weeali's blah blah

fine and dandy

2011-04-30T21:13:00.003+01:00

We have a large feild near our house where we walk with our dog Cara.
It changes through the seasons and I have been loving that the mud has dried and we can go in without wellies.
Its largely green grass and has sporadic patches that glow yellow with dandelions.
These will soon give way to lots of buttercups and then some poppies will sprout - if last years cycle is anything to go by.

As we walk through rachel loves to go and gather handfuls of dandelions and give me a big bunch as a present.
They're so bright and cheery and given with such enthusiasm I take them home and put them in a vase.

Rach tried to give some other people dandelions and they refused to take them. "Disgusting" "Look she's giving me pee-the-beds". I can't help but think the Scottish terminology for dandelions as "pee-the-beds" has added to their demise as a pleasant plant to have around, but really? Do people actually believe the old wives tail that they make you urinate at night if you pick them? I have to inform you that I picked one yesterday and my sheets were dry this morning.

I can understand that no-one wants them growing in their lawn and they propagate annoyingly fast but why hate it so much? I have to admit that I felt a mild dislike when Rach first started picking them but when I stopped to try and work out why I actually couldnt come up with a good reason. So I am on a mission to enjoy the beauty of the humble dandelion - to champion its beauty and to dispel the myths. We need to open our eyes to the hidden things of beauty. See the world through the eyes of a child.

Project 40 - epic fail

2011-04-23T09:45:00.005+01:00

When I was trying to think of what to do for lent this year - or whether should actually do anything - I found myself thinking what the whole thing was about.
Heaven knows I need to develop some self-discipline and lent has always been a good time to try that. When I was younger I had masses of self-discipline and could give things up just by deciding I would.
As I've grown up I seem to have grown, well, lazy. I make real excuses for myself and now the world is less black and white it doesn't matter so much if I break that resolution does it?

This year was different.
I didn't want to have a whole 40days of focusing on me...of thinking about my love of chocloate/tv/other thing I wish I didn't like.
But I did want to think more about Easter and what is a really special time to me.
So #project40 was born.
It was partially born out of my admiration for my friend Karen's #project365 and the amazing photos she took every day of last year.
So I decided to start taking a photo a day for the 40days of lent. Each one a reminder of spring or Easter.

It started well and I loved having to think of easter every day. Of trying to find signs of it in the world around me.
Here are some of the shots.

This was my first butterfly sighting. I love butterflies and was reminded of the glass butterfly given to me by a friend who has died. She had told me she got it to remind me that "God is lovingly changing me into something beautiful".

Rach was giving it millions dancing at granny's house and didnt seem to tire at all. It reminded of that song "I could dance 100miles because of your great love" - what is my response to the amazing love shown to me at easter?

One of the hardest parts of project40 was putting the pics on twitter. I was enjoying taking them but my pride struggled with the vulnerability of sharing them.
Because of this, and more largely because of my lazyness, the project dwindled. It became sporadic and then stopped.

So here I am at Easter. I tried but I failed.
I'm disappointed in myself. I have to recognise that I'm not all I thought I was.
Noone that follows me on twitter has even mentioned that I've stopped or asked why. Maybe they assume I am embarrassed. They'd be right. javascript:void(0)

It's the Saturday between Good Friday (when Jesus died) and Easter Sunday (when Jesus was raised again) and to be sitting in a shamed, embarrassed, disappointed heap seems to be fitting.
Being a little less prideful and a little more accepting of my humanity and imperfections is the best place to be - I'm ready to accept grace. Ready to feel loved and accepted and to realise that is nothing to do with me, my achievements, my success or my ability to post 40 photos :)

Maybe I'll go back to giving up chocolate next year.

prayer of confession

2010-08-01T00:12:00.000+01:00

For all those occasions when we choose to get by so that we will not be challenged beyond familiar comforts, when we use money without thought so as not to take responsibility for its power, when we fill time so that we will not hear the call to intimacy,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

When we indulge in negativity so as not to acknowledge that we have choice,
when we listen continuously to others without sharing of ourselves,
when we pray from a distance so as not to risk involvement,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

When we opt for ordinariness so that we will not have to lead, when we acquiesce to fear so that we do not have to realise our potential, when we live focused on self so as to avoid commitment to community,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

When we do not deal with conflict so that we do not have to learn, when we are ungrateful or demanding and forget that all is gift, when we never relinquish control so as not to admit where we are broken,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

When we live as driven people and excuse our lack of peace, when we snap with anger because we did not attend to the body’s need for sleep, when we forget that our bodies are temples and not dumping grounds for waste,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy.

When we spread or listen to gossip so that we can manipulate to our advantage,
when we couldn’t be bothered getting involved but criticise those who do,
when we make no space for prayer yet have time for other things,
forgive us, O God, and have mercy. Amen.

Being Loving part deux

2010-05-01T10:11:00.002+01:00

So i'm thinking i probably took most of you with me on the last post - being loving is the most important thing going.
Its not so hard to agree with - harder to live out I grant you.
I'll admit to you that I'm finding it hard, even with my "all we need is love" stance. Perhaps... because of it?? I'm finding I'm getting easily annoyed at folks who aren't loving. Why do people feel the need to tell others they're wrong in such a harsh way? to be unaccepting of people where they're at? to judge people on the silliest of things and count their worth on trivialities such as nationality,
I feel the frustration rising... it appears that I am intolerant of intolerance

Being Loving

2010-04-27T10:18:00.002+01:00

i'm beginning to wonder if being loving is the most important thing in life.
Not success, not having lots of stuff, not being funny or pretty.
I find it a bit harder to think its more important than being wise or being right.
But thats where im getting to. So where does that leave searching for the truth?
Should I just not bother?

sharing

2009-04-20T20:38:00.004+01:00

so it's been over a year since I committed any thoughts to blog. i have read lots of other peoples blogs and kept some pics up-to-date on Rach's blog but not really bothered with this one much.
Cara did indeed have puppies - 7 of them. Rach is now running around and learning new words. Im still at CH 2 days a week but with training and annual leave it feels like im hardly there at all. i enjoy it when i am though and am looking forward to getting back into it tomorrow.
I'd like to use this blog to share a bit more of my thoughts on life but theres a big part of me that doesnt want to share my innermost and heartfelt thoughts on this blog because I have no idea who's reading it. I guess thats silly because if Im embarrassed by my thoughts then they need to be changed not hidden. Still... not sure if i'm quite ready for that level of transparency so you will have to cope with the mundane and share-able information until I overcome myself.

not worth the wait

2008-04-18T23:26:00.002+01:00

oh well... trees! i'm sure you have been anxiously awaiting to find out what was happening in gracemount huh?! ok maybe not - apologies for not blogging sooner to replace the boring picture. i've been busy. not hugely busy but enough to tire me out. i'm working 2 days a week at Cunningham House. Rachel is crawling really fast now and into everything (mainly things she shouldnt be!). Cara is hopefully pregnant after finding her a suitor and putting her through the most unnatural mating i've ever seen. i think she is - she's acting very weirdly and seems wider. Time will tell. Puppies due 1st june.
have lots of other things to tell you ... but i'm too tired sorry!
will try better next time

X marks the spot

2008-01-23T21:49:00.000Z

So the council have been spending money making Gracemount beautiful.
The park has had benches added, lights fitted that sometimes even work, trees and shrubs planted - they even planted what looked like a million daffodils.
Last week these lovely X's appeared.
They could be the work of very symmetrical vandals... or the council are planning another charm offensive...
I think I like the suspense the best...

tall and thin

2008-01-17T12:10:00.000Z

saw our shadow as i was walking the dog and thought i'd take a pic seeing a its probably the only one i look tall and thin in :-)
not for long though... I went to pilates last night and am hoping to go regularly. maybe with a bit more toning and stretching i'll stand tall and thin before the year is out... well... one can hope!

a womans work...

