Friday's Highlights

1) Setting off for Friday morning play-group decked out in Hula outfits sent by a godmother who goes on exotic conferences to Hawaii
2) A sore neck means Mum has to catch a fight between sisters on camera to see who started it

3) Kayaking on Loch Duthie

Sharon

Low hanging fruit The Dons have been struggling to bring in some new blood this summer break, but have found some low hanging fruit among the juniors, and have brought in this new striker on a free transfer. Watchout Darren Mackie. PS can't resist a charity shop bargain.
John

Rained Off

Unfortunately, due to the weather, we have to postpone tonight's performance by "Camp Counsellor John Gung-Ho and the Tenting Trio", along with support act "Stay-Home Shaz and the Lazy Laura".

Team Laura

Sharon has gathered around her a team of helpers.....

Granda and Grandma, Niece Rachael, Bethanne and Mahalia, who made many Cinnamon buns, chocolate brownies, ratatouilleJohn, and two exotic princessly visitors from the East, Princess Rose and Princess Rosie.

Plus you're never too young to learn those pelvic floor exercises

John

Introducing Laura..... Uber-mum Sharon did a wonderful job bringing Laura Jane Reid into the world in the wee hours (02h40, wednesday 15th July). All went well - she was only in hospital for under 2 hours when Laura appeared. Initially she was coming ear first (a la big sis Ailsa-style) which threatened a Caesarean, but somehow managed to right her position. All doing well, Sharon has only one ringlet out of place.
Thanks to the Lord
JR

In a Jam

Take some friends and go to the local pick-your-own strawberry farm for some ripe seasonal berries.

Fill a bucket.

Put on your berry-themed apron and get out the tiny jam jars.

Put on your dotty aprons, tiaras, get out the sugar and get busy.

A little while later: one normal-sized jar and four teeny little jars, filled.

Doesn't it look good?

It was awful.

I have never made jam before in my life, and despite a phone call to jam expert Mom, we have ended up with burnt, wierdly caramelised, dark brown, overly sticky and overly thick jars of strawberry goo, and the jars didn't pop-seal like Mom said they should have. And I spent 20 minutes scrubbing a burnt pan this evening.

Bits and Bobs

This is form the school Sports Day last week, Ailsa is third from the left, ready to skip her heart out down the field.

Cousin Fraser and Sam's wedding a couple of weeks ago. It was a gorgeous sunny day and a really nice wedding.

Heather has finished at nursery. The last day was a party and they could dress up anyway they liked (fairy dresses, superheroes, pyjamas). Heather opted for her mother's highland dancing outfit from 1978.

American Neighbours

What is so nice about having a friendly American neighbour is that, on a hot sunny day (and we've been having lots!), she offers to make me an iced tea.

Rare Pleasures

One: Sitting down to do some sewing, yesterday making myself some flowery new pyjama bottoms.
Two: A bouquet of beautiful roses.
Three: Listening to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
Four: Two little girls entertaining themselves for a full hour and a half without crying, fighting, falling over, breaking anything, or nagging their mother for snacks or tv.
A rare and beautiful morning.