Winter in Oak Bay

This is the kind of winter we've been having. We're not in Edinburgh anymore, Toto...

Miss Madeline

This furry little one is Madeline. We brought her home from the local shelter in October, and she's been keeping us occupied ever since!

Hawai'i 6-0(7)

Our O'Neill Family Vacation to Hawai'i this month was a dream come true. All six of us, Mom & Dad, K and Chris, and Jenny and I, spent a week in beautiful Maui. We had our own beach and the highlights included a helicopter ride over the now-dormant volcano, a snorkelling trip to famed Molikini (underwater pictures to come) and the historically interpretive Lahaina luau. As with our European photo collection, our Hawai'i photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/revoneill Aloha and mahalo!

European Odyssey

With the summer approaching and a church in Oak Bay, NB waiting for us, we have finally been able to collect and consolidate our photos from our amazing "Farewell to Europe" trip. It would be impossible to upload them all onto our blog, so we've posted them on Picasa Web Albums, at: http://picasaweb.google.com/revoneill Enjoy!

Viva las viva

The results are in: I'm done. It's been nearly five years in the making, with an MTh and two years at St Giles' for me and a teaching degree and blazing career for Jenny in the process. For support, good wishes, cards, emails, texts, visits, care packages and lots of phone calls, thank you very much. We could not have done this without the support we've had, nor would it have been nearly as enjoyable a time as it has been.

For those interested in what the past five years have looked like, the following cartoon, from a student website at Manchester University, should help calrify things.

Many thanks, many blessings.
AO (& JLO)

Viva las thesis

For those about to rock, I can now salute you. That's because I handed in my PhD thesis on December 18, 2006, and now have both hands free for saluting.

OK, I'm not entirely finished. There's still a very important viva, or, oral defence, remaining. That's when two examiners decide whether my three and half years of research and writing have resulted in anything comprehensible. The date of the viva isn't set yet, but should take place sometime in the next two months. For prayers, cards, jokes, love and support during our time here, I will always be thankful. It ain't over yet, but I'm really enjoying the final stages.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas

Although we don't get much snow here in Scotland, we've decorated our little apartment- including Jenny's annual fireplace festive light- to bring some light to an otherwise dark-by-4pm Scottish winter. Advent is kicking into high gear for us this year with lots of singing, school events, and the anticipation of Christmas visitors in the form of Ma and Pa O'Neill. And Andy is submitting his PhD thesis next week, bringing relief that will be a most welcome Christmas present.

It hardly seems possible that this is our fifth and final Christmas in Scotland. We are looking forward to being home with our families for Christmas Future, but we will always remember how beautiful Edinburgh is at Christmas. The German Market in Princes Street Gardens, the Watchnight service at St. Giles', the specially decorated windows at John Lewis; all evoke a sense of Christmas (slightly) Past. We've had quite an adventure here in Edinburgh and we will have many fond memories to recall, especially during Christmas.

While we cherish our time here, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love AO & JLO

A taste of things gone by...

For some time now a few of us have been getting together to try new recipes and enjoy each others' company while doing so. Our cooking club is three couples strong, and we rotate kitchens each week. Having completed two laps around les cuisines, we decided it was time to share the fruits, veggies and meats of our labours. Clicking on "The Cooking Club" link to the right will take you to a blog page devoted to the pictures and, most importantly, recipes, of our club so far. Bon appetite!