Hello, is there anybody there?

It’s a while since I’ve been here, but I thought I’d pop along and see if there is anybody out there?

I may well pop along and post the odd item that is probably not related to walking, just to keep things ticking along and separate and to help clear my mind. It does get very messy in there from time to time and I should sort through it from time to time.

At this time, we are nearing the end of the second week of the summer school holidays and my mother has just left to return home after her stay with us. I’m sorry, but I’m glad to have my home back. We can relax and be ourselves, be normal, fight, laugh, love and cry, just as we like. The relief. The peace!

After the disaster of the car breaking down on the way back from our recent trip to Edinburgh and David having to waste so much leave over the last week, it doesn’t look like we’ll be going away this year. I’m gutted. Our eldest, Rhiannon, won’t join us anymore any way, but I still really look forward to our family camping trip and it’s not fair that we’ll have to give it a miss this year. Unless we win the lottery or have some other unexpected windfall, we’ll just have to wait.

Having said that, David and I will still be getting out in a tent. We are supervising another Duke of Edinburgh Expedition next week, the Rangers attached to the Guide unit I help at are doing their Silver Qualifier. Unfortunately, it’s around the Rothiemurchus area and we will be midgied to death. I_can’t_wait.

Oh well, laters!!

Relief

I finally managed to force myself into the garden this morning, after I'd left the children at school. Didn't achieve much. Was attacked by a couple of spiders and as my spider catchers were all absent, (not that they catch outdoor spiders admittedly, but I find their presence reassuring. Someone to hear my yelp.) I just couldn't bear it and had to give up. Pathetic, I know, but it's the thought that one could somehow get inside my glove or crawl up my sleeve, euuw, no can't think about it.

Anyway, saw my first pair of swifts this year, to join the handful of swallows and house martins. Hopefully, these are the ones that travelled first class, the others will be here soon.

"Spring is here,
The grass is ris,
I wonder where the birdies is.
The bird is on the wing,
But that's absurd,
The wing is on the bird!"

Being brave

We really are so lucky. The children asked if they could go for a walk today, by themselves and I was able to say yes! They took a picnic and walked along the cycle path to the next village, about two and a half miles away. There's a playpark there, so they ate their picnic and played a while before they came home. They were away for nearly three hours altogether. And they were precisely that, all together! It's quite unusual for them to want to be together by choice, so that made a nice change.

I did have the security of knowing Rhiannon had a mobile phone with her, David's old one, but they also have friends in the village, so there was somewhere safe to go to if needed, which is reassuring.

But we really are so lucky to be able to allow our children the kind of freedom we had as children. A rare thing indeed.

Stalking

I get really fed up with cats and rooks in my garden. I had to give up on the vegetable and herb patches because the cats kept using it as their toilet and the rooks kept digging it up! I still regularly shoo them away when I spot them.

Yesterday I saw a black cat or a rook through the etched glass in the back porch door, (which was why I was unsure as to which it was exactly) so I quietly fetched the key to the door and placed it as quietly as I could in the lock.

"I'm going to have to be quick, unlocking then opening the door," I thought to myself, so I took a deep breath, turned the key and as soon as it clicked, snatched open the door to find...


...a black bin liner on the path.

Well disguised.

'Tis cold

I thought it would be nice, well, the done thing really, to wash and dry the ski suit Ciara borrowed for her recent ski trip.

So I did. I washed it today with the technical stuff I have (had, finished it) to do my outdoor kit and popped it on the line outside to drip off the worst of the wet before hanging it indoors to dry.

Just chipped off the icicles when I brought it back inside. Doh!

Doing my bit

I'm going to do my bit and take part in a sponsored walk with a few friends along the Dava Way to raise funds for Ciara's old Brownie pack. Ciara is a Guide now, but she still goes to Brownies as a Pack Leader. (Sounds grand, she's a great help with a difficult Brownie I gather!)

David and I walked the Dava Way about eighteen months ago as the second day of a two day backpacking trip, so I know I can complete the walk and in fact it should be easier because I will not be carrying a 24lb pack!

I considered it would good training for the Big Walk.

We did a training walk on Saturday, "Just 12 miles!" said Angela (Fluffy Owl) enthusiastically, "Varied landscape, it'll be fun!"

It was actually good fun, but nearer 14 miles and the first six and a half were up hill... We lost Brown Owl enroute, but she hadn't been well for a couple of weeks, so we forgave her that. Her husband picked her up from Angela's house where we enjoyed our lunch and especially the hot soup, tea and flapjack she provided as a treat.

It was good and I'm really looking forward to our next walk. It'll probably take more to recover from the Scrabble night we're having here on Friday!

