Fairbairn Family of Stirlingshire

Summer holidays are over

2011-08-22T20:44:00.001+01:00

Well, actually, there's a wee bit more than that happened since the last post. But the main event was undoubtedly our summer trip to see Margaret, Tom, Paul and Nick in the biggest and best state of them all - Texas! (Well, at least that's what they told us.) As well as Dallas, we toured around Texas, taking in Fort Worth, San Antonio, South Padre Island and the Space Centre at Houston.

Before that, the year ended well for all the kids, with both Calum and Hannah winning school prizes for achievement. But Texas, wasn't our only jaunt. At Easter we spent a week in Cyprus and we've also managed to squeeze some camping trips, including a gorgeous weekend at the end of April near Pitlochry.

However, they're all back to school tomorrow, so it's back to normality - including the weekly doses of homework. Hurray!

Christmas and New Year Epilogue

2011-01-03T19:26:00.000Z

Well, that'll be that then. Decorations are down, rubbish has been taken to the dump, we're promising ourselves to go a walk tomorrow, I'm back at work on Wednesday and the kids are back at school on Thursday. As always, it's been a very busy Christmas and New Year: Christmas Day at Elizabeth's, the pantomime in Glasgow (without Gerard Kelly - mixed emotions about that that); Hogmanay at the Lea Park in Grangemouth (OK - but not brilliant); and New Year's Day dinner at our house.

There were 24 of us for dinner on New Year's Day. Slightly less than previous years, but the children are getting bigger, so it was still a bit of a squeeze. Also good that everyone got on with each other and that there were no arguments (well, nothing major, anyway).

All we have to do now is count the cost (which I can't believe) and start planning for next year.

Don't you just love building Airfix?

2010-12-30T23:06:00.000Z

I'd forgotten how wonderful Airfix kits are - until Calum got his first kit from Santa. (Thank you, Santa!) It only took us two hours to paint and assemble the pilot in his ejector seat! Can't wait to get stuck into the rest of the aeroplane.

Holidays, a tent, a wedding and lots of snow

2010-12-30T22:56:00.000Z

So, what have we been up to since June? Not updating this blog for starters!

Summer holiday was a very hot two weeks in Crete. It started in the usual way - disagreement about whether the room we were allocated was what we had booked. After we left Anne to it, it was sorted out. As well as the five of us, we had our niece Katie with us. Katie and Hannah had a room to themselves - and had a ball.

This year was the year of our new tent. We used it three times - a weekend in Perth with our Edinburgh friends, another weekend near Graham in Eccleston, and a few days during the October week near Bamburgh. Hannah hasn't been too impressed - she'd prefer a palace on wheels - but everybody else thinks it's great. One downside was the field that was a bit of a mudbath near Eccleston.

Our niece Louise tied the knot with Andy, to become the new Mr & Mrs Houlis. Anne made the trip to Cyprus (one of her many holidays this year). And then we all travelled to Newcastle for the UK reception.

And the year ended with the 2010 Big Freeze throughout almost the whole of December. Martin spent many happy hours clearing away snow from the drive. And we're now waiting for the next snowdump in January.

Who needs Lloyd-Webber?!?

2010-06-02T21:55:00.000+01:00

Kinnaird Primary excels itself yet again with a superb production of Wizard of Oz! The whole cast brought the house down and Calum had a leading role as General Growlie. Pure dead brilliant!

Prague in Spring

2010-06-01T22:06:00.003+01:00

Just back from a superb four-and-a-bit days in Prague. It was wonderful - even without the children. Did everything you would expect - including an adventure on the local train service to Karlstein (only managed to get on the wrong train once). Also went to the State Opera (to see an excellent production of Carmen) and an organ/trumpet duet recital in St Nicholas Church (highlight was an improvisation by the organist). Back to work. Tired. Happy!

84th birthday

2010-05-03T22:38:00.001+01:00

One day early, we celebrated Grandma's 84th birthday on Sunday. Went for High Tea to the Elgin Hotel in Charlestown. Graham phoned part way through and Sheila forgot that it might not be cost-free. Children behaved themselves reasonably, didn't annoy the other diners too much and didn't eat all the cakes. Hannah amused herself taking close-up photos of a Hello Kitty figure. All-in-all, a lovely afternoon.

Hot news: Loch Ness Monster found

2010-04-12T21:36:00.000+01:00

Spent the first few days of the Easter holidays in the Inverness area. Fair on the Monday. Tipped it down on the Tuesday. Sunny on the Wednesday as we drove home. Typical! However, despite the rain, look what we discovered in a rainy Loch Ness. Can you believe it!!!!

Falkirk to Linlithgow and back - almost

2010-04-03T21:56:00.000+01:00

What does a family do on the Saturday of Easter weekend? Get the bikes out, of course! Although the weather forecast was pretty grim, we loaded the bikes onto the car and headed up to the Union Canal. Walking through the tunnel was fun - especially since it's now lit up and the reflection of the ceiling in the water looked like a cave. The rain didn't come on until Redding, but didn't last long. We eventually got to Linlithgow and had our picnic at the canal basin watching the model boat club sailing their boats. Starting on the way back, we all felt a bit sore and stiff. Adam and I pushed on ahead and the others walked the first bit. Adam and I then drove back to find Anne, Hannah and Calum. Suffice to say that Redding Industrial Estate is the best-hidden industrial estate in the world!

Nine years on

2010-04-03T21:42:00.000+01:00

Calum and his friends had a great time zapping each other at Megazone. Dad participated in the first session, and came second-last - time to bow out! Best present - fishing rod and gear, which he's now desperate to try out.

The big 13

2010-04-03T21:27:00.000+01:00

Hannah has become a teenager. Help!!! She had a pampered sleepover with some of her friends - and amazingly there weren't too many hysterics. Only seven years of emotional roller-coasters to go.

Ladies in Dublin

2010-04-03T20:57:00.000+01:00

Eileen and Anne went to Dublin in February to celebrate a certain birthday with a zero at the end (for Eileen - not Anne!). They saw lots of historic sights (OK - some) and enjoyed themselves quite a lot!

Take off

2010-01-23T22:06:00.001Z

Snow cleared at last and therefore Calum could get his new plane in the air. Calum, Adam and Martin therefore went down to the playing fields at Camelon this afternoon. We left plenty of room so that we couldn’t dive-bomb the football game or occasional dog. After a couple of mishaps, lift-off was a success.

Graham and Kaye are married

2010-01-11T22:00:00.001Z

We all spent a wonderful weekend in BognorRegis for Graham and Kaye's wedding. Kaye and Graham (just) got through their vows; and then set the ceilidh off with an excellent foxtrot. Our children behaved themselves and all the speeches went well.

Wallace's monument

2010-01-04T21:35:00.006Z

As our final fling before returning to school and work, we climbed Wallace's Monument today. We also thought it would help to blow away the Christmas and New Year cobwebs. And how! The view was fantastic, but it was also freezing.

Christmas is over

2010-01-03T14:38:00.001Z

The lights and decorations are down and packed away. Back to auld claes and porridge.