Angels from the realms of glory #livewithus

We have a star, an angel, and a shepherd living in our house this Christmas.

She even made the local paper

The end of term is hectic, but I do love the emphasis on celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, and what's Christmas actually about if not applauding your kids in the local nativity?!

A bicycle built for two #sleepinducer

Heaven on earth #trossachs

So here it is! #Santa'sonhisway

Traditional Annual Sleigh Ride!

Favouritist place #trossachs

In days gone by #raploch

This is how my side of the river used to look...completely different from the council houses built there today. Found the image on an old family friend's wall. Her mother was given it as a wedding gift early last century and it's now hanging in the nursing home with her.

What memories we carry.

North of the border #quinesandloons

Absolutely no need not go back over Mama B's most excellent posting so I'll just fill in the gaps, which over the past 2 weeks has involved an awful, awful, AWFUL lot of this:

Diesel

Three times it went to the garage for the same thing...diesel pouring out from underneath it, white smoke billowing out the back and a debt towards sustainable living.

 

And diesel stinks. It stinks through the vents, it stinks when it's on your fingers, and when your car stinks of it, you stink of it.

It seems to finally be sorted, but we were lucky enough to have Oma's car slumbering in our cul-de-sac, which has been worth its weight in gold.

And the other thing was this:

Twice I've had the plumber out and FINALLY the boiler seems to be working again, with nothing leaking or dripping, no falling boiler pressure and no frozen gas inlet pipe.

Yup, it's been c o l d. And when it's 11 degrees at 7 in the morning, I'm telling you, no-one is happy.

Lucky poor El Puma has been off in Paris and receiving many an update throughout the day. But all's fair as last Thursday and Friday he had to replace me on our short weekend break to the Trossachs, which I was meant to have done with the kids while he was in Paris.

In the end, I had to be in Edinburgh for 2 days and he got to wake up to mornings like this:

It just so happens that this was actually one morning I was there...and it was definitely absolutely totally around -4. It took us 30 minutes to defrost both cars (and another 20 to warm up my fingers in front of the car heaters). That, the diesel, and the boiler is the parallel universe version of what was a wonderful weekend in Aberdeenshire.

And one thing Mama B did forget: 

this year's homemade Christmas wreath

Thank you to our wonderful northern quines and loons!

Rapunzel #hengin'ootthewindae

Ah, the Christmas Pantones! That classic Christmas tradition and one I have truly missed every year I've been abroad. 

This year, once again, the Christmas Panto at the MacRobert Arts Centre did not disappoint.

Oh yes it did!

Oh no it didn't!

etc.

etc.

This year Johnny McKnight once again wrote, directed and starred in the production - his 14th for the MacBob. The costumes were are garish and outlandish as ever, the jokes were brilliantly local, the accent so thick I'm not sure even I caught 100% of it (although El Puma was laughing like a hyena for most of it so maybe it's true that as much if not more comes through body language than actual vocab).

This year it was Rapunzel: a hair-braiding adventure. And this year we took the eldest two. 

They possible loved the ice cream in the middle the most, but I found it absolutely rip-roaringly funny, and I wouldn't go anywhere else.

 Of course, in our excitement of getting there, poor Fingerling tripped over her own feet and totally kersplatted on the pavement Bambi-style with all 4 limbs facing different compass points. I'm just glad she didn't take any more teeth out, but we'll need to say bye bye to those trews.

Still worth it.

Fergie Left #possiblyaninsidejoke

Work hard travel harder #Rome(again)

One thing that marked my first year at IPNLF was the amount of travel I did (25-50% of my contract). One thing that marked by final year at IPNLF was the amount of travel I did (One measly trip to London for a night and 2 nights in Rome).

And of course I was in Rome for my wonderful birthday surprise weekend 

So why not Rome again for a surprising work trip. 

It came about because I emailed a contact to say I was leaving my current role and he asked me whether we would see each other this week at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability? The discussion went on, he invited me, I politely declined due to finances, he kindly extended financing, and lo and behold: back to Rome.

