Dog Day Afternoons in Scotland!!!

Yes, we got to experience the few days of summer that Scotland has. That's the first time in 20 years for me, and the first time ever for Walter and the boys. I packed no summer clothes for the experience, so we spent a lot of time looking like "po' white trash" (as my mum loves to say now) in the garden.
The only direct way to Scotland from Switzerland in the summer, is with EasyJet from Geneva to Edinburgh. Unfortunately, my parents just moved much closer to the West coast, and EasyJet rankles with me. Why can't they be just a little more Southwest??? On sunday Allie got himself a nice fever of 104.5 and we had to leave early on Monday morning... without Walter. It doesn't seem to be coincidence that one or the other is always ill when we travel, and when I'm alone with them. Having said that, they were both angels for me and the plane was actually on time. Allie's fever lasted 4 days and never fell below 100 on the drugs. Apparently, all the children we know here were having exactly the same thing. It's bloody June already! Can we have a break?

My parents have moved near to Kilmarnock, which is near the lovely holiday town of Ayr. The beach is 20 mins down the road and is very pretty. You can even see the isle of Arran on a good day. They're also much nearer shops now (not quite so much in the country), so the current thing is 'popping' out to get stuff :) Another new experience is neighbours. They're close to a big old house that's been converted into flats, with 6 families. Three of the families are really nice, three are turning out to be obnoxious and are called the 'Darkside' by my family now. There's a story about that, which ofcourse involves money..... We visited Dean Castle, just 5 mins from the 'rents. It has beautiful grounds and (more importantly) a playground and 'zoo'. Toby sang BaaBaa Black Sheep to the sheep and serenaded the peacocks. Allie watched the big kids very keenly and tried to copy them in the playground. Trips were taken to the beach, where awful ice cream was consumed.

Toby serenades the sheep at Dean Castle.


Allie leading the pack in the playground at Dean Castle.


Walter and Toby skiff stones.


Allie and G'parents take a break.


More skiffing.


Susan (Jamie's fiance) and Allie in the foreground and Gparents in the background.


The great British beach occupation.


Traipsing through fields near the new house with my mum and Jamie




While we were away, Neuchatel suffered a cold spell (hehehe), and we returned to summer finally starting here. People are already swimming in the lake, and we plan on visiting the cool swimming pool next week.