The day was finished with an amazing meal at The Byre Inn, Brig O'Turk. They even made the most delicious chocolate birthday cake, freshly made about half hour before, mmm.

Here's one of Will, with hair just before it started falling out on his 18th, he, he!

Happy 39th and 364th day Will

Will's 40th birthday has come as a bit of a shock to him, so to take his mind off it I had planned a few surprises. The first being 4x4 driving at (good) Crieff, from his mom and dad the day before to celebrate the last day of his 3o's. I can't believe he didn't flip the car, I was holding on so tight I scraped the skin off my knuckle trying to hold on at what felt like a 45degree angle. Will loved it of course.

Here's our friends Lesley and Graham-who had a go too, and 'Frank-opeadia' (and his tach) :-!)

Ancient Tree Hunt

I've just added these lovely mighty Douglas Fir trees to the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt. http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/recording/

You can join in the project wherever you are. All you need to do is get out into the forest and go looking for ancient trees. Download an information sheet so you can measure or estimate interesting trees in 'hugs'. The average adult hug is 1.5m (although mine is only 1.25) and hug from 1.5m up the tree. If you can hug an oak tree 3 times or more for instance, then put it on their map to be verified and hopefully protect it in the future.

The Wood nymphs and Tree Spirits will love you for it and they may return your help for an answer to a question you may have if you sit under it... An Ash is a tree of wisdom, so if you have a problem it can help you to solve it, Beech being a tree of justice and law, or the written word, Hazel is the knowledge or inspiration tree.

Raft Race Saga Continues....

Cameron is back with his winning raft, 'The Determinator', beating Will's 'Wilson' again. But what's this, oh dear, the following week Cameron has been beaten by a girl no less with 'Team Awesome'! Go Roisin :-)

Vibrant and Calm

Although short and sweet, the visit home was really good to catch up with family again. Just look at what we come back to though..... juicy, vibrant, tasty Broom just waiting to be gobbled up - just the flowers mind, or you'll be flying away on your broomstick, then throwing up if you ate the seeds! Then, on the Cobleland doggie walk loop the river looked divine with a bluebell backdrop. Lesley and Graham have seen a kingfisher here, but no such luck as yet for us.

Go Ape Stag Day

My brother Oli, is getting married this August and he chose a Go Ape day, well in advance of the big day in case of any injuries. As we were down south for Will's dad's birthday, the gang went to the Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood. Great fun and not a broken bone in sight, phew!

Happy 60th Birthday Mick

It was Will's Dad's 60th birthday so we travelled back to Portsmouth for a really quick visit to wish him a happy birthday.