Resuming normal service......

.....I hope! Assuming all goes to plan I'm back here in the blogging world again. The summer is annoyingly trying to make a reappearance today - now that the children are back at school. Why, oh why? We had so much beautiful weather in June but as soon as school stopped, at the end of June, it became cloudy and rainy. The kids only had their sunhats and cream on once over the whole 6 1/2 weeks.

Dornoch beach

So, my dreams for the holidays - formed in June and consisting of lots of trips to the beach with picnic and body boards (plus wetsuits, I am relatively realistic about Scottish summers!) - had to be scrapped. We had a lovely time with lots of walks and trips but it never really felt like proper summer.

Body boarding (minus the waves) Dornoch beach

We had a wonderful week up near Dornoch with my parents and both my brothers including my middle brother's family complete with my gorgeous new nephew. It was so good to spend time all together and my three had so much fun with my niece. I'd like to say they also loved spending time with their new baby cousin too but that would be stretching the truth. They did admire him occasionally but largely ignored him!

Kylerhea, Skye

We then moved on to Harris in the Outer Hebrides - via Skye which was even wetter than everywhere else! We love Skye but it really wasn't at its best so we'll have to introduce the children properly another time.

If you look carefully you may be able to spot the boys just starting their way up the rock slab, Harris

Walking on Harris

Harris was brilliant. Some incredible beaches and scenery. We walked, cycled and pottered. We did spend lots of time on the beach but only long enough to play, swim at the very end and then head back to warm up.



Happy children
Happy Kipper

The highlight, especially for the boys, was our treat trip on a RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat - fast and fun) out to a little uninhabited island where we were left to explore for a while. On the trip we saw seals, puffins and loads of other bird life. It was windy grey day so we didn't see basking shark, porpoise, minke whale or any of the other 'biggies' that are often spotted but it was still fun.

All geared up for sea
Awaiting 'rescue' from our 'desert' island

On our last day we had a final trip to the beach which was just 5 minutes walk from our cottage. Again it wasn't really swimming weather but after some sandcastle making etc the kids were in the sea for their last dip. I took great delight in going in too.....knowing full well that John would feel obliged to follow suit![Having grown up in Cheshire with a much less active outdoorsy family than mine he didn't spend his childhood in freezing seas and mountain burns like I did. I'll often jump in a river or loch after a good hillwalk - its very refreshing (I must admit to doing it less often since having the kids!). The first time I did this John clearly thought I'd taken leave of my sense but being a competitive sort of person felt the need to do it too. So now I do it as much to watch John tentatively inch his way in as for the refreshment - simple pleasures!]



Last swim on Harris

What now? I have lots of sewing lined up. Some presents, a swap and quilt bee blocks to complete. And so many more plans - for things to try and sell and things for the family and house. I'll be back shortly with some fabric and sewing pics.

And I'm really looking forward to catching back up with everyone over the next wee while.