December Catchup

Another month, another set of pseudo-random snapshots. Feast your eyes on Louis' guitar recital, St Giles' Cathedral (for a choir Christmas concert), Louis after a Cubs 100 celebration, sunset on the canal, bleak scenes at Cammo, and a little taste of Christmas chez nous.

November Catchup

Another collection of unrelated snaps from November. Including reading to Lewis, a stroll up Corstorphine Hill with Catherine, a new Cub uniform for Louis, a sunny commute to CGI, and the (underwhelming) Street of Light, part of Edinburgh's Christmas.

Timber!

Louis jumps out of a tree up Corstorphine Hill.

October Catchup

Another photo miscellany, this time featuring another Parkrun, panoramas of Edinburgh from above Hillend by night and the castle esplanade by day, an apple jalousie made from our own apples, Louis being a half-time hero at Tynecastle, a couple of cakes, and Louis skateboarding on the drive.

A Glowing Report

Holly's S1 Settling Report came out today and it's a cracker. We're very proud. Zoom in for maximum enjoyment.

September Catchup

Nothing specific to report in September, so here's a selection of snaps. In among there is some sky, our ex-greenhouse, an interesting mirror, Louis doing a Parkrun, a birthday celebration (with another cake by Holly) and some other bits & pieces.

Platform One

Now that we've moved into our new bedroom, the old one gets a lick of paint and a platform bed, and Holly has a proper room of her own since the first time since we moved in 2008!

On a side note, this is my 1000th family blog post. The first one looked like this.

Big School

First day of S1 at the Royal High School!

Return to Hound Point

As the school holidays drew to a close, we got a sunny day so went back to Hound Point to splash about in the oily waters of the Forth and dig holes in the sand. The under-construction Queensferry Crossing lurked quietly in the background.

Pentland Camping

A wee adventure. I took Louis and his pal Will up to Harlaw Reservoir for a bit of wild camping. The boys camped in a tent, I slept under a tarp.

We gathered wood, built a fire, and made "cowboy stew" - baked beans, sausages and potatoes - on it. Ignoring the dog walkers and other campers, and the fact that we were half a mile from the car park, we could just about convince ourselves we were out in the wilderness.

The boys played Top Trumps into the wee small hours, and in the morning we built the fire back up and had boiled eggs, bacon and tortillas for breakfast. Great fun.

Best Yet?

Holly made a cake for Eloise's birthday. Astonishing.

London Calling

What with all the building work and things going on, we took a brief "staycation" with Pat & John in Essex. We did the usual pottering around Saffron Walden, Louis got hot and bothered playing cricket with his pal Jed, Holy rowed us around the lake at Hatfield Forest, but the main event was the Ride London Freecycle. This is an annual event where they close the roads to make an 8-mile loop around central London, taking in many of the main tourist sites. Something like 70,000 people rode it this year, and it felt like it. It's a good vibe though, very easy going and every corner you turn there's another London landmark. We topped off the last day with the final iteration of my 50th birthday, a track taster session at the Olympic Velodrome. What a cracking thing it was too, highly recommended if you ever get the chance!

Camping Recce

We had long-standing plan for me to take Louis and a pal wild camping up the Pentlands. I took a wee spin up there on the bike to look for likely spots, this was near Bonaly Reservoir (where I saw people swimming - brrrrr) but I think there are better spots around Harlaw.

Building Works July 20

Getting close now. Holly gives us the tour.

Foxlake Again

Another visit to Foxlake in honour of Holly's birthday, and a beautiful day for it.

Building Works July 12

It's all about the doors.

Berry Ride

We rode to Craigie's, picked raspberries, and made jam.

Building Works July 7

Cedar cladding is going in under the roof, and the roughcasting (aka harling) is done on the dormer.

Pedal in the Park

Another day with the children, this time we rode all the way over Corstorphine Hill so that Holly could spend the Pets At Home voucher she got for her birthday. Then we went and hung out in Gyle Park and played on the exercise machines. Louis had a go on *everyone's* bike. It's really time for them both to go up a size.

Goodbye Buckie

We don't use the greenhouse. It's overgrown and suffering from having footballs kicked at it all the time. I can't be bothered taking it down so it's going on Gumtree.

Bread and Bangers at the Beach

A few days into the summer holidays, and time for Dad's Wildlife Club. We did the usual trip to our now familiar haunt at Dalmeny, and cooked bread (courtesy of Holly) and sausages on an open fire. Nothing better.

Building Works July 5

A new window, more plasterboard, and plastering begins!

Wet and Wild

It's the summer holidays! Kiddies were dully booked into Earth Calling's summer Wildlife Clubs. True to form for the Scottish summer, the heavens opened and they got cold, wet and filthy. Mission accomplished!