Killing time

So, the rash (and it's twin on his back) is looking increasingly suspicious, so I've been a responsible parent and kept Aedan off school so that I can take him to the Doctor for comfirmation. (I don't want to be responsible for triggering an outbreak of chicken pox at school, might not be popular with some...)

Unfortunately, there wasn't an appointment until 3.30pm, which brings all sorts of other issues, like I don't want to take all four children for Aedan's appointment and David is at work! Not to mention that I'm rubbish at waiting. I want to know now, is he contagious, or in plain English, can he go back to school!

So Conall's coming with us and the girl's are sorted and I've been killing time. What's the best way for me to occupy myself? Why, baking of course!

I have three loaves of wholemeal bread rising, the batter for individual mini hot christmas cake (sort of) puddings for tonight chilling in the fridge, fruit soaking in tea for a fruit loaf and cookie dough made into sausage shapes wrapped and in the freezer freezing. Talk about industrious!

I feel good, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

Well, for a short while anyway. Here's hoping I'm wrong about the rash.

UPDATE

Yep, it's shingles. Painkillers if desired, (he's not in a lot of pain) anti-virals to take off the edge of the attack and at least a week off school, until the blisters are scabbed and dried.

Deepest joy.

What we did at Christmas

Went on a couple of short walks and saw these:

Mum, Ciara and the boys, from behind.

A frozen seed head.

Some common seals.

A female red-breasted Merganser.

We also had these in the garden:

Long-tailed tits.

Please excuse the layout, someone around here's having problems. Again. Ahem...

So, anyway, the wildlife side of things was quite good.

Ciara takes a turn

Through school, Ciara has been attending Forest School, run by a local charity Wild Things, on a Friday morning. On Thursday, she told me;
"Last week at Forest School, we were talking about condensation."
Pause.
"No, conservation."

David and I were showing a little affection yesterday. Ciara said;
"Are you two rubbing noses? That's what emus do."
"I think you mean eskimos, Ciara."
("Innuits." from the stroppy teen in the corner.)

Ciara was drawing in the lounge.

Ciara: "I can't draw holly."

Rhiannon: "Who's Holly?"

Ciara: "A holly leaf."

I think Ciara is set to follow in my footsteps and make people smile. Usually without meaning to.

I actually got round to visiting the doctor on Friday. Ciara's skin has always had a tendency to be dry, but it has recently galloped out of control and become quite inflamed in places. She's inherited another one of my things. Eczema. Of course, now we have a car, visiting the doctor is much easier.

(Oh, didn't I mention that?)

Anyway, saw a lovely lady doctor who prescribed lots of creams, a small tube for the really, really inflamed bits, a larger tube for the more general, but less inflamed bits and a huge dispenser of the weirdest gel like stuff I've ever seen! So, morning and night, Ciara is a slippery little critter and I can't turn the tap on afterwards.... There is already a huge improvement, which is pleasing and I dare say a huge relief to poor Ciara, my only concern is that her skin doesn't become reliant upon the creams and forget how to be normal again, or maybe this is just in my head.

Oh, you want to know about the car?

It was David's fault. He happened to mention we could get a seven-seater in our price range now. My response?

"I want that one."

So after a few phone calls, a few days waiting, a little toing and froing, we have had a car now for twelve days.

And I haven't told my mum yet so it'll be a nice surprise at Christmas when we all turn up at the airport in our own car to collect her.

And I haven't told my sister so she doesn't have to keep my secret too, (here's hoping she doesn't visit the blog too often these days...)

And to say I was excited last week would be a little understatement! We went to the solicitors with stuff to be witnessed, we went to the dump, we went shopping, we went for a walk to practice my compass reading skills.

We know how to live!

I was able to take Rhiannon to the orthodontist more easily too and fit in more shopping. I hate shopping, but it is nice not to be restricted by the bus timetable. Anyway, the teeth are doing really well, Mr Buchanan is ready to write to our dentist to take out a couple of teeth ready for the next appliance. Oh goody. Still, it's moving on much quicker than expected, so should be all over soon. Well, within the next year or two.

Is everybody ready for Christmas? Ours is low key as usual, we don't go in for an overly commercial Christmas. With Ciara's birthday on the 17th, we don't tend to put our tree and decorations up until the next day, so her birthday doesn't get swamped and when we do, Christmas is inside the house, with a nativity scene and subtle decorations, so the meaning isn't lost. Shame about the rest of the street.

It's like Blackpool illuminations meets Las Vegas.

From the 30th November.

Lovely.

Maybe I'm getting grumpy in my old age.

