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January 2021

Lockdown mark 2. Good job we got out and about in the new canoe inbetween Xmas and New year. John and Euan have been busy building a camp in the woods, just to have something to do at the weekends. We have built a fire pit and are practising our cooking over an open fire skills. Euan & Shan constructed a bike park.
Other stuf. Well John was back to work on the 4th but Wendy had a week off. Euan is at home so he is getting dragged out for a walk most day, weather permitting.

February

Month 2 of National Lockdown version 2.0!
Euan is still doing his schooling at home, which seems to be going ok. Some lessons have been 'live'with some interaction online with teachers and other pupils. Wendy joined in with Euan's art homework one week. This involved drawing an eye using coffee as the paint. The results were surprisingly good - Euan was announced as 'art star', by the teacher for his efforts. Euan also had to chose the subjects he wants to study in 3rd year this month. In addition to maths and english which are compulsory, he has opted for Spanish, chemistry, drama, administration & IT, modern studies, RMPS and business. We're not sure what career path we are going down....
Wendy had a week's annual leave in February, which happened to coincide with some very snowy weather so she was very grateful for not having to drive into work. Instead we went sledging on poly bags, had plenty long walks and built a sphinx and pyramids out of snow in the front garden!
The snow didn't affect John too badly, slowed him down a bit for three nights! Nearly couldn't get home on the third night, had to try three different ways to get up the hill to the house, made it on the fourth attempt.
The big project, currently, is a new shed! Some preparatory work has started, just as well, as we have found a rodding point which is most definitely in the way! The size of the new shed has been reduced a little. However that does mean the new stove will still fit. Did I mention we got a new log burning stove, for outdoors, or even in a tent!

March & April

Onto Months 3 and 4 of National Lockdown version 2.0!,so still not a great deal happening...
John and Wendy have both now had their first Covid vaccination with no ill effects other than a sore arm.
Euan had two days back at school in March, then two weeks Easter holidays before going back full time in April. He seems to have settled back into the routine quite well, although we did have to shop for new school uniform as he appeared to have grown significantly during lockdown! Euan is also happy that Scouts has restarted, although this is only happening on alternate weeks and outside in all weathers!! John joined in with the first Scout hike this year from Errol to St Madoes - they even cooked lunch for him at the end.
For Easter, John, Euan and Shan spent the weekend camping out in the woods. They braved very windy, bitterly cold conditions but had a great time cooking on the stove, rigging up ropes courses and of course cycling to the newly opened Pickled Peacock for an ice cream.
The kayaking club at Willowgate has also restarted. One weekend was a river trip from Waulkmill, through Perth back to Willowgate. It was perfect condtions and Wendy was a little envious watching the group paddle off down river.
Shed preparations continued and we were very grateful to Brodie and Rosemary for their help to level the ground and put down the plastic base..just waiting for the shed arrival in May...

May

Still under lockdown but we nipped off to Loch Katrine to wild camp on an island. The geese had got there first, along with their goslings. A suitable site was found on the far side of the loch, camp established, stove lit and dinner cooked. The next day was spent messing about on the water, cooking and eating. Monday morning dawned a bit damp with a light breeze. This deteriorated and by the time we got back to the car it was wild, sleeting and very cold - we survived but it was a bit unpleasant!
The following weekend was a little bit less exciting, Euan & John built a wall, very rustic. It will be hidden by the shed, probably just as well.
We had a weekend away at Cobleland campsite with a very nice cycle ride on the Sunday - 30km - on undulating forest tracks finishing with an ice cream in Aberfoyle before heading back to the tent to cook dinner.
We then had a quiet weekend at home, cutting grass etc. Euan assisted John with a computer job - advise on upgrading a gaming computer!
Euan and John slept out in the woods to finish the month, very pleasant warnm evening with a liesurely return home on the Sunday morning. John started building the new canoe rack for the garden. He managed to complete it during his week off.
Euan has continued his kayaking throughout the month, including a river trip. They have also been working on rolling and rescues.

