Happy Christmas...

To all our family and friends, near and far....we wish you peace, joy and happiness this festive season. We never see as much of you as we'd like - but you are always in our thoughts. May 2020 bring you many amazing adventures.

Lots of love Nigel, Tanya, Emily and Niomi xxx

Keeping it local…

Whilst not detracting from any of the vibe or excitement, we’ve been consciously trying to keep this year’s festivities a local, home grown affair. Keeping your community alive through supporting local businesses where possible is really important, and we've aimed to make that a mainstay of our Christmas enjoyment this year. There’s been local frosty walks to get that wintry feeling going; a Daddy/Daughter Christmas Day involving food, foodbank shopping and a show - all local; a Take 2 sellout of the Kirky Picture Palace with Frozen 2, Wonderful Life and Last Christmas all selling out at the Town Hall; and then Christmas food prep, decoration making and a whole host of other homegrown stuff. 

All in all its been very much a Kirkintilloch festive season which, apart from helping support the local economy, has incidentally also meant a lot less stress this year. That said it hasn’t prevented there being two very excited girls in our house, and the Curse of the Christmas Tree meaning a trip to hospital for one very excited boy in our house – but that’s another story! Anyway we’re all set for Christmas – and yes, in honour of keeping it local I invented a new local word. Happy Kirkymas!!

 Brrr...it was frosty

 So much for invisible webs

 Veggie 'sausage' rolls...one of many festive bakings

 Snowing at Frozen 2 in the Town Hall

Poor Baba was accosted by 6 grandkids

The Tree

Stirring it up...

To the horror of my Scottish friends I confess that I do like to partake in 'Stir-up Sunday' (an informal term in 'Anglican' churches for the last Sunday before the season of Advent). Whilst it may get its name from a verse in the Book of Common Prayer, which begins with the words, "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people", these days it's all about the making of Christmas puddings on that day.

For the uninitiated, this modern ritual basically entails getting a whack load of ingredients, including a healthy splash of booze, and chucking them together in a large bowl. Then everyone gathers round whilst the stirring takes place and wishes are made. Then its steamed for 8 hours. Its quite an epic ordeal but definitely kick-starts the festive season is style.

(Apparently in recent times, two-thirds of British children surveyed, revealed that they had never experienced stirring Christmas pudding mix - so its not too late - get stirring everyone!).

 A whole heap of ingredients

 Christmas puddings!

Almost ready for the stir

Videoclip: Stirring it up

And so it begins…

Hot on the heels of autumn’s finest comes the start of the festive season…I’ve been feeling remarkably unprepared this year but in actuality it bizarrely appears I am as prepared as I’ve ever been. And so it begins…

The frosts are here, the crunch of the last November leaves, and a trip for Niomi to see The Snowman on stage. Niomi loves watching things on stage – she sits enthralled – but as I watch her watching what’s happening I wonder what is going through her mind. I’m never quite sure if she’s thinking ‘wow – this is really exciting’ or whether it’s more ‘what on earth is going on over there’. Dancing snowmen, people flying, motorbikes on stage and a very strange cat – all make me wonder that it would be entirely understandable if she was just thinking – ‘what on earth is that!’

Still we have a lovely day out…and at the same time Emily went ice skating with Mummy for the first time. (And seemingly she was much better than Mummy too.)

So what else is in store? Well this weekend is stir-up Sunday, then it’s Christmas Fayre’s and tree-buying, Christmas-ifying the house, lights switch on, Christmas shows and films, cooking, mulled wine and stollen, friends, lights, crafting and glitter….and so it begins…and I am really ready this year. Can’t wait…

 Even the bus was exciting

 Barely standing still, despearte to get in there

Very excited face

Serenely excited skating face

Autumn's finest...

Autumn ever year seems to flash by in less than 2 months. Its kinda sandwiched between the last lingerings of summer (yes we do get them here) in late September and the onslaught of Christmas from middling November.

Its a great time though - I love when the weather is crisp and the leaves are crunchy. The smell of fireworks in the air, coupled with the wood burners getting lit and the darkening evenings, makes for an air of mystery about the season. It reminds me of my childhood - slightly Tolkien-esque in the south of Birmingham.

This year's been kind of business as usual, but with a twist of wonder. Halloween was great, Emily's birthday was greater, and fireworks at our 'nearly' neighbours Maurice and Jules just topped it off. There was a lovely vibe in the autumn air.

So this year for some reason, autumn has felt mighty fine. Niomi's development is rapid at present - like everything is clicking into place; Emily is a pleasure once more - the feisty late 6's seem to at least temporarily have eased; and the pair of them together seem to generally muck along in kind of happy go lucky fashion. Tanya seems really content with a whole range of wothwhile stuff in the community; and for me, the all encompassing YourKirky crusade seems to be going really well. Life is good - very busy, but good. And this autumn has made me reflect on its finest offerings.

