out and about on a Sunday

It has been one of those days when life just appeared perfect. Such days do exist, honestly! A leisurely morning reading books, drinking coffee and generally faffing about was followed by a traditional Scottish fry up with Lorne sausage and all. I do love gently fried mushrooms but do not like baked beans with my fry-up. I don't ever like baked beans actually. Then, amidst plenty of bickering, we piled everybody in the car and set off to the Loch Ardinning Nature Reserve, on the road between Milngavie and Strathblane just North of Glasgow. It is a great place to walk and it is never overly busy because there is no parking other than a couple of lay by's. There is wetland, moorland, woodland and grassland all in one small area, easily walkable in a couple of hours. What else could you want from a walk? Good weather I suppose. This was a mixed bag and we experienced more or less all seasons in the two hours we were there. Ok, it wasn't snowing but there was some icy rain.

We walked through woodland.

Many trees were covered in moss and lichens.

We admired the skies.

Up on the moorland the views were fabulous. Can you see the snowy mountains in the distance? These are the Trossachs.  

And we even managed to fit all children in one photo without shouting murder and abuse. It is very difficult for them to face in the same general direction at the same time and coordinate their 'cheese'  moment.

It was particularly nice that Sam came with us. He fancies these family outings less and less and often chooses to stay at home, no doubt preferring his Minecraft buddies for company. 

Back home, Richard had to head off to Edinburgh, where he is leading an outreach event for adults at the Science Festival. It is the 'Ginomics' event,  discussing molecular flavour components in different types of gin. The participants are making their own preferred variety from spice and herbal infusions and can take this away. 

I was treated to dinner and pudding by the magnificent four. Sam made pizza with Alistair's help, Annie baked a Victoria sandwich cake with James. There was a lot of abuse hurled across the kitchen and of course the kitchen was unrecognizable after it was abandoned by the offspring. I had tears in my eyes and not from joy. However, a good scrub later, I am no longer hungry, the kitchen is back to almost normal, the little boys are scrubbed clean and the big ones have retreated to their respective caves. Did I mention that Annie had a mouse in her girl cave? It must have lived their for a while judging by the evidence. Anyway, I wonder if it is greedy to open a bottle of Prosecco just for myself to celebrate a successful day? Does it keep?

Thank you all for your comments on my past few posts! I enjoyed reading them all. It is good to see so many of you enjoying my blether. 

Wishing you all a good week! Cx