Leaving the Scottish winter: 2012-13

Winter in the UK - Summer in South Africa

It's that time of the year again when it starts to get cold here in Scotland and the snow isn't far away. We are off in search of warmer climes. Moira found a cruise to Cape Town from Venice on the Adriatic leaving on November 1. It was reasonably priced at £700 each, Moira thinks it is relocating to the Southern Hemisphere for the their summer cruises and that is why it is cheap. There will be stop-overs in Malta, Majorca, Morocco, Senegal and Namibia before reaching Cape Town after 19 days.

We have had an enjoyable summer in Scotland though the weather hasn't been that good. When we arrived in the UK from Spain in May it was for the arrival of Margaret's little boy Ewan. Now when we are leaving again it is with news that Suzy is expecting. Her baby is due towards the end of next April and we have to return for that glorious event. David and Sandra are also having their first grandchild at the same time when our nephew Andrew's wife Lorella is giving birth.

We haven't been doing anything very exciting while in Scotland. I've been keeping fit with regular visits to the gym and various long runs round the town when the weather was favourable. The other ongoing job was working on things about the house. The garden, although maintenance friendly now, still requires attention; trimming hedges and weeding the gravel beds. With all the rain everything grows at a tremendous rate. Again when the rain permitted we haven't neglected our walking but it has been mostly day walks. We did try a longer route when we went to the Mull of Kintyre for the Kintyre Way. We had the campervan with us so either before and after walking a section of the route we would use the bus to our staring or from finishing points. Unfortunately the rain was torrential when we had only completed about half and we gave up. We will probably return to do the rest at a future date as the views are magnificent, especially the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran.

We had our annual visit to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which we thoroughly enjoyed. We also had a night at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for a programme of popular numbers from the musicals.   Some of the shows were somewhat obscure as were the numbers from some of the more well known ones. We didn't like it very much.

During one of the better weekends we went to Millport on the Sunday. There was a road race round the island, 10 miles, and I managed to complete the course inunder 90 minutes. We had taken a picnic lunch with us and it was pleasant sail to the island from Largs. Another time we crossed the River Clyde to Dunoon for another of our annual excursions to the Cowal Games. Some don't bother much with the highland athletics, the pipe bands or the country dancing but spent the time in the caleidh tent. That's where they have the old time dancing like strip the willow, gay Gordon's, Canadian barn dance, etc.

We are now all packed and ready for our travels again. We leave tomorrow.


Thursday 25 October

We set off this morning for Venice via Cardiff. It was to be our last visit of the year to see Ewan. There were three different buses to get us to Glasgow airport for the plane to The Welsh capital. Margaret was waiting for us with Ewan when we arrived at 3:00 in the afternoon. Ewan wasn't very happy and cried all the way home. He was all right after he was fed and was soon having fun in front
 of the TV; he likes to watch the flickering coloured pictures.

I had planned to go for a run with Margaret when we arrived but the weather was damp and cold so we decided to wait until tomorrow. It was't long after dinner and the washing up completed that we got to bed. We were sleeping in the nursery, on the floor with the lilo  pump-up bed; Ewan isn't using the nursery yet, he is still in a cot in mum and dad' bedroom.  We both slept very well.


Friday 26 October

Not a very good day today, my computer went on the blink. Margaret found a guy who could maybe save all my data and photos and we drove there in the afternoon. He removed the hard disc and tested it. That was the problem and he couldn't even recover the info never mind repair it. He said we could go to somebody with specialist equipment but it would cost a lot of money. I decided to just send it back to the manufacturers  under warranty. We looked at other net books in Curry 's and Comet but
they were too expensive. I will just have to use the iPad while we are away.

I wasn't very happy tonight and I didn't sleep very well having lost nearly six month's work on my diary. When I eventually get the computer back I will make sure I back everything up.


Saturday 27 October

It was freezing cold this morning but Margaret and I went running, doing the Cardiff Park Run.  I was hoping to break 25 minutes for the 5km time trial but stuggled and managed only 26 minutes. Margaret made her target and got under 30 minutes for her first timed run since Ewan was born.

Later in the morning we all went to the swimming pool to watch Ewan enjoying the water, even Moira ventured in. The little fellow enjoys the water and was laughing and giggling as he got splashed . While Moira played with Ewan in the pool we went for a ride down the super tubes. It was good fun and we all had a great time.

Margaret and Justin went out to the cinema in the evening to see the new James Bond film and we were left to babysit. We were watching Strictly Come Dancing on the TV and Ewan seemed to enjoy all the swirling colours of the dancers. Eventually he got hungry and started whimpering. He drank a full bottle of milk quickly and was soon sound asleep and in bed by 7:30. He slept right through until morning.


Sunday  28 October

The weather forecast said rain today but it was still dry when we got up this morning. Margaret suggested going for a run and Justin joined us. We ran round the lake and kept a steady pace to suit Margaret, it took 38 minutes. It was cold again but not as bitter as yesterday and there were lots of people walking round the lake feeding the ducks and swans.

Moira and Margaret went shopping in the afternoon and left me and Justin to look after Ewan while also trying to keep an eye on the football on the TV.

Justin's mum and dad came round early evening to see Ewan. They are also going out to South Africa in November. I don't think we will be able to catch up with them there, they are going to Jo'burg, while we will be at the coast.

The clocks went back an hour last night, GMT again, this has upset Ewan's feeding and sleeping routine. Hopefully he will adjust and eventually get used to the new times. 

Margaret bought Ewan a skeleton suit and a pumpkin for Halloween. Maybe he is going out 'guising' as we say in Scotland.