Don't panic

We did indeed manage to venture outdoors on Friday.  Admittedly it was only to the local supermarket and Post Office, but that's okay as we managed to escape our fevered cabin for a few hours.  Hurrah!

Our joy at leaving the house was evident.  The Little One sat in the trolley for hours, content at watching anything and everything without the hint of boredom. I on the other hand didn't mind the 15 minute wait at the PO whilst we queued and then slowly got all the packages weighed and posted off, then happily spent over two hours in the supermarket going up and down every aisle.  This may be the cure to my impatience - lock me up for over a week! 

Silent Sunday - Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

The 52 Marvelous Makes Madness Challenge

Whilst catching up with the blogs I read regularly, I stumbled across a fantastic blog and the equally fantastic creation of The 52 Marvelous Makes Madness Challenge (T52MMMC).  What is this you ask?  Well, if you've clicked on the link you'll now a have fair idea, but essentially it's the opportunity to create one item a week for the next 52 weeks (yes dear folks, gulp, one year).   There are no strict rules and what you make is entirely up to you.  Be it knitting, embroidery, baking or any other craft or talent you have or would like to learn.

This is Big Brother. You have been evicted. Please leave the house.

It hasn't snowed for over 36 hours (and counting), the Other Half was able to use the car to get to work today, the sun is shining and a hint of normality is spreading across our little bit of the world.

With a little luck the Little One and I may be able to venture outside tomorrow, a thought which has given me a much needed spring in my step this morning!

Our little nest has had a much needed clean and tidy by moi, Christmas presents for afar have been packaged up and are now ready for posting, the Little Ones clothes have had a through weeding out of those that are now getting on the small side, hey I've even cleaned out my inbox.

The misery continues

Yesterday we were bombarded with more snow and treated to the most extreme conditions yet.  It seemed the entire country's transport network ground to a halt.  Drivers trapped in their cars all day and overnight on the M8 and other major routes, road closures, people stranded overnight at their work, schools made into make shift dormitories... even our local bus network was suspended for a few hours yesterday afternoon which caused major uproar especially as we live in one of Scotland's main cities. I've used a  photo from the BBC news website showing just some of the chaos on the roads.

Silent Sunday

You can find out more about Silent Sunday here

Snow update

It's still snowing. 

I still have cabin fever.

Snowanigans

It's official.  I am soooo over the snow. It was pretty to look at but now go away please.  I'm getting cabin fever and there aren't any signs that the Little One or I will be getting out any time soon.

The Other Half on the other hand is getting driving withdrawls - no car since Sunday does not make for a happy chappy.

To amuse myself the Christmas tree is up (really must get a green one for next year), all presents are wrapped and all cards are written.  Hurrah!



The only Oliver car not snowed in at the moment



And the weatherman was correct

Well this is the first time I can honestly say we're snowed in! 
 

Deserted at rush hour



Over the sea to Skye

Another entry and another visit. 

This week we decided to spend a few days in the North of Scotland, mainly to let Daddy show the Little One where he grew up (yes I know he's only 6 months old.... and your point is?) and to visit relatives.

Invading the Housties

This weekend was an exciting one.  We all went on the ferry across the Irish Sea to sample some of that famous Norn Iron hospitality and visited the wonderful Houston family. 

Sunny Ayrshire - Part 2

On our second morning we woke up to an overcast day.  Whilst deciding what to do with our day we had a ponder over what Ayrshire is famous for and we came up with  Robert Burns and, uhm, Robert Burns.  So guess what we did? 

Sunny Ayrshire - part 1

Last week saw us go on our [fast becoming] annual caravan holiday.  Whilst I understand the sudden shudder from the masses at the word 'caravan', I have a romantic and yes, okay, I admit, a nostalgic view of 'those types of holidays'.

August in review

Since August is quickly turning to September, I'm thinking a quick highlight of the month almost past will suffice for now.

The Little One loved having his big cousins and aunty T come to visit at the start of the month.  Jade and Brooke stayed with us for a few days before heading to Granny & Seanair's for the rest of their stay.  The Little One fell in love with Miss "I get all the smiles" Jade, Brooke found a new best friend and I, of course, made the most of the free nannying services!

At the start of the month we said farewell to our white wagon and hello to our new car.  Thanks to Granny & Seanair we now have a proper, grown up, family car.  The Passat makes life so much easier. Not 3, not 4, but 5 doors; lots of space and a huge boot.  Being the delicate flower that I am, I've already managed to break the front passenger handle.  You can get in, but you can't get out... Mwahawhawhaw! 

We had another farewell as the Kelly's leave sunny Scotland to move to Oz in just over a week.  Eek.  So soon.  Whilst work will definitely not be the same without Elaine, I'm so excited for them and their new adventures!

The Little One had his 4 month vaccinations towards the middle of the month and once again he was a brave boy with hardly a squeal during the injections.  Speaking of brave, he's continued his shinty tour of Scotland this month and managed to visit a sunny (yes, I know!) Fort William. 

He's also been a busy little one learning new tricks.  Great amusement has been had with the 'taking dummy out of mouth and putting it back in' game, the discovery of those little things at the end of our legs (I predict that feet will be in mouth before long) and the beginnings of being able to roll over from back to front.  I could no longer resist the temptation and bought a baby walker for when the time comes.  To justify the purchase, I bought one which can also be a rocker, therefore becoming a 2 in 1 toy. 

Bargain. 

Whilst the Little One is still a wee bit to young for his new toy he has had a quick test drive.

But most exciting of all, I eventually put our Tesco vouchers to good use and used them to book the ferry to visit the Houston's in N.Ireland next month - we can't wait!

Joshua goes to the farm

The Other Half and I found that we had a free afternoon last week.  After a quick ponder of how to spend our day, we decided to take the Little One to Gorgie City Farm. 

With the Little One just reaching the 4 and a half months barrier, I didn't think he'd take much notice of what was all around him, but I stand corrected. Although he's too young to touch any of the animals, or sit in the 'proper' tractor, or play in the play park, he loved looking at all the animals with a frequently amused, often excited, and occassionally perplexed expression.

Gorgie Farm is one of those places that you know exist, but tend to bypass whilst you're getting from A to B, but it's a fantastic place and (just a hunch) somewhere we'll be frequenting again in the future. 

Saying hello

 

Getting excited at seeing the rabbits

We also saw the cow (purely in the animal sense) and goats

Also some unsocial sheep

And a horse

Plus pigs and piglets

and

guinea pigs, birds, chickens, hens, an owl and lots more

Lots of fun!

Ready, steady, GO!

Since I can't pretend to be 'nearly twenty-something' anymore (although, let's be clear about this, I like to think that 35 is still a fair way in the distance), I thought it was about time I got myself a public *shudder at the P word* blog like a proper grown up.

Plus I figured this would be a useful little tool to keep the world up to date with the goings-ons in the Oliver world, especially since the arrival of our Little One, our little Joshua.

Already Joshua is 4 months old, How did that happen?,  and I'm ashamed to admit that there are far too many people I haven't been in touch with during those 4 months (and a few more who I haven't been in contact with enough).

With a little bit of luck, having somewhere to keep everyone up to date with the oh so exciting world of the Oliver's, will go somewhere to forgiving my tardyness!