who is two and a half and wee Callie who is just six months old.  They are the most precious and wonderful wee toots who keep us on our toes.

I started off my working life in Aberdeen in the oil and gas industry until the girls came into our life and I decided to work nearer home.  I spent their early years looking after them and also the local agricultural show, as well as the play group committee and everythign else that comes with that!  I loved having the chance to see them growing up whilst being able to keep working from home. 

When they started school, I landed another dream job, working with apprentice engineers at the local college for some sixteen years and I love that I've since conducted some weddings of theirs.  Presently, I'm now back in schools, connecting pupils with businesses and employers and helping them understand the world of work.

I tend to live my life as full as possible, and I'm thankful for each new day and there's never a day that's the same as the next.  I’m very much a people person.  I love catching up with friends and like to meet new folk with interesting things to talk about.  I travelled round the world in my youth but still have a huge bucket list to conquer!

Living on the farm surrounded by animals and fresh air is just the best and I'm really passionate about being able to grow, cook and eat our own produce.  I sing in a local choir and listen to all kinds of music whenever I can.  I also like nothing better than to curl up with a good book, a coffee and the cat on my knee with the fire roaring on a cold day.

My pet hate is poor manners, especially poor table manners.  I stand against any cruelty to animals and don’t ever feed me liquorice!

Hi, I’m Monica. Born in Edinburgh a few decades ago, I have lived in Northeast Scotland for pretty much most of my life.

After a long and rewarding teaching career, I realised it was time to focus on some of my other passions in life - story writing, poetry, talking (and listening of course) – because who doesn’t enjoy a good blether!

While I don’t miss lugging home bags of marking, I do miss the young folk I mentored, as well as the fun and laughter that was always such a big part of my job. 

With two grown-up boys, I’m still a busy mum, wife to David and have recently welcomed a wonderful daughter-in-law into the mix. I love the happy chaos when everyone comes home to visit and the late-night catchups that never seem to make it out of the kitchen.

Being surrounded by a family of keep-fit fanatics, I try to show willing by making it into the gym now and again but reckon spending time out in the fresh air, whether on two feet or two wheels, does just as much for the body and soul (and doesn’t hurt as much either).

Wee independent coffee shops with good company (and great scones), Golden Retrievers, the cool side of the pillow (one of life’s small but often overlooked pleasures), and unexpected acts of kindness are just some of the many things that bring me joy!

A few things I’m not quite so keen on though, are noisy eaters (unless you’re a Golden Retriever), summer clothes that shrink over the winter months, oh and smelly cheese, especially the blue variety – surely nothing that smells this bad should ever pass your lips!