Land, sea and loch...

Sometimes it's easy to forget what's on your doorstep. Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK - and as the school holidays ended there's still been a window of decent-ish weather to explore the 'nearest' big loch, Loch Lomond, do a spot of fishing off Dunbar and some vanvenuturing to Argyle, Loch Fyne and Loch Long.

First up was Ella's final week with us, and after passing her English exam we celebrated with exploration to the Dumpling and RSPB Loch Lomond. Then Niomi, T, Rowan and myself trailed Loch Ard whilst Emily and Ella did some gorge walking before we said a final farewell to Ella. She'll be missed as she made such a positive impact on our summer.

Then I donned my sea legs for a spot of sea-fishing off Dunbar with my friend Kenny. I am certainly no fisherman but after a nervy start I was soon hauling in some fish - returning with 6 mackerel, 2 cod, 1 pollock and 1 ling. A great catch for the freezer and a thoroughly different and enjoyable day out. It was all topped off with greedy seal who kept trying to steal our catch and a pod of dolphins.

Then it was into the van with my pal Liam and Rowan for a weekend of vanventures taking in Ardgarten, West Loch Tarbert, Campbeltown, Saddell, Carradale, Skipness, Tarbert and Crinan. It was a stunning weekend exploring about 100 miles west of Glasgow on the Kintyre peninsula (but due to geography its a very out your way 3 hour drive or a lot of ferry hopping).

Scotland is stunning. Watching the sun set over the Isle of Gigha or gazing over Arran with a fire has got to be the highlight. The calm beauty of it all is really good for your soul (as is a little whisky to top off the mood).

Looking over Loch Lomond from the Dumpling

The same view from ground level at Loch Lomond

The ever stunning Trossachs

Boy and Girl

Loch Ard

Sending Ella off with the taste of Smore's

Fishermen Three

Rowan enjoying Loch Long

DooDoo enjoying the view over Gigha

And so did we all

Happy Boy

And then there was Arran

Arran

The view from Skipness Castle

The lovely town of Tarbert

Videoclip: The view above Crinan...

Or you can watch the video here

Keeping the numbers up...

Every summer Tanya gets everyone to write a summer bucket list. Things we want to do, goals we'd like to achieve, experiences to be had and so on. Not everything happens but it is a great way to make sure you get out there and squeeze the last drops of juice out of summer life.

This summer we had another special addition to our family to keep the numbers up - Ella. 18yo Ella arrived from Switzerland at the end of July to stay for a month. She is the daughter of a friend of a friend (don't ask how we get ourselves into these things), and she brought with her a lovely spirit and genuine ease that has been nothing but a wonderful addition to our summer. 

Ella coming wasn't listed on the bucket list, but if there is one thing that has been a fabulous experience this summer, it's been having her come to stay. She's been a real pleasure to have in the house, great company for us all, and has just, well, fitted right in. She'll be truly missed when she goes.

Anyway back to the bucket list.... I wanted a van trip away with each of the girls individually - tick. Ella being here meant we wanted to show some of Scotland's best - tick. There's been stunning trips out, picnics galore, music, dance, beach trips, water fun - tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. It's been full on but what a great time we've had. Our ticking of numbers on the bucket list just kept going up.

Vanventures to the Trossachs, wild water swimming, dog walks galore, cycling crazy, Commonwealth Games, trips to the big smokes of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick (a whole week of festival in itself - music, dance, comedy, drama, beach adventure and family fun), Loch Lubnaig, Conic Hill, loads of time with really lovely people and great food eaten mainly outdoors which has all been amazing. T and I both agree its been a really 'healthy' and holistic summer. Not healthy in the boot camp way (although its not been bad for that) but healthy in the well rounded, good for the mind, body and soul kind of way. A real joyful blessing. And I'm brown as a Scottish berry to boot.

And looking into the diary for the next few months there is much more to come, with not much pause before November! Phew, I need to retire from retirement.

The Bucket List

Vanventure with Emzo

Emzo in Loch Ard

Videoclip: Pool jumping....

