Mud, Rain and Tears

Here's a thought.
At the weekend I just have to get outside whatever the weather, so the kids don't really have a choice and have to tag along (especially when your wife is gallavanting over to America for a week). Sometimes they are as keen as me but not always and there can be lengthy standoffs as we set off on the latest adventure. There is one sure way to get a smile back on the face of a grumpy daughter and that is to find a big muddy puddle and make a mud stew. Don't get carried away with the role play though, it doesn't taste great.
We found another of those sofa trees that featured in an earlier post.

Ireland October09

Hard to believe it is 2 and a half years since we moved back to Scotland. The welcome back was incredibly warm and welcoming and we quickly reaquainted ourselves with our favourite bays and beaches. The girls loved the waves and Beckie enjoyed some great waves on the boogie board. I even caught a couple of waves on the surfboard.

Cheap Summer Entertainment for Kids

1. The best face paints I have ever seen done (I have seen a lot) at the RNLI South Queensferry funndraising day.
Cost = zero because you would have made a donation anyway wouldn't you

2. Find a rocky peninsula along with a Force 5 breeze. Play at leaning into the wind.

Cost= petrol money getting to the beach.

3. Find a sea wall. Build a huge pile of sand and jump off the wall onto the sand for an hour.

Cost= the same petrol money to get to the beach.

Natural Giants

On a short walk at the brilliant Forestry Commission site at Alice Holt in Surrey. The girls are not quite old enough for the Go Ape ropes course but these giant animals provided just as much fun and no charge. The whole facility was spotless, really nicely planned out and had a variety of long and short walks and bike rides. There is also a bike hire facility with child seats, trailers and animal trailers as well - dogs are getting lazy as well these days.

Camping in Scotland

Camping in the rain, Fishing in the Rain, On the Beach in the Rain, Icecreams in the rain, Hiding from the rain in the big new tent and all great fun.

Gartmorn Country Park

Rainbow

Enjoying a brilliant evening on the Forth with a public activity group. Great weather with the threatening clouds and rainbow hanging over Edinburgh and the Pentlands while we are safe and dry on the Fife side. The sun always shines in Fife - well usually, maybe, sometimes!