Sometimes she's Cathy, sometimes she's Mum, but generally we all like to call her Nana (she's actually Tanya's Mum), and she's a very special lady who turned 80 last weekend.
And what an 80 year old she is. Fit as a fiddle, full of life, joy and happiness, Nana is one of the kindest and most helpful people you could ever meet. She’s always busy, always doing something, generally something for someone else, and somehow still finds time for a crossword, Wordle or whatever other puzzle needs solving.
She is loved enormously by her children, in-laws and grandkids, as well as by the many, many friends she has gathered over the years. More than anything, though, when I think of Nana I think of her zest for life. She enjoys it, embraces it and brings that sense of fun and happiness to everyone around her.
So it felt only right to mark 80 years properly. The family all got together and we spent the weekend at the wonderful Fettykil Lodge near Glenrothes - eating far too much good food, playing games, laughing a lot, enjoying the hot tub, sauna and BBQ pit, and even managing a bit of a walk.
A brilliant weekend for a truly wonderful woman.
Happy 80th Birthday, Nana. Very much loved - and very, very special. ❤️
My big brother, David, was 60 at the end of last year. Since then he has been milking the decade-birthday thing quite successfully - and why not. My present to him was a trip to Switzerland, Grindelwald to be precise. It was also a nod to Mum and Dad, as it was one of their favourite places to go, so we also took a little of them to scatter.
Now I'm lucky enough to have been to many beautiful places and I thought I knew what I as letting myself in for but really, any expectation I had was surpassed quite quickly. It simply is the most beautiful place in the world.
Anyway, I'm slightly jumping ahead - first things first. Getting there was more epic than planned. Up at 3am for a 6am flight from Glasgow which, for a variety of reasons saw me missing my connecting flight in Schipol and whilst it could have been worse, after 7 hours in the airport I decided that Schipol really wasn't the most beautiful place in the world.
So then on to Swiss transport - many, many leagues apart from the UK. Everything works seamlessly - wherever you are going there's something every half an hour and if you're connecting then you never wait more than 5 minutes. This seems to cross transport modes as well - train, bus, boat all the same. I'm sure someone will find examples where this isn't the case but the complexity and attention to detail here just blew me away. Imagine designing a train station with bus/taxi stops on one side and a port on the other and then ensuring that the trains all pulled in to the nearest platform to meet any connections needed. Insane levels of thought has gone into this. And it didn't stop there, everything in Switzerland just seemed so well thought out and top quality. Massive investment all round I guess.
Anyway - I arrived late at night and we were up early the next day to do the Eiger Trail which descends down at the foot of the North Face of the Eiger - about 1,800m of sheer rock face (which is higher than Ben Nevis!). Its hard to get any sense of scale but when you stand at its base it just blows you away. Then after winding our way down, the evening saw us attend part of the inaugural national youth yodelling festival - an incredible way to be introduced to Swiss culture courtesy of some resident experts sitting opposite us. And yes, yodelling really did originate to communicate across the valleys.
Next day and we got the lift up First, walked to Bachalspee (arguably the best view I have ever seen), then back down to descend the mountain via Mountain Cart and Trottibike. A truly amazing experience. Then a little more youth yodelling before a top quality meal out.
Day Three was the biggest in terms of walking. Lift up to Mannlichen, then the Royal Walk for views into the neighbouring valley overlooking Murren, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen. Then it was the Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheindigg looking on to the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau and back over Grindelwald. It was on the trail we scattered some ashes. Then the final descent all the way back to Grindelwald. We ended a little weary, but energy was restored with a traditional fondue.
Our final day before return evening flights saw us explore Lake Brienz, take a dip at Iseltwald and a boat across the lake. A quick stop in Bern and then it was Zurich airport.
The whole thing was action packed but without too much intensity, and I loved Switzerland overall - partly because everything seemed very 'high-end' and worked well. However what I really loved was the setting. It's hard to describe. Cradled in the mountains, the North Face towering over you, crystal clear aquamarine lakes, snow capped peaks, fairytale mountain chalets, alpine meadows...you kind of get the picture. I mean it helped we had amazing weather, but honestly, it probably is the most beautiful place in the world.
And it was great spending time with my brother, Back in the day, we did many trips together, often skiing but other things too. It was great to rekindle that sense of brotherhood. A real bonding and a whole heap of fun to boot. Here's to many more (although we haven't mentioned those yet)...
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).
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.
"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.
