HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WEEK 3

Well our third week started with a wee trip away.  I took my Mum to Stobo Castle Health Spa which is in Stobo, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.  This was our belated 70th birthday present to her.  It was a beautiful drive down, the spa was great, it was lovely to have someone make all our meals and so good to have some time on my own with my wee Mum.  I've posted a picture of her posing in the grounds of Stobo Castle - I love this photo of her.    

My poor Dad was abandoned at home but the kids went to stay with my friend Elizabeth (Auntie Lizzy) and had a rare old time with her and her Mum and Dad.  Thanks to Elizabeth for offering to babysit so I could arrange my Mum's wee surprise.  

After we collected them from Elizabeth's on the Tuesday evening, it was a race back to the house where Joan and Elliot were picking up James and taking him to the circus.  I was shattered after all the driving but I couldn't go to bed as my party animal son (and his buddy) didn't roll home til 11pm!!  He had an absolute ball!  The mad Joan had (as usual) turned up with all the gear to dress them up - so off they went in their clown outfits!!  Thanks for taking them Joan - James is still talking about it!

On the Wednesday morning we went to visit James' old nursery as I still keep in touch with the Manager there.  It was lovely to see Mariessa and her husband Bernie - and while we blethered on for ages the kids were having fun painting etc in the nursery.  Kayla showed me that she's definitely read for nursery or playgroup - she walked in, rolled up her sleeves, sat down and got on with some painting - I don't even think she noticed I'd left the room!!  

In the afternoon I had to throw James out the car door into the capable hands of Kristen's Mum, Liz, as Joan had just called to say she'd been knocked flying by one of her dogs (she has 3 Dobermans and a Miniature Pincher).  I insisted she took a wee visit to Casualty as she was sounding really upset and feeling pretty unwell.  Thankfully Liz was available to take my James home to my Mum and Dad's house whilst Joan and I had a, thankfully, short wait in Casualty.  Diagnosis was mild concussion and bruising of the facial nerves - the poor wee soul.  

That night I was off for yet another meal out (there's a bit of a theme to this holiday!)  This time I was meeting up with some old friends from my last job - Donna, Gillian, Shona and Fiona.  Had a great laugh catching up on the goings on at TRS.  Also had a laugh in the restaurant as, although the food was very nice, there just wasn't very much of it!  Obviously taking nouvelle cuisine to a new level!!  When our main courses arrived we all burst out laughing at the size of the portion, asking increduously whether there was veg included (there wasn't), ordered some more and of course then had to fit in a dessert to fill the space in our tums!

On Thursday we had a really exciting day visiting the doctor and dentist!  Kayla got her 3rd pneumococcal vaccination.  Poor wee sausage - it was a real delayed reaction scream!

At the dentist James was so chuffed when the dentist told him "he had lovely teeth - in fact the best teeth he'd seen all day!"  Glad all my perseverance keeping him away from sweeties and juice is having the desired effect!

Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for mine.  I had to show the dentist the pitiful little bit of what was left of the tooth I broke on the plane on the way to Australia in December.  He thinks there's enough left to fit a crown.  In addition I need one of my wisdom teeth removed (insert your own joke here!) - all in all his quote for all the work was £464!!!  Unfortunately he didn't have time (nor did I) for him to do the work before I left for Singapore, so I now have the task of finding a dentist here who doesn't charge an arm and a leg.

That evening we met my friend Jeanne and her kids Emma and Alec at McDonalds for tea.  We originally met at a kids' group called Whiz Kids in Erskine when James and Emma were around 2.5 years old and they then went on to be in the same nursery so we've always kept in touch.  Jeanne was immensely relieved as her hubby, who's in the Navy, had just had his tour of duty to Iraq cancelled at the 11th hour.  She was delighted he wasn't going - although annoyed at the Navy for putting them through all the stress and build up beforehand only to cancel it 3 days before he was supposed to leave.  Only problem now is she's not sure where he'll end up.  It could even be Afghanistan - but we'll keep our fingers crossed that he gets an easier posting than that.

On the Friday Elizabeth and I took James and Elliot to the Science Centre in Glasgow.  They had a ball (as did we!)  Did my best not to nod off in the Planetarium (think I just succeeded - only just!)  The Science Centre is a great place as there are lots of things for the kids to see and touch.  My only problem with it is that its like a great big greenhouse so the heat inside is unbearable.  By mid afternoon I had the beginnings of a migraine and thanks to James' mega tantrum before we left - it was a full blown someone drilling a hole in the side of my head and feeling sick job.

Of course, this is sod's law as I was going out on the Friday night to my neighbour Marion's house (next door to mine!) and a few of the other neighbours were joining us - Gillian, Yvonne and Anne.  Marion made a lovely dinner, was plying everyone with wine as always and was making Cosmopolitans and there was me in the corner trying not to throw up and still feeling like the guy with the drill was inside my head :o(   :o(   :o(      Anyway, it may have curbed my ability to drink but not to chat.  Had a great gab and laugh with all the girls until I finally gave in when I noticed it was 1am!  Thanks for a lovely night Marion - sorry I was such a party pooper!

Are you bored reading this yet?  Promise I won't ramble on much longer!

Saturday was another busy busy day.  I went to the opticians in the morning and ordered some new glasses which Mum and Dad kindly offered to buy as an early birthday present.

In the afternoon we went to Bishopton (village next to Erskine) where they were having their annual fete.  Loads for the kids to do so James had a ball and we kept meeting people we knew which was lovely too.  Oh and bonus - I won a bouquet of flowers in the raffle.  I never win anything so that was a lovely surprise!

Took Mum, Dad, the kids and Aunt Moira and Uncle Ian out to Struthers Farm in Dunlop for a belated 70th birthday dinner for both Mum and Aunt Moira.  As always the food was gorgeous.  Its quite a strange place.  Its a real farmhouse and I don't think the decor has been updated for about 50 years!  As my neighbour Gillian said "its like eating in your Granny's kitchen!" but the food is just lovely.  

On the Sunday I went to visit my friend Karen and her gorgeous twins Jake and Riley.  It was so lovely to see them again.  They were only about two months old when I last saw them and the difference was unbelievable.  

As it was Fathers' Day we took Dad (and the rest of us!) out for dinner at Burnhouse Manor.  Elizabeth and her Mum and Dad and sister Laura also joined us.  Had a lovely meal and a great time catching up with everyone.  I love this photo of Elizabeth and I taken that night.  

Well Monday morning rolled around all too quickly and after lunch we were suddenly at the airport saying our goodbyes to Mum and Dad.  Not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby.  I miss them so much and it had been so good to spend the last few weeks with them.  Poor James and Kayla were just really quiet and subdued - they must have been wondering what all the wailing was about!

So that's it - our action packed three week holiday finishes here.  I'll be back to posting about our escapades in Singapore soon.  (Apologies if anyone has dropped off whilst reading this - I know its far too long but I wanted to make sure I recorded everything!)