A Latvian couple who arrived independently in the UK six years ago to establish new lives for themselves have created another, with the delivery of their first-born child.
Martin Galaktionovs weighed in at 7.5 lbs at 11.46am yesterday at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, as the first New Year baby born in the Highland capital.
His mother Kristine Licite, 30, and his father Viktor Galaktionovs, 29, who have established a new home in Fort William, were both overjoyed.
The beaming dad said he was keen to have more children while, cradling their new son, his partner laughed saying it was far too soon to think about that question.
Kristine, a former medical student from the southern central Latvian city of Jekabpils, works at the Nevis Bank Inn hotel in Fort William.
She summed up her excitement about becoming a mother in two words – “strange” and “miracle”.
Viktor, a former warehouse man and fish factory worker, hails from the Latvian capital Riga, about 80 miles from Kristine’s home city.
He has worked for the fish farming operation Marine Harvest in Lochaber for several years.
He said it was “wonderful” to become a father.
“We’ll maybe have more children in one or two years’ time,” he said.
Speaking just a few hours after giving birth, Kristine joked: “Oh, I don’t think so – enough for now.”
The couple fell in love with Fort William, which is famed for its persistent rainfall – “despite the weather” – after meeting for the first time at a party in the town about three years ago.
Having worked separately in London and elsewhere in Britain over several years they eventually found their way there through friends who had spoken fondly of the place.
“We love it there. It’s home,” they said.
