Football Crazy, Football Mad

In week 2 of the holidays Joe had footie training in Ullapool every afternoon. It was run by our local professional team, Ross County, who play in Dingwall, 45 miles away. Dave's told him it's ok to support them and regularly reminds Joe he can support who he wants as long as it's not Rangers or Celtic! Last year Joe took part in a similar training programme with Celtic and at the end they were giving out scarves, water bottles and calendars (to brainwash them), Dave was thrilled when Joe marched up to him after he'd received his "goodies" and said at the top of his voice "Dad, it's all I love Celtic stuff...BUT I DON'T"! As you can see from the photo the two coaches, Davie and Tom, were more than happy to get their pictures taken, particularly Tom on the right.

Tattie Holidays

In week 1 we had a wee tour through the north of England with Auntie Grace, highlights of which were a quick trip across the causeway to Holy Island before the tide came in, a swordfighting contest at Alnwick Castle (Millie fluked it), a trot along Hadrian's Wall in the dark, a photo opp at our own wee toon,

- The Royal Family -

- Mhairi's treehouse -

- Oor Toon -

a whirl round Durham cathedral, a tour of York (National Railway Museum was Finlay's fave), an afternoon at Eureka! in Halifax, a day at the temple in Preston, and seven hours of white knuckling at Blackpool.

- Joe's castle -

We stayed a couple of nights in youth hostels (a bit of a disaster as Finlay wouldn't settle for excitement), a couple of nights at the temple with Grandma and Grandad, and a night at Auntie Bessie and Uncle Peter's, which was nice because we got to know Richard and Carol and their kids, Will and Thomas, who are some distant number of cousin.

On the way home we stopped in Edinburgh to take the kids to the theatre for a show called "One Small Step", then had a night at Granny's and a night at Grandma's, which just left enough time for me to get scalped and Christine to get fleeced buying Mhairi a new pair of boots for school (the cause of some minutes of contention, of which I had repented till I saw the toes worn right through after less than a week of school).

- Fin's behaviour scheme -

Some more pictures

- Ullapool Hill -

- Cairngorm Mountain Railway -

Here's a few pictures of some things we've been doing over the last few weeks. We took the boys up Ullapool Hill when Mhairi was at Brownies, we all went to Cairngorm Mountain Railway and tied that in with a bike ride one weekend, took the boys rock climbing at Rhue and went for a walk to Rogie Falls on the way home from church.

- Rhue Lighthouse -

- Rogie Falls -

When we're helping we're happy

Dave decided he would help me out by doing a wee bit of ironing, and Fin thought this seemed like a better option than going to bed so went off to get his wee ironing board, iron and his shirt too. It's a bonding moment that I'm glad i caught on camera. I love my boys.

Jury Service

I recently received a letter which most people dread coming through the door. A jury citation for Inverness High Court. My first reaction was to think of all the reasons I couldn't go like I have no childcare, what if the accused comes to get me on the way home, etc. Then I started telling some friends about it and they would say things like "you should be excused because of childcare issues", "I don't know why they keep asking mums with young children to go, it's just not fair" and so I started feeling justified calling to say I couldn't find anyone to look after the children for me. However, Dave kept telling me I would probably enjoy it if I just got organised enough to get there and my conscience was telling me that I needed to exhaust all childcare possibilites before excusing myself. I reluctantly called another childminder who had space for Fin and visited her that week to make sure everything was ok. I attended for a couple of days before being released from Jury service by default, fortunately number 51 wasn't picked. I wouldn't exactly say I enjoyed it but felt i did my duty as a citizen of the country.

Harvest Time

When we moved to Ullapool we weren't very experienced in gardening (and we're still learning every day). We knew we had a wee apple tree but it never produced anything more than blossom which the birds seemed to really like and before we had much opportunity to enjoy it the birds had pecked it off. Last year we tried harder to protect it from the birds and the apple tree actualy produced a couple of apples which the birds, in retaliation, got to before us! This year there was a larger harvest than any other year. We are so proud of our little fruit tree so wanted to share our excitement with you. Unfortunately there are not enough apples to do much with but it is so rewarding being able to go out into the garden and pick an apple off of our own tree and eat it.

We have two more apple trees which don't appear to have grown since planting them three years ago and we have a two year old pear tree which hasn't produced any fruit either but we are thankful for the wee apple tree in our life!

It's a knockout

Dave and some friends took part in a It's a Knockout competition where teams of four compete against one another in various events and the team with the most points at the end wins. The team captain (second from the right) has entered a team every year for four years and takes it all quite seriously. My friend, on the right, was asked if she would take part and agreed after being told "it's only a few games with water". Little did she know what was really involved!

This is a picture of Rachel and Dave during the "water games"! Note Dave costume he was meant to be a school teacher attacked by one of his pupils with a pen, which is sticking out of his chest.

The runners up after the event. Dave then spent the next five minutes mud sliding, unfortunately there's no video of it.

Schools back

The kids started back at school this week. Mhairi starting primary 4, Joe primary 2, and Finlay nursery for 2 1/2 hours every morning. We made it to school ten minutes before the bell the first morning but it didn't last very long once the novelty had worn off. Only eight weeks 'til the next two week break!

Home again, Home again, Jigety Jig

We headed for home on Wednesday after managing to catch up on a bit more sleep in a comfy bed before school starts again next week. Joe had a wee shot of Auntie Grace's fencing sword and requested his picture be taken before handing it back. On the way home we stopped off at Bruar Falls. Dave was upset to see the health and safety nazis were ruining a lovely wee spot.

