Summer time

It's been a busy time for us and looks like it will be so well into the next month! Going down to Austwick this weekend for a few days with decorating and gardening in mind as well as the general clear up in the house thanks to the Rayburn! The clocks going forward means we loose an hour but gain the daylight and late evening for enjoying the countryside!

Never really got used to Easter being a non-event in Scotland, so will be doing back down perhaps with friends, over the Easter weekend.

I have been daft enought to agree to try and organise the local Gallatown Gala in Kirkcaldy! As blog-readers will recall last years event was cancelled owing to the adverse weather! I hope 5th September will be a little kinder! So with Easter over planning groups and meetings should get it going and we hope it will not be rained off.

Oor Weekend

What a surprise when Rod and Doogie expected to host our overnight stay this weekend! Not a surprise to them but to me, another senior moment and memory lapse! We all sent off tot the Regent Bar in Edinburgh before being treated to a great authentic Thai meal at the Baan Thai restaurant in Leopold Place, just off London Road in Edinburgh. Tom and Kye making us very welcome along with the waitressing staff! Wonderful evening with great favours and good company! Doogie and Rod are preparing for the event of the year - coming to Austwick for the May holiday weekend and taking part in Cuckoo events - wonder if they will attempt the Three Peaks to get in trim for the real event of the year, their Civil Partnership and Wedding Breakfast with more folk arriving for the Evening Reception?

What are tje Three Peaks Walk, Run, Stagger?

Three Peaks of Yorkshire, which takes in Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough within 12 hours. Of course you do not need to do the walks in these times, but they are the traditional times set to make both the ventures a challenge.
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk is a very demanding but rewarding walk, which takes in the summits of Pen-y-ghent (694 metres - 2,276 feet), Whernside (736 metres - 2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (723 metres 2,372 feet) all in one circular route. There is no set starting point, but the vast majority of walkers start at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The walk is 24.5 miles (39.2km) long and takes in over 5,000 feet (1,600 metres) of climbing. The walking is over a variety of terrains, and even though the paths have been improved immensely over recent years, certain sections can still be very boggy and energy sapping.

Happy Couple

At last the announcement of the Civil Partnership and wedding of our pals Doogie and Rod has arrived and we wait with expectation of a great occasion on 25th July! 14:00 in Anstruther East Town House, then the reception in the Craw's Nest Hotel! The picture of is of the happy couple again in Berlin! We are planning a weekend soiree in Austwick the end of May as previously reported I have been asked to MC the proceedings - time keeping etc - so hope we can have a Master plan sorted then! It really does take some organising as I understand they are having 130 during the day and a similar number at night! Already they have got their priorities right, wine tasting for the reception! Frank and I have booked into the Craw's Nest for the Friday and Saturday so although with "duties" intend to Party - notice the capital "P"!

Those Trees

So Frank sets out next Saturday for his first lone visit down South and I'm attending a Community & Voluntary Sector Seminar in Glasgow! I know who got the best deal there!

This week has been busy and no doubt the coming days are going to be the same! Should not complain as it keeps us both active and happy! Especially when like Wednesday Frank went bingo and brought £150 home. Only to find we were needing new tyres for the car, so blew £140 yesterday and booked in for the MOT! The trees in Austwick have been well and truly tackled with the Leylandii topped and shaped, although some more work has to happen before they are going to look fully presentable! Target time is to get the garden looking good for the end of May and the Austwick street market! Friends and family are booking in and its looking good to have the country home visited on a regular basis.

However the biggest and happiest news of the week is that Rod & Doogie have invited us to their civil partnership and wedding on 25th July in Anstruther. Great news as they are really good guys and compliment each other in so many ways! In addition I have been given the honour to MC the day, so trying to keep to order, time and create a relaxed atmosphere. I really think the latter will take care of itself if Rod's 30th birthday party was anything to do by! We are organising a planning weekend for the end of May in Austwick, another full house!

Our Stump!

Back from a long weekend in the country with Gordon buddying me and finding the delights of country living much to his enjoyment!

The garden has been well and truely pruned and the invasive pine trees removed, so we have plenty of logs for next winter! Where there were trees as you can see we now have a stump that I hope will be the centre of a seating area. Already marked by the quartz crystal momument bought for the Kirkcaldy garden but felt vulnerable to theft, it's serving a number of purposes down in Austwick! So back to reality and a busy week ahead, also next week. Frank will be making his first lone trip on 14th for a long weekend as I am busy with a conference in Glasgow. I will be back down the end of the month for a dental appointment in Grassington, which was booked last year and I though would be ages away!