Ace Archer

Last night Cameron took part in his first archery competition.  He won his age group, best bullseye and also the overall competition

He has only been going to Perth Archery Club for a few weeks.

Christmas Chess

My parents bought me a chess set for Christmas.  It is a good job we have a large lounge.  Both Cameron and Alasdair like playing chess so have two good opponents.

Millie Peach

A couple of weeks ago we had a new member of the family join us.  Her name is Millie Peach and she is a black labrador.

Millie has settled in really well and at the moment we are on a bit of a road trip with her.  We called in at Wigan and now down in Devon. 

Winter Walk

Yesterday we had a great day walking in Glendoll. During the day we experience a quick snow shower.  Unfortunately we ran out of daylight to complete Mayar but we had an excellent day. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Loch Faskally

 

 

Had a brilliant day canoeing on Loch Faskally with Sarah and the boys.

 

(Click on the play button below to see a video of our day)

 

 

iTeam

Sometimes I come across funny pictures that I just love. I am sure you have all heard that there is no I in team.

I used to agree but did say there was a me if you look hard enough (tEaM).



Now an i has been spotted so I thought I would share this with you.

Cameron in the Cairngorms

Cameron and myself have just got back from a camping trip to the Cairngorms.

Alasdair is away with the scouts to Lochgoilhead so we decided to go camping ourselves.

The plan was to go up a couple of Munros but unfortunately the weather was poor so instead we just had a low level walk.

We spent the night camping at Derry Lodge.

Cairngorm Camping

Last weekend I was camping in the Cairngorms with Perth High School.  We were doing a Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training expedition.  Weather on the Sunday was fine but Saturday and especially Monday were a real challenge. 

3 C’s

Today I have been baking and decided to try a new 3 C’s recipe.  A chocolate cheese cake. 

The kitchen was really busy today. I also produced a chocolate sponge cake and chocolate brownies.  Just so I did not over dose with chocolate I also made an egg custard tart.  Good job our chickens are laying lots of eggs as 13 were used today.

Gardening The Easy Way

Today one of our friends Gordon asked for a hand in his garden.  He had hired a JCB to clear the bottom of the garden.  The advantages of the children playing on computer games and using joysticks came into its own today, as Cameron was better than both Gordon and myself. 

 

 

In no time he was digging holes, moving rubble and levelling the ground.

The One That Didn’t Get Away

We have recently been away in our caravan to Edzell. 

The campsite was in the middle of some woods and had a small course fishing pond which the boys loved.  Alasdair  and Cameron caught loads of fish but Sarah caught just the one which happened to be the largest but did not want to hold it. The fish was a mirror carp shown in the picture. 

 

 

Puddles in Perth

Today it has not stopped raining.  I think I need to invest in a boat or at least get the boys dinghy out of the attic.  Below is a picture of our local sports centre in Perth, complete with it’s new water feature.

Messing About On The River

This weekend was Alasdair's birthady and he wanted to go away for the weekend. We decided to take the caravan up to Blair Athol campsite and stayed the night.  The site had a river running along side it, which Alasdair spent most of the time messing about in it.



We enjoyed the site so much that we have booked to visit again as soon as the boys finished school. 
Why we were there the Athol Highland games were on, but the boys enjoyed playing in the river and riding their bikes so were not really interested in going to the games.
Blair Athol estate has its own private army which is the last private army in Europe.

Starwars Humour

I received this picture on Facebook and thought it was funny enough to post on my blog.  My children love Starwars but might not understand the joke as they probably won’t know the image on the left.  Sign that I am one of the oldies who used to tape top of the pops on a cassette.

Eggcellent Egg Custard

Alasdair was helping me with some egg custard the other day. Here is one he personalised for Mum.

Birthday Boy

Today Cameron became a teenager, so we thought we would go out to celebrate his birthday.  Where better to go than the first pub he ever visited, the Moulin Inn.  We took Cameron here for his first pint (milk) when he was just a few weeks old.  It is quite scary how time flies and the fact he is now 13 years old.

 

 

After lunch we went for a walk around Lock Faskally.

 

Chain Mail

Quite often I receive chain emails and do nothing with them.  This time I have decided to post it on facebook and on by blog sites.  I hope you appreciate this one as much as I did.  If you are able to spread this poem please do.

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO,
IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT,
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN  DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALISED THE FAMILIES,
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT..

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, 
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.."

Christmas At Crathes

Crathes Castle which is close to Banchory in Aberdeenshire had a Christmas open day.  As members of the National Trust for Scotland we had a great day out.  Santa was there with his reindeer from the Cairngorm National Park.  Each room within the castle had actors who were dressed up as famous fictional characters such as Cinderella, Dick Wittington and Captain Hook.

Remembrance Day

Last Sunday the boys were taking part in the Cubs and Scouts Remembrance Service at St Matthews Church.  Alasdair was carrying the flag for the Cubs.  The flag bearers formed a guard of honour outside the church.  There was also a parade taking place which passed infront of the church.

Coffee Cups

Last weekend it was the Cubs and Scouts Coffee Morning.  This is an annual event to raise funds for the Scout Group.  As always I spent the morning in the the kitchen drying all the coffee cups.  The Group managed to raise over £1,100 towards their funds.