Taking a Pause before we hit February

Well... I did say January was going to be ridiculously busy! Since the last update I've had the in-laws through and staying; in part because we all went to see the Shen Yun dancers (by the far the best professional dancing I've ever seen, absolutely amazing, I can't say any more or I'll be here all day) and then they were sorting out BIL for the rest of thier stay. We'd have been more involved, but the winter lurgy finally caught up to hubby who basically spent 5 days in bed. I volunteered to keep an eye on him and the dogs and that was that.

Then last weekend it was a trio to London to see the ABBA Arena show. It was one of those trips that grew arms and legs with it initially being my mum and eldest neice, and then my aunt and her friend joined in, then my sister and, as a ticket space needed used, I was strong armed into evening out the numbers.

Show was good. Worth making the effort to go and see it, even if, like me, you aren't the biggest fan of ABBA. There was some drama, which I expected and mediated. But the less said the better. 

The highlight of the weekend was getting to catch the Chinese New Year parade at Trafalgar Square. I ran ahead, got an amazing spot in like to watch it and got a "kiss" (well, booped noses) with the big red lion above. My sister informs me that touching thier noses is super lucky, so I have my fingers crossed for the foreseeable.

Then this weekend was where we put the breaks on and shut the door. No friends or family, time for just hubby, Missy and I to recharge and do what we want to do. I wanted to go on a new dog walk that I'd heard about from a friend, and hubby wanted to see the Dr Who exhibition that was on in Edinburgh. 

Saturday was a slow day doing jobs about the house and then today we ticked both those off the list. The walk is the Livingston Standing Stones. They're modern, but that's all that anyone seems to know about them! I had never heard of them before last week, so it only proves that you'll never learn all the local secrets.

We also made it to Dr Who: Worlds of Wonder. There was costumes, monsters, gadgets and more. A great way for a pair of Whovians to spend the morning. We had taken along our sonics (hubby is old school, so had John Pertwees whereas I'm modern and had Matt Smiths) for the photos and we took great delight in lending them out to people when we offered to take thier photos for them. No one declined, and we certainly got a few good laughs.

And that's it. The synopsis of three weeks condensed down. Oh, except for this guy:

My second attempt at a plushie. I sense more dragons in the future, you have all been warned! 

Till next time! 

A Magical Weekend

It was every Hufflepups dream. Missy finally got to attend Hogwarts. Well, the next best thing - she came along for a potions making class at The Lonely Broomstick. 

But let me rewind. 

In some way, time and the laws of physics have betrayed me and my eldest neice has turned 18. Seeing as most days I still pretend to be an adult, how this has quite happened is beyond me! But nonetheless - as the first in the next generation of my family to reach the milestone, of course there had to be a party. Which meant that my Manchester bound sister with my a-dumble-dorible neice and nephew packed up the car and came for a whirlwind weekend.

And honestly, we fit in a siriusly riddikulus amount in this weekend.

(I shall attempt to refrain from puns from now on)

So everyone arrived Friday and, after a quick dash about the shops to accio the ever important 18 balloons. Then after a mini Christmas dinner and a gift swap, the kids went to bed and my sister embarked upon a quest to become a mermaid.

After a nervous few moments, Brad Mondo, God of Hairdressers, smiled upon us as the wolf cut was successful and the three bundles of hair (Gertrude, Gertrude Jr and Gertrude the 3rd) were swept up and safely disposed off. Then came the bleaching. And then the blue. A lot of blue.

With bright blue ends Billy Eilish would be jealous off, and teal locks, we pulled off the unexpected and my sister now looked like she could have taken a post in Hogwarts itself. 

Saturday was an early start to pick up my mum and aunt before we all trudged down the M9 to Falkirk in the silver 7 seater Hogwarts express. 

Naturally we arrived early and, as my neice and nephew oggled through a window front worthy of diagonally, I helped Missy with her wizard robes. Also unexpectedly, my older sister and the rest of the party arrived a little late, but that was fine as we were in the store by then and the kids were having tremendous fun flying Hagrids bike whilst their mother was trapped in the side car. 

