Amy Led Us Astray - 3/1/2009

This winter has been a good one for hibernation, though we have managed to get out a few times. After my family left for home, we visited Amy and Bram in Fife. Amy wanted to go for a bike ride, work on the cottage and go snowboarding all in the same weekend. We managed two of the three, not bad, but sadly the snowboarding got punted to another weekend because the cycling made Brian's knee go ping.

The cycle was a mixture of on and off road, starting at the Cottage of Doom and wandering uphill to the forest tracks nearby. Officially it was Bram who led us astray, choosing the forest track downhill, but it was Amy who led us into the pastures. Brian's knee went ping as we bounced across the first frozen pasture. The sheep were not pleased to see us and eventually made a grumpy show of running away. Eventually we cycled/hiked across to meet up with the road again. Unfortunately, we were far enough away that Brian's knee would have to cope with finishing the ride in some form.

The roads led us to official cycle paths at Strathmiglo. We climbed another hill with Brian's knee protesting and cycled through more forest tracks to arrive at the joy that is the Pillars of Hercules organic farm and cafe.

A stop at the cafe meant cycling home in the dark. Good fortune that I brought my lights, because no one else had planned that far ahead. I led with the headlight and I think Bram brought up the rear with the back light. In between, nothing. Brian said he stayed as close as he could because he couldn't see anything otherwise.

Much to Amy's dismay, we slowly backed out of the snowboarding trip. It didn't seem sensible for Brian to make his knee worse and I didn't feel right dragging him up north only to sit him in the lodge all day. Another time.

Although I think it was officially Bram who chose the path, Amy led us astray.

Amy was first across the sheep pasture.

Though it's hard to tell what they are doing, the sheep were running away from us

Though none of us were prepared for off road, bumpy terrain did nothing to deter Amy on her racing bike

Brian admired his whisky.

Hogmanay 2008/9 - Stonehaven with the Family 31/12/2008 - 1/1/2009

My parents and my brother came to Scotland for Christmas and Hogmanay (New Year) instead of the annual Christmas in a Car road trip. I have to say I appreciated the change. They arrived to Edinburgh midday on Christmas eve by way of Manchester. We helped them through the jetlag with a walk along the canal to the city centre with a few breaks in pubs along the way. The next day, we had our Christmas dinner at the pub around the corner, guaranteeing that there would be no complaining for the lack of meat in the meal. We also took everybody for a wander along the Water of Leith walkway, just getting home before dark. On the 27th, the family left ridiculously early to spend a couple of days in Ireland and returned the evening of the 29th. The 30th was my brother's birthday, so we went for funny pizza in Leith, where Alena could join us, too.

The morning of 31 December, we did a much shorter version of Christmas in a car and drove to Stonehaven. We had kicked around ideas of stops to make along the way and instead just decided to visit Stonehaven's Dunottar Castle if we arrived before sunset. Only just.

Brian's Mum prepared Christmas dinner for all of us, with help from Mandy who also made the veggie dish for us.

After dinner and much lounging, all of us headed to the town centre for the Fireballs. As with the previous year, we picked up Jill along the way, though she didn't start any fights or make any new friends this year. As a consequence, our vantage point wasn't as good as last year. It probably worked out for the best as I don't think Mom was keen to be face to face with a fireball. Brian shared around his hipflask for those who were interested to partake.

We had about 40 minutes in the town centre, split between waiting for and then watching the fireballs. Afterwards, we attempted to visit Brian's friend's grandmother Helen but she was too busy partying. Instead, we headed back to Brian's Mum's house for soup. After soup, Brian and I wandered down to Mandy's for sleep. The boys were playing with the Wii Fit so we got a couple of shots at that before bed. Brian was really good at the hula hoop game -- you can tell on the video.

New Year's morning, we wandered back up the hill by way of Helen's. All of us gathered for lunch at Brian's Mum's house. She sent us home with many of the leftovers, as she and Ken were away for a few days soon after we left. We made our way home in the afternoon, arriving home in pitch dark. The next morning, my family left for their home far too early in the morning. Hopefully, they, too, enjoyed the change from Christmas in a Car.

Brian was very pleased with his Oor Wullie annual

Brian's Mum and Ken

Dad looks wide awake as my brother attempts to read Oor Wullie.

The Fireballs in Stonehaven are an annual tradition. Lit at midnight, swung up and down the High Street and then chucked into the harbour.

Brian prepares for his Strictly Come Dancing audition... aka., Adventures in Wii Fit.

A family portrait