Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Tripping.

The schools here have now been back for two days and A seems quite happy being in P2 so far.

It's N's turn tomorrow...

...new shoes await their first wearing - at 12:45pm he will be starting his first afternoon at nursery. He says he doesn't want to go...

Before the ending of the summer holidays becomes more distant I just wanted to make sure I included here more photos of our late summer adventures. Here follows, therefore, a quick romp back through the last week and a bit.

We were invited to visit my Aunty for a family do. She loves to cook and we all love to eat. Lots of delicious dishes had been prepared and although I'm now trying to cut down on the amount I eat, I do like to indulge a little on special occasions. I even had some sticky toffee pudding, it was scrumptious.

Some time later in the week, on a sunny afternoon, I took A & N and their bikes to the loch. Here are a few of the many photographs I took -I like to have such images stored by from happy summer days to sustain me when the colder, darker months are here.

I love A's exuberant throwing of stones into the loch.


Then, last Sunday afternoon we visited Finlaystone. I've been here quite a few times with the children (and have blogged about it before) but it was hubby's first time. Each time I visit I always come across something new, this time was no exception. First we start with the woodland areas...

The waterfall. We'd recently had quite a lot of rain so the waterfall was the most impressive I've ever seen it.

The pirate ship, me hearties.

Puffing Billy.

Wood detail from one of the log teepees.

Event board on the side of the tram.

The tram (in deep shade in the glade).

A & N look out though a window of the old laundry. I go in too and find a little room off the main one which I'd not been in before. It contained many of the old pieces of laundry equipment...

... including this beast. There is a plaque with more information on the hatch...

... it's a washing machine! I think I'll stick with the one I've got, thanks.

The old laundry from the outside, the new (to me) room is the one through the door on the left.

We're now heading up to the gardens...

...past the stable block (I like the red doors),

through the arched gate (and also through the cafe where the children each get a vanilla cone with strawberry sauce),

and through the greenhouses. I'd like one like this in my garden, I'd love somewhere pretty to sit outside even when it's raining.

Apples and roses fruit and flower against the wall. There were a lot of apples just lying on the ground behind the netting. I hope the gardeners pick them and use them rather than let them rot.

Cosmos. Something else I'd like for my garden, and more achievable than the greenhouse/veranda dream.

Hanging around.

A view over the lawns. A little bit of the big house can be glimpsed through the trees on the right.

A Fungus on the lawn.

The house.

The view to the Clyde from the lawn in front of the house.

A quick glimpse of the fountain. Normally we'd linger here and the children would play but it was already five o'clock and we were being encouraged out by one of the rangers so they could lock the gates.

A detail of a boar carved on a stone just outside the garden gates just before we return to the car and head home for tea (fish and chips!)





Monday, 15 August 2011

Castles, Steamers, Harbours and Beaches.

Today was the last day of the school holidays.

We decided we should do something, go somewhere, take a picnic. I'm so glad we did, it was a lovely day (though I do confess to a little feeling of can't-be-botheredness before we set off).

Where to go though... it had to be somewhere not too far away but different to the usual places we visit, somewhere inexpensive, suitable for picnicking and with enough to do to keep us occupied for the day.

We went to Portencross. It's 20 - 25 miles away, has a castle (just recently opened to the public), a harbour (albeit a very small one), picnic benches, walks, a beach, and lovely views across the Clyde to the Island of Arran (and a big car park, I'm always worrying about where to park!).

Portencross castle, the earliest parts of the which date from the 1300's. The castle has been recently repaired and it's now possible to go inside and entrance is free though donations are welcome. The castle has effectively been "saved" for the public by local volunteers, lots of interesting information about this is available here.

Looking north from the roof of the castle.

Looking west.

There are some rather large spiders in the castle.

The harbour (small indeed!)

A look back at the castle.

Further away now. I like the dramatic sky in the above picture.

Amy Rabbit and Special Teddy came too.

Arran across the firth and more fabulous clouds.

Woo hoo, it's the Waverly ("the last sea going paddle steamer in the world"), the sighting of which was quite exciting for me (I'm easily amused, a good thing I think!).

A distant Waverly passing between Arran and the castle.

Interesting cottage, actually rather tatty looking closer up.

Swallows starting to gather.

Village post box.

Friendly local cat.

A good poser too.

As was this odd looking bird, spotted through a garden gate, a peacock missing his tail feathers? Apparently the tail feathers do fall off at the end of the summer, though there was another peacock in the garden with a full tail (though not displaying like this one was trying to).

A seagull atop a rock. We've had our picnic lunch and are on our way to the beach.

Cormorants or shags on the rock I think.

Wild flowers, masses of daisies.

The last section of path...

The we're at the beach. A & N were ridiculously happy just guddling about collecting pebbles and shells in their buckets. They're easily amused too (definitely a good thing!)

I find a pebble with a hole in it.

Despite the earlier presence of the ominous looking clouds the afternoon turns out sunny with lots of blue sky.

When the tide's in it's quite a pretty beach, this view is towards West Kilbride.

This view is towards Arran.

A beach collection.

Whilst looking for shells I come across a set of car keys! Only one couple has passed us heading from the car park and they're miles away further down the beach. We make our way slowly towards them, fortunately they themselves decide it's time to head home and walk back towards us too (walking with 3 & 6 yrs old on a beach is slow!). The keys are indeed theirs though they were unaware at that point that they'd lost them. They were very relieved, as was I to have found the keys' owners.

Two hearts...

Then home.

I think we're all set for tomorrow. We have enough pinafores, skirts, shirts, cardigans, etc, and we have the new school shoes...

... here they are on the right with the old ones on the left, which did miraculously last a whole year (and look like it too!)


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