A Scottish Summer

In the 16 summers I've spent here, this is most definitely the hottest, sunniest, wonderfullest. It's not just that there are good days between rainy days, no, there's weeks of sunshine. There were summers where our BBQ did not manage to make a single appearance, now, it's becoming the staple ingredient of evening meals (ok, mostly weekends). Usually, a sunny day is so unusual that all has to be done to make the most of it, now we can take it easy and relax knowing that there's at least another week like this ahead of us.

Today, I've been in the Scottish Atlantic for the first time ever and thought it was pleasantly warm. The difference to what it usually feels like to dip your toes (and usually no more) into the Atlantic is quite astounding.

We had plans for the day but the kids knew what they wanted: Beach. And since everyone seems to go to Troon (and we'd never been), this is where we went. It occurred to me that 2 years ago I travelled first by plane and then on a 7 hour train, followed by a one hour ferry journey to see a similar scenery, when actually, the scenery is just a 1 hour car journey away. And of course, having the Arran mountains as a backdrop makes it particularly special.

Sandy beach, mudflats, tideways to splash in, and lots of memories of Foehr and marvelling how we have grown. Dad burried in sand, crabs and shrimps caught and released, water channels built and the tiniest sand castles too.

This summer may be one in a generation, but man, how good can Scotland be if the sun is out.

a weekend in pictures...

Sometimes pictures say more than words. Here's a run up of the highlights of this weekend:

Saturday:
Cubling hanging out with pal M. (and their relevant mummies) at the Tramway Hidden Gardens (with plant sale)



My two beauties - Californian Lilac/Skylark and Cubling. Don't they go just perfect together ;)?













Toddler with a mission (and two watering cans)


















Filling the paddling pool for the first time ever. Cubling's comment: Cold!








Cubling and her pal N. watering the raised beds.







Cubling squeaking with delight while trying to catch K.'s tail.












After the BBQ with friends and our 3 children, darkness falls and the BBQ doubles as an open fire to keep us warm and cosy into the night



Sunday:

Swinging high at Largs front







Fetching stones out of the bird bath at Granny and Grandpa's


















Peeking out from the pond at Granny and Grampa's. One frog and so many tadpoles?