Swanston

After Zorbing, we went for a wander around the Swanston area, and lovely it was too. We met a friendly dog, some highland coos (not pictured) and some chickens, finishing up at The Steading for a light refreshment.

Zorbing

The staycation rolls on (see what I did there?) and today we went Zorbing up at Hillend with Rolling Haggis. Basically they put you in a big inflatable ball with a load of water and roll you down the hill, with hilarious results, at least for the occupants of the ball.

Green

I think we may need to clean the pool.

Mmm, Gizzard

The Ringtones choir sang at soprano Maria's birthday party. There were labels on the food to help us navigate the various Ghanaian specialities on offer. Gizzard sounded particularly appealing (and was indeed v tasty).

Some Like It Hot

We now have a double oven. I fitted it myself. I am the king of DIY :-)

Return to Foxlake

A dreich day at Foxlake - it's always been sunny when we went before. Usual shenanigans, I didn't bother taking any "proper" pictures as (a) it was raining and (b) they'd be the same as before :-)

Greenback Dollar

We had been scheduled in for a bit of Pony Trekking as part of the ongoing staycation, but owing to some kind of booking cockup we found ourselves adrift and at a loose end in deepest Perthshire. Or was it Clackmannanshire?

We headed for Dollar, and took a stroll up leafy, verdant Dollar Glen to Castle Campbell. We admired the castle from the outside owing to the admission fee, hard-earned cash which would have been (and indeed was) better spent on milshakes and hot chocolate in the Cafe des Fleurs in Dollar.

A wee map of the walk is here.

Messing About in Boats

Next day on our summer staycation, we had a Clip'n'Climb session at Ratho to start with. It's fun climbing on a variety of odd and interestingly shaped walls and obstacles, suspended (and lowered) by a clever auto-belay device, removing the need for a fallible (and in my case, strong and heavy) human at the other end of the rope.

After that, a visit to the Bridge 8 Hub, which does watersports rentals on the canal. We started with two-seat Canadian canoes, then moved to Kayaks. At that point, Helen and I withdrew to dry land and let the kids loose on the massive paddleboard, and looked on as - inevitably - they both ended up in the water. Good times, and no sign of cholera, typhoid or dysentery. So far...

There's even a wee map of our waterborne outing here.

Going Ape

We had a long-standing promise to Louis to take him to Go Ape when he was 10. Helen's meticulously planned summer "staycation" was the ideal opportunity, so off we went to Glentress.

It's all slightly scary - it's high, and the kids are responsible for clipping themselves in and out - but my word, the sensation as you step off the side of a tree to be whisked to the other side of the valley on what suddenly seems a very this piece of wire!

New Balls Please

A morning of (free!) tennis at Inverleith Park, and then hose-based high jinks with the visiting Sokoloff-Gipsons.

Alumnus

Scott (I think) sent me these. Small images, but this is the programme from my graduation ceremony in 1987.

  

30 years?!? Really?

Hound Sausages

Another summer's day, another outing with the Stirlings, and yet another visit to Hound Point for sandy frolics, setting fires and cooking sausages. We tried round the corner this time, in the lee of the headland, and it certainly reduced the inevitable wind chill on what was otherwise a glorious bluebird day.

It's nice to see the teenagers relaxing and digging holes in the sand like wee girls again...

Faceache

I'm not sure why, but Louis seems to have got hold of my phone and has been practising selfies...

Gutted Haddie

We took a stroll up Arthur's Seat via the Gutted Haddie. Holly was in full teenager mode but relaxed into it.

Birthday Preparations

Some top-secret preparations for a certain birthday this year. Don't tell anyone! :-)

Burntisland

After the Chain Walk we went to the pool at Burntisland - it has flumes and waves. There was a bit of goofing around outside, and I went for a wander while the kiddies were sploshing around.

I'm not sure why they all decided to wear their pyjama onesies.

Chain Reaction

Another day out, this time with a brace of Stirlings and a plan. We headed over to Elie to do the Chain Walk. It was *just* scary and difficult enough for a bunch of 10-13 year olds, and a grand time was had by all. We had one twisted ankle, but we all survived and were able to return via the clifftop.

Excitingly, the weather was clear enough that we could see the Hopetoun Monument from yesterday!

Hopetoun

Summer hols, and I had a day off work with the kiddies, including one bonus Stirling. Faced with a dreich day and a lack of concrete plans, we set off in a pseudo-random direction (I asked the kids which way to turn at each junction) and ended up in deepest East Lothian. There, on the top of a hill, was the Hopetoun Monument. We walked up to it, lo and behold it was open and climbable. The stairs were steep and narrow and not a little scary, and the viewing platform more than somewhat vertiginous, but it was well worth the visit.

Following the same principle after lunch, we ended up at Longniddry Bents where the kids clambered on the World War 2 anti-tank blocks and worked on their album cover poses.

Sleepout

Fairies at the bottom of the garden? No, just Holly and Louis sleeping out. Holly in the hammock, Louis in the bivvy bag. No tent required! They lasted the whole night too...

Forth Bridge

We went for a walk across the Forth Road Bridge to have a look at the still-under-construction Queensferry Crossing. It was a bit cold and blowy so only Louis and I made it all the way across to get this view of the new bridge from the viewpoint on the Fife side.

Lucky Thirteen

Holly's birthday, and her first day as - gulp - a teenager. We had the family round for a small celebration, the pool is still out and Holly made full use.