Second time 50...

Back in December I had been thwarted on a plan to surprise my brother for his 50th by a stormy lady named Abigail. But never one to be defeated by a spot of rain - I'd rearranged the whole shebang for February.

Dave and I have shared many adventures over the years but this was to be a true test of my nerve. Despite being an avid mountaineer I have in recent years developed a bit of a fear of heights. And, with that thought in my head, I contemplated that booking a trip up The Shard might not have been the most sensible of ideas - hindsight really is a wonderful thing. Still, (brotherly love and all that), my brother really wanted to go; so I swallowed my fear, grabbed a touch of dutch courage and tried my best to make it so.

 A hearty breakfast for a hearty challenge

 Destination Shard in sight

 A not so hearty but equally meaty lunch (pork crackling and beef jerky)

 Nerves of steel on the big fella

The Shard is a very impressive building. It's also a very long way up. 72 floors and nearly a third of kilometre vertically upwards. You also go up pretty quick. 6 metres per second or about the same time as my cranky lift at work does 5 floors. All fine so far though as we step out on the 68th floor...

Videoclip: Going up

 It really is a long way up

 Ice cool on the 68th

 Stunning views over the dwarfed Canary Wharf

And then we went up to the 'half-outside' of the 72nd, and that was me done for I'm afraid to say. Waves of dizziness ensued but I tried to put a brave face on it. Dave's helpful 'look out there' comments really didn't help; nor did an attempt at a medicinal mulled wine. (Note to self: When feeling dizzy, drinking alcohol just makes you dizzier - hindsight really is etc etc).

So I retreated back to the safety of 68 but by this point my nerve was gone, and relief was clearly written all over my face when Dave suggested we head back down. 

Back on solid ground, well ground anyway, Dave helpfully sent us spiraling to the bowels of the earth on the London Underground which further traumatised my sense of balance and direction. So that by the time we re-emerged at the O2 arena I was somewhat unsteady on my feet. Still, all things must pass, and ten minutes later I began to feel human again...just in time to head over the Thames by...wait for it...yes, gondola... Genius.

The rest of the day was a sensory whirlwind of London in full weekend swing. We had a lovely tour but I was relieved when we arrived at the evening's hostelry for a fine steak courtesy of Marco Pierre White's Steak and Alehouse. Mighty fine it was too. Then it was time to catch the end of the rugby, a bit more of a tour, and a couple of beers to top off a truly marvellous day. 

Happy belated 50th Birthday big brother!!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did...(or even just a touch more given my vertical challenge).

Brothers in arms

The young and the old...

The young and the old never cease to amaze and delight.

On a recent car journey...

Emily: How far do we have to go? Is it 5 minutes?
Daddy: No, further than that.
Emily: Is it 6 minutes?
Daddy: No, much further than that.
Emily: Is it 19 minutes?
Daddy: No, even further than that. It's actually 200 minutes.
Emily: But I can't count that high.

Stepping out in the snowdrops at Gargunnock House

Then there was the 12 Days of Christmas...in February.

Videoclip: An unseasonal delight

And finally there was my mother. She never ceases to amaze.

Daddy: Mother...do you know what you are reading?

Grandma: I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

Never ceasing to amaze

God bless friends...

We are very blessed to have so many lovely people as good friends in our lives. And January this year has seen us catching up with lots of them for a few hours, days, nights or weekends of adventures at a time.

With our house alterations in full flow, hanging around a dusty house with minimalist facilities hasn’t been that appealing; so we have taken advantage of the situation and booked in weekends away, gate-crashed nights out, invited ourselves for lunches, dinners and drinks with all and sundry.

There was the ‘hillwalkers’ annual trip to Pitlochry, woodland explorers in Mugdoch, Craig’s 40th celebrations in Saddell, Tom’s 40th in Glasgow to name a few events that have kept us occupied. Then there was meals at various generous people’s houses, a few nights out and a number of other impromptu bits of excitement (including getting to wash my smalls at the neighbours).

All in all, it was a fantastic January, fun-packed and full of great memories. We really hope we never out-stayed our welcome with any of you or that our (well, mine) table manners didn’t put you off inviting us back. However, we’ll soon have a new kitchen, dining room, bathroom and spare room to repay all the favours we’ve racked up in January. So we expect to see you soon…bookings are now being taken for the after party.

Thanks to all who made it a really special time, and thanks for all the meals, drinks and sanctuary that you have provided us with…too many folk to name here but you know who you are and we owe you big time :-) !!

It's always the 70's in Pitlochry

 The 'Junior' Walk

 Giddy up old man

And yet more faces!

 

Happy 40th Birthday Craig!

 An authentic Burns supper

A January jog on Saddell beach

 The Ladies of the Manor