It's been a while

I've been up to bits and pieces, just little things.

Walking isn't going well. I've barely done any! Or atleast, that's what it feels like. I'm going out tomorrow with Fluffy Owl from Ciara's Brownies, aka Angela, so I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully, it may become a regular thing, which would be nice.

The children have been back at school for a week after their two week "Tatty holidays". (Traditionally, the local children would go into the fields for two weeks to harvest potatoes.) We actually did something this holiday, instead of festering back at the ranch. Mum was directing "On Golden Pond" at Louth Playgoers, so we went down to watch. All of us. We flew down. I hate flying. Hate, hate, hate. Don't ask me why, I have no idea, I've never had a bad experience, I just don't like it.

So why did we have to be on the flight diverted into Edinburgh for an ill passenger? Why? We left Edinburgh half an hour after we should have arrived at Luton, so the plan of being less tired and taking no longer than driving all the way was scuppered. I think tiredness, not eating properly, driving through the dark, (so she couldn't see the bends coming) and general excitement lead to Ciara redecorating Grandma's newly decorated hallway on arrival. Excellent. Knows how to make an entrance that one!

Saw the play, very good, children loved the whole experience, which was the general idea. Spent a couple of days down there, then made our way back to Luton with mum aswell. We all flew back up, (no delays this time) and managed to catch all the buses back home with no problems, except it was a bit chilly.

Didn't get out much while mum was here, the weather wasn't really 'user friendly', which was a shame, but the children really enjoyed having her undivided attention! So, to Tuesday. I'd hired a car from Monday teatime to Tuesday teatime, so I could take mum to the airport and be home in time for Conall coming out of school. What takes two hours by bus, four for a return trip, takes a little over an hour by car. So long as you don't have to do it twice in one day.

Like I did.

It never snows when the national weather forecasts it. Never.

It never snows in October. Never.

Unless mum's catching a flight that is, obviously.

It snowed. Thick white stuff. The stuff that settles.

The airport closed, briefly. So briefly you wouldn't have noticed they'd stopped flying. Except for one jet. The one that diverted from Birmingham to Edinburgh and didn't come on to Inverness. The one that should've been going back to Birmingham and taking mum with it.

So, after I'd got back home, just put on the kettle, I get a phone call, "Can you come and fetch me?".

Then we find out it's another two days before there's another flight! So that adds an extra bit of excitement to rebooking a hire car, extra food to find and so it went on...

Ah well. She got to Birmingham Thursday, so all's well etc.

Has your half term been quite so exciting?

Just checking

Just been re-reading last year's posts at this time, to check how organised I am. Apparently I'm two weeks ahead, which is good.

Didn't remember I'd had the same problem last year as this with breadcrumbs, had obviously forgotten by the time we came to eat the puds, (not surprising I guess) so at least I know that noone will notice they're wholemeal!

The only technical hitch I had this time was, making the full amount of mixture, I didn't have a bowl big enough. So, what did I do? I thought laterally, that's what I did. I used a large, plastic cake box instead! Genius.

Wasn't the puds I had the near disaster with this year. I found the chopped nuts just after I'd put the cake in the oven, so I whipped it out again and stirred them in! No harm done.

And another

Ok, so I've started yet another blog, this time for a Challenge I've set myself. And David, he's coming too! Anyway, it's there, from the beginning of the planning onwards. Me, David, walking the hills and valleys of Scotland carrying a backpack each. If you're interested, pop along. If not, pop by here and I promise I won't mention it again!

Ow!

I'm really, really, really stupid at times. No, honestly, this wasn't a blonde moment, or a senile moment or any other kind of moment. Just a stupid one.

I chopped chillies before I realised it was time I took my contact lenses out.

Ow.

Ow, ow, ow, ow....

Stupid, stupid girl!

Not like I haven't been wearing contact lenses and cooking for long enough.

Pssst.

Talking of stupid, don't tell anyone, but I've found the battery charger...

Lost. Gone!

You may remember I got a new digital SLR camera for my recent 40th birthday, (yes, I'm still going on about it) hoping your memory is better than mine, that is.

Well, I was lucky to be able to download those photographs from our holiday. Because I appear to have lost the battery charger.

That's a bit pants! (And somewhat dim...)

I'm sure I vaguely remember putting it somewhere safe. Somewhere. I'm hoping it'll turn up. David thinks it may have accidentally fallen in the bin. Accidentally! You know, just hopped in whilst nobody was looking.

Anyway, it's lost. Gone.

So the little love has looked online and bought me a new one. It arrived very promptly and I was able to recharge, download and print off to my little heart's desire.