June

June saw better weather and so we got out and about a bit more. John had the first week off, to set up the shed, that still hasn't arrived! He also sold his windsurf kit, as a job lot, and delivered it to Newcastle. He took the opportunity to call in and take Gillian out for lunch. He also built a new rack for the canoes, looking good.
We had a busy Saturday in Perth and the weather was so good Euan & John slept out under a tarp in the garden and then on Sunday we took the canoes to Willowgate to try out the new sailing rig, great fun.
The following weekend saw Euan & John camp out in the woods followed by a days climbing at Black Hill. An excellent day in the sun.
The usual kayaking for Euan was followed up with a session in the surf at St Andrews. It was a bit small and wind blown but great fun was had, Euan's paddling is improving.
Roadworks on the Friarton Bridge, complicated by a wide load coming through, ment it took us an hour to collect Euan from kayaking before heading off for a bike ride into Mark Cottage bothy. Some navigational hiccups slowed us a little but fish & chips in Arrochar gave the energy to cycle in to the bothy, about an hour, on gently undulating forest tracks. Euan taught us a new card game, speed, great fun. A leisurly cycle out in the morning followed by a recce for a future canoe trip, lunch in Comrie, saw us home by mid afternoon.
We ended the month with a short climbing session at Bennybeg crag. Euan led a bolted route. John went off to work whilst Wendy & Euan collected his xmas present, his budgie! They then left for Cornwall leaving John to look after it.

July

John has very little idea what Wendy & Euan got up to this month as they visited opposite ends of the UK. First a week in Cornwall then a week in Shetland. John managed to look after Pico on both occasions.
John cycled out to a new bothy, with a tent, and made a good discovery, will be back there soon.
We celebrated the return of the travellers by a couple of good bike rides, the first involving cider and ice cream. John & Euan continued to get out and do about 10km a day. A small adjustment to Euan's saddle saw it at it's maximum so we popped into the Bike Station and found a new bike for Euan. He has moved up to disc brakes!
The shed arrived, at last, it only took the 2 men 2 hours to pop it together. John spent the rest of the weekend filling it!
John & Euan got away to Belford for a couple of days. Took Gillian out for dinner, a little bit of surfing, but no climbing as it was too wet.
We ended the month with a trip to Rothiemurcus campsite, via Huntly and the cooperage at Craigallichie. More on this in next month's instalment.

August

An eventful journey to Aviemore due to the trailer deciding to fall apart but we got there. We got the camp set up, fish& chip tea, then hid in the tent playing cards. It could have been warner for the start of August. Saturday saw us wander into Aviemore and take a ride on the steam train, with a picnic. Once back at camp, Euan & John went off geocaching - 50% sucess. Sunday we went for a huge bike ride all around the area followed by an Indian takeaway. A very pleasant run home on Monday with Wendy & Euan nipping out to do the shopping whilst John snoozed before going back to work.
The following weekend was spent around the house and garden and a skip run, very constructive.
Euan had a day out at Cian's whilst John popped down to look at a new trailer. Saturday saw us deliver the old green shed to Dundee. We expected to build it but didn't need to, phew.
Sunday John & Euan nipped off for a night camping on an island. Cooked over an open fire for dinner and breakfast.
The following weekend we took Wendy out to dinner in Perth, Spanish Tapas, food was good, restaurant ok. We then had another very constructive day in the garden.
What else? Well we bought a new trailer, 6' x 4' with an aluminium hard top. Euan went back to school, Pico is enjoying the peace & quiet. The shed contents are being organised and thinned.
We ended the month with John, Euan & Shan nipping off for a night on an island, too busy so we ended up wild camping under a couple of oak trees. Very nice, with the added bonus of acorns dropping on our heads occasionally!