2007-12-18T13:13:00.000Z

so you wont be seeing me for a while... i have a little ironing to catch up on!
we had a lovely christmas day with jamies folks yesterday and were off to ireland at the weekend. will hopefully have more time to write and tell you all about it... if i ever finish the ironing :-(

Lounging by the pool

2007-10-02T09:53:00.001+01:00

We're on our holidays! Rach and i are waiting for the pool to open so we can go for her first swim. Poor jamie is back at the apartment with the flu :(

Kate Rusby

2007-09-25T08:42:00.000+01:00

So Jamie and I left the house last Thursday... together... without Rachel (and no we didnt forget her). With Jamie's mum and dad (gran and grandad) babysitting we went off to hear Kater Rusby sing her wee heart out. It was a fab night. Good banter inbetween songs and an amazing voice. She also had one of "those guys" - you know the ones - the side kick able to play every instrument under the sun... whistle, violin, guitar, stringy thing, and backing vocals. Made me want to learn some form of musicical instrument, until i remembered how utterly frustrating it is to try and learn - all those hours of playing badly.
Here's a snapshot of Kate - the recordings pretty bad, she doesnt have a lisp in real life!

great ambience

2007-09-09T21:43:00.000+01:00

i had my friends from Whitehead over yesterday. it was really great to see them and to introduce Rachel to them. We wandered about town a bit lunching and coffeeing etc. In the evening I abandoned the hubby and child to go out with the girlies. We ended up at a tapas restaurant (after much deliberation and voting!). The food was lovely and much laughter was had :-)
It was so good to have them around... makes me miss them more though!

reclaiming the land

2007-08-31T09:46:00.001+01:00

so i have managed to reclaim my blog back from the wee one. it seems like i might be emerging from the constantness and overwhelmingnessosity of being Rachel's mum. Last night i went out for drinks with a friend... on my own... without the baby. She had fun at home with her dad while i went out on the town. That sound sa bit glamorous but it was really great to meet up with kath for a few drinks down on grassmarket. the place is completely different and deserted now the festival is over. Just wait till the students get here and it will be mad!
Been listening lots to yvonne's new album - a thousand questions why - its mighty fine. would recommend it to a friend! if you want a copy you can get it at YvonneLyonMusic.com
Got a bbq on the beach tomorrow - i love BBQs! hope the weather is good :-)
sorry no pics to share with you today.

A new blog

2007-08-30T08:44:00.000+01:00

I have been really bad at updating you all on little rachel. i realise that lots of you will be missing out on her little developments so i thouhgt it only fair that she starts to tell you a bit about it. She's got 3 months worth to catch up on so it'll take her time to get caught up. its very hard to fit round all that sleeping and eating!
Anyway... have a wee look and add her to your favourites page.
i dont know how to add links to posts so click on the link at the side.

the address is www.WeeRachel.blogspot.com

what next?

2007-07-02T20:20:00.000+01:00

so im a little confused about what to do with this blog. i have lots of news about rachel and very little of my own. should i let rach start her own? give mine over to her? or just give up blogging all together?
answers on a postcard... or the comments section whichever is easiest :-)

cousins

2007-07-02T20:06:00.000+01:00

iain (my eldest brother) majlinda, alban and emma are up in edinburgh this week. theyre staying at a caravan site round the corner from here. its not great weather for a caravan holiday but its so good having them nearby. rachel has been having lots of hugs and kisses. cara has been enjoying the extra attention too.
iain has been trying to explain what a cousin is to alban with the aid of a, now very detailed, family tree. its a pretty complicated concept for a 4 year old... im only just getting to grips with it

uncle iain

uncle alan

2007-06-26T18:42:00.000+01:00

my brother Alan came to visit today for a wee while. It was great to see him and Rachel loved his singing! Hope it wont be long till we see him again ;-)
Rachel had her first trip to ikea today - i could tell she was gutted she was too wee for the ball pool. she had a shot in one of the cots though!
The health visitor was round today an she has put on weight - she's now 3.44kg (thats 7lb 8 to the rest of you). im so pleased shes been putting on weight despite vomiting most of her feeds.
As for my news... I have my mum over for a few weeks so the house is being kept tidy and clean. its great to have her around. Jamie started back to work yesterday :-( poor Jamie.

ickle feet

2007-06-22T13:01:00.001+01:00

i have put some pics on my bebo site - http://bebo.com/weeali8
i havent worked out how to turn them round yet or how to upload from the proper camera so im afraid you're stuck with my phone photos. this is one taken when in hospital. Rachel loves to lie with her feet in the air. its very bizarre but very cute.
we're getting more used to having her around although her recent hobby of projectile vomiting after every feed is getting a little tiresome - especially at 4.30am when shes chucked her milk all over her bed. great!

yay! she's here!!

2007-06-13T21:38:00.000+01:00

little miss rachel hope wilson has arrived in the world

apologies for the lack of blogging (although i know you have all loved looking at the pic of our car!).
i will try and fill you in on what you've missed another time when im not so tired - give it 18 years or so.

she was born on the 1st june - 2 weeks early because of my preeclamsia. we got out of hospital last wednesday. granny wright came to visit for the weekend (and she did lots of housework too :-) Aunty Elaine (Jamies sister) was over form switzerland for a day or two. Rachel also had her first visit to church which was a little overwhelming... for me!

jamie is off work for another week and a half. he's got a gig on monday in glasgow so he's practising for that.

i have lots of catching up to do with lots of people - will hopefully get more sorted soon - just managing from feed to feed at the moment. thankyou to everyone for their love and prayers and cards and pressies

the era ends

2007-05-13T20:35:00.000+01:00

so this is the new car... very sensible dont you think?! poor jamie hs to hand over the keys to his celica on thursday. the end of an era - no more sports car - no more 6th gear :-(

an end of another era... i finished work on friday. i had a lovely send off with homemade cakes and a really cool card and pressie. went for coffee with some of my colleagues after. its just really hard to realsie that i wont be back in the place for the forseeable future. it'll be good to have time to get some stuff done around the house.

jamie has started a new job despite his recent bout of shingles :-( the gigs went well though. 5 weeks to go... maybe :-)

33 weeks... and counting!

2007-04-28T13:35:00.000+01:00

we had a scan on Friday. The baby is lying in a good position and moving around lots. We were able to see its face. I dont know if you can make it out on this pic - i think it looks a bit scary. It stuck its tongue out at Jamie - the start of cheeky antics to come no doubt.
now only 7 weeks till d-day. Its all coming a little too fast in some ways - but not soon enough in others!!!

im glad this week is over. I have never had so many appointments in my life. Anti-natal classes were a bit dull. I was assessed for a disabled parking badge and got one - dont know whether thats something to be happy about or not?! On the whole the docs are pretty pleased with how im doing. Surprised even. I like to shock people :-)

im away round to Dr Sarahs for a coffee and to disturb her revision. It really will be my fault if she fails these exams!! Jamie's busy practising for his gig tonight. Hope lots of people come.

2007-04-23T18:26:00.000+01:00

the legendary cactus and chocolate pizza

on saturday night some of us (us being "the group with no name") went to mamma's pizza place. What a place! It took us at least 30mins to decide on toppings. They had everything from marshmallow to banana to - yes you guessed it - cactus and...chocolate. we decided it was worth going for it and ordered half a pizza of the most random mix - cactus and chocolate. I have to say that cactus tasted pretty normal. I think it had been pickled or something. The chocolate however was very difficult to eat. A big pat on the back to Stephen who managed to eat several pieces.

ben enjoying his cactus and chocolate pizza

after pizza we went to the lot to see jamie play. It was a good night. jams set went well despite attempted sabotage when stephen kicked a bottle of beer over... narrowly missing the edge of the balcony and the amps below! neil was entertaining as always. Looking forward to acoustic cafe on saturday.

jamie on stage - photo by Stephen Naismith :-)

I'm off work this week on annual leave. Got my first antinatal class tomorrow. Im pretty nervous about going. Will keep you informed!

general mutterings

2007-04-20T13:38:00.000+01:00

its been a funny old week. It started with conjunctivitis - an annoying itchy/goey eye thing. I then developed a cold - a head cold. I ahvent had one in years so i really cant complain. This is the first tiem ive not been able ot take decongestants or other medication though so i'm still feeling bunged up. Then at the start of the week I developed a chest infection. It shouldnt take long for the antibiotics to clear it up - but in the meantime breathing is an annoying neccesity. So all in all feeling a little under the weather. It is nice to have normal diseases mind you.
Not much new on the baby front - im getting big! And bulky. Cant cut my toe nails so hoping to talk jamie into that one :-) nice!
Have been getting requests for bump pictures - will see what i can do.
Jamie's got a couple of gigs lined up - one this Saturday supporting Neil Alton and a longer set at the Acoustic Cafe the following saturday - so he's busy practising and has had his hair cut (image IS everything).
As I type the TV is being hung on the wall. Some of you will realise the momentus occasion that this truely is. Lets hope it doesnt fall off :-)

Keeping up with the Joness

2007-04-16T12:20:00.000+01:00

Karen and Nathan

we went to visit our friends Karen and Jeremy and little Nathan yesterday. Its been a while since we saw them. Nathans getting big and he's got the cute-ist smile. You can read all about it on Nathans blog too!! Karen is due a baby in August so we were able to chat babies etc.
Jake and Cara had fun together. Cara enjoyed having someone to chase around with and is sleeping now to recoup the extra energy she used up.

