All the Ones

This year we will experience 4 unusual dates

• 1/1/11
• 1/11/11
• 11/1/11
• 11/11/11

If you then take the last two digits of the year you were born and add them to the age you will be this year it will equal 111.

Boys in Blue

Yesterday Perth Round Table visited the Fire Station in Perth.  This year it is the 40th anniversary of the station and it has recently had a £20M refit. 

The station also has the longest pole drop in Scotland as the building is a 2 storey one.

The furthest away engine is brand new and costs a staggering £0.5M At the moment is not yet in service as the guys are being trained on the unit. It is a multi purpose vehicle, able to fight fires and also has a high reach platform however a lot of the fire fighters are not keen on it as it has a few design flaws.

Freezing Facts

How cold was December 2010?

• At Heathrow it was the coldes December since records began in 1948.
• At a place called Rothamsted, 26 miles from Heathrow it wat the 4th coldest since 1878 (1879, 1890, 1981 being colder.)
• In central England as a whole it was the 2nd coldest on record since 1772 – the coldest being 1890.
• In Scotland it was the coldest month since February 1947.

In the last 100 years the UK has only experienced five colder months;

• January 1940
• February 1947
• January 1963
• February 1963
• February 1986

So yes December 2010 was cold and we have snow again!

Five Star Accommodation

Over the weekend we had more snow again.  The boys decided that they wanted to make a snow cave which was extended to have an additional room connected by a tunnel.  Cameron and Ali wanted to sleep in it.

Airport Adventure

The other day Alasdair and some of his friends managed to get a trip round Perth Airport where students practise repairing aeroplanes. 

All the boys had a fantastic time exploring and climbing on board all the aircraft in the hanger.

This one and the helicopter were Ali’s favourites.

 

 

Christmas 2010

Christmas Day opening presents.

No Sign of The Titanic

This was taken on Christmas Eve by Sarah and Cameron.  Last year everyone got excited when the River Tay froze.  This year it has happened again with even more dramatic affect.

Survival in the Snow

 

At the start of all the bad weather Alasdair decided he wanted to cook his lunch outside.  He build himself a fire and cooked eggs from our chickens. 

Even in this weather our chickens are still producing 5 eggs per day, although they are not impressed with the snow.

Christmas Cutbacks

As times get harder everyone is looking to save money.  Our Chief Exec posted the latest cutback on his blog.

The global economic downturn requires the North Pole Branch of S. Claus (International) Ltd to look for improved, more competitive, operating procedures. With immediate effect, the following economic measures are to be implemented in the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ Dept.

1. The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the forecast cash crop, will be replaced by a plastic decorative plant providing considerable savings in maintenance.
   
2. Two turtle doves are a duplication of resource, and simply cannot be justified. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. One position is, therefore, eliminated.
   
3. The French hens will be replaced by English beef.
   
4. The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated calling system, with a ‘call waiting’ option. An analysis is under way to determine whom the birds have been calling, how often, and how long they talked.
   
5. The five golden rings have been put on hold by our Investment Management Advisers. Maintaining a profile based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals and gilts appears to be the way forward.
   
6. Higher numbers are generally considered excessive. Three geese will be released, two token swans retained. The milking operation will be automated, freeing eight maids to join the e-milking team. The high cost of maintaining hereditary peers, plus the expense of international air travel and its impact on the environment, has promoted the Job Evaluation Unit to suggest replacing this group with ten pogo sticks. To maximise the brand value of the dancing subsidiary, we shall bring Pan’s People out of retirement.
   
7. Availing ourselves of operational synergies, the pipers and drummers will be replaced by an i-Pod.

Though as yet incomplete, early studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is grossly inefficient. Optimum efficiency and improved service levels can be achieved by making all deliveries on the same day.

In order to remain competitive in a difficult working environment, further cuts cannot be ruled out. If this should be necessary, the Board will request Management to scrutinise the ‘Snow White Division’ to establish whether seven dwarfs are actually required.

007 Below

I think the cold weather is finally getting to all of us.  Today I have been reading my Chief Execs Blog and I thought I would share it with you.

On a journey to work he was thinking about the cold weather coming from Russia and started coming up with some cold weather James Bond film puns.

Here are a few of the best ones.

• Grit and let dry
• Live and let Slide
• Quantum of Solid-ice
• Coldeneye
• Frostopussy
• Dry another day
• On Her Majesty’s Slippery Surface
• Cars-in-snow Royale

I know they are bad.

Snowy North

Found this photo on the web today.  No wonder the country is grinding to a halt. I think the ministers in London might be doing a little more if they lived in Edinburgh.

The Forth Road Bridge has been closed a couple of times this week.  (The first time in its history.)  Edinburgh airport has been closed and for over a week no trains have been leaving Edinburgh.

Last night it was –12oC in Perth.