September

September has been quite a mild month which has allowed us to do quite a few outdoor adventures. The first weekend we cycled to Culra bothy. It was a bit of a trek into the bothy along a narrow path. Although we managed to light the stove, it guzzled all of our fuel before dinner was cooked. Just as well we had the camping stove for back up! Our next adventure was to Glen Goulandie campsite, in the wilds beyond Pitlochry. A fabulous dinner of chicken fajitas, with the ingenious method of heating the wraps on the car dashboard. The cycling we had hoped to do didn't materialise as the track marked on the map no longer appeared on the ground. Our final adventure of the month was to try to cycle into Luib Chonnal bothy. We failed but resorted to camping at the side of the track. We won't mention John's hiccupping keeping Wendy awake for a proportion of the night! John and Euan also spent a night in the local woods, just to make sure they still had their open fire making skills!
Euan has settled back into the school routine and we have had both a tracking report and parents night in September. Both excellent - he's a little star.
Pico, the budgie is growing in confidence and has been through to the living room a few times to flutter about and chase his ball across the floor. He's a real character but no chat from him yet.

October

We celebrated John's birthday at the beginning of October. He had a Morris the Caterpillar cake instead of Colin this year.
Euan and John nipped off to Loch Voil and did a spot of wild camping, good location, will be back.
For our October holidays we headed down to North Yorkshire (stopping off in Berwick to see Gillian). We stayed in a forest lodge with a hot tub near the village of Cropton. The cabin also had a wood burning stove, so John was in his element making fire each night. Our first outing was to Eden Camp, a war museum situated within a number of POW huts. We spent all day wandering round and probably still didn't see everything! The next day we travelled from Pickering to Whitby by steam train on the North York Moors railway. Of course we were obliged to have fish and chips for lunch with a sea view! On the Thursday, we headed across to Leeds and a visit to the Royal Armouries. A fascinating museum, with enough to keep everyone interested. On the Friday, we set off north with the plan to stay in a cottage near the Angel of the North to facilitate a visit to Beamish. However, Booking.com had mucked up the reservation and we ended up staying above an Italian restaurant in Pity Me!! However, before this disappointment, we had an excellent afternoon on a quad bike trek near Hexham. Great fun for everyone, although Euan was a little disappointed he wasn't allowed one of the adult quads.
On the second week of the school holidays, Wendy and Euan had a little day trip to Edinburgh. A fascinating wander round the National Museum for Scotland followed by a posh afternoon tea at the Dome
Euan and John cycled into Gelder Shiel for the night, good run each way. Better than the following weekend when we cycled into Culra lodge. Good run in but very wet on cycle out!

November

There wasn't much in the way off Halloween celebration this year, although Wendy made some very cute pumpkin shaped whoopie pies. They were a right faff and will probably never be repeated.
At the beginning of November, John and Euan took part in a canoe camping expedition organised by Willowgate. It was a challenging weekend weatherwise, and Euan was exhausted by the end of Sunday. John cooked pizza on his portable stove, very tasty.
During the few days off school in November, Wendy and Euan went back down to Durham to do a return visit to Beamish. This also meant we were able to eat out for a change, both the Turkish Kitchen and Fat Hippo didn't disappoint. On our way back north, we stopped off in Berwick to meet up with Linda. We had a lovely time at the Maltings Theatre watching a performance of Grease, followed by a lovely Mexican meal at a newly opened restaurant.
Whilst they were away John cycled into Luib Chonnal bothy, an excellent bothy with a good stove and plenty of firewood.
Euan's birthday cake rquest for this year was relatively straightforward - a Tetris Cake. Thank goodness the shaped cutters are easily available on Amazon!

Decemebr

Not a great deal happened in December. We did travel down to Berwick to see Gillian just before Christmas. A lovely afternoon at the pantomime followed by a lovely Turkish meal.
We had a family bothy trip to Glenn Dubh Lighe on Boxing Day. This should have been for two nights, but unfortunately, due to a stove malfunction we had to curtail the trip and come home. Sausage jambalya just doesn't taste the same when cooked in the house but the ragu cooked on the open fire was amazing!
John, Euan & Shan finished the year with a return to Luib Chonnal bothy. A hard 3 1/2 hour walk in but managed the walk out in just under 3.

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