This is Lois's page

Like others I have a life of several parts. Integrating them into a coherent whole is quite a challenge! The rich tapestry of life with its many coloured threads and varied stitches brought together with the help of my nearest and dearest over an earthly and heavenly backdrop is my best way of working it all together. And yes, unpicking some areas and starting again happens despite my best efforts at pulling things together in the best way I know!

When I am “we” then I am wife and also mother. These two parts are the most important to me. I like to think that I am a loving and caring wife and a responsible, if fussy, mother, but others (Ian and Hannah, for example) will give a more objective view I am sure!

Alongside the home I have several interests that occupy many of my waking hours. For the past couple of years I have been learning to belly dance. It has been a great way of meeting up with other women who live nearby and experiencing Saturday night at the Hafla watching all manner of belly dancers. Here's more (including some videos.)

More recently I have trained in Swedish Massage and Indian Head Massage. This has opened up a whole new part of my life which is helpful to others, but also very fulfilling for me.

And on the horizon there is an overdue need to learn to play a musical instrument. The plan is to be able to play some simple tunes, with sensitivity and feeling. We will all be watching to see how this goes.

The others parts of my life are not nearly so interesting so I will just add them in with some broad strokes. I work in management and administration at Newcastle University and spend my time trying to help the academics and clinicians carry out their medical research programmes. The good thing here is the feeling that I may be helping things along which will be of benefit to people and their health and wellbeing. I have a Land Rover Defender which is brilliant for pulling our caravan along and quite distinctive as a car for an older lady! And I have a Honda Hornet which is blue and kept in the garage until the weather is right for putting on the leathers and hitting the road to ride free with the wind.