And the nominees are.....

Last week was a pretty good week in the Mckenzie household.

On Tuesday I was in Perth attending an award ceremony held by Scottish Association of Social Workers. I, along with her boss and one of the directors of Aberlour Childcare Trust had nominated Janet for an award because she is pretty damn special. Now, it takes a hell of a lot to impress me so when I say she is good, I truly mean it.

We had a lovely time but I have to say that although it was taking place in the Perth Concert Hall, it was a very low key affair so much so that it was held in the foyer! We had to ask for seats as all the seating around tables were taken and so we ended up sitting off to the side and we stuck out like a sore thumb.They did provide wine and canapés which we were quite happy to consume.

Gill and Sheena

Thankfully the company more than made up for it and when the awards started, I struggled to hear what was being said as the speaker was standing on the stairs and not close enough to the microphone. This forced me to listen very carefully when the award for Residential Care Worker of the Year was called. I knew that Janet had done good when the speaker said "well done" to her after introducing her.

When it was announced that she had won the Highly Commended award, we whooped and hollered our appreciation. I was so so chuffed for her. Basically that makes her the 2nd best care worker in Scotland. A high accolade indeed.

Janet and her well deserved award

We celebrated at a place called the Bothy where we had a lovely meal, a few drinks and great conversation.

lovely food to be had here

Well done Janet, couldn't have been awarded to a nicer person.

Then two days later, it was Jack's birthday. My lovely boy was 14 so I had a birthday tea for him complete with cake (even though he is nil by mouth) cos although he can't eat it, we can!

Birthday Boy

Time to open presents!

and more....

Aww gee I think I need a lie down :)

We had a lovely time especially since he was so alert and interested which was absolutely lovely. He scored big time with lots of prezzies and money which I will save in his piggy bank til he needs something. I was totally exhausted after which was a wee reminder that I am still not back to normal after all the stress and trauma of the hospital.

Friday was a busy day, packing Jack's bag for respite as he was in for the weekend. Just as well as I had another award ceremony to attend.

This time it was in Elgin and it was the Moray Young Citizen of the Year Awards which Holly's school had nominated her for. I was over the moon and quite emotional about the nomination alone as she so deserves it. She has had to grow up fast being the sibling of someone with major health issues and she never resents the time I dedicate to him or the times that plans have had to change at the last minute as he has been ill or respite has been cancelled.


She still manages to keep up with her school work, hard as it is as studying in our house is not the easiest with all the comings and goings but she still manages. Last year she gave up her own birthday celebrations to take part in the Youth Outdoor Challenge at Badagouish with her team raising the most money in her school. On top of that she has had to hold the fort at home over these hard hard few months while Jack was so unwell, looking after the dogs, buying in food, paying bills, budgeting, fielding phone calls whilst at the same time dreading answering the phone in case that call came form me. She is on the sixth year leadership team, helps kids who are bullied and is in general just a very lovely girl.

I think I am biased but that was just some of the things that her teachers had written about her for the nomination.

Diz, goofy around!

Don't know what's going on here!

The evening turned out to be quite a posh affair and was held in a local hotel. Holly, Diz and I were met with a red carpet and non alcoholic cocktails which were delicious. The first round of awards were given out to children in primary schools and then we were treated to nibbles in the shape of little pots of noodles, buckets of wedges, chicken satay, chicken pakora and soup in shot glasses! Just when we thought we couldn't eat any more, they brought out miniature sweets in little cups and shot glasses accompanied by plates of cupcakes. Heaven!

Yummy cupcakes

Eat me!

Pudding in dainty cups

Holly, Kerrie and her parents

Other half of the table - Team Zambia who also won an award

Then more awards and finally the big one, Moray Young Citizen of the Year. Nominees names were called out and asked to stand while the speaker told us a little bit about them until there were only 3 names left, Holly being one of them and Kerrie, also from her school who was sitting next to her. The speaker explained that there were 2 Highly Commended Awards as well as the main one. The first name was called and then it was between Holly and Kerrie who were on the edge of their seats holding hands.

Kerrie's award

You could cut the tension with a knife. Then Kerrie's name was called and she went up to receive her award which only left Holly who could barely breathe by this time. When they shouted her name, myself and Diz high fived each other and we were whooping and hollering, fit to burst as Holly took to the stage. I was so unprepared that I didn't get a pic of her getting her award as I was so flustered and couldn't get my fingers to work the camera!

Woo hoo I got an award!

One for the wall me thinks

Holly  was quite tearful as they read out some of the lovely things that had been written about her and I could have hugged her half to death so chuffed was I.

All in all, a damn good week wouldn't you say?

Til next time my little gigglers.