800 of us participated in 4 days of meetings covering economics, small-scale fisheries, policy frameworks and ocean governance, plus quite a few bowls of pasta.

The Stirling Uni Science-Policy Nexus!

 And you know, when in Rome...

 PhD potential?

You got a friend in me #AFrenchOne

Just by chance, we were able to make it happen.

Small Fry's bestie from school in Paris came to visit on Small Fry's birthday weekend. It was meant to be a couple of weeks earlier on the 1st or 11th of November French public holidays, but flight prices were high (of course) and it was cheaper to come now...which worked out pretty well for Small Fry.

The moment he found out his 'surprise' was Eliott:

Boys are so funny. They really don't know how to be around each other...evn at age 7!

It's been a bit of a cold and frosty snap for oo, the past couple of weeks, and I had warned our dear French friends, but I don't think they had anticipated the level of cold or damp and spent most of the weekend totally frozen.

But I did not! Because Aurélie had brought with her my new AIGLE parka, which she got 50% off the price through her work. I could NOT be more grateful. I LOVE it!

So we spent quite a bit of time eating and drinking playing inside but did go out to the Trossachs on Saturday and the David Marshall Lodge, now renamed the Forest Lodge. We drove past the Tigh Mor Trossachs hotel, a view I never get tired of.

The last time I was here was with EVERYONE over Easter 2016, when my dad also joined us for the day trip. So it was a bittersweet visit back to this old haunt, but I know he also would have loved the autumnal colours, fresh and tangy air, and the spirit of both nature and community that marked our day together.

And on Sunday it was time for the main event. I can hardly believe that Small Fry turns 7. 7 years ago we left from this very house for the hospital (I say we, but of course it wasn't El Puma and I that left but rather I with a family friend while he jetted it back as fast as Air France could carry him). Still, lovely to come full circle again...

And with the Franchise gone, we also went full circle again, and sped back to Tigh Mor Trossachs to celebrate once again, this time with the Boyd Babes.

Totally. Awesome. Day.

Cold heart #brokenfilter

The car is acting up AGAIN. Second time we have leaking fuel. I will never snub my nose at public rich transport options again!

All in a day's work #morningnoonandnight

Am quite enjoying these adult-baby classes followed by 11'ses at a local café. Apparently my days are full enough without adding a job into the mix...

...which is why I have to spend my evenings marking 60 assignments...sometimes with some company.

To A Poppy #Remembrance

Maybe it's because the kids are older now, or just because we are back in the UK where poppy-wearing is a hard to miss big thing, but the eldest two have been asking lots of questions about Remembrance Day and wanting to donate to get a poppy (those pins have NOT improved over the years).

So we ended up making origami poppies (available in Sainsbury's with proceeds going to the poppy people). If we'd made enough we could have ended up making a whole wreath and sticking it on the door - as was our intention - but origami is HARD!! So this was our second attempt (first really not worth posting about).  

 

On Remembrance Sunday we went for a walk up the back of the Bridge of Allan golf course. I last came on this route with my dad way back in...oo...probably 2009 or 2010. I found my way to this spot by following my memory, gut and the directions from a couple of dog-walkers. I took a photo of him here and it's still one of my favourite (yes, the day was brighter then) and it felt all circle-of-lifey to get one here from the same spot.

Anyway, the poem that linked poppies to the 11th...

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

Flossing #ShrugEmoji

https://youtu.be/urxPh8tfsbU

Relight My Fire #5thNov

I got back just in time for one of my favouritist celebrations, and one we don't do nearly enough in our G-K household due to...well, not being in the UK most of the time:

Bonfire night.

It required telling the children all about Guy Fawkes and Bonfire night, which meant quickly reading all about Guy Fawkes and Bonfire night on wikipedia.

And then enjoying a mahoosive bonfire and gorgeous fireworks. And a toffee apple or a few.

She slept right through the main event.

I thought I'd been so smart. I bought our family ticket in advance, and I had really planned out where I was going to park. In the end we parked with no problems and only had to walk 200m to the main door.

I didn't count on trying to get home with about half of central Scotland. 1 HOUR to travel 2km.

Next year? The bikes ;-)