Latest scan - 29weeks

2007-03-30T15:32:00.000+01:00

so heres the latest scan pic. Not much different from the last really but it was cool to see it again. All is well. We still dont know if its a boy or a girl and hopefully wont till the birth. Its been kicking lots and lots which is fun... but not at 2 in the morning. Anyway I better go mop Jamie's brow - he's got the flu :-(

bbc radio scotland

2007-03-27T17:39:00.000+01:00

just a quick wee blog to say that jamie's portrait song was played on Iain Andersons show last night - very exciting. Yvonne had passed his cd on. I've tried to copy the link but not sure if it'll work...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/view/show.shtml?iain

you can click on the "listen again" icon and it should take you into Mon 26ths program.

yvonnes new song - everythings fine is just before it about 6mins in. He said jamies song was "very very good". its very exciting. were still a long way off walking into a shop and hearing your song being played - but one step closer :-)

Our last scan

2007-03-24T19:11:00.000Z

So this is the last scan we had - a few weeks ago. For those of you who cant quite make it out the baby is lying on its back facing up with its head on the right. It looks like its blowing bubbles but apparently its not (seeing as theres no air in there).

Its only another 3 months to go and its getting pretty exciting. We bought some paint for the spare room today. All we need to do is clear out some of the junk in there. well i say junk... its all prized posessions lovingly stored for years. Am going to have to be ruthless.

I hope you liked Yvonnes video. See what you think of Jamies portrait on Leah Robb's site www.leahrobb.com - she's a budding artist and you can see the real thing at the traverse theatre. I really like her stuff and the thoughts behind it. Can you see which ones Jamie???

2007-03-20T20:19:00.000Z

wanted to post something to get rid of the annoying pram pictures that have been filling the screen for sometime. unfortunately our computer is a little messed up just now so no new pics. the new computer should be set up soon and that means back to bloggng and all things tinternet. Till then... check out yvonnes video for "everythings fine" - i think its brill - its on her myspace www.myspace.com/yvonnelyonmusic and click on video link under her pic.

not much news to share with you. was back in ireland at the weeend there. It was really good to see family and friends. Made me miss being close to them. I guess I should be thankful that theyre not too far away.

we're trying to get organised for the baby - it would be so much easier if we new when it'll arrive! I have my hospital bag stuff ready (still need the actual bag to put the stuff in) and some very cute little clothes and nappies etc. for the first wee while. Again that would have been made easier if we new girl/boy and what size it'll be! There is so much uncertainty! Guess you gotta love a surprise :-)

icandy

2007-02-12T21:56:00.000Z

one of the strangest things about being pregnant is having to become knowledgable about baby products. Having read every magaine and book posible and visiting numerous shops we have finally ordered a pram... the icandy apple...

its a pram and a buggy. ours will be red and black. we also ordered a car seat - turquoise and black. Its all very exciting... for me. I realise on typing this how dull it will be to everyone else... its all down hill from here!

22 weeks

2007-02-12T19:09:00.000Z

well last Friday brought the latest scan. The baby is now 22 weeks. The picture isnt very good but you can make out the head and belly and knee and its wee arm giving a thumbs up. So all is ok. They did some measurements and its head is average sized for its age. Its tummy on the other hand is massive - in the top 5% of tummys for its age. It must take after jamie ;-)
We dont know what sex it is yet (hence calling it "it") and we dont really want to now either.
Whichever it is it likes Jamie's singing and dance music... that is if trying to kick its way out of my belly is anything to go by!

Mr Hoppy - Mark 2

2007-01-17T21:13:00.000Z

for those of you who followed the tragedy of the chocolate bunny earlier in the year (see April 06), I just had to post to share my joy. I received for Christmas a chocolate reindeer. It must have evolved from the same family as the chocolate bunny as it has the same red bow with the bell. I'm really looking forward to eating him (ears first of course!). As you can see from the pic Cara has her evil eye set on him. he is stashed safely in a very high cupboard so fear not. Only chocolate hungry humans stand between me and my reindeer - and most humans know better than that!

2 weeks off

2007-01-15T18:48:00.000Z

i just got signed off today for 2 weeks. i hate not working it makes my mind go a wee bit funny (well funnier than normal). poor jamie comes home and i have 10,000 words stored up to use on him. cara is good company but she gets a little annoying when i'm trying to sleep. sadly neighbours is going through a dodgy plot phase so i dont even have that to perk up the middle of my day.
still... if resting for a while means that i will feel better than this then bring it on! anyone within travelling distance that fancies popping round for coffee (your making it) then come on down... but dont be disappointed if i fall asleep on you (not literally!).

Guess who's back... back again...

2007-01-14T16:39:00.000Z

the baby at 8 weeks - its a lot bigger now just havent uploaded latest scan pics

Happy new year to you all. I have been more than rubbish at keeping this blog up of late. My excuse is that i am with child and therefore have too many other things to be doing.

I am due in th emiddle of June - currently 18 weeks gone.

You're probably pretty glad that I haven't been keeping up with the blog or you would have had several months of me whinging about vomiting etc. Still you have 5 months of that ahead of you by the looks of things as I'm still being sick. I can however pass on my handy hint that I learned this week:

dont eat minty food/sweets if there is any chance you may vomit - it is comparable with shoving an entire tub of vicks up your nose and it will sting for at least two hours (even chilli stopped stinging after 30mins!)

Had a brief stay at the hospital this past week because of breathing problems. Was on an obstetric ward so saw lots of little babies - made it a bit more real - only 5 months to go!

Happy Christmas

2006-12-24T21:56:00.000Z

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas. I am sorry for the lack of blogage in recent months. I hope to restart properly in the new year - got some news to share and some photos to show :-)
with love
Ali

nana's 90th

2006-10-17T22:09:00.000+01:00

it was my nana's 90th birthday last friday and we went to Whitehead for the weekend to celebrate with her. She was in great form - keeping a running count of the number of cards she had and who all her flowers were from. It was really good to see her but I guess with so much going on I prefer to see her when its a bit quieter and we have a chance to chat and to hear her stories.

We had a big family gathering at my aunts house - complete with sushi. My nana used to make sushi every new year so its somewhat of a family tradition - dating back to the pre trendy sushi era!

Iain and Majlinda were over with the kids for the occasion- Alban and Emma have grown up so much since I last saw them (christmas last year). I managed to delete the contents of my camera so only have some fuzzy ones of Alban. Emma amazingly managed to sit still long enough for a photo to be taken. Its her second birthday tomorrow - happy birthday emma.

the birthday girl

cheeky grins

milky bars are on me

2006-10-07T11:48:00.000+01:00

So its been a week since blogging. Work has been really stressful so i havent been doing very much else. Last saturday was however the social event of the century - fancy dress :-)
i went as the milky bar kid and jamie went as a 70's cop. It was much fun. I love fancy dress - any excuse to be silly.
enjoy the pics...

We were out at monser mash for kirsty's birthday yesterday. I love bangers and mash - what a fab idea to have a restaurant that sells bangers and mash!! And all set in a happy days kind of diner thing (www.monstermashcafe.co.uk),

Anyway I better get going and do some housework - it is a Saturday morning after all.

sorry mum

2006-09-30T11:46:00.000+01:00

we're just about to go grocery shopping for tonight. We're having a fancy dress dinner thing. As usual jamie and i are a little last minute - still gotta think up a costume and make dinner for 20. its going to be a fun afternoon!

I think the highlight of the morning was mum sending me a picture text of her bottom. genius! i wonder if she'll be cringing when she looks at the blog at work?? i hope so :-)

hoping to get some fun photos of tonight too - watch this space.

team komolafe

2006-09-29T17:43:00.000+01:00

mia and ruben

this week started well with a coffee with the komolafes - it was so good to see lynne and segun again. it has been a while since we last caught up. It was my first chance to see new wee baby ruben - and to get a cuddle. Mia has grown up so cute and really sweet natured too. Its so good to spend time with old friends.

mia is defiantely uber cute - she has the tshirt to prove it

brel

2006-09-27T21:18:00.000+01:00

jamie mid set - better photos taken with the slr but not uploaded them yet

so its been a while since the last blog, but i wanted to tell you about our fun night out to glasgow last thursday. jamie had a support gig for the felt tips at brel in ashton lane, the west end. When we first arrived it was like being in spain - it was really warm and everyone was sitting about outside the bars. It turned out to be a fun night. i love glasgow. Jamie played well (if i do say so myself) and we got chatting with a reviewer from the herald who said he had really enjoyed jamie's set and took his number.
I think the highlight has got to be stuart's first ever kfc on the way home.

thats the very bag - a momentous event!!

