Ski Racer

Drove home from Oban today past a very white Aonach Mor and a very white Cairngorm, unfortunately the Lecht was not quite so white.  A certain ski racer was very excited and can't wait to get out there and try out her new ski racing gear!

Friday

Friday was back to gales and horizontal rain, so it was a case of lighting the stove, getting out the new Christmas books and Julie settled down to some very welcome baking which the girls and I were happy to test the results and give some very positive feedback on her orange and spice cake!

Boxing Day

The weather has been pretty wild over the last week but finally on Thursday the weather abated a little bit and allowed us out for a walk.  We borrowed our neighbors dogs, Monty and Charlie (its amazing how more willing girls are to go walking if they have a dog to pull them along!) and walked up the track to the Degnish peninsula and up past the Wishing Tree and on to the tops.  The views across Seil and over to the Garvellachs and on to Mull were fantastic.

And we even managed to avoid the odd shower!

Merry Christmas!

Before

During

After

And a photo of Isobel's special goalkeeping socks, James you have to answer the question honestly!! LOL

And Isobel being Isobel, what more could you need than a good book and a well known bear!

And what better dress to spend Christmas Day in than your Giraffe or Panda onesy!

All followed up by Christmas lunch.

Christmas Eve

Well, here we are over in Oban, enjoying what has now become our traditional Christmas Eve.  It is an amazingly wild day, there is a very strong storm surge and the tide has not gone out all day, even at what was supposedly low water the tide was as high as a normal spring tide and high tide was a full 2m higher than it should have been.  The waves at Seaview were impressive.

We started the day with a trip into Oban to the chocolate factory for a hot chocolate and cakes and then a trip to Waterstones for a few last books!

The rest of the day was spent at home followed by a trip back into Oban for a meal at Piazza.  The bay was packed solid with Cal Mac ferries, none of which have been able to get out all day, bad luck for people trying to get back to Mull and the other Isles.

Christmas Concert

We have just come home from the annual Robert Gordons Christmas Concert, which was, as ever, very impressive.  Ellie and Isobel were starring in the Intermediate Concert Band, Isobel on tenor sax and Ellie in first Clarinets, both on the right hand side of the platform, Ellie in the front row at third from  right, Isobel in the second row up just above Ellie's right shoulder.

Apologies for the person in front interrupting somewhat!!

The first tune is "Baby Its Cold Outside", the second is "A Christmas March".  Enjoy!

Nanny's 80'th

 Last weekend was Margaret's 80th birthday so the whole family got together in Mumbles for a celebratory meal.  Many thanks must go to Gareth who did the vast majority of the organisation including organizing the cake, the balloons etc

We flew down on Friday night then drove down to Mumbles Saturday morning.  I was given a tour of the girls favourite haunts in Mumbles, with ice cream purchased at Joe's followed by lunch on the pier followed by the obligatory air hockey family championship (mum and dad prevailed!) and some entertainment on the slot machines!

Everyone got together for a family meal on Saturday evening then Sunday morning we went to Langlands bay for a walk and the obligatory Sunday morning coffee.

Saturday Hockey

Two good results from Saturday Hockey.  Ellie's team beat local rivals Albyne 3-2 in a very close and competitive game.  Ellie made some good saves and didn't stand much chance with the two goals that did get past her.

Isobel's team won 4-0 against Albyne in a game that was very one-sided.  Isobel stood around and did precisely nothing while her defence was rock solid in front of her.

"Billy No Mates" Isobel at one end

Whilst all the action was at the other end!

Gordon Ski Racer

Well we now have one very happy Ellie!  After many phonecalls she finally went up to Alford dry slope and had a try out for Gordon Skiers and was accepted!  She has now done two Sunday morning training sessions with them at the dry slope and has thoroughly enjoyed them.

Last week was the second hand sale at the club and Ellie is now the proud owner of a Gordon Skiers suit!

Isobel meantime is equally happy after the results of her maths and engineering science tests.  She scored 91% in her maths coming top of her class, and 48/51 in engineering science, again top of the class.  One thinks that Aidan (he who was heard to call Isobel a dumb blond!) may live to regret the comment!