Burning July

I guess we must have had a garden barbecue in honour of Holly and Grandma's birthdays...

The Long Goodbye

Holly's last full day at D Mains Primary School, the P7s were piped around the school by Ms Someone-Whose-Name-I-Forget, then finished the morning signing each other's yearbooks and hoodies. It was emotional.

At least I think it was, I was in Wales at the time for work:

Let's Dance

On a damp, chilly summer's evening in June, the P7s gathered to celebrate their "graduation" to high school with a dance, variously known as the "leavers' dance", the "prom", and the "qually". Best chums Holly, Fearne and Eloise met outside for a photo-op and were duly photo-bombed by Will, parents were allowed in at the beginning but then had to leave the P7s to their own devices.

Let's Dance

On a damp, chilly summer's evening in June, the P7s gathered to celebrate their "graduation" to high school with a dance, variously known as the "leavers' dance", the "prom", and the "qually". Best chums Holly, Fearne and Eloise met outside for a photo-op and were duly photo-bombed by Will, parents were allowed in at the beginning but then had to leave the P7s to their own devices.

Glittering Prize

It's Holly's last week of Primary School. As part of the festivities, there was a P7 prizegiving and show, at which Holly was awarded the award for "Achievement in Serving The Community" prize for her work with Free Cakes for Kids. Very proud parents.

A Baker's Dozen?

We had a wee party in honour of Holly's 12th birthday, for which she made her own cake. The day started well enough, with the kiddies helping prepare kindling for the barbecue in lovely sunshine. By the time Louis and I had been to his rugby club end-of-term bash, the rain had begun. Like a dutiful dad I barbecued in the drizzle under a suspended tarp...

Building Works 26 June

In which the tiling continues, the dormer gets its breathable membrane, and the plasterboard goes up inside, pretty much defining the final shape of the interior.

Gimme Shelter

Holly was attending Skye's birthday party in Portobello, at which Skye unfortunately broke her wrist. Louis and I, oblivious to this drama, popped in to the nearby(ish) Carberry Estate to do a bit of shelter building and fire starting. Except the fire wouldn't start. Ah well.

Sports Day

Holly and Louis first sports day together - on the same team too - was also their last. We has mixed weather and multiple postponements, and the usual selection of made-up sports. The *real* racing was cancelled, which was a shame because Louis had been selected to represent his class in the sprint.

Paw Patrol

Holly's latest cake for Free Cakes for Kids. I may have helped a little with the badge.

Building Works June 23

Further developments. The insulation, Velux windows and plasterboard are in place on the inside, new slates on the outside.

Free Beer

I won some free Paolozzi beer from the Edinburgh Beer Factory via The List. Cheers!

Portable Cloud

Davidsons Mains Children's Gala

Building Works June 15

In which the interior starts to take shape, and the new bathroom windaes go in.

Grownup Wildlife Club

Helen's birthday present to me was the opportunity to spend a weekend sleeping on the ground with Backwoods Survival School, foraging for food, making fire by rubbing sticks together, and cooking on said fire. This was that weekend. What I didn't know was that we'd also learn to field prepare fish, pigeon and rabbit, make our own bow drill (for aforementioned fire starting) and build small animal traps. We also built our own shelters, which held together beautifully even when it rained (a little bit). It was a splendid weekend of being generally grubby and at one with nature, thinking of nothing but the basic needs of shelter, warmth and food. Simple pleasures, safe in the knowledge that a bath and a decent meal are only a train journey away...

Pop!

Helen and I went to a "sparking wine tasting" run by Lothian Wine School. We tried Champagne, Cava,  and Prosecco as well as a crémant, a rosé and a very odd sparkling red. The best was this Chapel Down, an English sparkling wine. Apparently we have climate change to thank for that.

Building Works June 8

The old roof was finally "knocked through," giving our first sense of how big the new interior space was going to be. Also removed the old kitchen skylight and put in the first of the electrics.

Building Works June 3

In which the external structure is completed and gets a breathable membrane...

Player of the Week - Again

Building Works May 28

More woodwork, the dormer is taking shape and the wooden cladding is on. We're starting to get a sense of the interior shape but it's still pretty far from weatherproof.

Player of the Week

COTY

The Ringtones sang at the North East heats of the Choir of The Year competition at The Sage in Gateshead. It's a magnificent venue. Mixed feelings about competitive singing apart, we had a grand time anyway.

Building Works May 21

We have steel, which means that the exterior framework is taking shape.

Serenade

Louis and I got out our instruments and sang a wee song for Helen. I forget what it was but it can't have had more than a couple of chords :-)

Father and Son