How do you get that old without having tasted the delights of kfc??

needless to say - stuart enjoyed it

a quick hello

2006-09-20T10:24:00.000+01:00

its been a busy week. not very bloggable but fun. Just thought i should say hi before i head off to work. jamie's off work this week and im enjoying getting my breakfast made for me :-)
Anyway gotta run.

walkies

2006-09-12T20:45:00.000+01:00

after the business of the gig on saturday night I missed church on sunday morning (call myself a christian huh??) . which was a shame because EVERYBODY has told me it was really great. paul was talking about grace - at least i should be able to get parts 2 and 3 over the next few weeks!

sunday afternoon brought a peaceful leisurely stroll and catch up with our favourite springer-owning friends Karen and Jeremy and their little baby Nathan. Well... I say peaceful... it was appart from the guy pumping out beats from his turntable complete with mahhussive amps and own generator... as you do!

the big amps - sorry pic is small - i wasnt getting any closer to the madman or his followers!

baby nathan seemed to enjoy the hardcore dance anthems rocking out the braids

Cara really enjoyed the walk especially having jake to play with - I enjoyed a chance to get caught up with Karen :-)

sunday strolls

the 3 Tour

2006-09-12T20:23:00.000+01:00

jamie in action

Jamie had a support slot on the 3 tour's stop in edinburgh. It went down well - 7 cds sold - and lots of compliments :-) it was really good to see yvonne and dl too and to hear them playing with neil alton and gareth davies-jones. i was really touched that my workmates and friends came along too. Thankfully they seemed to enjoy it (or at least they pretended to convincingly)

lots to catch up on... the dominion

2006-09-12T19:51:00.000+01:00

the dominion

well it's been a while and I will endeavour to fill you in without missing anything out.
Last Thursday Bagger invited Jamie and i out to the cinema. But not just any cinema... the dominion - a family run cinema that is more of a night out than a quick film kind of place. It has really friendly staff and a bar and fantastic recliner chairs

jamie and bagger - how many cinemas let you take your beer in?? there were free pringles too - but I had eaten them pretty smartish :-) once you pop you cant stop

going on a thursday night meant the place was quite empty. The film we watched was ok - but not magnisficent - so ok that i cant even remember the name of it! But thanks to the dominion and a bucket of kfc it was defiantely a good night out!

the view from my very comforable reclined seat - dont worry you copyright people - it was just the pre film adds

poor puppy

2006-09-06T19:07:00.000+01:00

the lack of pedicures has taken it's toll. Poor Cara needed another operation to remove another dodgy nail. This time she came home with what is described in Scotland as a red "stooky". It's very cute!

amazingly the sock hasnt been chewed off... yet

she even has a little wellie to put on when she goes out for walks/pees. Its made of a saline solution bag and a bandage. Cara's got quite used to it and now sits at the door with her paw up ready for wellification and more amazingly she sits when she comes in for de-wellification!

"oh wellies they are great gosh wellies they are swell..." mr billy connolly - genius

the saddest part of the whole thing is listening to cara groan in pain - every so often there's a little whimper from her. Is it wrong to make prayer requests for a puppies paw?

Where is mecca?

2006-08-31T23:21:00.000+01:00

No jamie and kirsty are not prayin to Allah but having stretches for poor jamie's back :-(

blackford hill

2006-08-31T21:48:00.000+01:00

kirsty at the top

I have just been for a walk with jamie, kirsty and the dog up blackford hill (well... half way up it!). the views were beautiful. The sun was setting and the sky had a pinkish tinge. There were lots of tiny tiny little frogs and some bats too. Cara chased rabbits for ages and has now crashed out on the sofa :-) best to let sleeping dogs lie.

gig at the lot

2006-08-28T22:01:00.000+01:00

jamie had a gig on Sunday night - supporting erin hill at the lot. The lot has brilliant accoustics and atmosphere. All in all jamie's gig went well - apart from the pre-amp battery dying on the first song - and some tuning issues. I find myself over critical because I know how good he can be. I think everyone enjoyed it though. The website has had its first purchasees - need to be getting compliments slips etc sorted out.
Unfortunately Jamie has hurt his back (lifting a box of cds!) and is quite sore :-( poor jamie.

my ma

2006-08-28T21:18:00.000+01:00

just a quick wee blog - its been a busy weekend. My mum has been over and we spent some time at the festival etc. here's some pics to tell the story...

going to the cinema on friday night - by the way the break-up is just as depressing as the title suggests

me and my ma

my ma - out on the town - lunch at the lot

From the bus stop

2006-08-24T18:30:00.000+01:00

I'm having a go at blogging from my mobile. Have noticed that autumn is on its way. Check out these leaves!

brand new

2006-08-21T17:19:00.000+01:00

well last week was full of brand new things...

1) jamie's new cd has arrived - well i say cd - i mean cd's - we have 6 big boxes of them hanging about the house. his website is up and running too - check it out - www.jamiewilsonmusic.com and please buy a cd - so that i can have my spare room back!

2) a new phone!! with 3.2megapixel camera - yay!! so i can take pictures all the time :-) for those "i wish i had my camera with me" moments. its been good fun so far - i'm sure after the fuzzy iain archer pictures you avid blog-readers will be glad to hear the news!

3) having my aunt marilyn and uncle ian over for a cup of tea! - sorry no pics folks - but it was really good to see them and to spend time with them. they normally live in africa so it was defiantely a brand new experience to have them round :-)

4) webcam - i had my first web-cam chat - i dont have a webcam but it was really cool to be able to see hazel and peter and to hear them talk. i reckon it would be really cool to use with kids - will have to try and talk my brother into getting one. although it would mean less of the pyjama-wearing computer use.

5) going for a whole week without blogging!

sweeping the clouds away

2006-08-21T16:47:00.000+01:00

this is one of my faourite photos taken with my new phone - its the cloud over glasgow.

i love the golden edge to the cloud and the rain underneath - but i hav enever seen a cloud's shadow in the sky before and i was so glad to catch it with a camera - truely amazing!

it has been a while. last week was very busy with work and play. it has left me pretty tired out. its probably the reason for my bad tummy and my sleepy head :-( feeling a little fragile after it all. so i'm off work today.
saturday saw jamie and me going through to yvonne and dl's place for the evening. it was really good to see them and to get to spend some proper time with them... see the wedding photos etc. it was also a chance for jamie to have a go on yvonne's new guitar :-)

yesterday (sunday) Molly (from church) had lots of the young(ish) people round to hers for lunch - there were about 25 of us - it was really good - here's some photos of the crowds

mel and the gang - the big table

Iain Archer

2006-08-11T09:27:00.000+01:00

the man himself - Iain Archer

well last night I went to see Iain Archer - live in Edinburgh :-) I'd been looking forward to it for ages and had bought myself and Sarah tickets for it for her birthday (hmmm... why did that not seem really selfish at the time - its a bit wrong to buy someone tickets to a concert that you want to see!) Anyway Sarah had to work :-( so to save the prospect of going on my own Arlene offered to accompany me having heard nothing of Iain's songs and nothing about him.
Well i must say i had the best night ive had in ages! Iain played some of hs older stuff and some new ones too. The best bit was standing front row and being able to see all his effects stuff - he must have had at least 20 different pedals and 3 different mikes!
He also had Matt Jones - who plays with lots of big names that i cant remember - on stage with him playing keyboards/tambourine/computerised drum thing/£1.99 argos kazoo kinda thing. He was genious - the tambourine was stuck to a stool with gaffa tape so he could play it with one hand while playing keyboard with the other!

this is matt playing an instrument that looke d like one of those kids plastic keyboards except it had a pipe that he blew in to get the noise - it was very comical to watch but with a cool sound

Iain talked a bit about Northern Ireland and his new album "magnetic north" is coming out soon. I wish sarah had made it cos no one cheered when he said he was from bangor (maybe co. downers dont cheer - they maybe think its uncouth?). He didnt play wishing - no surprise there I guess!
It really reminded me of going to see him when i was 15 in belfast - i remember the quote at the time that van morrison said "this boy is a litle bit special". I think that was meant to be a compliment!

