Not finished yet!

Today has been a very busy day due to the fact it is my mum's (the memsahib's) 90th Birthday tomorrow and we are traveling down in the afternoon to celebrate with her.
Up and about saw to the Wonder Dog then after breakfast Graham left for the studio, I had a wash and then Ruaridh and moi left for Ravelston woods for our morning constitutional. Met Ecky and Liz with Jock and Barney, Ruaridh joined in a play with the dogs and I had a wee chat with the owners. Then Ecky and moi with the two dogs went for a walk the dogs had a great play and I listened to poor Ecky who appears to have numerous difficulties. Said cheerio as I had lots to do.
Back home saw to some business on the phone, then leaving Ruaridh at home went up town, managed everything bar swimmming trunks for Graham ? tomorrow.
Arrived home Ruaridh happy to see me, cake tin I bought was too small damn! Managed with the cardboard box. Had lunch then made the dough for rolls, by that time it was time to take Ruaridh to the woods--again! Here he met Yoshi and they had a super time-fun! Then went to meet Graham off the bus!
Home tidied the car:) as Joe is having it tomorrow as we are taking his! had a cuppa, finished the rolls.
Made the dinner veggie haggis, mashed potatoes and carrots as tonight is 'Burn's Night'. Delicious.
After dinner spoke to Christel and Jane R hope they can make it to Jane C's the first week in February fingers crossed.
Did all the ironing trying to pack then to bed. Goodnight.

Edit:- maybe no blog for a few days as I am going south to Lancashire and will be busy! Will try!

Bliptogether!

This evening marked the finish of the bliptogether project when blippers who could gathered at Inspace in Edinburgh to watch the amazing end product in this fantastic space. People around the world who contribute to blipfoto and their friends were able to join in on a loop-up via the web.
One blipper had sugested that on a given day blippers world wide should take a photo with their arms held out when these appeared on blip we would be holding someone's hand on either side. Blipfoto took this on board and run it for a week, there was more than 900 enteries which is amazing as not all blippers contributed. Blipcentral got to work and joined all the images together and tonight from 1800h--2000h they were run as a slide show around the walls of Inspace, blippers who could attend did so and it was lovely to meet people.
I left the house early as I was having my hair cut-nice one Iain. Took the wee dog who was with me for a walk along the shore. After the hairdresser went to the family's as Graham and Joe had to be at Inspace before us. Played with Miss B the we left to go to the 'show'.
Parked at the Uni. Ruaridh stayed in the car he is a great wee dog!
Great night meeting old and new friends, Hilda did a great job running the bar thanks Hilda. Good to get home though and relax. Pasta with olive oil, tomato, garlic and chilli sauce for dinner with bread lovely!
Very tired to bed! Goodnight!

Meet up

This evening I met up with two of my buddies from the Royal College of Physicians for a drink, chat and some nibbles, a great evening. We went to the bar below the Amore restaurant on Hanover St. nice venue comfy chairs and the staff were 'chilled.' I drank beer the others wine, we chatted and laughed over four hours and discussed many issues personnel and world related whilst we nibbled on the nibbles.
Up early shower and hairwash then to Ravelston woods with the Wonder Dog, met Ecky and Jock leaving the park however he loaned me a CD of Fats Domino!
Good walk then down to Waitrose before going over to the family's to be with Bella whilst Layla went for a massage. Met Roz in Waitrose coerced her into posing for my last blip together, she looked great-thanks Roz. Got my messages and left.
Bella and moi watched Charlie and Lola on the iPhone, they were teaching their friends dog Sizzles to obey them, I love this animation as does Bella it is great. We played a little then got ready to go and meet Layla, who had really enjoyed her massage and felt it had done her good.
Had lunch then got ready to go up town. Popped into Jenners to get Bella some new tops!
Arrived home about 2130h had the soup and some banana bread that Layla and Bella had made, felt very tired to bed. Goodnight.

Pick up the Birthday Cake.

It is my mum's Birthday Tuesday next as it is a special one we have had a big cake made at Garvald Gorgie Rd, today I picked it up and it looks lovely. I know she will like it.
Up and about with Ruaridh, then we had breakfast before Graham left for the studio, I had a wash and then got ready to take Ruaridh to the woods met up with Jock on the way out and he and Ruaridh had a great play.
Back home made a soda bread and also the usual bread, also made red pepper soup which is for dinner tomorrow. Went down to the cycle shop to 'snap' Derek for the bliptogether.
Back home got ready to take The Wee Fellow for his afternoon walk we hd a lovely walk and he met Ziggy, had a great play whilst I chatted to Dolores!
Graham wanted pasta and tomato sauce for dinner which we had with salad and homemade bread!
Graham took Ruaridh for his night walk I blipped and checked it out. Bye.