I will say, the potions making was very well organised. My older sisters MIL, who now in her 90s, can't stand long, was immediately offered a chair and a smaller table for her cauldren whilst I was discreetly pulled aside and asked about loud noises with Missy. Petards aside, Missy doesn't mind loud noises, so I was confident she would be fine with a mandrake.

There was potions, spell casting and a house quiz. Gryffindor came last, my mermaid sister was the only Ravenclaw and placed third whilst my youngest neice and nephew, or slytherins placed 2nd. Missy and I carried the Hufflepuff team and somehow placed first - mostly, I suspect, because Missy was curled up at her feet trying to look adorable.

Then came the mandrake. I was prepped, just in case this was like the petard, and, poised to capture my eldest nephews reaction who had no idea what was about to happen, and equally poised to catch Missy in case she bolted, I almost fell over in hysterics. Firstly, my nephew was absolutely bemused at the shrieking plant, and secondly, Missy went into kill mode. She was in her feet, head, ears and tail upright as she glanced this way and that for the small animal to murder. 

Perhaps she should avoid care of magical creatures. 

Then we were done. It was a quick stop at a cafe for brunch before we went to set up the party. My eldest neice had a few key things she had to have. The 18 balloons, in silver. A "selfie wall" which we set up with a silver streamer curtain and a combination of silver and purple balloons, and lastly, a cake. 

I am pleased to report, that we delivered. Myself, Mermaid and Hubby blew balloons and set up streamers and assembled cake. It was fun to catch up productively with my neice who was elated at seeing her vision come together. 

Then it was lots of photos and laughter. Once the family had had thier fun catching up, eating and commencing pokemon battles, the herd of teens arrived. There was a crossover at the cutting of the cake before the family left to make way for the teens and, for my eldest neice at least, the party commenced. 

I've received messages of thanks from all this morning for pulling off the party (I've been coordinating it in the background, as the decor and cake etc were gifts). 

My sisters visit ended today with a stop at Missys favourite restaurant, Stack and Still. The kids absolutely insisted that she get her very own pancake! We indulged them this time and they were delighted when hers arrived in a dog bowl.

And that's it. Everyone's back home. It's all gone quiet and we're all getting ready for work tomorrow. 

And I think the cake has obliterated, so a good weekend was had! 

Why 2023 Won't be "Our Year"

So. 

2022.

It's... Been a year.

Missy has gone up and down the length of the UK, from Sussex to Aberdeen and plenty in between. Highlights were most definitely our holiday at the 100 Aker Woods and our Jubilee Jamboree which spanned not one, but two posts!

We've had some real highs with her passing her PAT assessment and visiting carehomes, and some real, quite scary, lows with her going through a cancer scare at Easter time.

This year we have plenty of adventures planned, but I think we're going to be taking the world at a slower pace and try to enjoy each moment. Missy turns 10 this year, so it's not only in her benefit to slow things down, but for the wellbeing of hubby and I too. Last year was a another in a long line of years were we have consistently put others first, and we need to establish some boundaries before we burn out. 

Above: Missy demonstrating the best way to approach 2023. With adequate caution!  

So. I'm not gonna jynx anything by calling out 2023 as "my year", or saying its gonna be the best one yet, the 2020s have taught us to be cautious of such thoughts. So Missy and I are gonna wish everyone happiness and joy for 2023, because, after all, it's all we really need and want.

A Pre-Christmas Pause

I think Missy is the only one ready to tackle Christmas this year! Honestly, I'm still flip-flopping between being the ghost of Christmas present and the grinch. Hubby has found his Christmas spirit, and hopefully I'll have grasped mine in time for the big day next week.

Yep. Next week. This time next week we'll be in a turkey induced coma whilst Muppets Christmas Carol plays away. I'm very much looking forward to it, but, despite the snow, and finishing my Christmas jigsaw, and getting the last stitch in the Christmas gift sewing, I'm not feeling it yet.

