I live in a wee village - nae, hamlet - just outside Irvine in Ayrshire. I moved here about 11 years ago with my two youngest children. I have since been joined by Ian, my long time partner and friend, and his middle son, who has gone back to college and is reshaping his life plan.

We are often joined by the numerous friends, boyfriends, etc. of my own two children; so much so, that it sometimes feels as though I am running some sort of home for the waifs and strays of Ayrshire... :o)

I have also gone back into full time education and am doing a Digital Art Degree course at the West of Scotland Uni, Ayr Campus. I'm having great fun in a physical university - I studied with the Open University for a number of years - mainly the Humanities and Philosophy with some computing and music stuff added for a bit of diversity. My intention was to continue studying Philosophy, but wee Shaun, my youngest son, had to have major spinal surgery a couple of years ago and it became very difficult to concentrate on the bigger questions of humanity - I decided to concentrate on the smaller picture and began painting again; it helped me to regain some sanity.

My daughter, Mhairi-Anne (or Maz, as she is known to her pals) is moving into her own house at the end of February - maybe I'll reclaim some of my space once her furniture has moved out with her...

I continue to try and learn how to play musical instruments, but I'm afraid that the only one I'll ever master is the human voice - thank heavens I didn't need to think too much about that one! My latest acquisitions are my dad's 48 bass accordion - I thought I might be able to pick that up easier because I was reared on his playing - and a super wee Tenor Ukulele - again, my dad gave me a Ukulele Banjo many years ago and it was the first stringed instrument I began to learn to play. Maybe this time I'll have a bit more success: I have great trouble with committment; I flit about too much, like a moth or a butterfly, and without somebody pinning me down, I try everything at once instead of finishing one thing before moving on to the next. Thank heavens again for the voice... which I inherited from my mum and namesake... and my faithful matching blue bodhran and blue autoharp.