Lonach Gathering

We went to the Lonach Gathering at Strathdon today, it was a fine mix of Tweed, Tartan & English accents.

The weather was that true Scottish wet rain but we still had a good time.

When we arrived and began walking to the field the march of the clansmen was walking passed, this was some sight and certainly would have been an intimidating sight back in the day.

Rob & Oliver watching the march of the clansmen

The clansmen

We arrived at the main ring and off course in true smart style headed straight for the coffee & cake stand. yummy! After some much needed refreshments it was straight onto the charity and fundraising stalls. Rob played the strathdon primary school bottle stall and won a bottle of black label johnny walker whiskey, nice for £1.

We then watched pipe bands, highland dancing, Medium & Heavy weight highland games in the main ring which were good.

Oliver wondering where all the noise was coming from

proof i was there.

At about 1pm the clansmen walk into the main ring and parade round, miraculously Oliver managed to sleep through this in the back carrier.

All got a little too much for the wee guy.

We decided to make a move after this as the weather was getting a bit colder and Oliver would

need fed when he woke.

Rob & Oliver trying to remember where they parked the car!

We drove back to Rob's parents and had lunch with them.

xcx

Creepy Crawlies

Well, i'm not sure if we can say Oliver is "on the move" but he is certainly trying. Rob and i filmed him yesterday and as you will see he moves in his own "special" way!

He seems much more at ease on his feet then on all fours, i think because his legs are so strong. Rob calls him T Rex - small pathetic arms and seriously strong legs.

Can you see the resemblance?

xcx

Summertime fun

At the begining of the summer we bought oliver a swing for the garden, he seems to really love it and finds great amusement in it.

I took this video of him the other day, I was hanging out the washing and he was quite happy to sit in his swing.

Yesterday we had my friend Linda's two girls here as she is back to work, we had a lovely day. They arrived about 7.30am, Oliver had already had his breakfast so the girls played with him while i got myself ready. We walked millie and nipped to the shops.

When we got back Oliver went down for his nap, so i set the girls a task of making boats to float on our afternoon bike ride to the river. The girls did ever so well and even made me and Oliver a boat each.

Once we had all had lunch, (bbq chicken, cous cous & salad), we got ourselves sorted and onto our bikes. We cycled down to the river and donned our water shoes. Once in the river we set the four boats off. The first race was won by Jenna, Oliver's grounded itself on the banking.

Jenna & Leah with the boats

For the second Race we upped the stakes and decided to try out the rapids. On this occasion Olivers bought rose to the challenge and left the others standing. Both jenna & Leahs boats met a watery fate and were lost in the white water of the deveron rapids!

Boats heading for the rapids

The girls decided they didn't mind getting wet and played in the river until they were soaked, Oliver and i sat and dried out on the rug.

Oliver watching the girls in the deveron

On our cycle home we stopped off a Rizzas ice cream/sweetie shop for some "crap sweets" or penny sweets as most people know them. After carefully selecting their mixture we headed on home to watch a movie while oliver took a nap.

For tea i left the girls in charge of making us all pizza's, including one for mum when she got back from work.
We had a really lovely day and Oliver thoroughly enjoyed the company.

xcx

p.s good luck to Jenna for tomorrow - she is starting at the high school!

Olivers first camping trip

We are just back from a camping trip to Loch Morlich, when i say we, i mean, Oliver, me & the dog. Camping with a 9 1/2 month baby on your own is well, lets just say, not for the faint hearted.

Millie & Oliver in our tent

Oliver seemed to think the airbed was fun.

We arrived at the site on wednesday lunch time and pitched our tent, Robs parents were staying in their beast of a campervan, his sister sara, her husband joe and 4 kids were staying in their caravan, Roof tent & campervan. His sister Alison, husband karl & 3 children were in their tent and his younger sister lib and her boyfriend James were also camping.

Sadly the weather was not great, wednesday was spend settling in and as the weather brightened a few drinks and games on hte beach at the side of the loch.

The weather overnight was horrendous and i don't think many of us (apart from Oliver) slept, the rain was very heavy and i was getting worried that the tent might not survive the night! However it did and we woke up to more rain on thursday morning.

Oliver slept in a tent inside a tent, this was fantastic. I used a camping chair with a tie round highchair, this worked wonders and oliver seemed comfy enough. As always my little man did me proud.

Oliver asleep in his travel tent

Im ready for dinner mummy

After getting ourselves ready, Rob's mum, Sara and 3 of her children along with Oliver and myself went for a walk around the loch. There weather was not great but we all enjoyed it, especially the 3 dogs who were in and out of the water.

Thursday afternoon i went out on Joe's canadian canoe, this was very cool, really enjoyed this.

Thursday night we all had dinner and a few drinks fllowed by an early night as we were all exhausted from the night before.

Friday we woke again to yet more rain, so we took shelter in sara and joes caravan.

Oliver chillaxing in the caravan listening to tunes

It began to look a little more promising, we decided to go on a bike ride into Aviemore. Sara, 3 of her children and myself and oliver all set off for aviemore. There is a fantastic off road path the whole 7 miles which was fantastic. After an ice cream we began to cycle back, Alison and karl and their children decided they would cycle back so they were dropped off and we were driven back to the site.

Let the cycling begin

Hit the road mummy im ready

Somewhere between aviemore and Loch morlich

We made it, now where is the ice cream


Friday afternoon we all had a game of rounders on the beach, followed by a few drinks and a bbq. I had promised the children i would go swim in the loch, so at 9.30pm in the rain, myself, Eleanor, Megan & Tom all went swimming. It was freezing but very good fun, luckily the hot showers were only a short run away!

Running into the freezing loch at 9.30pm

So much for it being warm Megan!

My little stove for warming up Olivers food.

xcx

high tea at the Grouse inn

Today we had beautiful weather, Rob, oliver, millie and i went up to the cabrach for a lovely walk. It was really nice and we all enjoyed the fresh air. We decided to contine you up the cabrach road towards Dufftown and stopped at the Grouse inn. It was like stepping back in time, the tea room / bar is open from april to 1st october and is well worth a visit. We had high tea and it was scrummy. We went for a little look in the bar and the range of whiskey's are extensive, a very impressive sight, probably lost on us as we are not whiskey fans.

xcx

Daddy's home!

Rob is on his way home.

This to many may not be a very exciting concept but in our family its the highlight of the month. Rob works offshore so is away two weeks out of four, so the tuesday he comes back is very very very exciting.

This summer has been particularly difficult as Rob has been doing two weeks away, one week at home. He is actually only home for five days this trip so we are going to make the most of it!

xcx