this fringe is too long

2006-08-08T20:07:00.000+01:00

A rather odd man with a backpack wandered up to my work today and asked many strange questions. He looked like Michael Palin and for a moment I could have been fooled. After realisation that he most definitely was not the mighty Palin I was losing patience (lets face it I probably would have lost my patience if Michael Palin walked up and asked 100 stupid questions too).
It was like being a tourist information point - he wanted to know what the fringe was... was it religious or political? I told him it was art - but it got me thinking... The fringe is all around me just now I have to fight my way into work and usually arrive with handful of flyers (despite my "no thankyou" efforts to dispel the enthusiastic fringe-evangelists). I stand at the bus stop to go home and the people that walk past are all different colours. I dont mean that racially I mean literal - orange and blue and pink - and with the most bizarre props. The worst fringeans being the street performers at the top of the road that shout things at you as you walk past - so that the crowd of 30+ people laugh at you - I wish I could make out what they say. Everybody is vying for my attention - desperate to tell me how exciting their drama will be or how amazing their musical is. To be honest even the most raving of reviews wouldnt get me to go near a musical! I feel kinda sorry for all these poorly paid performers who come to edinburgh and have to spend the best part of their day convincing people that they are talented.
It does bring a good atmosphere to the place and I am looking forward to seeing Iain Archer play on Thursday (I went to see him when I was 15 in Belfast!) but I'll be glad when they all pack up and go home :-)

my space

2006-08-04T17:58:00.000+01:00

I have officially been termed an "internet geek"having dipped my toes in the northern irish favourite site - bebo - and found some old friends there. Also been checking out some musicians myspace sites where you can listen to their music for free. Having travelled all around the world wide web I have returned to blog here - at blogspot - for this is my home - this is my space.

rainy days in edinburgh

2006-07-31T23:18:00.000+01:00

well this is the first time Ive had a chance to be on the computer in a wee while. Jamie has taken to myspace like a duck to water and so our wee computer has been very busy. You can check out his stuff on www.myspace.com/jamiewilsonmusic you can even hear his music. It'll not be long till the CDs are out and he has 2 gigs in the offing just now so its all go on the music front.

I must admit im having a rather grumpy day. I woke up sore and it got worse. I realised i had left my jacket with the hood in the car (i.e. sitting outside Jamie's work) so i had to wear my wee rain jacket. It was only a light drizzle so I made my way out of the flat and up to the park. The rain got heavy and the wind blew and the water ran dripping from my face. Then I saw the bus in the distance - like a beautiful mirage or refuge and safety. I thanked the Lord and reminded myself of how he blesses his children. I ran like an eejit with arthritis across the park and over the road and jumped (in a rather slow jumping fashion) onto the bus. the bus driver was smirking and I was laughing at the state of myself... until it became apparent that i had no money on my bus pass and was going to have to get off the beautiful bus of refuge into the rain once more. I reminded myself how the Lord never said he'd keep his children dry from the rain (it would be pretty wierd if he did!) and walked the whole way to the bank and then the post office to get my wee card topped up. Ten minutes of standing at the bus stop meant that i had a pretty good river running down my head and out my shoes - excellent for annoying fellow (dry!) passengers. The guy next to me laughed at me and asked what star sign i was. He then proceeded to read me my stars - apparently I was having a "brilliant day"! Dead on!

sunny days in Northern Ireland

2006-07-31T22:22:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to finish posting about the trip to NI.
When we first arrived on the sunday we went to glenabbey (my mums church) and then a quick detour to see my nana who was in her usual fine form. Then we headed up to belfast for a quick tour of all the tourist sites (??? tourist sites i hear you ask... stormont, lots of murals, and maggie may's for lunch... not much else to see!). From belfast we went to my bro's house and he drove us to Coleraine, along with his weeks supply of confectionary!
On the Monday night we went to a ceilidh - well it was called a ceilidh but the callers had made up the dances. Very hard to do a strip the willow the wrong way! i did however enjoy spinning my 15 year old partner till he fell over (revenge is mine - its the first time i've been the taller of the pair!). It was a good laugh though and had all the important bits - loud music, banter, sweat, random screams and confused foreigners!

Kirsty with a Poor Bear Ice-cream (or Pooh bear as it is still known- stupid disney and their stupid lawsuits!)

On the Tuesday we went to Portstewart for a Mauds Ice-Cream... mmm... the taste of home! It was really hot and we went a walk round to the strand (big beach). Largely to get away from the karaoke people in the bandstand!

the strand from the convent (you can prob just make out the line of cars on the sand)

Tuesday night brought a double treat with Louise coming over to visit. It was very cool to see her and catch up on her news. It was also very useful to have her around as she can save 6 seats at a time in the big tent (that girl is tall! - wish i had taken a photo!). i have to rely on my body odour to keep the hoards away. Julia also came along after I bumped into her at my mum's church on sunday. It was so exciting to see her again and especially to be with her and worship God together - what an encouragement she is!

Being in Northern ireland certainly has its benefits as you bump into old friends. I have to say though that there were a few gut wrenching moments as i bumped into my old maths teacher Miss Carson (now married with 3 kids) at the causeway and my old french teacher (Mrs McIllhatton) in Coleraine. For some reason, that I still havent worked out, I felt sick when I saw them. I wonder if its guilt from being so cheeky in their classes or just that i dont want to think about school days? Miss Carson told me that I had grown up - I would hope so too - its been 10years since I was in her class!!

Giant's Causeway

2006-07-30T15:02:00.000+01:00

so Rahel, Kirsty and I went to the Giant's Causeway last Monday. its my umpteenth time there but I still find it mesmorising.

This time armed with my new camera I prayed for mist and large waves and perfect photo ops but was met with dull light and no wind at all :-( . Still... the rocks are amazing and at least it wasn't raining. the whole thing makes me feel very small - which I am of course... but sometimes I forget!

After a long wait a small wave lapped over the rocks - yay!

I was trying to get an arty shot of Kirsty sitting at the pinnacle of the rocks. As she was getting ready to pose I saw this little face appear in my viewfinder! there was a little voice saying "help... help me please... I tried to go down the wrong way... help". Kirsty had to help the poor women back up again. i found the whole thing hilarious :-)

Can you spot little Kirsty playin the organ?

New Horizons

2006-07-29T11:36:00.000+01:00

Kirsty and Rahel at the Giant's Causeway

I'm just back from my latest trip to the great norn iron and I have lots of photos to share with you. Kirsty and Rahel (Kirsty's friend from Australia) went with me. We stayed in the university halls at Coleraine (UUC) - the poshest halls I've ever seen - all ensuite and nice furniture! I even thought they had furnished it with a brand new coffee maker until i realised that mum had brought one - i guess it was one of mums essential travel items - hope she can get it to india ok!! We were staying with Mum and Margaret and Alan

it was so good spending time with these guys. I think that made the trip for me. It has been a while since i've see Margaret! We went along to bible readings on Joseph in the mornings and "evening celebration" in the evenings (worship and bible teaching). The evenings were on suffering and how important suffering is in a christian's life. It certainly has flipped a lot of my thinking on its head... still pondering a lot of what was said!

I was also challenged on being more environmentally conscious. Will keep trying on that one!

We spent time in the afternoon doing some touristy things which i'll blog about later...

happy birthday to me!!!

2006-07-19T17:47:00.000+01:00

its my birthday!! it has been a fab day. it started by several wake-up texts wishing me a happy birthday :-) I woke up to lots of cards - one of them from my aunt cathie had pictures of my 2nd birthday - our family on a cruise up the zambeeze river!!
then i mosyed into work where they gave me a card and a pressie and the usual banter. Had some lovely texts from friends through the day. Now Jamie is home to cook me dinner. Birthdays are so cool!!

Hazel and Peter's wedding

2006-07-11T22:02:00.000+01:00

well in an effort to catch up on recent events I will upload a few pictures from last week's wedding. It was a fab day - much fun and emotionalness for all. Scariest moment was trying to fit into the bodice top which was bought before fat found me in a serious way. I thought i had broken the zip!! eek! anyway... embarassment avoided... i have never prayed so much for a garment of clothing in my life.
Feeling very chubby just now - either need to lose some serious weight or buy a new wardrobe of big clothes! Any ideas on weight loss anyone!?!

I hope my silly poses bring you a smile :-) This is Sarah and I sprinkling confetti over the happy couple (making sure to get some down Peter's neck!). The obligatory picture of Jamie, Finn and Sarah being posh...

Nethybridge & Beyond

2006-07-10T16:48:00.000+01:00

Just thought i would post some pics from the holiday. it seems so long ago now but the memory is a happy one :-) Here's some of the highlights:

Cara swimming in the river - She absolutely loved it

Jamie's mum and dad coming to visit

walking on the glenlivet estate

visiting my aunt Cathie and Uncle Willie

seeing my old flatmate Giles

we spent a large amount of time watching the world cup and being lazy round the house but we didnt take any photos of that! It was fun having time to play with the new camera. I'm thinking about doing a photoshop course next term. Hopefully I'll get a bit better!

Hazel's hen party

2006-07-09T22:09:00.000+01:00

So Hazel has dropped the ban on hen party photo sharing and here are some of the highlights of silly photos... wedding photos to follow! ( i think i am now a month behind in blogging! will make a concerted effort to catch up this week as I have less on - hold your breath...)