 Halloween disco diva

 Upside down pumpkin after Blue Dog ate the lid

 Birthday Girl - full of books

 Autumns finest 1

 Autumns finest 2

Litter picking on your birthday! 

Sparkle, rainbow, unicorns abound at a 7 year olds birthday

 The chocolate party crew

Videoclip: Happy Seven

Videoclip: Sparklers at the nearly neighbours

Time flies...

Wow…one month since last blog. Where did that go? Well time flies when you’re having fun, and life certainly hasn’t been dull.

There’s been a short break to Banchory to see Nana and Baba; an XR march and a cinema launch, both of which made the front page of the local rag; a trip to Birmingham; and a hospital stay for poor Niomi following what was supposed to be a day op. It’s been err…kinda busy.

Still we’re all good, still smiling…and with a 7th birthday round the corner what’s not to like.

 Horse - by Niomi

 Wonky teeth about to fall out

 Views over Banchory

 Cat care guide - by Emily

 Part-time Angel

 Hide and seek winners

 XR East Dunbartonshire

 XR minus the tooth

 The new cinema 

Videoclip: Debut screening

 Hospital bed

Pub lunch with the Parents

Friends and family…

We are truly blessed to be surrounded by so many lovely friends and family; very fortunate to have plenty of both. Friends who’ve become family and family that are also friends. Many, many of our favourite memories involve these wonderful folk and we love travelling on life’s journey together with them.

September is flashing past at top speed but we've filled it by spending some lovely times within these circles. My Dad’s visited, there's been the annual Gedik weekend away - this year to the Pentlands, and a great camping weekend with friends on Loch Lomond. We never get to see any of you as much as we’d like but when we do its always magical…so thank you to everyone for making the walk on our path so amazing and hope to see you soon!

 The Gedik Girls

The Rooke Girls

Emily and Nana

The stunning Loch Lomond from Conic Hill

 Emily and Yvonne

 Contemplating a chilly dip

The brave open water swimmers

Good night Cashel

A game of two halves…

And so the family were divided. Off Mummy went with Aunty Leeloo for a weekend in the van, with Daddy left responsible for two children and Grandad.

Having spent most of the week organising Mummy’s weekend as well as my own – it was a relief that we were finally underway. No clear plans had been pencilled in for our half of the deal but there were options and the weather looked good. And so, as we were tucking in to the first of our gourmet dinners, it was somewhat a surprise when the phone rang to hear Mummy on the other end. It appears DDU wasn’t too keen on the family being split up and had decided to break down quite near Stirling Train Station (rendezvous point with Aunty Leeloo). Ho hum…there goes my well planned weekend of peace and quiet I thought – the riotous Gedik girls were sure to return.

Uh-oh...DDU wants to go home

And so they did. After seamlessly putting both children to bed ALL BY MYSELF! At about 21.30 all hell broke out in our quiet street. Brrmmmm we heard…then flashing orange beacons lit up the sky…it was like a Canal Festival fireworks re-run. And out they poured – popping my idyllic bubble. Despite their temporary disappointment they were determined to sleep in the van, so onto the driveway DDU was pushed. And, after all the neighbours had been out to join in the party, eventually I left them inside with a glass of wine whilst I returned to sit by the fire. Not quite as planned but Night One was over.

Videoclip: DDU off to hospital

Then onto Day Two. I was up bright and breezy – Daddy Disco was running 7-8am whilst Grandad, Mummy and Aunty Leeloo slept the morning away. Eventually everyone emerged – and the game of two halves resumed. Mummy and Aunty Leeloo were off to the Campsies for a day’s walking, DDU was off to hospital, and, Daddy’s crew were off for a day of more leisurely local fun. There was canal trips, ice cream, horticultural shows with monster vegetables and a town hall visit – all before everyone (apart from DDU) was reunited for a September dinner in the garden, and then Aunty Leeloo was packed off onto the train home.

Videoclip: Daddy Disco

Ice cream joy

Walking joy

So, the weekend of two halves ended a little prematurely, but as ever undeterred, the Rooke’s reassembled and spent a marvellous Sunday of fun at the Falkirk Wheel. And the verdict? A really tip-top-tastic weekend of fun. Not how the game was set to pan out but sometimes it’s good to throw the rule book in the bin. Let’s just wish DDU a speedy recovery before Mummy tries to throw him in the bin too…Thanks to Grandad too for all his treats!

 Water fun 1

 The Wheel from low

The Wheel from high

Water fun 2

Water fun 3 

The result of water fun

Videoclip: Water fun at the Wheel