Joust about there

It's officially the summer season and that means it's dog shoes and days out galore!

This weekend we had our first dog show of the year with Bravehound and I am pleased to say that Missy placed second in Still Game and sixth in dog udge would most like to take home - not a bad start to the year!

Wee Ben joined in and placed second in waggiest tail, so a good day all round! Always lovely to have my sister join in on a dog show - although she is starting to get competitive, clearly caught the bug for it!

We then dashed over to linlithgow for our next camping adventure and the jousting on Sunday!

Before the day got too hot, I got some photos of Missy in her Redwall armour (in which there is no coincidence that it matches Sir Checkmate!). We've done the joist loads now, and whilst the plot changes a little each time, I'm always heartened to cheer on my favourite pantomime villain!

We did banner making, had a go at medieval calligraphy and just overall had a lovely day. It was great being right beside the campsite and being able to walk to and fro and next year we're thinking of doing the same for the Caerlaverock joust.

And then we got back home and the rain came. It's been a great year for the garden, although a dry spell, even a few hours would be appreciated to get everything picked!

There's a lot booked on in July, so I'll keep you all updated as and when I can!

Wandering Whitby

A bit of a delayed post! 

At the start of the month we did our annual holiday with my Manchester sister and her two little ones. As always, it was a packed trip, so I'll give you the quick run down:

Monday was a travelling day and, once we all arrived, we had a short walk about the waterfront and scoped out some fun things to do.

Tuesday we started with the Black Pearl boat trip, a pirate themed barge that definitely got us in the mood for the day. My sister isn't keen on water and, despite clinging on for dear life, did enjoy herself!

And then it was up to Whitby Abbey (pictured top). We did go looking for Dracula, but alas, he was nowhere to be found.

We finished up looking for the Whalebone Arch, and we're treated to splendid views

Wednesday was a day trip to Scarborough. Firstly to the Castle and then onto Peasholm Park. You can tell the animals are used to dogs being on the lead, I've never seen a squirrel approach Missy, let alone stand within 2 feet of her! Needless to say, I was holding onto her collar with all my might just in case, but fortunately she was far more interested in the sandwiches! We finished the trip with a go on the dragon boats, to finish that Edwardian picnic experience, and overall we had a lovely day.

Thursday was a change of pace, we exchanged hostages and hubby and I took the kids for a day at Flamingoland whilst my sister had a quiet day enjoying the calm of a senior dog as they pottered about the abbey again. After being sent many selfies of them both, including one of Missy dressed in a vampire cape, I knew she was having a delightful time.

The kids loved Flamingoland. This was their first ever theme part - and the location was hubbys idea owing to there being a zoo if the kids hated the rides. Honestly, I had to drag them away from the rides to look at the flamingos! They both had a whale of a time! We officially have a new pair of adrenaline junkies in the family.

Friday was the slow day. Hubby and I went round the museum ourselves before we all had some lunch and then headed to Boggle Hole. Fossil hunting was the key thing the kids wanted to do and we let them look for dinosaurs whilst we enjoyed a woodland walk over to Robin Hoods Bay. Missy enjoyed being in forest for a short while, she being a dog more inclined to trees than sand, and it was nice to get a bit of proper walking in.

Boggle Hole has a YHA associated with it, so we enjoyed some dinner there before heading back to the cottage.

Saturday was our last full day. We first visited the Whitby Aquarium and what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in fantastic staff. We were given a guided tour, had the hatchery process explained to us and Missy was made an absolute fuss of. Which was good, as the weather had finally turned on us.

There was enough of a break to sail about th Bark Endeavour - which was strangely less terrifying for my sister. I'd have thought the bigger drop to the ocean would have been worse, but apparently being further from the sea was a better thing!

We finished the holiday with a walking tour, and the guide was fantastic, dancing perfectly between the macabre and keeping things family friendly.

And then it was off home

Needless to say, we were exhausted after that! It was a fantastic holiday, but I think we all needed a break to recover from it!