Hazel and Sarah popping champagne at the beauty salon - think there is a dent in their ceiling now!

Me and Hazel hugging trees on the meadows

Hazel, Lizzie and Janell hugging greyfriars bobby

Emily and Hazel thinking at McEwen Hall

Sarah and Hazel cleaning David Humes feet with their hair

Hazel on the aforementioned globetrotter

sorry lindsey the program wont upload you ceilidh dancing - your network premier will have to wait! well done hazel for completing all the challenges set before her! if she can handle a day with us lot then marrying peter will be wee buns!

nethybridge - part1

2006-06-27T13:09:00.000+01:00

i've said part one cos im sure ill want to upload some photos when i get home. we're having a great time up here. so far ive seen lots of red squirrels, a baby deer, a bat, osprey and her chicks, a woodpecker, lots of other birds that i dont know.
Cara has finally tired herself out after days of running constantly.
we climbed a hill yesterday - Tom Thumper. its less than 600m but it was a mountain to me. i just loved being in the wild with no-one around and views of mountains. We've been for some great forrest walks round nethy which have been good fun apart from the midgeys - i hope the bites clear away before Hazels wedding! i have counted 16 on my face alone. Havent counted the ones on my bottom... stupid hipsters!
Hoping to go up to Muir of ord and beyond tomorrow to visit my aunt cathie and uncle willie and also to see Giles my old flatmate who has relocated to the same village!
Anyway I best get back to ... well doing nothing really :-)

hazel's hen party

2006-06-19T16:34:00.000+01:00

oh yeah - forgot to post about hazels hen party last monday. I am not allowed to post any photos :-( but it was a good day and i have pretty nails to prove it.

crossover to nethybridge

2006-06-19T16:21:00.000+01:00

just been at crossover festival - will blog some more on it when i get my photos off the camera.
if you know anyone in nethybridge or the surrounding distict you may wish to warn them... cos we're on our way! their peaceful country life is about to be disturbed. I'm in the middle of packing the speakers for the ipod and jamie's packed his guitar so it wont be a quiet fortnight. I'm really excited - its so good to be in such a beautiful place with so little to do except walk and enjoy :-) I'm looking forward to taking some pics too. Unfortunately i probably wont be able to blog much as we wont have broadband and it takes ages to upload on dialup. I'm sure you will cope in the meantime!
it has been really sunny here for the past few weeks and Im hoping it will last for the next fortnight!! we are taking the tent with us so if tis good weather we may even do some camping.

Liston and Anna playin with ice-cream spoons - yeah it was hot enough to eat ice-cream!

down at the bottom of the garden...

2006-06-06T22:28:00.000+01:00

we have a monstrosity of a garden. every year we decide to cut back the nettles and stickywilly (seriously that has to have a more technical name!). Last year when it came time to harvest the weeds low and behold there was a brand new lawnmower - like a sarcastic gift from the ned-gods. It soon became apparent that we would have to let the police know and so, after explaining the impracticalities of me pushing the lawnmower to the nearest police station or storing it in our first floor flat, they came to pick it up. Not long after a young gentlemen passing by came to the fence and questioned "hey u.. what u done wi' my lawnmower" - after several minutes of claiming he was storing it there for his mum (?!) we told him he could get it back off the police. Refusing to call the police and tell them we'd made a mistake or to give him the £50 he demanded, he uttered the classic line "choried (scots for stolen) or no its mine". err actually son stealing means taking something that isnt yours!! you just gotta love neds :-)
anyway as we hacked our way through the weeds like trepid explorers we had little idea what we were about to discover in the very same place...

who would have thought it - harry the hamster died - and was burried in our garden. Gather yourselves together people... it was his time. "But who is harry the hamster?" i hear you ask... and a very good question too. i have no idea! but whoever's pet he was they saw fit to burry him in a pile of nettles so they mustnt have liked him very much. the flowers they had laid hadnt withered so it must have been in the past week. How bizarre... and very minging! RIP... not likely with Cara about.

Mad Cows

2006-06-03T10:35:00.000+01:00

this is "globetrotter" near my work - as taken on my mobile phone

Edinburgh is taking part in this bringing art to the streets project. Practically everywhere you look there is a cow staring back at you. Its called the cow parade and the idea is that over 100 cows are designed and painted by locals, visitors etc and then sold for charity. Splendid.... or mad?? Jamie thinks it stupid but i have a kind of excitment when i see a new one i hadnt noticed before. Theyre definately good for the tourists. I'm just impressed that only one has been knicked so far! (found again missing a leg :-( what were they doing ?). So what do you think ...art ???

progress

2006-05-30T20:39:00.000+01:00

I worked a whole shift today - YAY! Not feeling that tired either just now... but mabe that's all the coffee I just drank when Caroline was round!

stardom awaits

2006-05-28T15:07:00.000+01:00

jamie in the recording hut
jamie is on his last day of recording and mixing his debut ep. I say debut as if its a sure thing he'll be an international popstar with a string of albums... but you never know! He's been having fun at least which is what counts just now.
I went with him on Friday to the recording studio. It was well cool! the producer guys Graeme Duffin (of wetwetwet fame) and Sandy Jones were really lovely and despite me being slightly starstruck it was really really laid back. Yvonne Lyon was in recording backing vocals on friday - it was really cool!

jamie and sandy in the studio : : sandy jamie and graeme giving orders to yvonne
The music is sounding really good and im so looking forward to hearing the final product. hope everyone likes it (and more importantly buys it!).
dont worry - i'll remember you when we're rich and famous :-)

update

2006-05-21T22:34:00.000+01:00

well it's been a busy weekend! Elaine (jamie's sister) and our new little neice Emma were over for a visit. It was so good to meet little Emma. She is so tiny and really beautiful!

elaine and emma

jamie practised changing a nappy. Thats a big deal for any bloke - but it was especially challenging for jamie who has a jobby-phobia. Well done jamie - i feel like he's discovered a new part of himself! no excuses now!

look at the concentration!... and the disgust!

i've also just finished a phone call to egypt - catching up with Kirsty on her travels. it was so good to hear her and get a chat. i could hear the call to prayer being sung from the mosque nearby. i marvelled once again at the wonders of modern technology - imagine talking to someone sitting in Cairo - mad!

this week ahead is going to be a difficult one. my cousin's little girl Hazel died last week after a few days in a coma. She was only 11 and had been knocked off her bike by a car. The whole family is in shock. She was such a vivacious wee girl. Her funeral is this Tuesday through in Paisley. it's going to be difficult. remember people: drive carefully! and those of you with direct access to the Almighty please plead for our family!

Ali's wedding

2006-05-15T22:29:00.000+01:00

well the time eventually arrived - Ali's wedding!! It was such a beautiful sunny day despite all the forecasts of rain. Ali stayed really calm all morning. it was so nice to spend time with karen and jennie too. little hannah, Ali's neice, was flower girl and was very cute and excitable all morning.
Ali looked absolutely stunning in her dress and stuart looked fab in his kilt. It was a really brilliant service. stuart's aunt did a reading of 1Corinthians chapter 13 which had most people in tears.
The reception was in Ballgally Castle Hotel - what a stunning place - right beside the sea with beautiful gardens and a view over to scotland. The meal and the dancing were great. I had so much fun I used up all my spoons for this week (for spoon theory see www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory)- but it was worth it!! the school chums, hannah and a wee boy giving the fingers

karen and caroline : erin and louise

jamie and me : karen and jennie : cutting the cake

the great edinbrgh run

2006-05-08T21:30:00.000+01:00

jamie (left) and his running team - pre race!

yesterday was the great edinburgh run - a 10km run round most of edinburgh. jamie was taking part with some friends from work. it was a really horrible day - very misty and wet. I went to watch from my work (down in the cowgate). it was a very odd experience because it was so quiet - all you could hear was the sound of feet and very heavy breathing!! I stood out for 45 mins but didnt manage to spot any of the people I knew that were doing it - Caroline, Hannah or Jamie. I did however manage to spot my physiotherapist and shouted "go-on sheila" which made her jump!! it was quite weird cheering her on as as she's usually the one encouraging me to walk a bit further!

no one I know :-(

Despite only training once Jamie did manage to complete it in just over an hour (official time to be in paper tomorrow night!). I was very impressed! I got a stitch walking fro the car to the start line!

new toys and lazy days

2006-05-06T23:24:00.000+01:00

the new camera - don't expect to see my face for the forseeable future

well its been a relatively lazy day. the only activity being a trip to jessops to buy the best camera i have ever held :-) Its an early birthday present from Jamie that will hopefully also be useful for getting some shots of him for his website. I have been playing with it for most of the day and its fab!! hopefully i'll get some better shots to put on my blog too.
here's one of Jamie and Cara looking sleepy. Don't you love Saturdays (especially when you don't have to work shifts).

even looking at it makes me want to yawn!

flimsy me

2006-05-01T17:00:00.000+01:00

i've not really been doing much to report. having some really bizarre moods - being really happy and then really low, really energetic and then really tired. I generally can't be bothered with much - feeling a bit unpassionate. i guess its good to see how stable things are around me even when im feeling so all over the place. its good to have a solid unchanging rock when i feel as flimsy as this!

visiting bonny whitehead

2006-04-25T20:55:00.000+01:00

well it's not been that long since i last visited the 'head and as per usual not much had changed. trangers still say hello, kids still play in the streets, random guys still fish off the rocks, outsiders still come on sundays to walk along the promenade, the shopkeepers still know your name, commuters still complain about the trains etc etc.
A few things had however changed
1) my mum has a new sporty car - note the front skirt, tinted rear windows, spoiler and the obligatory dice in the mirror! it drives beautifully and is great for driving round car parks with music blaring!

