Birthday Weekend

Enjoyed quite a weekend of contrasts, beautiful sunny weather yesterday and this evening an inch or two of snow!

Went out to the Echt Tandori on Saturday evening with my three girls to celebrate my birthday.  A fabulous meal with great company!  Came home and opened the cards and presents (including a rather nice bottle of Jura Origin single malt which I just had to test).

Easdale and Evening Kayaking

Spectacular day today, when the weather is like this there is nowhere better than the West coast of Scotland.

We went over to Easdale for a spot of lunch at the Puffer bar followed by a walk around the island and of course some stone skimming...........the ex-world champion was on good form!

Angus's Barguillean Garden

Friday saw us back at an old haunt, to update an old photo.  Angus's Barguillean Garden is near Taynuilt and enjoys spectacular views of the Glen Etive Munros.

Here is the original 2008 photo.....

And the 2015 updates..........

A Walk Round Arduaine

After a day and a half of horizontal rain it was a pleasant relief to awake to clear skies this morning.  This afternoon we went down to one of our favorite gardens in the area, Arduaine.  There were a number of the earlier rhododendrons out along with the magnolias and camellias.

Here are a few photos. (Well 20 actually!)

Fish & Chips

A posting specially for James and Anna!  The Oban Fish and Chips shop was as good as ever this evening!

Scottish U16 Inter-Region Tournament

Great day down in Glasgow at the Scottish Hockey Centre watching Isobel keep goal for the North of Scotland team against teams from the East, West, combined Borders / Midlands and Scottish Development teams.

They started off with a really strong showing against the Scottish Development team going down 2-1 having lead 1-0 at one point. They then went down 2-1 against the West before losing 6-0 to the combined Borders / Midlands team.  The day was however saved with a strong performance against the East to take a well deserved 1-0 win.

A great experience for all, especially playing on the Commonwealth Games pitch.

Spring Concert 2015

Last Wednesday was the annual spring concert at the Music Hall.  Ellie and Isobel were both playing in the Intermediate Concert Band.  They plaid two pieces,the second one Tequila required some energetic audience participation!

Ellie was playing 1st Clarinet and is in the front row, Isobel is in the row behind and just to her right.

Needless to say there was a pair of proud parents in the audience.

Ski Racing, Scottish Childrens Champs, Nevisrange, March 14/15th

The Gordon Skiers Racing team, Ellie is second from left front row.

Ellie was ski racing in the Scottish Childrens Championships at Nevisrange this weekend.  Saturday was 2 runs of giant slalom followed by 2 runs of slalom on the Sunday.  The weather was absolutely fabulous with clear blue sky both days and spectacular views of Ben Nevis and the peaks of the Western Highlands.

Ellie did well completing both runs of GS and slalom without any missed gates, crashes etc which given the icy conditions on Sunday was no mean feat fo someone in only her second season of racing. Her second run of slalom even beat a couple of the U16 girls which she was very pleased with.

Here are a few photos, there are loads more on the Gordon Skiers Racing facebook page.

8th March, Baking and Skiing

Been a busy weekend in the Green household.  Isobel has been busy baking.  Blackforest Gateaux cupcakes and breakfast muffins with blueberries and a yogurt and muscarpone topping.

And whilst all this baking was going on, Ellie and I were up at the Lecht.  Despite a serious thaw over Friday and Saturday there was still just enough snow for training.  We were seriously questioning our own sanity as we left at 7.15am in the pouring rain.  As we drove up the road it dried a little and by 10am the sun was out and an excellent day's training was enjoyed by all on some very spring snow!

Not quite Courchevel but good fun all the same.