Gnome-ing somewhere?

With the lovely weather, we finally had the energy to get out and about on a lovely day trip.

We've done Incholm before, I was going to say not that long ago, but looking through the archives - it was 2018! Let me start that again, it's been some time since we visited Incholm Abbey, and I was looking forward to seeing it at its most picturesque in the sunshine 

We had a fabulous day. The seagulls were being (quite rightly) very protective of their nests, so we didn't venture too far out on the island after a couple swooped at me!

Still, it was perfect for a picnic and an ice cream in the sun and there was a stiff enough breeze that Missy wasn't going to overheat. I did walk her to the water but she wasnt interested.

Following the boat trip, we went to our friends for a BBQ, the first of the year, and overall it was exactly what was needed for the soul. Sunshine. Good company. Friends and loved ones. 

Perfect.

There's a lot going on in my private life at the moment, so it's a short post today. I want to focus on the nice and happy things and will fill you all in another time.

Until then,

Cheerio!

A Swift Month

How is it almost the end of the month? Spring is still teasing us with one day that's almost mild, only to be followed by a hard frost of wind coming from the side! So with that in mind, of course we decided it was a great idea to book a staycation!

Well, buckle in, it was a week!

So we decided to go away primarily to spend some time together. Both hubby and I had fallen into the pattern of "I need to do this job first, then we can do something nice..." To the point we did lose one of the few days we've had off together literally taking turns to wait on the other, get bored and start a job, just as the other finished. I floated the idea of a hot tub and, I won't lie, I set up the search parameters and went for the nearest one that had good reviews whilst still being cheap.

Probably a wise choice, despite 4 nights, we got in the hot tub all of two times! On the first and then the last night, which were the only 2 dry evenings we had! And by dry, I mean, it wasnt tipping buckets.

Our first proper day was out at Dundonald Castle, a partnership site with Historic Scotland, so we finally got a chance to use our passes. The visit came with a guided tour (as we 3 where the only ones there, a private tour!) and Missy had access to the castle, the cafe and museum. A good choice as it was an on-off drizzle sort of day. The castle itself was lovely and in enough repair you could imagine it as a stronghold. And the lady doing the tour was smitten with Missy who apparently looked like a rather long legged version of her Jack Russel! Another tally on the jack-weiler theory for Missy!

This will age me. All morning as I was making a picnic, it was nagging me that I'd looked at visiting Dundonald before. And then I remembered. It was the closest historic site that allowed dogs to one of the very few Wimpys left in the UK. If you know, you know. So yes. We packed the sandwiches up and put them aside for dinner as we were getting a wimpy one way or another!

Our second full day was a bit of a disaster. We were technically staying in Darvel, if one can count a 5 minute winding drive to the foot of a wind farm as part of a town. It wasn't the best weather to start with, but there was a promised reprieve in the forecast for 2-3pm. So we went to Darvel, birthplace of Alexander Fleming, he of terrible microbiology practices, to find absolutely nothing. 4 barbers. 2 funeral homes. 6 takeaways (all shut). The only nod to Fleming was a slightly creepy bust on a pillar in the town square.

Problem was, we'd booked lunch for 1pm, and had a lot of time to kill. We went on a quest for fuel, found a crystal shop in a neighboring town and then went to Loudounhill Pizzeria for no other reason than they had a dog menu. It was the highlight of the day. Missy got scrambled eggs, was treated like the queen she is, and we had some absolutely amazing pizza.

Then came the allotted "break" in the weather. A drizzle, we could cope with, so off we went to Loudoun Hill to see the Sprit of Scotland monument. Missy had her photo taken and then 5 minutes later she decided to hell with the now sideways wind and torrential rain, and turned around back to the car. We followed, thankful for a fairweather dog.

The weather decided to do it's best in asking for forgiveness and gave us spectacular weather the next morning. I could tell when I woke up that something was wrong with my eye, so blaming my blepharitis (my eyelashes are too cold, so don't correctly secrete the oils we need for the eyes) I donned sunglasses and went on for the day.

