Glen Isla
Caught up with old Oxford friends Lou+Adie in Glen Isla - they were spending a warm October holiday in bonnie Scotland. Got a bit wet finding the Reekie Linn falls.

After the soaking rain comes the rainbow Their cottage was in the Cairngorms - a deer started running along side our car. Of course the hard work was rewarded with lashings of sandwiches and scones. John

Mother-daughter musings.

Zakynthos - island of dreams...

We just got back from a lovely week visiting my Greek sister and family. Perfect temperatures - 28 maximum, just enough for the fairer skinned Scotto-Canooks to plunge into the water whilst the Greeks are wearing 3 layers of clothing. My blog style is to show lots of photos so get ready.....

Ailsa, Heather and Claire were smothered by their three cousoins, Sarah, Maria (below) and Natasha. Natasha opened up a whole Barbie world I never knew existed and played lots of dress up and styled Ailsa and Heather's hair
Claire seemed to like the taste of salty water
Maria, Heather Natasha, Ailsa and Sarah.....
Natasha and ClaireHere's my niece Maria
We had a boat trip to see some caves and a beautiful island -Marathonisi

Sharon had the 'cool' idea of a picnic in the Olive grove
Here's Ailsa advertising Olives and holding a box that contained the special 'treasures' she was collecting on holidayThe Vitous family know how to lay on a party and for Claires first birthday + my parents arrival Stathis roasted a goat
Even Claire had a wee taster of the goat
Here's YiaYia with the birthday girl. Why do the oldest and the youngest connect so well? Living in the moment?John

See you next week.

Packing up getting ready to go

Decor

Minimalist, retro cool, shabby chic?
We live in flats that were formerly student nurse accomodation in the 1960s. They've been converted to accomodation for consultant doctors and their families.
By "converted" I mean...frozen in time. Basically they built better digs for the nurses elsewhere.
Each bedroom in the flat still has a sink and a moulded plastic storage unit above it.
Anyway, the decor and atmosphere encourages student type behaviour. This evening was spent finishing off an old bottle of wine and little whiskey miniatures, watching youtube videos (I recommend the Kaiser Chiefs' 'Never miss a beat') and playing tetris.
Also, I'm sleeping with my flatmate.

Claire's hunger chat

6:30am in our flat

Oh you do care!

Thank you everyone for your words of wisdom and concern. I have decided to stop cooking. We shall just play with play-doh all afternoon and then I'll take some leftover macaroni and cheese out of the oven.
If anyone has any leftover macaroni and cheese, please send it along.