Missy had her Christmas Lead the Way walk yesterday. As usual, most folk were no shows, but we had a lovely time with those who did show up and Missy made a new friend in Sven (below with Missy atop Cockleroy, the only part of Beecraigs free of snow!) Hubby was full of Christmas cheer and handed out the unclaimed gift bags to anyone with a dog that made eye contact with him, which cheered everyone up no end.

After that was running a few errands before we started listening to A Christmas Carol, as read by Derek Jacobi. We have gotten as far as the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past, so it's going very well.

With Christmas sewing out the way, I spent today chilling out and getting on with some other things. This Strontium Dog dice bag has been a few years in the making - I'm sure we all have that one project that is forever being put down! I also reprinted and recut the pattern for my Inverness coat. I haven't been happy with it since it was finished, so I took apart the original one I made, seam by seam, and I'm remaking it in a smaller size with the pattern printed correctly. Here's hoping I'm happier with it this time!

There are presents to wrap and hot chocolate to drink, so have a Merry Christmas, and I'll write again when the festivities are over. 

An Unexpectedly Magical Weekend

It's our first proper snow of the winter, which makes everything look more magical, and helps with the Christmas spirit. I'm having an odd year with Christmas. Usually I'm all for it or just a apethetically following along, whereas this year I feel like I'm there, it's Christmas, let's be jolly and oh, uh, yay, I suppose?

This weekend started out the latter. For reasons I won't divulge, my long anticipated, steal the oldest neice and nephew, I'm the best-aunt-ever(tm) weekend was cancelled. Cancelled very last minute, as in, Friday morning last minute.

Thankfully, I had not bought or booked anything, otherwise I would. Have been too cross to be as understanding as I was. But nonetheless, less said the better. 

With my rather unexpectedly free weekend, I decided to shuffle the dog walk with my mum to the Saturday and go along to the Jollyes open day. I had never heard of this pet superstore before and, as the radio promoted that thier chosen charity was the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, I instantly had to find out about it.

It was more a soft launch open weekend rather than any extravagant grand opening. Well, the unicorn was a bit grand, but more on that in a moment. 

We did spin the wheel before entry and won a free toy. Great start! Then we got handed a free dog goodie bag. Even better! And was that birds I hear?!

So, whilst I would put it on par with Pets at Home in terms of ranges and products, the bird section was phenomenally larger (at the expense of the fish section, I suspect, that felt a bit small). So we got to pick out a nice new perch for the boys. As we were discussing what seed offered the best value, the photographer popped over and asked us how our dog was around horses.

Yep. Missy got a photoshoot with a Unicorn. 

OK, so we had to be there to wrangle, but it was absolutely Missys moment to shine. I can't wait to see the official press photos! 

Missy was allowed to pick herself some dead things from the doggy pick'n'mix as a reward for her outstanding behaviour and we picked up a new pink coat for her (first photo). 

Then it was off to my mums for lunch and a walk in the snow around the quarry. 

Today we swithered on ideas. We had a free day, an absolute rarity, so should we invite friends round for bonus free cheese? (The Magic Circle social night was on Thursday. Hubby and I were rewarded a bunch of spare cheese and chocolates as a thank you for staying back to tidy up.) Or should we have an elusive quiet day and spend it on the sofa eating chocolate and watching Christmas movies?

I'll be honest, neither happened. Duvet days are a thing of the past as Missy insists on a solid wall despite the snow (and I was happy to oblige taking her photo on her cute new coat). After a brisk walk to get the cobwebs out, I was in no mood to sit about. Hubby wasn't either, and he beat me to the punch of starting the big pre-Christmas clean and tidy up. After clearing the place too to bottom, I made tiffin and tear and share to go with the ill-gotten camembert. 

Missy was besotted by the cheese, but alas, had to make do with her advent calander instead! 

