Chaos at Cammo Estate

It's been another busy little week for Wee Ben. We're on day 12 now and, despite a few bumps in the road, it's going well. He has gotten comfortable enough to start pushing boundaries, and we've had to push back, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. We've also realised his eating schedule runs much later than ours, do we've ended up organising a "midnight" snack for him, which he heartily eats. Its all about compromise!

Although I think Big Sis' hope that he'd return from Bootcamp nice and trim isn't going to happen. His day 1 and day 7 weight was exactly the same, so he isn't pining away at least.... 

It's been a miserable week weather wise, which hasn't really helped to enamour Wee Ben to all these walks! We had to fend off zombies one day when a mist rolled in and didn't depart again. Missy was on the case chasing everything that moved and Wee Ben stuck by me, safety in numbers and all that. 

We've had a busy week. The highlight was a cheeky date night out for pancakes. Wee Ben has far more interested in watching the cars pass by than the food, which makes a change from Missys Paddington level Hard Stare(tm). There was errands too. One evening at hubby's brothers to lay carpet, and another scrubbing the house down for visitors. Our friends with the twins visited and they were very enamoured with Wee Ben. A little dog (check) that doesn't jump (check) and comes for cuddles (check), how greats that?

I asked if they wanted to pick up after him, and they quickly went off the idea of keeping him for themselves. Oh, to be 8 again. 

The week was finished up with much crafting (to be unveiled next week) and a trip for all the fur cousins at Cammo Estate. It was raining, but that never stops Maisie, and the three dogs were happily doing their own thing. 

Wee Ben doesn't particularly like Maisie. She's a bit too in-your-face and bouncy for him. The final straw was when she came charging back to us, misjudged her jump over Ben and basically ninja kicked him in the face. After that her stayed well out of her way! 

Another short post from me. Whoever said that 2 dogs was as easy as 1 was lying! We're all knackered! 

A Belated Birthday post

Back to busy weekends! And this one marked the kick off of the birthday run!

Saturday was spent furiously working on crafts (big reveal next weekend, I promise!) before meeting up with the BIL for a birthday dinner.

Sunday was the main event, my birthday, and as hubby had decided to move his birthday from next weekend to share with me, it was almost like a Mini-Christmas. Tea and biscuits in bed, enjoying cuddles with Missy as we swapped gifts - the perfect start to a birthday.

Then we were off to give blood (I did legitimately try to book for the Saturday, but the vampires were unavailable at any time that suited me). That went well - iron came in at a whopping 134 (fail rate is 125), so I was delighted to cruise through to give blood without the malarkey of trying to get a better iron result intravenously. Even the nurse admitted she saw my history of iron fails and was nervous for me! 

And then we were off to Cammo Estate for a charity dog show with Lewis Leap (a bereavement charity for families that have lost children). Missy went in for Golden Oldie and Musical Sit, but placed in neither. I managed to win all the sweets at the "nail in a bale" stall and hubby won us some Irn Bru at the tombola. In addition to the doggy goodie bags, we did very well. 

Missy even felt up for a run and play afterwards, which was a delight to see. 

Not a bad start to the big birthday run! 

Compasses ready at Cammo Estate

Missy turned her paw to a new hobby this weekend; orienteering! Despite absolutely no sense of direction, I used to love orienteering as a kid and, over the years of spotting those familiar red and white plaques, I've learned that this was an equal passion of my hubby's when he was a boy. Every time we spotted an abandoned control point, we'd discuss that we should find out the local groups and... that was it.

Earlier this week I spotted an advert on Facebook for an orienteering open day at Cammo Estate and decided to give it a go and see if it lived up to my childhood memories. It was originally to be a solo event but, through the power of "do us a favour", I ended up with Maisie (but no brother), my older sister and BIL, thier dog Wee Ben and eldest nephew (10) accompanying me. I won't beat about the bush, my nephew hates outdoor pursuits and activities. If there isn't a screen involved, he won't partake in it. I've managed to get him into some board games (exploding kittens is a favourite) and, thinking myself clever, got him into Pokemon GO. What's wrong with that? Nothing to do with the game (I've played it daily since it launched) its just that he doesn't actually want to walk and play, he'll stand and catch pokemon and, screen glued to face, shuffle at the slowest pace. Not ideal for dog walking, or being anywhere near traffic! I've digressed. I was worried as he'd already expressed disdain at the thought of the sport, even though I'd tried to dress it up as "treasure hunting".

A quick run through for those unfamiliar to the sport; you get a map with points marked on it and, going 1 through to 20, use the map to find all the points as quickly as possible. It's all modern now, you have little trackers on your finger that you pop into a little reciever which beeps and records the time stamp. In my day it was a literal stamp made from pins that you punctured the sheet with!

Indicating North, I handed my nephew the tracker and map and off we went. The first one is always easy and, as we organised ourselves to find the next point (I was having him do it all by himself and was just guiding things along) I asked where North was. He pointed. True North. It was like the clouds parted and the heavens shined upon us, the first in my genetic family line with an internal compass. He was clearly delighted with this unexpected praise and elation and, recognising he had a natural knack to the sport, was hooked.

No complaints of being tired, he ran as soon as we spotted the next navigation point. No complaining for the phone or making excuses to stop and delay, we made our way round that track in a very respectable time, telling his parents to hurry up. 

Highlights included a fleet of cavalier King Charles in pyjamas (no photos sadly, we were admiring at a dash) and some huge tree plates from some fallen trees which, for reasons unknown bearing in mind his usual vampiric dislike to Sun and outdoors, my nephew finds totally fascinating. 

Afterwards we parted ways and I heard later from my mother (who they visited next) that it was all he would talk about. Hopefully his parents will encourage him and make it a hobby, I'll certainly be letting them know if I spot another one! 

I'm going to leave it on a high, with a comment to say to tune in next week as Missy has some exciting news to share! 

Cammo Estate

Its been a typical Scottish spring weekend, snow one day and then glaring low sun the next - I cant complain, at least today was dry!

So, I've been playing about with the Dog Furiendly site that launched earlier this year and, whilst not complete, it does list some places I didn't know about. Last weeks Muiravonside was one, and this weekends walk around the Cammo Estate was another. Located by Edinburgh Airport, it was a quick and easy drive out and we were well rewarded with a nice easy-going walk where Missy could quite safely be off the leash and ignore all the other dogs in her quest to find small furry rodents.

It took us about an hour to dither around the estate and admire the strange tall tower and the canal. The offices are more complete than the main manor and Missy got lost in the old piggery chasing the ghosts of scents. In true dog walker fashion, we only stopped to look at the map as we were leaving, and realised there was a visitors centre. We had clocked a load of orienteering posts, so I think next time we pop by we might have a shot at that - its been years since I did orienteering. 

Today is St Patricks day and to be honest, its been a bit of a wash out. Normally something local is organised but this year people clearly aren't feeling it. I made a cake to match the colours of the Irish flag and made a point of wishing my Irish relations a good day, but that was really it. Perhaps next year!

Its that time of year when my sewing stash gets full of starry fabric and I have something strange in the works - with the upcoming Magic Circle competition, the hubby has asked for a Wizards Carpet Bag. Complete with several pockets neatly hidden away inside and a leatherette base and details. Its my first time using a bag frame and I was frustrated when looking for tutorials online which mostly referred me to use the instructions provided with the frame. Would have been good advice had it come with instructions! So I made it up as I went along and I'm rather pleased with the results:

I do love the print, and have enough to make a matching waistcoat for the hubby. I might give bag frames another go and make myself a proper Mary Poppins-esque carpet bag, but that's a project for another day!