Snow Snow and more Snow

We have had snow everyday for over a week. The temperature has fallen to –18 and the boys schools were closed all last week. They have had a great time playing in the snow but Sarah had several difficult journeys to work and even had a slept over at work on Thursday night.

Children In Need

Last weekend the Cubs and Scouts had a sleep over at St Matthews Church hall.  This was to raise money for Children In Need. 

The children could take teddy bears to the sleepover and Cameron dressed his up as Pudsey in cub uniform.

 

On Saturday we were all suffering from lack of sleep as we had only gone to bed at 2:30am.

In total just under £500 was raised for this good cause.

Chicken Update

Today we had our first bit of snow.  I don’t think our new chickens were that impressed.  However, we are now back in business with the egg production, three of our new chickens are laying.  Scotch eggs were made last week and baking is on the cards for this weekend.  Yum yum.

Wine Tasting

One of the best turnouts we have ever had for Perth Round Table.  I have no idea why this was.  Maybe it was to do with the event – Wine Tasting.  Needless to say we did not have a spittoon.

Bonfire Building

 

Once again Perth Round Table hosted the Bonfire and Fireworks on the South Inch and again I was responsible for building the bonfire.  This year I certainly was feeling my age as I am not as strong as I used to be.

Unfortunately the weather was not that great which affected the amount of money we collected for local charities.  This years total was just under £6000.

Alasdair as a Bat

Sarah made Alasdair this bat outfit for his school halloween party.

Halloween

Tonight has been Alasdairs school Halloween Party.  I am on the left in this photo.

Apart from all the kids screaming the evening was great fun.

Fossil Finding

Yesterday we visited Charmouth in  Dorset.  Charmouth is part of ‘The Jurassic Coast’, England’s first Natural World Heritage Site. This 95 mile stretch of coastline between Exmouth in Devon and Studland in Dorset tells the story of 185 million years of Earth’s history. 

 

The boys were armed with Grandad’s hammers and chisels and set off looking for fossils.

We did have quite a bit of success. Finding mainly shells call Ammonites.  The picture below shows an example of what we found.

 

 

70 Years Young

Yesterday, 26th September 2010, my mother, Maureen Peach, celebrated her 70th birthday.  The whole family were there including her 6 grand children and her sons and partners.

Fly Fishing

 

On Saturday Cameron had his first fly fishing lesson and caught this 21b rainbow trout.

Silly Sports

On Saturday we were all invited to Rob & Laura’s BBQ.  Their house has a massive garden backing on the the River Tay.  They had arranged an afternoon of silly sports day activities including egg & spoon, three legged races and of course tug of war.  All the kids enjoyed themselves even the big ones!

Perth Races

Today Perth Race Course held a special meeting to celebrate the granting of the Royal Charter to Perth 800 years ago.  The last time the race course held a Saturday meeting was 8 years ago.  The event was a family day with jousting and falcon displays.

Knowing nothing about racing we rang Dad for some tips. Needless to say his horse kept coming 5th in a 6 horse race.  Eventually I got a winner on the 5th race and on the 6th race we backed every horse.  Alasdair was the winner and took home £30.

A New Beginning

Cameron started High School today.  It only seems like yesterday when I was taking his first day at primary school photograph.

Skiing in 26C

 

This was the boys first skiing lesson.  The dry slope was near Stirling

Scone Orchid Festival

 

The Earl of Mansfield is very keen on orchids.  Each year Scone Palace holds an orchid festival and exhibitors come as far away as Devon to the show. 

 

 

 

 

We have a few orchids of our own but not as gorgeous as these from the show or Sarah’s mothers.  We suggested that ours could go on holiday to Tiverton.

 

 

Catherine being buried

Isn’t it nice to have friendly nephews. This is what the boys did to Auntie Catherine on the beach at Exmouth.

Boys on the Beach

Boys playing on beach at Exmouth.  We are here with all of Sarah’s family.  It was Catherine’s first journey on a train and she enjoyed it.

Evening Out in Exeter

We are visiting Sarah’s family in Tiverton and are out for a meal.  Cameron has just polished off an adults fish and chips, while Alasdair has eaten an adults linguine.  Nanny is now worried about looking after the boys for the next week.

We went to the Twisted Oak pub and the food was excellent.  Ali especially liked his chocolate brownie covered in ice cream.

Perth 800

Today it was Armed forces day in Perth.  This was part of Perth’s 800 year celebration.  It consisted of over 1000 service personnel along with 6 pipe bands marching through the streets of Perth.  Also in the parade was other organisations like the cubs and scouts. 

Pictured above is 22nd St Matthews Scout Group.  Alasdair joined the parade and Prince Edward took the salute.  Cameron was at his end of school prize giving service so could not take part.

The final part of the Perth 800 Celebrations was on Sunday in the concert hall.  We went to see a concert which consisted of local talent.  Big brass bands, singers and dancers all performed.