Fly Agaric

Our first trip of this year to CenterParcs Whinfell Forest in the Lake district - fabulous relaxed family environment. The facilities are first class in my opinion with all sorts of activities for the kids. The Fly Agaric found by the Indy Kid on a previous visit was something special, it has nurtured his desire to explore the surrounding forest in search of mushrooms. Will keep you posted with more exhibits to come in future.

Snowy Hike

Today was good - dropped the Indy kids off at school then headed off for what was supposed to be a gentle stroll around the Pot Loch to see how the ducks were dealing with their frozen domain but we ended up at the Lindean Mast, Half Crown corner and onwards to Sunderland Hall which turned out to be rather interesting when we came across what seemed to be an emergency situation - with police sign and fire tender vechile parked on the old bridge across the river Ettrick. This used to be the the first of the two bridges on the old A7 road to Galashiels. Anyway, the missus and I approached with caution expecting to see some vechile or other wedged into the hedgerow or through the parapit but as it turned out it was not as dramatic. We watched as half a dozen fire crew busied themselfs with a Tirfor type winch assembly. Being the curious kind, I caught the crew chiefs eye and asked what was going on ? the good chap proceeded to explain that their planned excerise had gone a bit Pete Tong. The tender was infact a transporter with hydraulic arm arrangement to offload a portable emergency triage unit. The first stage of the task seemed to be going according to plan but the icy conditions had resulted in the heavy unit sliding off line and becoming impossible to recover. Much huffing and puffing later we continued on our hike through the estate, up the North side of river all the way to the lower - what used to be called the Green bridge crossing and into Baxters for some lunch. Great walk, the only negative being that I did not have the videocam on hand when we came across and disturbed the magnificient Heron.

Birthday Treats

Birthday treats are great, the wife sprang a little surprise. Indy kids farmed out to our good friends Neil & Lisa while we eloped to Edinburgh and The Roxburghe Hotel situated on south Charlotte Square at the end of George Street. it doesn't get any more central than this if your desire is to explore the delights of the capital city. Spent a couple of hours doing the compulsory shopping before homing in on the La Tasca spanish tapas restaurant for some exquisite chorizo frito al vino, patatas bravas con ensalada de la casa on the side, awesome scoff washed down with a fine bottle of Faustino V Rioja Reserva 2005, Silky smooth Rioja with crushed red fruits elegantly mingling with vanilla and creamy spice, that's what is says on the bottle anyway but my warped pallet failed to pick up the vanilla. The good lady declined the "Postre" but having a sweet tooth myself, the Tarta de Naranja y Nuez hit the right note. Fine cuisine indeed, with some reminiscing about our times in Mexico City & Acapulco, those cliff divers have balls of stone believe me, the only option left was the compulsory Siesta.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented Hobbit whose life is turned upside down when he joins the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves on their quest to reclaim stolen treasure. It is a journey fraught with danger - and in the end Bilbo alone must face the guardian of this treasure, the most dreaded dragon "Smaug" in all middle earth....

J.R.R. Tolkien's enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, in my opinion is one of the best-loved books of all time. The revised edition i am presently reading to the Indy-kids is carefully abridged and beautifully illustrated by David Wenzel has become a best selling classic in its own right. With more than thirty pages of new artwork and improvements by the artist, this revised edition has been newly rescanned from the original paintings to produce the most authentic version ever published in my view, I am sure Hobbit fans old and new will not be disappointed with this enchanting tale.

Indiana Kids

There is some draw backs to life offshore, you miss your family and the joy they bring you. I'am coming home, Yippe