Sunday 31 July 2011

Crochet wristband

Here we have my first attempt at a piece of crochet which became something. A wristband/friendship band using running chain stitch followed by three rows of doubles. Its a bit of a mess where the join occurs but I will sort that out on the next one hopefully :-)
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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Nice Wee Hack

Tuesday 26th July and its a lovely day. Up early to let the dog out and put the sourdough bread in the oven and then back to bed with a cup of tea. Breakfast of fresh bread, homemade lemon curd and homemade muesli, yum! Then its off to Girvan to pick up some chopped up whiskey barrels (used as kindling in the winter) and walk the dog on the beach. Its a glorious morning with nobody about and we have the beach to ourselves (apart from the tractor cleaning the beach) the dog had a great time. Back home, drop the wood and then its up to the stable to meet the owner of the horse we share. A very nice lady and a very productive meeting. Home again for lunch and then back up the stable for a hack on Luce and Ace with our friend Suzanne who rides her horse, Mickie. A lovely ride around the country roads and through Annbank with an unexpected canter thrown in on a large playing field at the back of Annbank (eek!). We get back to the stable and hose the horses off, A) to clean the sweat off and B) to cool them down, they love it. Cleaned, fed and watered w put the horses back to their stables or in Luce's case the field and head home. Still got to unload the whiskey wood (I rope no. 2 son in on this job) and then finally relax, Aaaah! Tea a sit down in the sun (very welcome) and later bed, a perfect day.
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Sunday 17 July 2011

Infuriating Woman

How is it that women know men better than we know ourselves? Today the Memsahib got out a box set of Downton Abbey, series one. I explained that I would not be watching it as I had far better things to do with my time. Indeed that is how the afternoon started, I was over the garage rocking out with my guitar to ZZ top one minute and the next I am ensconced on the sofa watching Downton Abbey......and thoroughly enjoying it, bugger!
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Boys off on Travels

It is done, as we hoped, the boys are going to travel and see something of the world before they join in the merry-go -round of life. On a pleasant day at the end of June we, as a family (a rare occurrence these days) went up to Glasgow and into Trailfinders to enquire about tickets to New Zealand for the boys later in the year. Having ascertained the price we retired to a lovely old fashioned tea shop for tea and sandwiches to decide on what course of action to follow. The boys (with a little push from the Memsahib and I) decide to strike while the iron is hot and book their tickets there and then. They will leave for NZ in November and return? (If they don't have a fantabulous job which keeps them there!) In March when they will take up their Lifeguard jobs again for the summer in UK before possibly travelling again, who knows what will happen if they get the bug. Our plan is to go out and visit them in January :-) so we get to travel a bit as well, fantastic.
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T in the Park

Thursday 7th July and the boys set off on their first life adventure by going to T in the Park together for the full three days camping. Much fun was had I am assured and some great bands seen. Not a little beer consumed I dare say and when they returned home a large amount of washing to be done as everything was covered in mud, including the sleeping bags and the inside of their wellies. Tickets are already booked for next year :-) I also participated in T in the Park by watching Coldplay on the main stage...........from the comfort of my sofa ;-)
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Gold D of E Presentation

Monday 4th July (a bit out of order I know but better late than never) and we are off to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh to see the Duke of Edinburgh as Perran gets presented with his Gold award. It could not be a better day, the sun is shining with hardly a cloud in sight. The Duke, when he emerges comes around and speaks to the young people, Including our son and his best friend Keiran, and then speaks with the parents. He amazes me with his energy and quick wit, he appears to have a few words for everyone, for a man of 90 years of age we are all very impressed. After the presentation its time for some photos and then off in to Edinburgh for a meal with friends before driving back down the road to Ayr having had a thoroughly good day.
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Saturday 16 July 2011

Horse Riding at the Beach

Friday 15th July and the Memsahib and I are offered the opportunity to take one of the horses we are riding to the beach. Suzanne, one of the girls from the stable, has a horse box and volunteered to take us down with her and her horse 'Mickie'. We arrive at the beach and realize that Ace (our horse) has not been to a busy beach before, his ears prick up and his eye's look wild and I'm thinking is this a good idea? Anyway, Suzanne calms me down and says to get on Ace and let's ride on to the beach. He actually does remarkably well and we end up trotting and cantering quite nicely up and down the beach. Eventually the word 'gallop' is broached, gulp! I'm not sure that I am ready for that. Once again Suzanne gives a lesson on how to apply the brakes when the horse is going quickly and before I lose my nerve we are off, galloping down the beach. It is exhilarating and a little scary and at one point I thought I would fall, but I relaxed again and applied the breaks and Ace came to a halt. The Memsahib gets on and has a go, and she also ends up galloping and trotting along the beach. Hopefully Ace is the horse to build the Memsahibs confidence. Back to the lorry and back to the stable for a hose down and a good tea for the horses, Ace has earnt his tea tonight.
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