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A well-timed week in Mijas, near Malaga. While biblical rain fell back home, we didn't see a cloud for a week!
Doing the Loch Lomond tourist thing on the Golden Jubilee bank holiday.
Photoshoot for Ann of her new garden.
Last minute decision for Aberlady FC to run a float in this year's Gala. Lap of the village towed along by the local tractors, chucking sweets and toy footballs at passers-by.
Wee mini-break at Birnam, leading up to the Etape Caledonia cycling sportive.
Club flyout to the west coast. At last the weather allows a flyout to take place again, although it did try its best to prevent us from leaving on Friday. Base camp for two nights was established on the Gigha airstrip from which some went to Northern Ireland and my mini-squadron flew to the Island of Coll, for a bbq lunch on the sand dunes, and Mull, via a spectacular Hebridean backdrop. And challenged myself to grab a photo of each final approach - without crashing!
Annual chocolate treasure hunt, up the Law for some egg rolling and an afternoon messing about and eating chocolate on the beach. An East Lothian Easter.
Bidean nam Bian, Glencoe. It's been on my to do list for years, no, decades, and finally got round to it today. A great day on the hills with very mixed weather - half the time sunshine and great viz, the other half snow and whiteout.
James' first ever skiing holiday. My first ever skiing holiday. With Stuart and Penny. I think we're hooked!
A couple more ticks and a bit of a slog in crappy winter weather. Have to keep reminding myself this is fun. But it is. What does a long walk in mean again? Oh yes, a long walk out!
James' wee homework project - find out about and bring in a photo of a Scottish landmark. Athelstaneford, just up the road - birthplace of the Saltire, allegedly.
Helping out at James' pal Angus' birthday party. Pizza and beer (my kind of kids' party!), then along the road to see the mighty Hearts demolish Auchinleck Talbot, er one-nil, courtesy of a comical moment in the Talbot defence. Great time had by all. Except Darren Barr.
Decided the mountain forecast was too terrible for our Christmas Munros so Beinne Bhuidhe will have to wait. Instead, went for a wee leg stretch on Tinto Hill. Tricky to stand upright in the wind at the top so pleased we weren't another 1000 feet higher.
Dropped in, with Kim, on the frozen parachute centre at Strathallan near Crieff, "bagging" a few snowy Munros on route. Somewhat cold at 5000 feet but I'm optimistic the frostbitten toes will make a good recovery in the fullness of time.
Boys' trip "up town". Great fun at the Winter Wonderland attractions, albeit mobbed, with huge queues of chip-munching teens and pretty pricey as always. With one exception - no queue at all, cheap for adults, kids go free, a bit of exercise and the best view of the city of the lot of them - the Scott Monument - that's the one for me!
The classic winter day trip to the island of Bute for lunch. One wee complication though - we got overhead and the runway was completely obscured by fog meaning we couldn't land (because we couldn't see it). We circled for a bit, scratching our heads, then Kim had the inspired idea to fly round Arran for a bit of sight-seeing and time-killing before trying again. When we got back to Bute for another go, one end of the runway was clear of fog and visible, just. Landed. Lunched. Warmed feet. Ya Butey!
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