Sunny Summer Day

A sunny day to get out in the park and exercise.

Today was the most busy day yet for our buggyfit group! Here we are all lined up after finishing some leg work.

A sample of the beautiful roses blooming outside of our building. I can't help but sniff them each time I walk by...

Our Summer Vacation

Hi all,
We just returned last week from our summer vacation in the Highlands. I went to the highlands - 15 years ago believe it or not - and to this date it is still some of the most beautiful landscape I have EVER seen.  Scotland is larger than you think.. the Highlands are the Northern end of Scotland.  You can get to the Southern tip of the Highlands in around 45 minutes from Glasgow however, we went NORTH.  We took a 3 and a half hour train to Inverness (in the middle of the Highlands) where we were met by our Campervan rep.  We then rented a campervan for what was supposed to be 5 days but turned into 7 (as she gave us a NICE discount to extend and we simply did not want to leave!).  Our campervan had a stovetop (every night we made dinner in our van and took out a little table to eat), sink, fridge and a roll out bed - surprisingly comfy (even a baby bed). We leisurely drove around for 7 days and 6 nights - we camped where we found a cozy view spot on the side of the road - days full of very small towns, castles, the loch ness monster, sheep, hairy coos, views - views - and more views! These photos do not do the trip justice. It was simply AMAZING.

This was our camping spot the first night.

Ruby, the campervan and me.

Inside the camper van. The seat simply folded flat into a double bed. You actually could fully stand up inside of it.

Sheep crossing!

Eileen Donan Castle on the way to the Isle of Skye.

We stopped at a Folk Museum. This is the donation ticket office.

Not a bad life for cows on Skye.

Waking up in our PJ's after a night of camping.

Brent did an excellent job driving ON THE LEFT.  Most roads were one lane - as in a 2 lane road with one lane which had designated 'passing' areas for you to pull over and let the other car pass in front of you. We also drove up a road called the 'Passage of Cattle' read about it here.. 2,500 feet up, single lane road, no barrier... a real nail biter! - below is someone else's video but you can just imagine Brent driving (below) ;-)

Even had time to stop at the Clan MacKenzie Castle!

Ruby loves the Highlands.

We went for a hike to view the Old Man of Storr.

Ruby playing by the water.

Another castle.

Cannot tell the sea from the sky. Simply amazing.

Now back to life in Glasgow.  Brent is off for the summer officially. I have some work at a digital agency, based in London where I can work from home.  Life is good.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads, grand dads, step dads and like-a-dads out there.
Especially to new daddy Brent... who is doing an absolutely wonderful job with Ruby!  We love you!
We spent the day at Tramway Art Gallery and saw a new art show with young British Artists.

Lunchtime in the cafe.. it was delish.. we had this crazy toffee cheesecake thing for dessert. YUM!

Why is the gallery called Tramway? Look closely at the floor.

There was also a super cool garden in the back with lovely flowers.

When we arrived home.. there was an Indian Festival in the park! These dancers reminded me of the final scene in Slumdog Millionaire.

4 months old!

Hip Hip Horray!

To keep up with my growing girl's appetite, we started her on some organic baby rice.. here is a photo before her very first meal. She LOVES it. Paddington Bear approves.

Thank you for the visit!

We recently had a great visit from my wonderful friend Claire.  Claire lives in London and was my room mate when I was living there 2001-2003 - we have kept in touch since is a great friend - some of you might recognize Claire as she was at my wedding.. she travels a LOT and has been to Africa 5 or 6 times! It was so awesome to have a visitor up here. We went to the museum, to lunch and for a run together in the park. Mostly she was just here to see Ruby not me.. so Ruby and Claire had some quality time together.

Playtime! (FYI.. Ruby smiles all the time but is ALWAYS distracted when I turn the camera on).

Enjoying lunch on a sunny day on Gibson Street

Thanks for the visit! We will see you soon!

Lucky

Ruby is ready for a summer picnic!

