A wee calf...

How can you tell a cow that's about to go on holiday?
It's the one with the wee calf...

Boom boom.

And so just before Emily went back to school I had a week off which we filled wonderfully with a visit from Dave, Jenny and Will (my brother and tribe). Chloe, his daughter, was performing at the Edinburgh Festival so we all went to see her and her wonderful show 'Stop', which got 5 star reviews. Whilst only a whistle-stop visit, we managed to cram lots of fun moments in and all had a marvellous time.

From then on we spent family days in the Trossachs, climbed Conic Hill and explored Mugdoch Park. We cycled, walked, ran, played and jumped. Lots of jumping. Never forget the jumping. All in all it was a lovely week off.

A Rookery

The cutest muncher in town

 A real bond is forming

 Adventurers the pair of them

 Stories by the loch

Dipping one's toes

 Half way up her first solo of Conic Hill

And then after all that came Kirkintilloch's annual highlight with the Canal Festival. We only moved out this way a few years ago but as we wandered round the activities, stalls, fair rides and other attractions I realised just how much I'd fallen in love with this town. We've met so many lovely people here which became apparent as we ambled round bumping into one after the other. There was face-painting, screen printing, crown making, pedalos, drumming workshops, vintage cars, merry-go-rounds, and bouncy slides and castles which were good for jumping. Lots of jumping. Let's definitely not forget the jumping. And there was lots more as well, with it all being topped off by some truly magnificent fireworks. Well done Kirkie!

Videoclip: Canal Festival 2017

Nervcited...

"Daddy I feel nervcited" said Emily.
"What's that mean?" replied Daddy.
"It's a cross between nervous and excited" said Emily, clearly nervcited.
"Oh" said Daddy, "I feel prouppy - a cross between proud and happy."
"How do you feel Mummy?" asked Emily.
"I feel sappy - a mix of sad and happy" answered Mummy.
"Niomi? How do you feel?" said Emily.
Niomi jumped. For joy and excitement, and 'cos that's just what she likes to do when happy. Then she jumped some more.

It was Emily's first day at school. She loved it.

 Emily got a new school bag

Niomi got a new bike basket

 My big girl (tear in my eye)

Ready for the off!

The joy of jumping...

Pretty much ever since Niomi appeared she's been jumping. She jumps to get breakfast, she jumps when dancing and she most definitely jumps round the garden. All day, every day. It started with a small trampoline that came with her, but she's quickly graduated onto the large trampoline we were given at Christmas, and this has been the focus of much outdoor activity for the whole of the summer. Emily is right up there with her jumping too, Mummy and Daddy are also regularly dragged in, and, if you're ever visiting, it's been well known that friends and relatives are pulled into the jumping action. You have been warned...

 Emily loves jumping on the trampoline

Niomi loves jumping everywhere

Videoclip: Jumping joy

But it's not just jumping that keeps Niomi amused. She's a real bundle of tactile, kinaesthetic energy. This means she learns by carrying out physical activities, rather than listening to what's been told or watching demonstrations. In essence she learns by doing. It's wonderfully exhausting. 

What's remarkable is watching both our children develop very differently. Emily is a wonderful listener - she absorbs information before putting it into practice. Niomi doesn't have time for any of that - and why would she when she can just dive right in and try things out. Her desire to try and get involved is a constant source of joy to watch - that said when you couple it with toddler frustrations it can lead to some interesting impasses. Still, her dogged determination to succeed should be an inspiration to us all. Last week she cycled 1.5 miles at a snails pace but refused to give up. All that for a girl who only sat on her balance bike a couple of months ago...genius.

Videoclip: Learning to ride

Pedalos, crabs and a touch of entente cordiale...

With the summer holidays in full flow and the success of previous outings, off we set again for a short break in the van. Destination Kirkcudbright. It may only be a couple of hours away, but we were slightly wary of our recent car sickness experience, so decided to break the journey at the picturesque town of Moffat on the basis of a pedalo recommendation.

Not having been on a pedalo for at least 30 years I had kind of forgotten they existed, and that there can be joy to be found sitting at an awkward angle, pedalling in pain, whilst trying to steer your way round a duck pond. Or at least there is for small children. That said it was very tranquil and not at all busy so we pushed our luck by not returning till well after our allotted 20 minutes. I'm not sure anyone noticed or even cared, but it was good to feel a little rebellious against such British-ness.

 Ready for pedalo delight

Look Mummy! A duck...

Videoclip: The Pedalos

And then it was on to Kirkcudbright, for a weekend that had everything from pouring rain to baking sun. We discovered our awning leaked, our fridge was kaput, along with many other things that didn't go our way. But, with another great bit of British-ness, the stiff upper lip - we resolutely carried on and, in the end, had a marvellous time.

Highlights had to be looking for crabs and seeing hundreds caught by some local kids, a lovely French couple with a young toddler that Niomi took to playing with, and a glass of wine by the fire with the lovely T. All in all it was another Rooke success!!

Breakfast after the storm

 Happy Emily and a hiding Niomi

 Ready for the beach

 Crab hunters I

Crab hunters II

Crab hunters III

 No hard feelings post-Brexit

 The sea really was a long way out

A great view from the fire