2) it was sunny! last time i was there it was really grey. we got to spend some time sitting outside in my nana's garden on her new bench - i hope you like my gremlin impersonation (it was sunny ok?!) .

3) there is a brewer's fayre restaurant in carrickfergus. with news like that we had to go testing and i must say it was very yummy. i got a pick of me and Alan outside infront of carrick castle.

I got to spend some time with Alan despite him having just done an all nighter on the fri and his having to take 2 church services on the sunday. He made quite an effort to make time for me which i really appreciated. its always so good to see him!

In the midst of such tumulteous change it was good to see that some things will never change...

lousie's wedding

2006-04-24T18:37:00.000+01:00

well I was back in norn iron for lou's wedding bash last weekend. It was such a lovely day - I haven't cried at a wedding before - i was just overcome with happiness. I might have been overly emotional but it was just SO amazingly brilliant to see Lou so happy and so beautiful and so in love... the tears are welling as I type. The service was very real and you could feel God's presence and feel him smiling down on the whole thing.
For those of you who like pics of dresses etc...

I'm really looking forward to getting to know Andy - he seems a really great guy!
It was good at the wedding to meet up with some old school friends. Erin's wee boy Ethan is 2 now and very cute...

I still find it shocking that someone I was at school with has a two year old but i guess nowdays most school kids have two years olds!
I must also say that the classic tracks hitting the dance floor were fantastic. It was really funny dancing to 2unlimited and gala - it brought back good memories - even if i couldnt strutt my funky stuff as much as I'd have done in years gone by.
It was nice spending time in whitehead too - i'll try and post some pictures soon.

???

2006-04-17T10:30:00.000+01:00

just wondering why tablets for arthritis are so hard to get out of the packets??

great friday!!

2006-04-15T17:04:00.000+01:00

well i'm glad i wasn't relying on you guys to come up with ideas for my day off. thanks to phil who actually replied - and sorry we didn't make it round to yours.
we had a really fab day. we went to loch lomond - it's so beautiful there and the sun shone the whole time. we took the scenic route (through airdrie!!) and arrived at lunch time for a picnic on the beach. then we spent hours throwing sticks for Cara (what do people do without dogs?) then we went for a walk up a bit of the West Highland Way. It has given me a taste of walking again.
I used to be really into hillwalking but havent been able to do much the past few years. Am thinking if i can get anyone who will be passionate enough to go walkng and patient enough to wait on me that I'll head for the hills again soon!!

It was so good to be out and about - to see beautiful things and new places and to have a laugh!

After Loch Lomond we fancied some fish and chips so it was off to Anstruther. It's a wee fishing port near St Andrews (East Coast of Scotland) that's very famous for its chippy. SO famous infact that you have to queue for quite a while... an hour and a half to be exact!! long enough to read that Tom Hanks has been there lots of times (and to hear all about the woman behind me in the queue's marriage issues). but boy was it worth the wait!!
hmmm I'm just wondering when I can get myself back there again for another!
Anstruther - it was getting dark by the time we got out! - the famous chippy (note the queue)

So all in all it was a great day out. we didn't go to any church things to remember Jesus dying but I reckon Jesus wants us to enjoy the good things like beautiful places and having fun with the people we love and fish and chips :-)

some peter kay...

2006-04-14T10:40:00.000+01:00

here's some snippets from peter kay's stand up courtesy of the great Bagger... enjoy...

I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said, "Thyroid problem?
"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realised, God doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me
I've often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to go swimming.
I was doing some decorating, so I got out my step ladder. I don't get on with my real ladder
My Dad used to say 'always fight fire with fire', which is probably why he got thrown out of the fire brigade
I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, Six should be enough'
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?
I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers

Peter Kay's questions...

Why does your gynaecologist leave the room when you get undressed?
If a person owns a piece of land do they own it all the way down to the core of the earth?
Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Is it possible to brush your teeth without wiggling your a*se?
Why is it called Alcoholics Anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say, 'My name is Bob, and I am an alcoholic'?
Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
Why does mineral water that 'has trickled through mountains for centuries' have a 'use by' date?
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp no one would eat?
Is French kissing in France just called kissing?
What do people in China call their good plates?
Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?
What do you call male ballerinas?
Why is a person that handles your money called a 'Broker'?
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Spaghetti?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out of the window?

Peter Kay's Universal Truths...

Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones
At the end of every party there is always a girl crying
One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger
You've never quite sure whether it's ok to eat green crisps
Everyone who grew up in the 80's has entered the digits 55378008 into a calculator - then turned the figures upside down
Nobody ever dares make cup-a-soup in a bowl
Rummaging in an overgrow garden will always turn up a bouncy ball
You always feel a bit scared when stroking horses (note this one kirsty!!)
Every bloke has at some stage while taking a pee, flushed half way through and then raced against the flush
Old women with mobile phones look wrong
Its impossible to look cool whilst picking up a Frisbee
Driving through a tunnel makes you feel excited
There's no panic like the panic you momentarily feel when you've got your hand or head stuck in something
No one knows the origins of their metal coat hangers
Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their arm broken by a swan
The most painful household incident is wearing socks and stepping on an upturned plug
People who don't drive slam car doors too hard
You've turned into your dad the day you put aside a thin piece of wood specifically to stir paint with
Everyone had an uncle who tried to steal their nose
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

all apologies

2006-04-13T18:19:00.000+01:00

sorry its been a while since i posted. i have been quite tired and not up to much. (not that that usually stops me blogging!) the highlight of the week has been jamie trying to folk up some top nirvana tunes - very funny :-)
the neighbours kids are off school just now and have been causing a rucous. i feel like an old fuddy-duddy (how do you spell that?) but seriously they have made a big crack right across our ceiling from jumping off their bunk-beds. im sure they could think of something more fun to do at 7.30am!

gracemount - our beautiful view

work has been a pretty big low point. it has been pretty tiring and quite emotionally draining. it feels like a bit of a losing battle just now, putting loads of effort in and seeing very little reward. So... i have booked some annual leave wohoo!! i am off tomorrow - good friday - and the weekend. jamie and i were going to be going to some friends in glasgow but that has fallen through so anything goes. anybody got any suggestions?? i would quite like to get out of edinburgh and do something different... answers on a postcard...

masacre

2006-04-06T21:59:00.000+01:00

Have you seen the advert on telly for those chocolate lindt bunnies? The ones you walk past in airports and fancy shops and so desperately want to take one of them home to care for (...and then eat ears first). But you tell yourself you could buy 20 dairymilks for the same price and walk on past feeling their eyes staring at you as you leave them to their unknown fate.
I have always wanted one. when people ask the question "what would you do if you won a million quid" my mind wanders and the wee golden bunnies jump past as I drive my jeep across the african savanah and of course give the money away to a good cause (whilst eating said chocolate bunnies).
So imagine my sheer joy to be handed a bag at church on sunday containing none other than mr hoppy, a beautiful golden rabbit (a big thankyou to Paul and Elizabeth!). As his big eyes stared up at me and his wee red bell rang out, I knew it was love. I brought him back to the flat and he set up home on our top shelf in the living room. Just close enough to remind me of the impending joy and far enough away that i wouldnt be tempted by his smell to kill him prematurely. Many a night I have looked at his beautiful shiny gold coat wondering if tonight is the night... only to tell myself sharply "not yet mrs wilson not yet". The anticipation was mounting. Until... i returned home from the gp to find... (those of a weak disposition should look away now)

the remains of mr hoppy

The dog was looking very sheepish (can a dog look sheepish??) and tried to guzzle down as much of Mr Hoppy as possible before I could get at her. Needless to say there weren't many words spoken between us that morning. After a tearful phonecall to Jamie I cleared Mr Hoppy's remains, as memories of watership down came flooding past... old bright eyes is gone.

