Chris Fletcher

My Story

I've always felt a strong connection to Scotland. As far as I know, we have no Scottish ancestry, but it has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Many of our family holidays were spent there, and later my wife Viv and I continued visiting, first with our children and then on our own.

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That initial connection can probably be traced back to my dad. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Scotland was the destination for our annual family holiday. It was a place he loved and continued to visit with my mum long after my brothers and I had left home.

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Dad was diagnosed with dementia in the late 2010s. For his birthday in September 2018, Viv and I created a photo book using images we had taken during our travels around Scotland. We'd read that photographs can sometimes trigger memories for people living with dementia.

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I still remember him sitting quietly and looking through the book—twice. He didn't say anything, but I know from his reaction that those images sparked a response or reminded him of a place that had meant so much to him.

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Dad passed away the following month, and Mum in 2020. The photo book eventually came back to us, and I'm proud to include it as part of Connections.

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For me, Scotland is more than a beautiful place. It represents family, memories, and a bond that began with my dad and continues today and it's a connection we intend to carry on into the future.

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Instagram: @married_with_grown_ups

Instagram: @the_mundane_travellers