Jacob - 11

We had Rick, Jacob and Anna up last weekend, with Jacob picking up a sweet new bicycle for his 11th birthday. He and Uncle Glen put the bike to the test for a proper ride before the more family orientated cycle on Sunday. A few scrapes and bruises, but overall a big success. Anna, Sav and I scavenged for the last of the garden veg. Slim pickings but we did ok before a solid sesh on the rope swing. Happy Birthday Jacob!

Shake Time

Coffee Bothy shake sharing's a definite must. One pic taken in Sept 2008, the other in Sept 2010. Same waitress, I am sure. Marjorie. She's awesome.

Imagination

Yes, Sav's developing a lovely "imagination"... of the Pinocchio variety. And what's a bit more worrying - although we've read that it's normal and part of growing up etc, none of her mates seem to be doing the same (...yet!?).

Sav (S): I just did a pee all on my own
MegaDob (MD): Great, did you wash your hands? (She hadn't)
S: Yup (100% confident)
MD: You sure?
S: Yup, see? Used soap and water and dried them too (100% confident)
MD: Hmm, I don't think I heard the tap?
S: Yup, you did (nodding head in encouragement, still 100% confident).
MD: Ok, Sav, just to check for the last time, are you sure you washed your hands?
S: Yes, I did wash my hands, BUT (finger up, making her point crystal clear, still 100% confident), I am just going to wash them again, ok?
MD: Ok, sounds good.

Reika Juliet

Baby RJ, sister to CJ and AJ as part of Team Japan. No text needed.

Peter Pan

MegaDob and Sav made a new rope swing in the backyard. Wouldn't describe it as "safe"...more like "edgy fun".

Pic doesn't quite show the massive ledge over which Sav hangs at the peak of her swing on the right. Some carrots and some peas to land on, but also some bricks and concrete. Eek. Anyone selling a massive crash mat? Or extended health insurance?

Coffee Bothy milkshake down the hatch. Weather still warm enough to ride there. But not for long, not for long.

Ruth Robson

Ruth Robson passed away peacefully this week in her retirement home, 93 - almost 94. She was my mom's mom, grandma to Lynn, Chris and I.

We didn't get to see my Grandma much, with her being Toronto based. But I'll always remember my weekend visits with "Doodie", as we called her, while studying out East. And it was great that Glen got to meet Doodie too, on a work trip to Montreal when we hired a car to travel across for a weekend stay. Doodie was still in her TO flat, and we did "the usual", which involved a trip to her club where she spent so many of her retirement years - playing tennis and curling, and later in life, as various joints decided to misbehave, playing bridge. Part of "the usual" included a martini (or two) and I was delighted when Doodie's classic bar request came through for Glen to witness, even though we were at the club for an early lunch (more of a brunch...). Awesome.

I drove us home that day and we had a yummy homemade dinner, admiring Doodie's own self made (rather excellent) art and pottery strewn about the flat and listening to her latest theories on the world. Glen and I participated in Doodie's aquafit class the next morning. No wonder she lived independently for so long - we were both knackered at the end of the 45 min class and Doodie wasn't even puffing. Just went straight on to sorting her hair and chatting with her gal pals to plan the next building social.

Ruth with Tom and Francie (mom)

Ruth with Tom and Francie (mom)

Ruth with Lynn, Chris, Ashley

Ruth with Lynn, Chris, Ashley, and Granno (Ruth's mom, my great grandma)

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Ruth, Glen, Ashley at the club

It's been five years since my last visit, and I'm sad that Doodie never got to meet Savvy. But we've exchanged a zillion postcards and pictures over the years and, until recently, we had a cool email thing going too, a pretty neat skill for a gal to pick up in her 80s. Anyway, these last few years were quite tough for Doodie and by all accounts, her time had come.

Rest in peace Doodie, xox

Raise your Hands to say Happy Birthday to Nana!

That's right, the lovely Nana celebrates a Birthday today. We wish she was closer to blow out some Scottish candles and enjoy the recent Bridge of Allan Birthday showers. But mostly we're just happy she's through the worst of her pneumonia and back home resting. Happy Birthday Nana!

This is just silliness. Savvy made MegaDob into a one eyed pirate baby. Then we bet him £50 to go to town and get his hair cut in character. He was so so so close. But the money wasn't good enough. He ain't cheap, our Dobbo.

Cute Savvy on the last day of Briarland Farm's season. We'll miss over the winter, you child-friendly-set-your-kid-free-in-a-giant-space-&-relax-with-a-coffee Briarland Farm, we'll miss you.

The Gay Gordon

A good night in Edinburgh thanks to sitters S&M (merci). The ceilidh was at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms, celebrating one of our swimming club's 125th anniversary (wow!)- an awesome pillar within the community and so many committed volunteers to admire.

The classic outside-waverly shot.

You can pick out Glen facing sideways on the dance floor doing the Gay Gordon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Gordons_(dance). I made it out for a few dances myself, the Canadian Barn Dance in particular.

We took the late night train home with a hilarious chap (steaming and very proudly gay) who took one look at Dob's kilt and called him Gordon for the whole journey. It was worth it - he led the train in a Tina Turner sing song and provided an hour's worth of comedy.

Fifth Gear Solutions

The very talented Buttercup, known to some as Christine Nielsen -and to many as World Champion 2000- has launched her web design and IT consulting company out of the Vancouver North Shore. Check out the amazing Fifth Gear Solutions site: www.fifthgearsolutions.com.

What's Up with Sav?

What's up with Sav?

1. She can put on her own socks, shoes, gloves, helmet and back pack
2. She's riding the 1km to school and back - no more complaining on the hill.
3. Dry nights (mostly).
4. She has started a number of lessons: Little tigers, tennis, and swimming. Watches from the side, and then does everything on her own beside the lesson. (Soon maybe!?...It's getting a bit expensive...)
5. Favourite phrase: "That's not fair!" (in our defense, she doesn't really understand what "fair" means)
6. Most impressive phrase: "Well done, Mommy. I'm very very impressed!"
7. Favourite colour: yes, still purple.

In other news, Nana has had a terrible chest infection/pneumonia, but we understand from Auntie L that she is on the up, very good news indeed. Rest up, Nana! x

Sunny September

Scotland has delivered on the September Sun challenge. Sav's been riding to school every day, to and fro - shorts and t-shirts, thank you very much. Evening pic nics at the park. And weekends on the front lawn...wearing ridiculous "hats" (inverted princess dress).
Dob's birthday fortnight finale had to be rescheduled, but it's not been forgotten. More to follow.