Mud Pie Cake

Went over to see Layla and Bella at lunchtime with the intent of going to the allotment, however due to the dreich weather decided not to go. Stayed to lunch and then Bella reminded me I had said I would make the Mud Pie Cake with her. Got all the ingredients Bella Crushed the biscuits really well with a rolling pin, then weighed out the dry stuff. Layla contributed by doing the 'melting' of the ingredients at the stove, once all the stuff was together Bella got stuck into the mixing. We then packed the mixture in to fairy cake cases finishing them off with melted chocolate-smarties and hundreds and thousands! Into the fridge for two hours to set!
Up quite early away to the woods with Ruaridh as I had a dental appt. with the hygienist. Should have been a p.m. one but I forgot and made arrangements to go to Layla's, however due to a cancellation ? Joe's I got a morning slot. After that I picked up my fish from Kev before heading out to see the girls.
As Graham was in Glasgow and not at the office I drove home early, as after making the cakes and me reading a long story about 'Naughty Lotta' Miss B fell fast asleep.
Fish and rice with tomato sauce for dinner.
Spent the evening blipping, the blip togetherness is really coming together!
Took the Wonder Dog for a walk then to bed. Goodnight.

Evening walk

Ruaridh and moi were able to have an evening walk in Ravelston Woods today as it is starting to get light in the early evening! It was lovely to be there, a group of children were there with some adults, orienteering or collecting certain items, lots of noise they sounded to be having fun. The Wonder Dog hurried by without stopping!
Up and about with Ruaridh this morning, went back to bed crashed out and overslept somewhat-well until 0900h. Graham left, I had my breakfast then a shower and hairwash before taking the car to get two new tyres. Then took the dog for a walk in the woods, met Liz and Ecky along with dogs Barney and Jock, Ruaridh had a play with them. Ecky posed for me for the bliptogether project on blipfoto.com/BB they left and I set off through the woods.
Back home went to get the car, bank balance lighter but two good tyres on the back wheels now. To the recycling got rid of bottles from over the previous months, and piles of newspapers. Went to the supermarket to get some messages, then to Boots to get dental tape and deodorants, got bargains!
Put diesal into the car then home. Ruaridh had stayed at home on the bed!
Made some bread rolls, had lunch listened to the afternoon play-excellent, did some knitting. After this cleaned the stairs and hall. Then got ready to take the dog to Ravelston woods and up
Strachan Rd good walk.
Back home made one or two phone calls, spoke to mum she is fine looking forward to seeing us next week. Graham home veggie burger and chips for dinner enjoyed this. More knitting then to bed. Goodnight.

Waiting

Awoke at 0630h yesterday by Miss B who was bexcited 'cause she saw her Granny in bed. Ruaridh awoke, Graham awoke, in fact the whole household was up and running by 0700h. Read a couple of Mr Men books, then fed Ruaridh Bella and moi had our cereal. We then played, read more books and waited for Joe and Layla to arrive for brunch. We had scrambled eggs, fresh rolls, toast, pancakes and big mugs of coffee which was good.
Family left as Bella had a party, we took the Wonder Dog for a walk then had quite a lazy day. Caught up with some ironing and the paper. Sausage and mash with onion gravy and cabbage for dinner-lovely.

Up early Monday morning had breakfast with Graham, then when he left for the studio I had a wash and took Ruaridh to Ravelston woods-quiet walk, lovely in the sunshine. Couldn't do much as I had to wait for the Virgin engineer to come and see to the broadband which keeps going down. Lena phoned spoke for an hour then Heiner phoned and was on for an hour! Had lunch, then the guy arrived, problem between the modem and the airport, seems their techy's can get it fixed ??
Cleaned the bathroom, went down to meet Graham. Spoke to Layla she is fine. Made a cuppa spoke to mum she is getting organised for next week!
Made leek risotto for dinner with salad.
Doing some business things phoning people oh lala life is busy. Bye.

Sleepover

Miss B decided it was time to have another sleepover tonight-great fun for us all. As she had a party this afternoon Layla brought her over afterwards, we had pancakes and coffee the wee one had juice with hers. Layla left and we did jigsaws, read books jumped on the bed, looked at treasures et al.
Then it was time to make the pesto with Bampa that we were having with big fat noodles (spaghetti) for dinner. Once this was done Bella set the table and I made the dinner, best pesto ever with pasta, salad and bread delicious. We then played at bouncing on the sofa before going to bed. Bampa read a story then I did before Bella was in dreamland.
Up quite late today, had a fry up for breakfast then made the batter for the pancakes and the bread dough. Had a shower before taking Ruaridh a walk in Ravelston woods then heading over to the supermarket for one or two messages.
Made the bread on my return after a cuppa.
Just catching up on blogging and blipping. Goodnight.

