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Another gray Saturday on the farm, with unexpected proposal

Last night I had a conversation with my daughter and her boyfriend, both of whom are GPs, and they wanted to go over my test results.  Turns out I was right, although my weight is up my muscle mass is top of the chart for my age group.  On my heart condition, she was less happy.  Before they could recommend surgery to insert a pacemaker they wanted to try changing my physical activities.  Although I work on the farm, it doesn't include any cardio workout.  My daughter suggested either running or climbing.  

I started to laugh because climbing in Norfolk is a bit of a challenge, the place is flat.  My daughter ever the mischievous one pulled out a brochure for an indoor climbing wall about half an hour away.  Guess what is my daughter's boyfriend favourite sport -- bouldering!  They booked a Saturday morning 10 to 11 am slot for both him and me.  The climbing center is only 40 minutes away.  So this morning after a light breakfast (his suggestion) we left for the bouldering centre.

Let's just say that I got a great cardio workout!  I don't know if it was the climbing or the fear of falling, but after an hour I was exhausted.  It calls on different muscles, but it was a riot.  I could easily see myself doing this with my wife.  She is thin and sinewy and I think this will be a great sport for us (we would also be the oldest people there).  The staff were amazing, fitting climbing shoes and the harness, they have a bunch of instructors the place is great.  Although the music was loud, one of the instructors, a pixi weighing less than seven stones told me that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there is only muted music.

On the way back Jack (my daughter's boyfriend) did ask "the question".  Of course, I told him yes.  I can reveal all because right before lunch he popped the question.  He was planning on doing it on Christmas Eve but didn't want to detract from Adam and Jilian's big day.  A thoughtful man.  

Both seem to want the wedding to occur when my granddaughter is a little older and can understand and participate in the ceremonies.  I think that's a great idea.  At two she is still confused by Santa and the whole Christmas thing.  She's a girl so by the age of four she will get it!

It was funny because my wife was completely blindsided.  Our daughter walked into the kitchen to "talk to her mother" and was gesticulating like an Italian with her hands.  I was sitting at the kitchen table going over some tax correspondence (I really need an office).  It took about a minute before my wife spotted the engagement ring.  There was laughter, there were tears, they were minute-by-minute replay of the event.

What a year, 2023 has been a special year

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