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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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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Youngest Son's sixth form Prom

Well here we are another year on and it is the turn of our youngest son to attend his sixth form prom before leaving school for good and entering the big bad world. Here he is in full Scottish Formal dress with our Lurcher Tilly by his side. Very proud parents :-)
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Rain

Here I am sitting in the kitchen with the cat, looking out of the patio doors and watching the next band of rain approach. Today has been either sunny and bright or absolutely tipping down, both in equal measure. Its been one of those days were you just don't know what to do for the best as the weather is bound to change for the worst just as you embark on a venture. We were going to do the roof of the summerhouse, but then it rained and the wind built up with it. Then we went up to the stables with the idea that we would take the horse out for a hack during a break in the weather but, you guessed it, the heavens opened. We cleaned the horse out and left her in as the forecast was not good and went to a friends house for tea. Would you believe that from 3pm until 7pm it was bright and sunny, could have ridden after all! Now we are in having had tea and once again the rain is coming down like stair rods. The forecast for the week, rain, rain and more rain :-(
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