Hello All! Just a quickie....yeah yeah...I know you have heard it before and I will still be waffling on at christmas!

We saw some of you a couple of weekends ago when we made an impromptu visit to Kegworth. Only for a couple of nights but it was lovely to catch up - if a little knackering! It was great to see all of the St Georges cross flags decorating the village...fingers crossed they stay up a while longer! Joe has now put one up on the outside of our house...hope we don't lose a window or two as a result!!

 

We were down to dismantle our 'new to us' kitchen. I know, only us could be mad enough to buy a kitchen off ebay and  for it to be in Stoke!! But the kitchen is fab. We are really pleased. It only arrived on Monday and already the base units and work tops are installed! Take a look at the photos of the works in progress. I will add to it when we have finished.

 

This weekend was the islands highland games. It is much more for the children and families than the traditional 'heavy' stuff. Although there were still a few Jocks tossing cabers and hammers etc. Joe won a small fortune which he spent on sweeties and had a stash of 4 of the coveted slate medals, Holly won 2 but had much more fun posing with her pals! She did the hill run...and believe me the hills are hills around here! She ran the whole way round and beat several girls much older than her! Nick and I were stewards - looking stunning in our bright yellow vests so we didn't get to take part ourselves - although Nick did the cross country run and the hill run. He couldn't walk the next day! The ceidlidh at night was a blast as usual. Even Nick will get up and take a turn around the dance floor now! he is getting quite good at the gay gordons, the dashing white seargent and the canadian barn dance! What a hoot. Holly is very good at it and didn't sit a single dance out! She didn't want to come home at midnight with her old ma and pa and stayed to sing auld lang syne with her friend and her friends parents brought her home at 1.30 am! What a party animal!

 

Yesterday was sports day at school. It was a beautiful day - glorious sunshine and the field is right beside the shore..stunning. Nick won the dads race - and I won the mums race!! It was the sack race...never let it be said that we aren't good in the sack!!! Hollys clan came third in total and Joe's clan came first. Although both won 4 medals each.

 

Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief. It seems that Bella isn't having pups. Good job too - slip of a girl that she is! I don't think that I told you what happened. A couple of months ago, Bella was in her first season. Right near the end - after about 3 weeks of keeping her in - no walks, no off lead runs, not allowed in the garden on her own - she sneaked out into the garden through the cat flap and the local farm dog jumped over the fence and humped her. When i opened the gate to let chase him off she followed him begging for more - strumpet. I was wearing nothing more than a pair of old Pyjamas (I was painting in them) and nothing on my feet). So I am running along the road in the pouring rain (surprise surprise) trying to chase the beastie off my little princess screaming at the top of my voice - in my pyjamas. Meanwhile they were humping all the way down the lane. I finally caught her about a mile down the road, little hussey. I had to take her for 'emergency contraception' at the vets. Cost me 30 quid and a stiff talking to about responsible parenting from the vet! The jag that she was given is about 95% effective...so we have waited with baited breath. No signs of babies so far. Now we just have to look out for a nice posh boyfriend for her.....;O)

Anyway, see you all this weekend. School ends tomorrow for 7.5 weeks YAY!! We will drive down to Glasgow after tea and fly to East Mids. Hope to catch up with as many of you as poss over the weekend but bare in mind that we won't have a car...so you will  have to come to mums!! See you all soon,

Love,