Just thinking about how lucky I am to spend all this time with Ruby. She is 4 months today.  She is very chatty and growing like a weed.  She rolls over and loves to smile, chat and interact with you (struggling a bit with the fact that she does not want to be put down to play on her own but, I'm ok with spoiling her with attention for the moment). We are healthy- (except for a bit of cradle cap) and super happy.  Summer is here which consists of 70 degree days and rain here and there. I have made friends with the ladies from buggyfit and it really gives me something to look forward to.  We also went to Bookbug this week in a fancy mall with an atrium (houses Jo Malone and other posh shops) - we sang nursery rhymes, heard a story and after had lunch with our friends Kim and her little man Finlay (below) -  Here are some pics from the past week... ;-)

Grandma Suzie and Ruby share bathtime - Grandma Suzie left this past Tuesday. :-(  Thank you for sharing all the lovely times with us this past month - beautiful bathtime, storytime, walks in the park, bedtime and poops.

A day out at Loch Lomand (40 min direct train from our flat) - BEAUTIFUL! and peaceful.

Ruby wears the latest fashion from Boston - the baby Lobster hat!

Last Sunday, we participated in the Race for Life with our Buggyfit friends! :-)  There were over 30 mummies and buggies - we walked at the end of the 10,000 participants and raised money for cancer. The walk went straight through downtown to Glasgow Green park.

Also, last Sunday kicked off the Glasgow West End Festival. Our beautiful Kelvingrove Park was turned into a carnival. I could not resist the pink dolphin balloon.

This week, my friend Claire from London is coming up for a visit. YAY! Can't wait.. I'm hoping we can hit up Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant again (I can't get enough!).

Happy Birthday Brent -- and a trip to London!

We just returned from 6 days in London and what fun!
Ruby and I traveled down together on our own. I always thought this would be a challenge but, not challenging... and indeed it was. Luckily, the 4.5 hour train journey down was seamless - Central Glasgow to Central London.. Ruby sat next to me, slept, ate and was happy. A real trooper!

Upon arriving in London we had an overnight visit with my dear friend Elena. She has a 6 month daughter Daniella whom is spunky and full of personallity.  It was fantastic to spend some quality time together. Ruby had a rough night - her first night away from home but, otherwise was a gem with her new friends.

On Friday, Ruby was a gal on the go!  I took her with me to a Thai food business lunch in Shoreditch as I am exploring some employment opportunities with a digital advertising agency based in London. The meeting went well and she was a real 'charmer'.  From there we met up for a beer with my friend Mark.  I hadn't seen Mark in over 2 years. It is incredible how time flies.  Mark is a friend I met the first weekend I moved to London in 2001 and we have been friends since.. he travels around the world and is soon planning a trip across the USA - from California to the East Coast - in an Amtrak train (good luck and safe travels)!

Friday, morning I took Ruby for a walk in my favorite area of London, the East End.
We saw canal boats...

and I took Ruby for a visit to my old apartment.

Friday afternoon, Brent and his mom came down and we were the ULTIMATE tourists... I being the ULTIMATE tour guide.
Here we are getting on the London Underground (the tube) - it was Ruby and Grandma Suzie's first time!

We saw the Tower of London on our first day.. where King Henry the VIII cut of all the heads of his wives.. many other people had their heads cut off there as well.. (not a nice thought) as well as where the Crown Jewels are kept.
Below is Ruby and Brent at one of the moat prisoner entrances.. apparently the one that Mary Queen of Scots was brought through.

A beefeater taking a stroll...

Wee Ruby stars in 'Me with a Guard at the Tower of London'

On Saturday we visited Oxford Circus, Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.  Trafalgar Square houses the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery - one of my favorite museums in the world.

The cafe at the National Gallery also had an OUTSTANDING cakes and sweets selection... YUMMY!

 From here, we took a stroll down The Mall - the road that leads to Buckingham Palace - typically open to traffic however, on our visit we could stroll right down!  Brent and his mom then headed to Westminster Abbey and took a ride on the London Eye.

Sunday we viewed St. Pauls Cathedral, had a visit to Covent Garden for some shopping and had lunch at the Tate Modern Museum with my wonderful friend Claire, her husband Marc and their baby boy Freddie.  The last time I saw Freddie, he was only 10 days old.  Now, he is an adorable little dude with big eyes and very cute red hair.

Monday, Brent and his mom had a tour of the British Museum and we headed home.. but, I cannot forget the REAL reason why we made the trip down south this weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENT!! -- cupcakes in Glasgow and a cake in London, what a lucky guy!

About an hour after we arrived home, we saw a rainbow out our window.. a double rainbow actually.. welcoming us back to Glasgow. It's nice to be back after such a wonderful trip.