Culzean Castle is like a fairytale. With palm trees, a coastal setting and an exterior straight out of the 18th Century Mediterranean, we could have been in a pirate movie. Honestly, it was amazing. We had our first picnic of the year and just wondered the grounds for hours. There was a deer park, a swan lake, pagodas and a walled garden. Almost too much to see and do!

A fantastic end to our wee holiday. You might ask about the final day when we usually find something to do on route home? Well, by this point my eye was swollen shut. I risked a romantic sunset in the hot tub to see if the damp heat would help and, although it relieved it for a few hours, by Sunday morning I was ready to get home again.

Eye was fine Monday morning, still not sure what set it off! Missy slept all of Sunday, and the weather was awful again, so we made the right choice to have a quiet day on the sofa at home.

Our run into March is very busy, so I shall see you in the 3rd month!

Sneaking through the Snowdrops

I know time goes faster as you get older, but how are we mid-February already?

Long time readers will know that Valentine's is not the most special part of February; Missy's adoptiversary is the most important day of the month! This year marks 11 years that Missy has been part of the family and that number does not fail to shock me every time I see it. She's 12 now, how did that happen?

We celebrated early this year owing to schedules. Like the queen, Missy had two events, one as a photoshoot in her new jumper with the most delightful "cake" (sugar and dairy free waffles with dog friendly chocolates on it) and then again last weekend where we did a nice walk and she was spoiled with her favourite "dead things".

The cake did not last long.

The weekend before last, we managed a trip to the circus with my mum (always a good day out) followed by a really chill Sunday with lots of snuggles for Missy.

And this weekend we managed a quick trip up north to the in laws for a quiet recharge and a play in their campervan - after many years, they have decided we can be trusted to take it for a wee holiday. First of all though we had to camp on the drive, just to be shown everything, all the buttons and dials and trays and hidden compartments (I did not appreciate how much storage their actually was!) Next step is for us to join them at a site (we'll camp) but to be shown how it's set up and how to cook etc in it. 

I feel some of these steps are to encourage us to see them more, but it's always a really chill visit seeing them, so I don't mind!

 

Missy has been removed from the set up team though, after this attempt of tidying up! I think she's best lounging about as foreman and queen than continuing to "help".

One can't forget Ruby who, after her initial excitement, proved she remembered her manners and was very well behaved. Missy has a sore ear at the moment, and her dislike of the winter cold has made her less willing to put up with nonsense from other dogs than usual! We are all very eagerly awaiting spring.

Perhaps we will see a mythical "doggit"!

We have some exciting things lined up for the next update, will see you then!

Through the Stargate to February

We did it, we survived January - the longest, crappiest month of the year! The days are noticeably longer (I mean, still dark before 5pm, but I'm not chasing the sun on the dog walk now) and the weather is ripe for adventure.

This weekend Missy was joined by Maisie and my brother as we explored the Abandoned Fife Earth Project, Scottish Coal ran out of money before completion. If it looks similar to the Crawick Multiverse or Jupiter Artland, well, it should, it's the same artist! It's free to wander about and we clocked up 3 miles in our slow meanderings.

It was very windy (as an abandoned coal mine/quarry should be) so we were quickly chilled to the bone, but otherwise would probably have spent longer there. Missy was tuckered out by the time we got home, which is always nice to see.

I am a month down on my cross stitch journal, and as you can see February is already started. Lessons have been learned, I pivoted too hard on the small stitches, so January almost feels a bit gappy at points. I'm not precious about the segments touching, so the gaps at the edges will get filled in later.

But why is February snow leopard print, not all hearts and cutesy?

It has taken literal years, but I finally got the perfect snow leopard photo at the zoo when we went on Saturday, so of course I had to commemorate it!

I expect February to be a busier month, and we're now in adventure season, so I'll hopefully see you all again soon!

A Heavenly Walk at the Hermitage

Autumn has been suspiciously kind. The temperature is dropping, and the nights are drawing in, but it's been mild and...dare I say ... Dry.

