Spring?

I met a new friend yesterday and went for a run which I have done many times, many many times and get it never fails to lift the spirits and fill the heart full of awe. There is not much in this view that has changed over many years, apart from the trees. The last two days have definitely had a whiff of spring ( twelve sneezes in a row yesterday morning is also a sign that the winter is ending). The garden is starting to wake up with the winter heather finally getting some more colourful company. Daffodil time is here again..soon be Easterr!

I

Flying high on Friday

Friday started normally enough as Fridays often do with the children chivvied off to school slightly happier than usual with the weekend looming and then into puzzling over who ordered which breakfast and how many don't want sausages etc etc. I ignored the ringing phone as is my wont as it would be 1. the quarry 2. the woollen Mill 3. someone silly cold calling. In all three of these scenarios it is by far preferable if Garret picks up the call. Once breakfasts were on the table I delivered the usual cuppa to Mr C. lying in state upstairs to find that after all the call was for me. The offer of a trip out in Howard and Mynra's plane if I could get myself to Oban. Hmm difficult choice, doing the rooms and then running 7-8 miles with Liz or going flying on a gorgeous day. An hour later I was on my way to Oban with cold box in the boot so I could shop before hand. With typical Fee like behaviour I started my worrying when approaching the airport, no, not about the flight but about where to park, where to meet H and M and what if I could not find them.....worry worry worry...However as I drew into the neat and small car park there they were leaning on the railings outside a toy sized modern terminal building. It was so lovely to see them and they gave me the treat of a lifetime and a memory to treasure for ever. that sounds such as easy thing to say but it was a sliver of time that will always remain special. We flew from Oban over Loch Awe and onto Inveraray, in miniature Dun Na Cuiche does not look so high as it does from sea level! Over Inveraray we went and then over our house (I spotted a few new tracks for running.....) and then down Loch Fyne to Lochgilphead. The return journey up the coast was magical, and I was resistant to an offer to take the controls in case I missed something! Man may have done some terrible things to the landscape but the wee sails in all colours racing along below and the wind farms lazily turning on the hillside were all part of the day's tremendous beauty. Down again safely we headed to Benderloch to round off a perfect day with a perfect coffee and a perfect scone. By the time I got home Garret had taken off on an offer to go riding and so it was back into family life and teatime. I tried to sneak out for a quick run, just 5 flattish miles or so but got caught by Garret returning so the five flattish turned into 7 challenging.....Only problem now is which photos to publish out of so many perfect ones. If you can bear to look at more the full album is on facebook.
In the usual way i have managed to upload the pictures all in the wrong order and my tummy is grumbling for it's lunch now so no re jogging today.
1. Coast going North to Oban
2. Our House with Loch Fyne in the background
3. Our House
4. Inveraray
5. Loch awe
6. Coming in to land
7. plane and passengers
8. Howard and Myrna
9. Parking the plane without the benefit of parking sensors.

More sponsoring...

Today was a walk along a misty Loch Fyne from Furnace to Inveraray with enthusiastic parents and teaching staff (well, the ones that we shamed, cajoaled and down right bullied anyway) striding along and gossiping. The girls and I maintained a steady position mid field so nothing too strenuous especially as I have a sore leg following the run yesterday. On occasion we were tempted to slow as the group behind were having a good laugh at something..the view maybe......It is lovely to get together as a group like that and the feast in the School was the best!! Nothing gets the old legs going quite so well as the promise of cake.

A photo fest of the week beginning with Inveraray Highland Games....

Freya races against the big girls in the 11-15 class despite being 10, and our very own Caber Tosser.




PS It is Garret.
PPS Can't claim credit for the photo of Freya, sent to us by a friend who is now seeking photography work in London

The big Green Adventure

Once again the parents of Inveraray Primary School were banged over head with the Hammer of Guilt and the Baton of shame as our little darlings performed another environmentally themed play. Tongue out of cheek it was very enjoyable and the girls did really well. Rosie as an environmental activist was a side kick to Professor Plantpot and Freya was a Fox...the activist had changed before I got to her into miniskirt and T shirt but I got the Fox for a photo session.

A lovely run...and back

Spring seems to have effortlessly melted into summer here in Argyll. The meadow flowers and woodland fauna have changed and the colours are pinker and paler. A lovely 8 mile run today along the back roads to Inveraray past the water well and back. I stopped briefly several times:- To take photos, let the dogs have a drink or two, call of nature (sorry, but it happens to us all...) and to remove a fly from my eye. There was no chance of negative splits (time 90 mins total) as the way is steeper on the way back, of course the wind was against me (I am really scraping the bottom of the barrel now) and also my legs were knackered.......

Running Total 9.8 miles

Saturday

PHOTOS.
*Freya being decorated
*Rosie testing the Shower
*Pigs showering
*Running repairs by Freya

We boogied on down at the Carnival in Minard on Saturday. This was a three way joint ("joint" as in togetherness not hey, man great weed....) school event between Minard, Furnace and Inveraray. Rosie was in a dance representing carnival/fairground rides but the photos are on Toby's phone and the download defeats me. I remembered I had camera capability rather too late but got the shot of Freya having a face paint. More excitement awaited at home, Lyndsay...The Queen of Shopping (not clothes and boring stuff like that but really useful things that you did not know you needed)dropped off an outdoor shower from Lidl. This is the ideal things for hot piggies without a proper wallow.It has been so dry that the wee spring at the wet end of the field has dried up and now there is no wet end. The Three Little pigs are okay as they sneak next door to Mr Pig's rather better equipped quarters for a quick wallow in his semi detached pond so this is for Mrs Pig.

Saturday

Another gorgeous day dawned, and a busy one too. Lots of lovely guests, and they were lovely too to breakfast and see on their way before setting to to do those rooms and get them ready for more lovely guests. We scurried away in order to be able to get to the Seafood Fair at Loch Fyne Oysters where the Inveraray Parent Council had a tea and coffee stall (Posters courtesy of Rosie), strictly in the interest of making money NOT being healthy at all. We did a 2hr stint and I spent more money on all the lovely food surrounding us than had I made a donation to the school and kept my two hours! No matter, we had fun and ate well. We all worked away with Garret on urn duty…a very important position. After sorting guests and children Garret and I left Rosie and Toby watching “The Great Escape” in the tender care of Grandad and made our own “Escape” (spot the seamless link there!) down to The George where we downed a couple of chilled white wines/tequilas and shared a couple of starters. Peter had driven us down there but for the return journey I ditched the high heeled boots into a back pack and we ran the 3.5 miles home (we did not start to run until at Inveraray outskirts for decency sakes). Ohhh that ice water in a bowl felt good when ½ hr later we reached home…..and here is the real rub…The Great Escape had not even finished!! I dreamt of sore feet all night!!