MAMILs In The Mist

Keith, Andrew, Keith's pal Chris and myself took a wee spin into the Bathgate Alps this weekend; a wee fifty-mile leg stretcher in biblical rain. It's a great wee playground, with every corner bringing another hill. Strange how there seem to be more ups than downs though.

Dunbar

Ah, Dunbar. Sunniest town in Scotland, allegedly. It sure wasn't when we visited with the Stirlings on the day of the European Elections. We started at the rather splendid pool, then moved on to our usual haunt at the John Muir Country Park. Unsurprisingly - given the rather heavy rain - we had the place to ourselves. Later on, with the rain easing, we found a path that led along the back of East Links Family Park which - entertainingly - allowed us to both wave to paying customers on the petit train and electrocute snails on the electric fence. Stand easy RSPCA, they survived...

Photo Bombs and Balsam Bashing

Cheese!

Another update from Holly's wildlife club. This time the venues are Cammo (featuring more biblical weather) and Corstorphine Hill, the latter involving the kids helping out with clearing the invasive Himalayan Balsam before it has the chance to flower.

Eggstreme Sports

Easter Sunday, and the day began with the kiddies scavenging around the garden for the chocolatey goodies deposited by Helen the Easter Bunny. Later on, we met up with the Millars chez Lismore for a wander up Arthur's Seat (and a spot of egg-rolling) and dinner at the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston. All very jolly it was too.

What's a Kelpie Anyway?

May day holiday, and Grandma & Papa took Holly and Louis to see the Kelpies, a pair of new equine sculptures at the heart of the Helix, which also sits on the John Muir Way. You can also see them from the M9 but visiting on foot means you can go inside!

Just Hanging Around

A wee walk up Corstorphine Hill, following the perimiter of the zoo to see what exotic animals we can spot, and pausing at the "scaffolding tree" for a spot of dangling. We had an excellent afternoon out, and saw zebras, antelopes, monkeys and strange human-like creatures who had paid good money to get into the zoo and were ambling aimlessly about like caged animals. Pleasingly, Louis announced that Corstorphine Hill was one of his favourite places, and they both certainly had a great time running, jumping, balancing and indeed hanging around.

When I'm Cleaning Skylights

Our kitchen sklylight was recently - how can I put this - defiled by what appeared to be a bird with an especially upset stomach. In a wee nod to Victorian times, we sent the children up onto the roof to clean it. Hey, they have to earn their pocket money somehow! We devised a cunning route via the garage roof which required them to cross the yawning chasm between it and the kitchen on a shoogly ladder. And they both did it.