They are putting in an ugly new metal fence a couple of metres back from the edge of the gorge, so people can't look down into the river any more. Earlier this year he started writing a book which features a scene there, so he was also annoyed that now he'll have to rewrite it to incorporate the new layout. And on top of all that, he was wishing he had his swimmies on for a quick dip once the sun came out.

It didn't stop the kids having a great wee paddle though, and I managed to squeeze a wee bit of shopping in before heading North.

Au revoir l'Ecosse, Bonjour la France

After two weeks of rain and more forecast we decided to head to the continent for some much needed sun. We stayed in a place called Challans, which is on the west coast about an hour north of La Rochelle, and it was a well made decision. The weather was minging the first morning but good for the rest of the time.

Lots of fun stuff to do, like the velorail below.

We only took a few day trips because the kids were happiest hanging out by the pool at the campsite which also had a couple of water slides. I was able to read a couple of books while they played round the pool with dad!

This was our best day trip, a great theme park called Puy du Fou with lots of shows featuring falconry, Viking longboats, the 3 musketeers, Joan of Arc, and a full scale Roman arena complete with gladiators, chariot racing and Christian-munching lions.

It was exhausting trying to keep track of Fin, who kept wandering off, but well worth the 3,000 mile round trip! The only downer was seeing lots of extended families on the campsite, which made us wish the cousins stayed closer so we could spend more time together.

Whacky races!!!

Week 3 of the holidays was spent hanging out at Grandma's with Rowan and Auntie Jocky. The best day was undoubtedly our trip to Active Kids at Stanley. The kids all had a great time exploring the fort, but the highlight was the pedal go-karts. Finlay spent about four hours pedalling round and round, while I took great delight in ramming a snotty ten year old out of my way in true Schumacheresque style for claiming that his F1 video games gave him the skills to make him king of the track.

Fèis na h-Oige

At the start of the holidays Mhairi and Joe thought they were free from school for six weeks, only to be forced straight into a week-long event in Inverness called Fèis na h-Oige.

For Joe it meant four mornings of fun and games in Gaelic, while Mhairi got the opportunity, or at least that's the way we tell it, of five full days of tuition in tin whistle, fiddle and clarsach (harp), all taught in Gaelic.

By the end of the week she was shattered and even managed to slither her way out of playing the fiddle at the end of week ceilidh, but looking back she did have a good time in spite of all the travelling and the first week of freedom being stolen from her.

And she's now easier than ever to locate since you can always hear her tooting away on her whistle.

Inverlael Forest Cycle

After kitting the kids out in new cycle helmets (youth size due their unusually large crania), we took them on a cycle trip up a forest track just outside Ullapool. The first minute was great, then the first small hill appeared and Mhairi started complaining about being tired (2 minutes in). We jollied (and threatened) her along but soon came upon a six foot locked gate!

Dave (muscles bulging) managed to lift the bikes over and the kids had fun climbing over the gate, although I didn't like it much.

We managed another mile or two up into the forest before midges and Mhairi's moaning overpowered us, but it was all worth it for the freewheeling hurtle back down to the car park.

Mhallerina ballerina

Mhairi had her end of term ballet performance this week. She did really well and we're all very proud of her for trying so hard. Here's a picture of Mhairi in action.

Ready, Steady, Go

The following week was school sports day. Mhairi and Joe did really well in their races scooping up a 1st, 2nd & 3rd each. They competed in running, tattie and spoon, three legged and obstacle races. Christine took an admirable 2nd place in the mums' race and suffered for it for the next few days. Dave was unable to get out of school to compete in the dads' race so the other dads were glad to have a chance of winning for a change.

Happy 3rd Birthday Finlay

Finlay celebrated his birthday with a few friends coming over for a wee party. I had organised a few games but had forgotten how disinterested in games kids are at that age; all they wanted to do was play in seperate corners of the same room! Fin was excited to finally get round to his birthday after waiting patiently through almost everyone else's! Dave enjoyed his cake a few days later and thus marks the end of the birthday season in our home...until next year!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho It's up the hill we go

Dave was away working for four days at the beginning of June and so Christine took the kids up the hill just behind our house here in Ullapool. They had a great time chasing each other, rolling in the heather and singing songs. Christine only had to carry Fin a few times as he was desperate to keep up with his older siblings. We then went for a walk down by the river and for a play at the park. No-one stirred from their slumbers that night.

Happy 6th Birthday Joe

Joe was next in the birthday line and enjoyed opening his presents before school in the morning. He said he didn't want to take a birthday cake into school as it made the bad boys "badder"!

Dave had promised him a Dalek cake which he had seen on Blue Peter a few weeks before so Dave kept his promise and made it himself, (although Christine was struggling with that since she usually makes the birthday cakes). Joe went to Landmark Forest Theme Park with a friend for his birthday and after a few hours ended up at the Accident and Emergency Department of Raigmore Hospital after bumping his head in a helter skelter slide. He was discharged after an x-ray showed up clear.

Mhairi's baptism

Mhairi was baptised on Sunday 3rd June at Inverness Chapel. She organised the program herself and called round people to make the assignments. She was sad that more of her big family couldn't be there with her on her special baptism day. Joe said the opening prayer, Grandma Crook & Granny Jack gave talks, Uncle Oly witnessed, Auntie Grace played the piano & Big Chin & Baldy Grandad both assisted in giving her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Granny's talk included messages from her absent Aunties and Uncles from America. It was a very special day for our family and we're pleased that Mhairi chose to follow Heavenly Father's plan for her.