Bye, bye 2008

Another year comes to an end, so let us raise a glass to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

Best wishes for 2009 from Gwen, James and Esmé

Sunset on the Year

Sunset on the last day of the year over Glen Prosen. A soft winter light and gentle haze has characterised a day with no wind and temperatures that have clung firmly around freezing.

Esmé had soft winter sunshine to hone her photography skills. As well as amazing us by walking all the way up a hill, then insisting on going further, and further along the track. We had to stop her or we would have been trying to get back to the car in the dark. From Esmé's camera here is a picture of the Airlie Monument or 'Giant's Castle' whichever you prefer.

Light at the end of the year

A year that ends with days of perfect light can't be too bad. Just a day to go before the trials and tribulations of this year can be metaphorically buried, while the memories of the year captured as photographs become idealised moments. Taking the picture is a self differentiating act, the camera only tends to come out when the smiles are full, the sun shining and the occasion suitable. A slice in time is removed, taken out of context and every contact thereafter imbues it with new meaning, usually a subtle adition, but always widening the distance between the image and the event. Pictures on mountains especially and most immediately fall short of the original experience. While mountains are out of bounds for now, my legs can just about cope with the beach and the light on the 29th was incredible. This lends the picture all the more power, making it the more capable of cutting me off from the actual event. Although the light was magical and the sea was playing its part admirably neither of these were the most important part of the half hour. It was the company of Gwen and Esmé, all three of us collecting shells and driftwood relaxed, at peace. With just a day in between, this kernel is already slipping, so what hope of remembering the truly important parts of the year?

Happy Gwen Day!

The momentous day has arrived and eventually Gwen has like a modern day Methuselah reached the grand 'old' age of 30.  Stop where you are! No donations are required as yet for the care home, she still seems capable of going to the toilet unaided, at least when sober. So, in this most festive of seasons an extra day of merry making has been squeezed in. This bonus satiation has caused an equally pressing, if somewhat less pleasant reaction between our collective waistlines and our collective waistbands, but before we all turn to search for the corrective equation to this wayward chemical reaction (no doubt fresh green salad features in there somewhere) raise a glass to Gwen and remind her that women truly blossom at 30.  Here's to Gwen!

Another Birthday!

It's Emily's birthday today...Happy Birthday!

You know what that means though..don't you?

Yes, 10 days til my Birthday, wayhey!!!

Going for Green!!!!

The school Esmé's Nursery is attached to, is going for their Green Eco-Schools award. The staff and kids seem to be backing it enthuastically and on Saturday James and I were getting stuck in too!
Some of the older pupils have drawn up plans for the area we cleared. They are planing to plant a Sunflower field, Wheat or Barley fields(?, not sure which) and have a Bee and Butterfly Garden.










While we were busy outside, it was all go at the Christmas Craft Fair. Marta launched her 'Marta's Eco-crafts' business, making and selling funky handcrafted items, made from recycled materials. Cool isn't it, well done Marta!
Marta's boys and Esmé were giving her lots of support and help!!!!

Many thanks to David for the photos!

Sledging Fun

Esmé had great fun in the snow and ice in Glen Lethnot today. Unfortunately on her last run the sledge tipped and she scraped her face and split her  lip :(  She was very brave though and is now covered in arnika cream. 

Esmé comic genius!

Just to prove how easy comic life is to use Esmé made this. She selected all of the components and did the dragging and dropping. The only part I did was the typing and saving.

James.

So what happened?

No snow fell here last night, I had grand plans for snowy fun on my day off, but no, it didn't happen :(

I had even imagined all the Dundee schools being off and James being able to enjoy the snow too. However, the schools were open and the rain seems to be bringing the winter wonderland to an end for the moment, even the carpark at James' work is turning to slush.

 

There is one thing for certain, there must have been thousands of disappointed faces looking across the classrooms today, from both sides of the teachers desk!!!

(Last Sunday was cold and very crisp. Barry mill was still thick with frost after midday)