School Holidays

Sorry there haven't been any blog entries lately, we've been in between computers but are now back online.

The school holidays started a couple of weeks ago. The first couple of days were beautiful sunshine, and I remember reminiscing about long days playing outside without a care in the world, and it was great to see B and J out in the cul-de-sac doing exactly that, from morning to late evening, only coming in for food, juice and an occasionally nose blow when the green no.11 was sufficiently formed and laced with muck.

The weather then deteriorated and has been dry spells in between rain ever since, more like a scottish November than July, so there has been a lot of scratching around the house getting under Mums feet.

In the first week Mum, B and J went to Grandma and Granda's for a few days. They always have fun there, I've attached a couple of photos of them plating swingball in the garden.

While they were away I was working on my golf swing at the driving range, and then ditched work on the Friday afternoon for a round at Ellon. Ace!

After a quiet weekend Granny, Granda and L came to Kintore for a visit.

We went to Deep sea world in Edinburgh one day. J and B didn't care much for the pirrhanas.

Tail end of the week was a highlight for me, I managed to get corporate hospitality tickets for the Open at Carnoustie. It was a brilliant day, roaming the course seeing how golf should be played, although Tiger did hit a duffer off the first, and had to tee off again for three. Also there was the free bar, 4-course lunch and all the other little perks that go with these sort of days. Lord and Lady Fraser were amongst Total's guests. He can fairly knock back the whiskeys! I was in good company.

School Disco

Not much to write about this week, all the post school hobbies, gymnastics, swimming and Brownies are ending for the summer holidays, and Friday night saw the PTA School disco. J bought into the shorts and shades theme, but B stuck to the leggings and top fashion that all the kids are wearing just now. They had lots of fun dancing, jumping and running around, and spent their pennies on the various stalls. Mum was doing her bit for the PTA funds helping on a stall selling plastic hawaiin neck garlands.




I managed to get a quick snap of B before she headed off for the seniors disco















And J after the juniors disco.















Saturday was a beautiful day and we headed to the Opticians for a family appointment. B had been dreading it all week, and was gutted to find out that she needed glasses. J and I are ok, but Mum needs an upgrade to her milk bottles.

Sunday was monumental, I completed level 30 of 30 on Lemmings on the PS2.

Just one more week of school to go!

Ahoy Mateys

Every year Total have a summer fun day, and this year it was a swashbuckling event with a pirate theme at the Ardoe House Hotel. With kids galore, high on suger, and running around with plastic cutlass' and balloon animals, this year promised to be as exciting as any other. Special guests included Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and the one and only Jack Sparrow, who was actually a very convincing look-a-like with all the mannerisms of the Johnny Depp character.

Unfortunalely, Smee's rowing boat would have been very appropriate because it was WET, WET, WET.

We started the afternoon with my favoutite event, the barbeque, and then had a wander round the indoor events:

This was definately J's favourite part of the day, he spent ages in front of the Puppet show. Whilst enjoying our burgers from the other end of the room, Mum and I could hear J's hearty laugh and shouting "Cheeky Monkey" at the top of his voice.

Giant Snakes and Ladders
J eventually won!

After my embarrassing last place 8 stableford points at the Woodgroup challenge at St Andrews Dukes course last Friday B and J decided to give me a few tips.

Giant jenga looks like fun. That was until J pulled a key structural member out of the bottom, and the lot fell on top of his head. Of all the activities there, I would never have thought Jenga would have ended in tears.






We eventually headed outside to see what was on offer, no prizes for the hoop throwing, but J persevered with the coconut shy to get some bubbles.

The archery was the highlight of B's day.

B and her friend J decided to have a go on the inflatable assault course.
In the rain!
Just as well we had a dry change of clothes with us.

The fun day ended with the raffle. No prizes for us, but Jack Sparrow won a bottle of Morgans spicy rum.

School sports day

Yes, its the annual Kintore school sports day, and to support B and J, Mummy, Grandma and Granda came along.
The weather stayed dry all day, even though most of June had been rainy and other schools sports days had been postponed.

You can see J just crossing the finishing line in the tattie and spoon race. Unfortunatley he came last place, but he claimed to be the only boy not to drop his tattie. Who told him slow and careful wins the race, sounds like something Mummy would say.

B did a bit better by coming second in her heat of the tattie and spoon race.

The skipping race was a lot of fun, but unfortunately B and K's skipping ropes got tangled up, knocking B into 5th place.

Above, you can see B, giving it all in the sack race, but even with a great jumping technique and a face of enthusiasm, crossed the finish line last. I think there was some cheating going on, sacks don't usually have feet do they?

J's turn in the sack race, no prizes for him either, but he did come home with a 'I'm a Good Sport' sticker. I can't believe it, hero to zero in one year. Last year at the nursery sports day he cleaned up taking first in all the races. I think I'll have to have a father son chat before next year.