Unexpected, but not a bad weekend all told.

OK, OK, one more photo of the unicorn! 

Until next week! 

Beginning to Feel like Christmas

I've given up hope of a truly "quiet" weekend, but this one came close. After a busy run of weekends, and work being busy for various reasons, Hubby put his foot down and insisted that Saturday was to remain a free day for just us.

And it was. We tidied the house and got the last few bits for Christmas from the shops and made a good start on our escape room Advent calendar. I did the dog walks, partly to give him a break from mornings, and partly to complete the Pokemon Go event that day.

At least I'm honest!

Today was a busy one. We were up early to visit a friend for breakfast at the Salt Cafe in Morningside. Dog and child friendly, it was perfect for catching up on the goings on in Liverpool and laughing about parents and in laws and why is it that Christmas brings out the worst in both?

Missy became swift friends with the cafe pup and staff before snoozing under the high chair. She knows the best place to be to get the tidbits!

Then it was off to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Homes Christmas Market. We picked up a few bits and had a nice time chatting to folk, although they've changed the set up and location, and without Santa Paws, wasn't as fun as in previous years. Missy will see Santa Paws soon enough though!

And then we finished the day with a walk around Lauriston Castle with another friend and got some tea and cake. No photos, too busy catching up!

Its been an industrious run on crafts in the house. I have five Christmas gifts left to make and I've made a solid start of a birthday gift too. I cant share most of them, but I will share this little token gift that when out to the Manchester Aunt and Uncle:

Its always good when its easy to post a gift!

Until next week!

Slumber Party

Winter is drawing in for sure now as our afternoon walk feels more and more like a midnight run. Missy isn't phased - she's been chasing off the zombie hordes whilst I've followed warily behind. I will admit that after this photo, I did dig out her high vis' coat, which had made the walk significantly less stressful. Black dogs do not show up very well in the twilight woodland.

Missy is all growing up though; she had her first slumber party this weekend. Well, it was more hubby and I indulging my twin niece and nephew who have been begging for us to stay over for a considerable amount of time now. With thier dad suffering long covid and chronic fatigue, we kept the weekend very simple. We arrived at 9am the Saturday, then I took the mum out for a well deserved stress free few hours bauble painting. 

I am very, very pleased with mine. The workshop was at Dalkeith Country Park and was an early Christmas present which was well received as we spent two hours catching up and enjoying some cake. 

Meanwhile, hubby, dad and the kids did a local treasure hunt through the High Street, looking for the odd things out in the windows, before we all got back for lunch. We let the dad snooze for a little as I got to catch up with the kids and we showed off our trinkets. My neice, who is very, very crafty, was extremely jealous in the most fun way to have been left the the "smelly boys". Honestly, the girl is 8 going on 19!

We had lunch, there was colouring in and board games before dinner. The board games were picked up again as we had a girls round and a boys round of chess - coming from a family that actually played chess very seriously, I loved watching my nephew seriously challenging my hubby. Hubby knows the pieces, and what they do, but he has no idea of tactics. After an initial false start where I realised that the problem was both players were purely reacting on the other and no one had a game plan, I stepped in to help my nephew a little. Then helped hubby a little. Dad joined in and we soon fell into a good rhythm of suggesting some nudges of an idea whilst letting them both actually do the thinking. Hubby won, but it was a close thing, giving my nephew a but more confidence in the game. I played my neice who was far too tired at this point, but was insistent that she should have a go too.

I kept it short, but kind. And let her take a few "big" pieces. I firmly believe chess can only be learned whilst losing and that letting someone win does no one a favour. 

Kids went to bed and we stayed up far too late trying to sort the wrongs of the world. 

Well. We weren't surprised that there was no lie in. So it was a rambling dog walk to air out the cobwebs before games were again played until lunchtime. 

We ate and left and got home to do the chores and get prepped for another week. A very good weekend, but tiring too.

10/10 though, would definitely do again - perhaps not next weekend though like the kids were asking!