(I've given the new battery charger to hubby to put in a safe place. Well away from me!)

Holiday 2008

While we were staying at Ullapool, we went to the Geology Park. From what I can gather, this is an area of outstanding geological interest,

rather than full of "fun rides", (which I did know before we went!) and there are various walks with facts set into the footpaths using different signs and some interactive areas for the children.

While we were in Gairloch, we went on a boat trip with Gairloch Marine Life Cruise, which we do every year. This year, along with the usual guillemot, gannet, kittiwake, fulmar, arctic skua, razorbill, shag, cormorant, grey seal, red-throated diver and harbour porpoise, (which we've seen once before)
we were priveledged enough to see minke whale and puffin.

Could say, we had a whale of a time!

Sorry.

A taster of my new camera

A pair of roe deer, spotted on the way to the hairdresser.
A longhorn beetle (of some variety...)

Artistic pic of shelduck feathers!

You can't see me

I am an optical illusion. I always thought that would be a neat trick!

We are on holiday, in Gairloch, as usual.

Yes we are.

We are!

If I say it often enough I'll convince myself...

It has to be said, when one chooses to camp in a tent, one accepts the fact that one is somewhat at the mercy of the weather. We normally cope with whatever is thrown at us quite easily and are rewarded with the occasional warm, dry, still day.

Not this year! The plan was five nights in Ullapool, followed by seven in Gairloch. We had three nights in Ullapool before we decided surviving was no fun, it would be better to strike camp, (hark at me, 'strike' camp!) in a controlled manner at a time of our choosing, unlike the Dutch family that made a hurried retreat to their car at 1am. So we did. Until a huge gust broke two tent poles, just as we took the tent pegs out.

Pants.

Oh well, we'd decided to go home for a couple of days till it blew through, so en-route stopped off at a little place we know to get the poles fixed. While we were at home, popped to the Boat of Garten RSPB centre to see the osprey chicks just before they fledged. Lovely.

Thursday we set off for Gairloch, as planned. As David finished off pitching the tent, I popped down to the Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre that we visit annually to book a boat trip. Had spaces in 45 mins or 1pm the next day, when we knew it was forecast calm but wet. We opted for the earlier trip. Bit of a rush, but we all made it and had a real treat, harbour porpoise, minke whale and puffin, along with gannets, guillemots, razorbill, shags, cormorants, kittiwakes, fulmar, skua, seals, the list goes on. Fabulous. If you go up that way, well worth the visit!

We knew the winds were due to get up again on Saturday with some really high gusts, so we had already decided to cut our trip short and go home again while the going was good. So, we are at home with two hire cars to potter around and entertain ourselves! We'd done the things we'd wanted to do, the important trips, so I'm not too disappointed and it's actually quite nice to have cars at home and be able to do things around here for a change. We're going to the cinema!

I have photographs. I will download them. Soon.

Everytime

I can't help myself. It's happened ever since I was a child. Whenever I hear "Two Little Boys" by Rolf Harris, I cry. Every time.

In the kitchen this morning, getting the childrens' breakfast before they went to Gardening Club, (sounds so wholesome for a Saturday morning, before 9 am too!) and it came on the radio. Next thing I know, I'm crying my eyes out!

Every time.

Children were laughing at me, I might add. Little treasures.

Guilty!

Okay, so as there were no trousers, with or without pockets and the only long sleeved top was mine, I guess I was the culprit for the tissue in the wash. It's a very pretty shade of pink now, because it was a pink/red wash.

I cannot, however, claim to have had a small piece of polystyrene up my sleeve with the tissue, so I have no idea how that got into the washing machine!

The previous wash was coats, adult coats only, and I checked the pockets of those. (You just never know, there maybe something more interesting than a pine cone in an adult's coat pocket, like a five pound note or a lost winning lottery ticket...)

Hey ho, "It'th a mythtery, Oh it'th a mythtery..."

It's today!!

Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday dear me,
Happy birthday to me!

I was born 40 years ago today, which makes me 40 years old today!

(I love birthdays, can you tell?)

I got the falconry and weekend away, as you already know. David also had our wedding video transferred to DVD, which made me shed a tear, and I got a new digital SLR camera, with memory card and a proper camera bag!

He'd already made a note of the OU photography course for me too, for which I can get a grant towards, yey!

You should see the Sacher Torte he's made me, and you will, if I work out how to use the camera anytime soon.

My inlaws managed to restrain themselves from jewellery and have given me (when my cards arrive) a gift voucher from Graham Tiso, an outdoors store, so I can get myself a fab pair of leather walking boots, something I've wanted for a long time. Excellent!

Oh yes, 40 is good.