By far the biggest change in our life since coming home, apart from being in a house in Edinburgh rather than a cabin on a ship of course, is bringing dogs into our lives.
Before we went to the Logos Hope, we had agreed that we wanted to have a dog when we came home - specifically a labrador.
Then 2 weeks ago we heard that Heather's uncle was trying to find a home for his golden labrador because he could no longer cope with walking him. We were excited at the opportunity to give Jasper, or Jaz as we call him, a home.
So 2 weeks ago, my parents came up to Edinburgh for a visit and brought Jaz with them.
The whole family has fallen in love with Jaz. But one dog isn't enough.
Before we came home, our closest friends asked if we would look after their 9 month black lab put while they went on holiday for 2 weeks. So just a week after getting Jaz we also took in Rocky. Now we have 2 dogs dictating our lives for us - walks, more walks, barking, hairs everywhere. But it is worth it and we are loving having them.
However, with the dog walks comes some risks as we discovered on Sunday when we lost Kara for over an hour in woods. We were very concerned and called the police who came to search ther site and brought in a search dog. Thankfully she was found back at the place where we had left the car over half a mile away, but it was a very worrying time for us.
The kids had a great 3 weeks in school before finishing for their summer holidays. Typically just as the schools finish, the weather changes from the lovely warm sunshine of our first 2 weeks home, to wet and windy weather.
Heather is slowly getting used to working back in the NHS and moving between different doctors practices. It is a long way from working in the Logos Hope clinic.
I started my new job with OMUK last week with a visit to the headquarters down at Oswestry in Shropshire. This week I am working on putting together a visit for a team to the ship later in the year and a proposal for a mailing to supporters.
The office is in Glasgow so it means about 90 mins of travelling 3 or 4 days a week initially.
So we carry on adjusting to life in Edinburgh and enjoying the opportunities that "normal life" offers.