Trying To Compete with Benny Goodman

Dad has been trying to drive the family mad (and succeeding) by endeavouring to master "Bach Goes To Town" on his clarinet.  Here is what the late great Benny Goodman sounded like on this Youtube clip.

We will spare you my version until it is has been perfected just a little more.

Stob Coire Nan Lochan, Glencoe

The forecast for Tuesday was excellent so we headed up to Glencoe.  Ellie had finally been persuaded to come for a walk up a munro so we decided to head up into the Lost Valley and then up to the col between Stob Coire Nan Lochan and Bidean Nam Bian.

eather was clear with cloud at just over 3000ft.  Walked up into the lost valley were the sound of the stags roaring was eerie.  We came across a stag and group of hinds just above the path as it contoured up to the head of the valley.

We took the right hand branch up to Stob Coire Nan Lochan which was seriously eroded.  We got to just below the col but had to turn round as we were running out of time.  Never the less, we almost made our target and a good day was had by all.

Crarae Gardens

Last week saw us on half term holidays and over in Oban.  Weather wise a great week with only one really wet day.

After a chill out day on Saturday, involving a lot of baking followed by an evening in front of "Strictly" we managed to lever Julie and Isobel out of bed at a reasonable hour and headed round to Crarae Gardens near Inveraray.  Weather was beautiful and the gardens autumn colours did not dissappoint.  We walked round just about every path in the place.  One particular highlight was the a patch of Sorbus Vilmorinii that was solid with pink berries.

The views from the top of the garden were breathtaking in their clarity.  The views up the glen were also very beautiful although the autumn colours were probably not quite at their best.

Busy Weekend

It was a  busy weekend.  Started off with an early start on Saturday, Ellie leaving Aberdeen at 7AM  for an away match at Aberlour.  Promoted to playing half a match for the A team so another step forward.  She kept a clean sheet and made 3 good saves in a 1-0 win so a good result and a happy Ellie.

Isobel meantime had a slightly more laid back start to the day.  She was playing for the S3 A Team in a home match against Gordonstoun. A tight first half ended 2-2 but they got their act together in the second half to win 6-2.

Looking South from Derry Cairngorm

Sunday was Isobels turn to have an early morning.  She was heading off to the Cairngorms with the hill walking club, leaving Aberdeen at 7.30AM.  They went into Derry Cairngorm from Lynn of Dee,  They cycled in to Derry Lodge then went up the ridge to Carn Crom and then along to Derry Cairngorm, then dropping down to Loch Etchachan and then out past the Hutchison Memorial hut and out along Glen Derry.

Loch Etchachan

Hutchison Memorial Hut

A rather exhausted girl returned to Aberdeen at 7pm!

Meanwhile the stay at homes had a lovely autumnal walk along the don and then back through the forest.  A good haul of conkers was obtained on the way!!

Oh Dear!!

Well hockey didn't go quite so well this week. The girls came up against George Watsons College Edinburgh.   Isobel was in goal for the S3 A team down in Edinburgh and unfortunately they were missing 2 of their best players in one of the toughest fixtures of the season.  The end result?  9-0 to Watsons! The good news?  Isobel was man of the match as it might have been a lot worse without all her saves!  She certainly got lots of practice.

Ellie meanwhile was keeping goal for the S1 B team, she was playing one half and the other keeper was playing the second half.  They lost 2-0 but Ellie made some good saves so overall happy!  The P7s B team were without a goalkeeper so Ellie volunteered to fill in for them so she got a full game with them as well and again only 2 goals went in which against the opposition was not bad.

Had a lovely autumnal walk along the River Don on Sunday including a short stop to collect some conkers, still a little small at present but the trees were absolutely loaded, as were the hazel trees.

Founders Weekend

The girls had a long weekend off this weekend, starting Thursday lunchtime so we headed off to Oban straight from school, arriving just in time for fish and chips!  Friday started with the obligatory trip to the chocolate factory, Isobel had the chocolate and cheesecake brownie, Ellie was on the blueberry muffin and I had the orange and cinnamon cake.

Friday afternoon was good so we headed out for some blackberry picking which was highly successful, resulting in an excellent blackberry and apple crumble made by Isobel along with a rather fine blackberry and apple cake.

Saturday's weather was pretty grim so it was out to Piazza for some food in the evening.