An Cala

It is prime rhododendron season over here in Argyll so we went over to An Cala garden in Ellenabeich and were not disappointed with the show of primulas, azaleas and rhododendrons.

And all this followed by lunch at the Oyster Bar in Ellenabeich.  A fine way to spend the Bank Holiday!

Ardmaddy Castle

Went for a walk round Ardmaddy garden yesterday.  Looking absolutely spectacular and beautifully kept.  Here are just a few photos. The weather was a bit overcast but it still looked very spectacular.  As can be seen, Ellie has taken up her father's habit of photographing every rhododendron in sight!

New Sailing Season

First weekend back after the Easter hols (Easter Weekend) was the start of the sailing season at Peterhead. There was an excellent turnout and 3 good races in a light breeze.  We had two excellent starts in the first and thrid races giving us two wins but got caught up in the mellee in the second race and had to go back as we were forced the wrong side of the start mark, given we gave everyone a head start a third was not a bad result.  Weather, as the photographs show, was fantastic.

The next weekend was better, three cracking starts in pole position netter 3 wins, even my crew with her high standards thought that was OK although it didn't stop a little mutiny over using the gennaker, she was for using it, the skipper had sussed out that on the short legs you lost more time putting it up and down than you gained by having it up!  It took the use of the gennaker in the second race to convince her!!

Easter Baking

And the reason for all the aforementioned exercise is all the baking!  In this family if you did not exercise you would soon become very fat!!

Ellie's LOL Cake

Isobels Red Velvet Chocolate Cake

Julie's Home Made Salmon En Croute, complete With Fishes On Top

Easdale Island

Friday saw us heading over to Easdale for a walk, some stone skimming and some lunch at the Puffer bar.  The primroses on the hill were fabulous, a pale yellow carpet.  The ex-world champion was on good form and clearly preparing for another tilt at the world title now she is in the under 15 category!

Lunch at the puffer was as ever excellent.

Evening Kayaking

Laid Back Kayaking

Tuesday Saw a lovely evening and Isobel and I decided to head out for a Kayak, tied was flooding and it was a southerly wind so we headed south down Seil Sound to get the benefit of an easy paddle back.  We went round into Balvicar Bay and then down to the point at Ardmaddy before heading back.

Glencoe Skiing Over Easter

Thanks to the fantastic winter there was till loads of snow at Glencoe over the Easter Hols and Ellie was not to be denied her skiing.  We headed up to Glencoe on both the Monday and the Thursday, Monday wasn't great with very flat light but Thursday was great.  Only problem was trying to keep pace with my daughter.  I thought my skiing had improved over the winter thanks to taking Ellie every Sunday, but clearly not half as much as Ellie's had improved, especially when we got onto the steeper stuff.  The role of me encouraging Ellie down the steep sections was suddenly reversed!

Can't Beat Hot Chocolate and A Sausage Bun

Easter Hols

Sorry, been a bit quiet on here lately, a lot to do with a combination of busy at work and busy at home!  So anyway, here's a quick catch up.  We will start off with the Easter Hols.  They started on the Saturday for Ellie and I and the Sunday for Isobel and Julie as they were staying behind in Aberdeen so that Isobel could keep goal in two matches for Inverurie Ladies hockey as there normal keeper was injured.  A mixed couple of results for them with a win against Ellon and a loss to Aberdeen Ladies in a physical and bad tempered match.

Meanwhile Ellie and I came over to the cottage on the Saturday.  Sunday saw some mixed weather but we headed down to Arduaine for a walk round the garden.  Here are a few photos.

Spring Concert

Great evening yesterday, the Robert Gordon's Spring Concert.  The array of talent was as ever impressive, their Young Musician of The Year playing Finzi's Bagatelles for clarinet at a standard way higher than I could ever dream of!  Isobel and Ellie played in the Intermediate Concert Band playing two tunes, the first one is Sagebrush by Curnow, the second is The Mask of Ravana by Lopez.  Enjoy.