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

Ilona taught herself to swing this weekend

Swing!

Ilona loves swings, just like Bluet (and all other children). So we bought a second swing so they could swing at the same time, side by side. Ilona loves swings so much she has taught herself how to climb on by herself, whereby she grabs the ropes either side and shakes them vigorously, crying "'wing, 'wing" until someone comes and pushes her, which sometimes is even her sister.

Swiss weather part II

Of course, often it also rains, and that was the case this most recent weekend. The kids still need to go outside, or else they (and everyone else) would go crazy, so on Sunday we donned our rainwear and went out for a walk around Hoengg.

First stop, a truly enormous snail.

Next, a few minutes in the car park of a local hairdresser, mainly because they fill the window with child attracting items - at halloween, witches, today, frogs with boots

Then outside the local model aeroplane shop to look at aeroplanes

The playground is almost in sight!

Swings = success!

Then we found an abandoned plastic car to roll down the hill, before heading home

Throwing Rocks and Stones

Last Sunday we went for a walk. First we went to where Bluet's kindergarten will be in August.

Then on down to the river, for something to do. We found a place where there were lots of stones to be thrown into the river. This made Ilona and Bluet very happy.




Note: Bluet lent Ilona one of her numerous tutus.

Some stones are bigger than others. Some stones are rocks

On the other side of the river there is a wooden walkway to run on, with beams to practise balancing

Later, Ilona pushed Bluet on the swing

Happy Birthday Ilona

here is the birthday girl enjoying a swing an hour or so to go. More photos of the big day to follow......

Raking leaves

This Saturday, Bluet helped me rake the leaves in the garden. She enjoyed me building 'towers' of leaves, which she would sometimes help transfer to bin bags (we haven't established a compost heap yet) and other times, she would throw over her head. She also enjoyed running around with the broom

Look! An arrow

Then on Sunday, we went for a walk to the park, where Bluet helped push Ilona in her pram. And then swung on the swings.

Whilst she was up in the sky she said:

"Is that a bird, Dadn"
"No, I think it's a plane"
"No, it's a bird, planes don't flap their wings"

After 50 more swings, we walked home.

This morning Bluet wanted to say goodbye to Ilona before she left the house, and kissed her goodbye on her sleeping head. However, whenever we ask Bluet

"Who's Ilona's Dadn?"
"Ilona doesn't have a Dadn"
"Who's Ilona's Mama?"
"Ilona doesn't have a Mama"
"Who's Bluet's sister?"
"Ilona"
"Who's Ilona's sister?"
"Ilona doesn't have a sister, only Bluet"