Or you can watch the video here

Pool jumpers

Welcome Ella

Taking in the Games

Gold medals for them all

Dog meets Dog

At the Athletics

Dogzo's first trip to Glasgow

Belles of the Beach

They're out there somewhere

Return leg

Carnival spirit

Summiting the Law

Was a tad breezy though

Sunset on the beach

Out there somewhere on Loch Lubnaig

Eclipse viewing

Rowan's taken to the van

Lochan Spling

Vanventures with the Niomster

And the now Famous Six enjoying Conic Hill

Learning to swim...

"Labrador Retrievers are born water dogs. Their webbed feet and water resistant coat makes them naturals at a pool party. But wait! There's one detail you might not be aware of: puppies, even Labs, are not born knowing how to swim. You have to teach your dog how." (extract from Your Labrador Retriever Puppy)

So wait, definitely no-one told us this fact. And whilst Rowan so far has loved wading in water he's been very resistant to going out his depth. So after a very tentative couple of strokes in the Dee a week or so ago, Mummy (remember her? the reticent, not sure about dogs one - now the most protective and besotted of the lot of us one) decided to book Rowan into a doggy swimming pool.

I didn't know such things existed. Let alone that dogs needed to be taught swimming. This was entering into the bonkers zone in my book; where dogs become more pampered than anyone else in the house. I mean, I'm used to being bottom of the heap at home and I was really quite happy getting Rowan for company in the gutter. But his elevated status to pampered pooch was going against the grain. Yet off we trotted 35 minutes drive across Glasgow to the doggy swimming pool. Why the local loch wouldn't have sufficed I don't know. But there you go - that's a pampered pooch for you, flotation aid and all.

The result? Well see for yourself. After quite a lot of cajoling and persuasion, I'm still not sure he loves swimming still but at least we know he won't drown. He even managed to leave a large protest outside the pool as a reminder of his views on the matter.

Videoclip: Learning to swim...

Or you can watch the video here

Busier than ever...

Three weeks into retirement and its been somewhat busy. I've barely paused for breath. So much so that not working has barely sunk in. Still, that was really part of the plan. Part One was to enjoy the summer holidays with the kids. And I've certainly done that...particularly helped by some stunning summer weather, one fox red labrador, and a bit of a thirst to explore new ground.

We've done walks - lots of walks. Well dogs do need walking and with the sun shining we've had no excuse not to. We've done new walks in Palacerigg and Chatelherault, explored the Kilpatrick Hills a little, and tramped over some old stomping ground. I've been to gigs and the theatre, and I've also picked up my old tennis racket and been coaching Emily and her friend Mirren. And then Tanya and I jetted down south for my brother and sister-in-laws wonderful 60th birthday ceilidh. Add in a spot of gardening and a few other bits that badly needed doing. And that was quite a lot, all in the first week!

Then weeks 2 and 3 saw us head north for a summer holiday in the unexpectedly glorious sunshine, first to Banchory and then on to a lovely spot in Gardenstown on the north east coast near Banff. Banchory saw plenty of favourites - Scolty, Crathes, Glen Taner, the Dee - all wrapped up in idyllic Banchory sunshine. Then it was Gardenstown and a precarious drive along the seawall to get to our accommodation which was literally on the sea.

I'd never been to this stretch of coast before. Stunning cliffs with tiny, picturesque villages nestled at their base in bays of stone and sand. And there was not much to distract from the gorgeous views apart from picnics and bbq's on the beach, walks along the coast, surfing in the waves, eating good food, and a coffee at the imaginatively named Harbucks (complete with mock logo). Don't expect to do much else if you ever venture up there, but to be honest there's little else you need. It was a little haven of peace and tranquility in the midst of life's normal turmoil.

So nearly half way through the summer hols. Lots more to come though...I guess mid-August might see me slightly pause for breath when the kids go back to school, but for now I'm busier than ever.

First up - Chatelherault

A 60th bash to remember

And there they are in the flesh

The Banchory posse

The precarious drive along the seawall

And our cottage half way along

Crovie in the distance - the next village

Happiness with a view

Life's a balancing act

Crovie up close - accessible only really by foot

It was like being in the med

Gardenstown

Troup Head - UK's only mainland gannetry

And there they are

Round the corner

And into the caves

On the beach again

Pennan of Local Hero fame

The boy had a ball

And the girls all swam a lot

The Famous Five

With sunsets to die for

Three Fine Ladies