Western Isles

So the first half of our trip was spent in the Western Isles (or Outer Hebrides) - I'd been there before, in the 1990s, on a sailing/walking trip with school and remembered it vaguely but fondly. More or less everyone else wanted to go because they'd read the Peter May murder mysteries set on the islands. So we left on Thursday and flew to Aberdeen, where we met Uncle Nick (in a minibus), and Andrew. We stayed overnight in Aberdeen (it was good to be back where I grew up). Then early Friday we drove with Gina to Inverness, where we picked Debbie and Wayne up from the airport.

Ilona, in Aberdeen



(I was also happy to relocate my best ever Xmas present.....)






Then onwards! To our Island paradise and home for the next few days. Now, rumour has it that it is cold and rains all the time in Scotland. This could not be further from the truth - it rains only some of the time, and when it rains, it isn't the monsoon you get in other countries, more a light, pleasant drizzle. As you will see in the photos, it was actually very sunny*

Our early Saturday morning constitutional



We also had time to visit the Blackhouse, and see how and where people used to live. Here, Bluet tests out the bedding, whilst everyone else experiences the joys of the peat fire.





Then later on Saturday, Steve, Dorthea, Caroline and Madeleine arrived all the way from the greater Swindon area....more of which later

*Some of the time. It was also very windy, but this is good because wind can be used to generate clean electricity - the windiest place in Britain is actually at this light house at the top of Lewis, which we got to visit. Which is something, as most people cannot claim to have been to the windiest place in Britain

Trip to Scotland: Bluet's Birthday

Today we returned from our trip to Scotland (incorporating Aberdeen and the Outer Hebrides). So, more details to come, but let us start with Bluet's Birthday 2017, which she got to celebrate with (in no particular order): Andrew, Maria, Wayne, Nana, Steve, Dorthea, Caroline, Madeleine, Uncle Nick and Gina at our lovely Hebridean rental home. Uncle Nick kindly made her a cake and decorated while we were out, whilst Andrew and Maria provided pizza (Bluet's choice of birthday meal, narrowly beating out spaghetti). Before the birthday meal we went into Stornoway and visited the museum inside Lews Castle. You can tell it was Bluet's birthday because she is wearing a birthday crown in most of the pictures

Slovakia

On Sunday we returned from our very brief trip to Slovakia, where we celebrated Andrew's 70th Birthday. We arrived on Friday (it was a short trip as Bluet had to be back at kindergarten yesterday). Immediately Ilona remembered how much she liked Andrew, and had him carry her around the rest of the day. We meanwhile got to catch up with some friends and relations - and of course Bluet and Ilona were delighted to see their cousins Della* and Gus, accompanying parents and, of course, Uncle Nick. We proceeded to eat a lot of delicious food.



*Ilona seemed to think the main point of the trip was to see Della



Bored at the airport waiting to head to Slovakia



The more unsafe something is, the more it appeals


Wildlife 1

Wildlife 2


Cousins
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On Saturday it was the party for real. More people turned up - mainly friends of my parents from back in the day, including people I hadn't seen since we moved from Cambridge to Aberdeen back in the 80s. It brought back memories of Sunday lunches with other kids who are also now grown up.

Meanwhile for the kids there was a range of activities that was almost as good as Alton Towers:


A death slide:


A swing (and Uncle Nick)


Arts and crafts (and Uncle Nick)


And a hammock with room for 3


Painting your own face


We then went out for dinner at the only local bar - fortunately this a) started at 4PM and b) had a garden with climbing frame, so the kids were able to enjoy it too.