Where's The Time Gone?

Well I can't believe it was last May since I blogged!  Anyway - huge amount of things happened since then - some good, some bad - and those of you that know me, know what they are so I don't need to go into detail.  

Let's start from February 2010.  Had a lovely day at Lendrick Muir.  The kids and I went to Lendrick Muir at Crook of Devon and had a go on the high ropes there.  I wasn't planning on having a go myself, it was just supposed to be the children, but when we were "challenged"/"pleaded with" to do it, about four of us mum's did take to the skies.  Some of the pictures are not of us, but some of the others in the group.  I've posted them because they show what we did in fact do.

Starting from the youngest, Amanda climbed up the "cat pole".  It took a lot of coaxing, and a long time, but she did it.  Michael had a go at the "cat pole", but didn't like it so discontinued.  To his credit (and my pride), he then had a go at the trapeze.  He didn't make to to the top, but I was so proud of him for trying.  I did both, but was convinced I wouldn't be able to get up on the "cat pole" because there were already two others on it!!!!!  Anyway, after clambering up on a 9 year old girl at the top, three of us did some leaning out before we simultaneously jumped off.

I also did the trapeze leap - sooooo.... sure I wouldn't jump when I was at the top.  In fact, before I got to the top I felt that I'd climbed far enough!  The instructors were great and very encouraging, but never made you feel as if you had to do it.  Eventually I told myself that I was indeed attached to safety ropes and so have faith in them and jump.  I honestly felt that even if I reached the trapeze, gone were my monkey tendencies of youth and I wouldn't be able to hold my own body weight!  Anyway - I DID IT !!!! - don't think I'd do it again, but pretty euphoric at doing it!!

A long and scary jump!

Not me, but I climbed up the "cat pole" too.

Again, not me, but I did this with two kiddies

Gives you an idea of how high things are - the point on the bottom left is a roof!!

Amanda on her way up the cat pole.

Still going strong!

Things are getting exciting - I might actually make it!

Amanda's almost there.

It's a bit scary!

I did it!!!

Weeeeeeee!!!!

Michael heading up the cat pole.

Chickens

Well I can't believe I forgot to include the chickens in May's post - we're on the second generation now. Last April our first hatchings took place, and although Fluffy (one of the hens) was sitting on some eggs for a while, they failed to materialise into chickens, so Geoff gave nature a helping hand and incubated some eggs.  To date we have four chicks - one born today, two yesterday, and one the day before that.  The latest is still in the incubator, but the older three are happily wandering around in a box.  They still need a heat lamp to keep them warm, but next week we're hoping to be able to take them into my school to let the kids see them.  We "Skype'd" with Kenneth as well as Geoff's mum and dad tonight and it was great fun to show the chickens on the web cam - one of them was rather stage struck and kept coming up to the camera!!  Anyway, here's some of the photos:

      

        

May, 2009

Quite a busy May really - had a lovely dinner on my birthday and lots of nice pressies.  Generally speaking we've had lovely weather too.

Since last posting, Michael has continued to come on well with his guitar, and Amanda has "acquired" a trombone!!  For those of you that haven't seen this in the flesh, here's a photo of Amanda being tutored by Rupert:

What else?  Michael went on a Cub badge day where he achieved his IT Stage I badge, and also woodworking.  Whilst he was there, Amanda and myself went with some friends to the Botanical Gardens in Dundee - it's only taken 13 years to get there!!!  It was lovely and I'm planning on going back there again a couple of times in the summer.  Here's a few photos:

       

Kenneth and Patrick came over for a few days, and we met up with them in Troon, along with Richard and the gang:

                                      

Today was a lovely hot day, which prompted the inevitable water fight!!!

    

After drying off we headed to a party for one of our friends in St Madoes.

Hanging around in the garden.

This was a great tree to climb; we had lots of fun.

Easter Sunday with Grandpa at his house.

Easter 2009

It's OK going for a holiday, but it's a hard life when you have to do the washing up too!!