Ocean Terminal

After quite a busy morning, Ruaridh and moi eventually set off to meet up with Layla and Bella. We had a long walk taking in Inverleith Park and the cycle path were Ruaridh managed a play albeit a short one with a springer spaniel. Met up with the two girls Ruaridh couldn't believe his luck! To Victoria Park then back to theirs were I left Ruaridh and we headed off for Ocean Terminal.
Had a lovely lunch there at Potter's restaurant good fast food and service. Then a good meander round the shops. Back to the house Ruaridh delighted to see us, Bella fast asleep, Layla highlighted my hair looks good. Graham home with Joe stayed a few minutes then we left for home. Bought a meal for two at M&S for £10, Alaskan wild salmon, new potatoes, lemon citron pie for dessert + a bottle of Chardonney, we had this for dinner with peas delicious.
Didn't do much this evening as we ate late and I was rather tired, Spoke to mum she is OK one or two hassles which I have to sort out when I am down! Bye.

Work-a day!

Up at 0700h this morning as it was a work day! Managed to walk, slide my way over to the hospital. When I arrived one member of staff had already phoned in sick, anyway the two care assistants on were great so we had a good day. Not a day for exams these Dr's had paid for a course that was being run at the hospital, as patients were required nursing staff were on duty! The day flew by and I enjoyed it. Signed up for more work February and March.
Left at 1500h as I had promised Layla I would look after Miss B whilst she had to go to a meeting. Jumped on a bus and got to the house in time. Bella and moi played, looked at photo's of her on my iPhone and read books, lovely time. Graham and Joe arrived we stayed for a while then home.
Went to Asda to get some messages the home. Broadband down Graham busy with that, phoned the relatives re mum's party about 55 coming!
Ravioli with light tomato sauce and broccoli salad with homemade bread for dinner lovely.
Tired. Goodnight.

Catching up!

Haven't blogged for two weeks due to various reasons! First I was quite poorly from boxing day onwards possibly a type of flu that left me with a bad chest. Two days late in going to the cottage because of this, I still felt mince when I arrived.
We set off on the 30th December first doing a big shop at Waitrose. The journey up was not too bad hairy at times with fresh snow falling in the Highlands and lots of frost on the roads, having said that the scenery was stunning, never seen it more beautiful.
Arrived safe and sound we drove in on the 30th Dec and never got in the car again until we left on the 9th Jan. We arrived to no hot water and terrible inter-web connection in fact it was abysmal. Got the Red room organised, big log fire being the main item all the heaters in the house on made veggie risotto for dinner and bingo, only other problem that evening one of the hot water bottles burst in the bed!!
The scenery was amazing in the Glen, lots of frost, river frozen over and the snow deep and crisp and even. Had a superb 9 days doing very little even without the hot water that John H eventually fixed (frozen cold water tank in loft--small leak) we managed to wash, shower, wash clothes and do the dishes!!
Lazy days, out for lovely walks some long some short, visits with Christine our neighbour, watching great movies in front of a roaring log fire. The last day we took the sledge to the woods and what a laugh we had, especially when Ruaridh kept trying to jump on the sledge and give us big licks. Lots of good food wine and beer, a lovely time.
Set off back on Saturday 8th January 2010, after a great break. Brought our neighbour Christine someway south with us, dropped her off then continued on to Edinburgh. To the family's for dinner lovely to see them all especially Bella a wee star. Had a lovely meal thanks Layla, then left for home, house was great nice and cosy in the freezing weather.
Good nights sleep, late breakfast walked the dog then did a big shop at Waitrose. Family popped in for a drink and biscuit after they had been sledging.

Today got up had breakfast with Graham then took the Wonder Dog to Ravelston Woods had a great walk met Liz and Barney the two dogs had a great play. Home made an Eve's pudding for dinner as the family are coming, made pesto on Sunday having that with pasta tonight. Took Ruaridh for another walk to the park, then left to get the bus as I was getting Miss B. Went to the bank got some messages then met Bella. We walked down to Helios Fountain as I had promised to buy her some pipe cleaners to bend and twist into any shape she wants. We then got a taxi home, as usual Ruaridh was delighted to see us!! We fed him then played a little till Graham and Joe arrived , Layla was not long after.
Got dinner ready pasta and pesto with salad and bread, followed by Eve's pudding and custard delicious.
We then had fun and games before the family left. Bye.