X marks the spot

The FB was given a treasure map of the Museum of Scotland recently as part of their program to get children interested in what they have to offer apart from the robots on the ground floor and the trains on the fifth. We had nothing better to do today and so we thought we'd follow the map...



Scottish wolves (not the ones from the Meadows that eat cheeky little boys, or so MrV tells the FB)



ghostly Roman horses



a claymore fit for a giant




Bonny Prince Charlie's "Wanted" poster. We were looking for one that said "wanted dead or alive" $400.

Freakly little coffins that were found buried on Arthurs Seat. Noone knows who made them, buried them or why.

Silver egg urns with legs?

You were meant to draw each of the things we found but the FB's not that great at drawing so he borrowed my camera instead and I have to say I'm quite impressed.

Walks on a cold day

It was a cold day today, and frost covered everything



so we went for a walk





via Germany it seems!



Past waterfalls,

pools of still water,

and under towering bridges until, at last, we found the forest.

Is it me or do you think there should be a grizzly hunting salmon on the banks here?

Were we in Canada, Germany, or the centre of Edinburgh?

Deck the halls meme

Nabbed from Meggie


Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Neither really. Can I have a glass of rose please?

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?
They're wrapped and put under the tree, but they won't go under the tree this year because due to the Count and his exploring fingers the tree has had to be put up behind the tv

Colored lights on tree or white?
Neither, but the tree is covered with lots of multicoloured decorations

When do you put your decorations up?
Is this apart from the tree? Hmm when they are finished being made really. Which they haven't yet...

What is your favourite holiday dish?
Roast chicken, roast potatoes, and stuffing. And don't forget the veg

Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Making plans with my sister about who should wake up who if they were awake first. Oh yes and we also used to "wash" the bathroom walls on Christmas Eve to make sure they were clean in case Santa needed to use the bathroom. My mother used Santa as a great way to make us clean our bedroom (which was so untidy we would have to cut paths into it in the evening so we could get to the bedroom door) - everything had to be sorted out and tidied up completely incase Santa needed to check if we had a particular toy. We fell for it for years.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I had my suspicions when one Christmas Eve I heard my rather drunk father stagger into our bedroom (shared a room with my sister) and slur "where shall I put these?" to my mother. My suspicions were confirmed the next year when my sister and I decided to mark the fruit in the fruit bowl to see if any appeared in our stockings.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No, not unless you count a bottle of wine as a gift.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Every year we buy the children a tree decoration each so they go up, as well as any that they have made themselves and then assorted tree decorations we've bought or been given. The tree is tack personified.

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it until it turns to slush then freezes. We were deeply disappointed when a few weeks back the rest of the country got masses of snow and we got nothing.

Can you ice skate?
The last time I tried I could. Mind you that was 16 years ago. Is iceskating something you never forget?

Do you remember your favorite gift?
Sadly no I don't.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Spending time with MrV and the boys

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Stollen

What is your favorite tradition?
Watching a really bad Christmas film on the eve of the 23rd accompanied by biscuits and cheese from M&S

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?
Giving I think.

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
I spend every Christmas singing the few lines of "Santa baby"that I know over and over

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I suspect yuk

Ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not as a grownup but it probably happened as a child. I know duplicate birthday presents were recycled.

The stars in the bright sky

Two years ago I first talked about making stars for the FB's bedroom, started making them (I think about 15 were cut out and that's all) before the incredible tiredness you get during the first trimester kicked in and I quit. Last year we all had spewmonia (yes it sounds delightful doesn't it) right before Christmas so making stars was again out of the question. But this year? Well I've cut out and decorated 97 stars in either silver or gold glitter - so far 66 in gold, the rest silver. I've another 59 stars waiting to be decorated but have run out of glue, and I've got to draw and cut out another 33 stars to be done in gold. Then they all have to be strung together and hung. By Thursday morning. Cutting it a bit fine amn't it! On top of that I've got a clove orange to make for myself and one that I've promised to make for one of the mums at school. I promise

to take a photo of it all when it's done. But for now I leave you with a photo of another little star.

He's walking

Hippo on the razz

Earlier in the year I managed to lose 21lbs (10kg) through the Beck diet plan. By the time we moved up here I had gained some of it back through stress eating. I'm too scared to stand on the scales partly because I dread what they'll say and partly because I think I may break them. Oh well January starts soon and it will be time to stop eating so much chocolate and start going back to the gym again.

Tonight I'm going out with some friends for dinner. Not at Kushis or Ricks fortunately as they burnt down last night. My sister used to go to Kushis regularly and loved the place. And Ricks did a killer Eton Mess.

Wanted to put a cartoon of a hippo in sparkly evening wear up but can you believe it I couldn't find one. Darn

Cool things about Edinburgh

I still can't believe we live in Edinburgh. Every morning I take the FB to school and look out across to see Arthur's Seat. It's an amazing view with the sun rising behind it. On my way home I can see the Castle almost at the end of the road. Still can't believe it though!

We've been bunkered down a lot recently. Partly because we don't know how long MrV's going to have his job for and partly because we seem to be catching every single cold and bug going about. Yesterday my sister called to say that her daughter, the FB's absolute favourite person, has come down with chickenpox... we are on spot watch.

The best thing though is the school playground. I'm not talking from the FB's point of view but from mine. In previous place I was completely ignored while waiting to pick up/drop off the FB but here? Well today after the kids went into school I went to the local coffee shop with a few of the parents for a drink and a natter. It's so so unbelievably nice to be able to do that.