So I decided I had to cram in at least one more adventure before ethe year was out, and that was the Hermitage in Dunkeld.

Hubby had the day off (his first week in the new job has been very successful) so we decided on a location he fancied, which was the Hermitage. My brother messaged about a play date with Maisie and a plan was swiftly put in motion.

Have you not seen a cuter pair? 

We picked up my brother and Maisie at the park and ride and travelled just over an hour North. The weather gods smiled on us as the day progressively brightened and we parked up to a bright blue sky and vivid autumn leaves.

The walk itself wasn't difficult, although we did have to cut down a cycle path as we had managed to take a wrong turn, and we all ambled first uphill to the pinecone and then back downhill to the Hermitage Bridge.

It was busy, I don't think we're the only ones trying to squeeze in one more nice day out, but everyone was polite and happy to take turns to enjoy the view.

I had thought the view at the pinecone stunning, well, the waterfalls were something else. It was much busier at the water, but again, no one was in a rush and we all had plenty of time to enjoy the day.

A wonderful day, and after 2 hours of steady walking, both dogs slept all the way home! A fantastic finish to the weekend, and a well deserved adventure!

Till next time!

Hold the Fort!

Well, that's it, the end of the season. The last of this years events (but not adventures, rest easy my friend!). And what event was this? The Siege on the Forth at Blackness Castle.

Now, we have done this event once before in yon days before COVID (scratch that, 2017, that was a lifetime ago!) so I expected it to be different. With the rise of Outlander, some of which was filmed at this castle, it should come as no surprise that redcoats and Jacobites were abound. I decided to getu redcoat out the loft and, with cooler weather, knew that Missy would be more inclined to her Jacobite outfit.

Well, I expected some comments, but my, so many compliments! All from the reenactors (and a pair of young girls who were also dressed up as elves, who recognised kindred spirits as my friend and her boyfriend were also dressed up). Tremendous fun!

I was rather out numbered! There were also World War soldiers (who did a talk about the differences in the uniforms between the first and second), Napoleonic reenactors and also the classic Medieval ones. Missy managed to put stare a lord who relented to give her a piece of chicken but did not succeed in trying to hard stare some quiche off the squires.

The hard stare in action.

Missy tolerated the cannon once, but decided she was above such spectacles upon the second so I went for a wee walk about the camps which were now very quiet and managed to have a lovely chat with two medieval ladies about thier dresses and how they were made.

We then went for a wee walk before returning for the World Wars talk and the final parade. All in all, a very good day.

Even if I did upset a Napoleonic Soldier with my comment about his cute cannon.

 

I mean, how can something that small and deadly not be cute?!

Whilst I don't expect things to calm down any (life is not that kind at the moment), I think there will be an uptick of sewing in future posts. The longer nights are a good encouragement to be genteel and get on with crafts!

Until next time!

An Irish Getaway

 

Where to start? That's us just back from a fantastic week away in Ireland visiting family and also fitting in some tourist things too. As an added twist, we also went camping this time! But lets get to the start.

This year we decided to try the Pet Lounge option on the ferry. Stena Line state that pets must be crated in the pet lounge, which has always put us off as crate training is just something that we have never felt the need to do with Missy. We bought a lovely fabric pop up crate and...totally forgot about training. I will admit, Missys "training" was literally 3 separate occasions of having her lie down in it and giving her a nice treat. We simply ran out of time.
However, the 3 attempts absolutely paid off as Missy just chilled out for the whole crossing whilst we raided the free tea! I did try the exercise area, but Missy was not inclined to stand in the pouring rain and wind. Cant say I blame her!

Then we were on Irish soil and setting up the tent at the Kinnego Marina. We had managed to do a test run pitching the tent up so it was up in 20 minutes and we moved in for the week and then went to see my dad for homemade Chilli Con Carne. 