Jamie says that Cara must have been hungry but I think it was motivated by jealousy - she could see how much I loved Mr Hoppy. A little bit of me is gone forever.

a sheepish dog

Ali's Hen Do

2006-04-05T10:16:00.000+01:00

well last saturday was Ali's long awaited, much talked about hen do. ali is a friend from good old whitehead. we went to play school and primary school and secondary school together. we worked in the spar, climbed mountains and shaved old ladies... aah the memories! it was really cool to be there this weekend to say goodbye to Miss Alison Orr although i'm sure Mrs Armstrong will be equally up for a laugh :-)

may i introduce the women involved... (all disguised in pink wigs to hide identity)

miss alison orr ... hen extrordinaire

karen... the hen do organiser

jennie

caroline

jill

jennifer

the gang at cloisters.... pure... and miss orr on a limo

sorry girls it's taken me some time to get these posted. hope you enjoy them!
for further hen girl antics check out karen's blog (see link) - not for the faint hearted!!
i had the best time! we had lunch in Cloisters Pub, pampered at pure, and then limo-ed to victoria st howies, after some dancing in why not it was home time - the end to a fab day :-)

spring has sprung

2006-03-30T15:20:00.000+01:00

it doesnt feel much like spring - the rain is falling, the ground is muddy, the sky is grey... but hang on a minute that sounds exactly like spring in the UK! So here it is. i must say i am enjoying the extra hour of sunlight and seeing the daffys poke through always makes me smile. Not because im an avid botanist (us zoologists pity the poor botanists) but because it reminds me of a fancy dress competition when i was 6or 7. my nurses outfit had been used the year before and so my mother saw fit to dress me up as a daffodil. i had a big yellow funnel of crepe paper round my face and my body was the stem. i guess it looked kindof cool - especally with emma dressed as a poppy beside me (oh i wish i had a photo of that!). It must have looked pretty realistic too because i remember standing quietly crying (yes i used to be shy) because several wasps had flown into the yellow funnel and were swarming round my face... very scary!! the teacher eventually saw my distress and had to rip my costume apart to free the wasps. So daffodils always make me smile... but i have only just talked myself into wearing yellow again recently :-) the pic is of the first daffy in our garden to survive our dog and the great edinburgh weather - ain't she beautiful!

mother's day

2006-03-28T21:52:00.000+01:00

my mother : the great isabel wright

my mum brought me and my brothers up to be independant and not caught up in traditions and materialism. well that really came to bite her on the ass last sunday! Last sunday was, "mothering sunday" or mother's day as the rest of the world calls it. My mother received... one card... and it wasn't from any of her three children!

I'm sure you may be slightly concerned with this... why didnt she get cards from us... and who is sending mother's day cards to my mum??

Well... Iain has been busy moving house and did make a phone call to say that flowers were on their way. Alan bought mum some fluffy dice for her new car (a classic gift well done alan!). I did send mum a card, (hand made at that!!) but it arrived late - damn royal mail! The happy mother's day card that mum did receive on mother's day was from her deaf friend - (it's a whole other world!) maybe she knew how useless me and my brothers are!

... I hang my head in shame!

it's ok....

2006-03-24T19:40:00.000Z

daisy - i found this beauty in my back garden in amongst the rubbish and mud

I don't have much time because i need to get ready to go to the pub (Kirsty leaves for africa tomorrow). I just had to make a quick entrance to let you know that I am over my grump. I have left the virtual black cloud of hospital behind me and am facing onwards to brighter skies and happier days :-) rock on pretty world. may we all find beauty in the ashes and treasure in the darkness.

i take it ALL back!!

2006-03-22T22:16:00.000Z

well i take my last blog back. i deserve every sympathy. that was a very horrible experience for several reasons... (cue large rant/moan...)

1) mavis (name changed to protect individual) one of my room mates who insisted on talking all the time - i quote "i dont see the point in not talking" . you would not believe it. she woke me up in the middle of the night making lots of noise - i turned over to see her sitting fully dressed in her chair eating fistley sweeties. she then proceeded to ask my opinion on sweeties. oh and her insistance on using the comode without pulling the curtain -euuuuuwwwww!!! she also complained about the seriously ill girl who had to call nurses to get to the toilet saying that she was just looking for attention!! raaaarrrr!!

2) taking a reaction to the anti-sickness drug that resulted in me passing out while saying "i dont feel so..." and then coming round to the nurse telling me to stay with her and calling for the on-call doc... and then passing out on him! was all very ER. I was fine after being put on oxygen for a few hours (man i gotta get myself some of that!!).

3) the pain and sickness of the treatment is do-able. you just have to crawl under the covers for most of the day. avoid as much food, light and sound as possible and you get through it (easier said than done with a room full of oaps shouting at each other and 2 teenagers dancing to westlife, and nurses coming to check your obs every 30mins). Its not fun - but at least it works. or does it?? i finished my 3rd day and looked down at my hand to see it was still blue - aaagh!!! so another day was organised. the helpful doc pointed out that there wasnt other options but it might be best to cut my losses after 4 days. it has worked a bit - hopefully enough for me to keep my fingers on my hands for a while longer :-)

4) junior docs who cant find veins but insist on keeping on trying because they are too embarassed to ask the anaesthetist. thanks to the doc i now have 11 puncture bruises on my arms. it means i gotta wear long sleeves to work or my drugees will think i have been taking work home with me.

well... i'm fed up moaning. at least we have the good old NHS. it always amazes me that they provide it all free of charge. what lucky people we are!

a wee holiday

2006-03-16T17:32:00.000Z

this is the exclusive wgh clock-tower resort. my accomoation is on the

second floor - complete with room service

well i'm off for a wee holiday. 3 days in ward 15 at the western general hospital fun fun fun!! its so that i can be given some vasodilator (vein opening stuff) by drip for 3 days or so. It should mean that my hands go back to being pink rather than the usual blue. I had the same stuff last september and it worked really well so i am pretty hopeful.
i wouldn't want to stop any sympathy or special treatment i might get because of this... but it's really not that bad. i get 3 days away from my job, housework, all responsibity in general. i get to kick back, read a book, listen to my nano, chill out. I know most of the nurses now and there's always some entertaining grannies around laughing about their arthritis. No need to cook - they even bring you a cup tea to your bedside! so all in all i can't complain... but i will lap up all the sympathy that's going :-)
hope the vomiting and miraines don't start - i would hate to feel sick when I'm in hospital!

beautiful??

2006-03-14T18:29:00.000Z

carberry towers - i tea-leafed this picture off another site

it doesnt really do the place justice it's amazing!!

i was away last weekend with folks from bec (my church). we stayed at the most amazing castlelike house thing called Carberry Towers, just outside Edinburgh.

We talked a lot about creativity and did loads of creative things. There is something very weird about being told to be creative... it's like being told not to smile or not to think about the number 5. It was very cool to use my imagination for the first time in years! when i was at primary school we used to do loads of creative things... i remember very clearly making a model of Kilroot Power station out of boxes and straws. i wish i had a picture of that! i do however have a picture of the house we made out of boxes and cellotape on friday night.

i am strangely proud of this monstrosity -

like an ugly child I think its beautiful just because its mine!

i took some pictures of the scenery too. here's some pretty snowdrops from the grounds.

i don't know what you think - but i find beautiful nature scenes peaceful but slightly boring. I feel like I am just embarking on the whole photography road... so much to learn! I need to read the instructions to my camera so i can work out how to change aperture and shutter speed etc etc. but I'll leave that to some day when I have more energy and less pain.

START... again

2006-03-13T17:04:00.000Z

so i started this blog back in november but it never really took off. largely because i didnt blog anything! as they say - every day is a new begginging so today i resolve to write my blog more regularly!
maybe i'll get some of my photos on here soon (i need to upload my camera). in the meantime i'll give you a picture taken by Kirsty of Mel when we were at Loch Tay. Enjoy ...

boredom leads to bizarre things

2005-11-13T18:35:00.000Z

welcome one and all!

never thought I would ever create a blog. Especially not when I am doing nothing... maybe if i was traveling the world or involved in some great project or other. But, I am not. I do however have lots of time and very little energy which makes spending time in front of a computer a more regular part of my life.
So hear I am prattling about nothing much. I plan to use it a bit like a diary, juicy gossip and all! I'll probably find it mildly amusing - you might find it more interesting than typing your name into google, or other ingenious internet time-wasters, but I doubt it!
i have to credit kaz for introducing me to this weird world - an inspiration as always

Ali