Tuesday we collected my sister from the airport and went to the Ulster Museum of Rural life for the day. It is a 1910s pre war village made of restored or replica buildings with actors explaining the different parts of rural life. Dogs are permitted on the grounds but not in the buildings, so we took turns popping in and out.
I would say it was possibly a highlight of the holiday, a wee hidden gem which is massively undersold by its website. The staff were great and we had a lovely walk through the town ad around the farm. It was that nice level of busy - enough people to have an atmosphere, but not so many it intruded on the day.
Highlights definitely included a fabulous exchange with the doctor who was alarmed at my sisters blue hair (which is catching as my pink under layer was noticed!). Although lunch was a disaster as the moment we sat down on the bench outside it started to pour with rain. We saved the cakes with the assistance of an umbrella but the bread roll was lost - in hindsight its funny, but at the time it felt like the world was picking on us. Especially as the sun came out 10 minutes later...

Wednesday was birthdays - my sister really wanted to do the Giants Causeway for the day and we managed to time it so that we caught the best of the weather. The morning drizzle had burned off by the time the tour finished and we completed the clifftop walk before the winds picked up. We had fun in the visitors centre too and generally had more time for the day, which was good.
We didn't manage the clifftop walk last time so I was pleased to fit it in this time and getting to see the Giants Organ up close and see the causeway from above was breath taking.

So yeah, those high winds. I honestly thought I was gonna wake up in Oz on the Thursday! The tent held up for us though and we were able to show off the living quarters when my dad visited for lunch. Thursday was just a chill out day really and a chance to enjoy camping whilst the weather had cheered up again.

Then Friday we were off home again before catching up with friends over the weekend.

I think I need a holiday from my holiday!

Pinning on the Purple Poppy

Its been a busy week run this week - from sneaking out of work to volunteer at the Greyhound Rescue Centre Fife for a day, to hosting friends and having a laugh playing Baker Street. It's been a good one. And this weekend was the icing on the cake:

Firstly, Saturday was a Armed Forces Event in conjunction with The Purple Poppy UK. Purple poppies remember the animals that have served, or still serve in the military, so it was only fitting that in addition to the horses on show, bedecked in purple poppies themselves, that there was a dog show. It was actually my older sister who found out about it, she being fairly local, and she suggested possibly going to it (spoiler, she turned up as we left, the show being packed up).

I'm gonna be honest, the dog show was the weakest part of the day. Competing against police dog demos, pipe bands, 50s jive demos, highland dancing, live music, hundreds of stalls and a living history village from WW2, it was definitely overshadowed. I won't complain, Missy took home 2 ribbons, although I almost missed golden oldie as I ran off to watch the Highland dancing!

It was Missy's Mercy Dog outfit that won the day - it's debut in competition and the only location I felt it would do well. And that was the day. A fabulous solo adventure for Missy and I!

Sunday was just for the dogs - the long awaited return of Doghailes. The logistics of this day were a disaster - originally hubby was off and we were gonna meet friends, and then he wasn't, but that shouldn't spoil the day, right? Well, then we got double booked, big Sis if off on her holidays and could I take Wee Ben? 

I had committed to having him, when the holiday was meant to have happened in Easter. As it was, tickets had been bought and paid for for Doghailes by the time the dates were booked. As my friend has a no dogs on furniture policy, I couldn't take Ben with and go for dinner as originally planned. As Hubby was working, I couldn't just pick him up and go myself, I operate a strict one dog per person policy at events. So in the end I strong armed my niece into coming along and doing the drop off.

There wasn't much in the way of coercion. My niece wanted away from the mad flap of packing, and had been asking me repeatedly about when the next show was on she could take Ben to. I paid thier entry and off we went.

We shared a picnic, cheered on the dogs, fitted in a nice walk about the estate and generally had a lovely day. Missy placed 2nd in fancy dress, the only ribbon we picked up, but it's all for charity, so we didn't mind in the slightest.

A fab weekend all round.

With us having Ben this week, we have an unexpected quiet week thrust upon us and, I won't lie, it's probably needed!

Until next time!