It's hard to believe it's that time of year already. 2014 seems to have flown by - a sign that things have been very busy indeed. However, you only need to look at the change in Iona over the last 12 months to see that it's really true!
Before 2014 had even started, things got exciting with the arrival of a new antipodean cousin for Eilidh and Iona when Gemma Maisie Rouse was born the week before Christmas. With the other Livingston Brownings having deserted Scotland in favour of the warmth of Australia and the company of the new and less-new members of the Rouse clan over Christmas, Brenda and Roger were our sole family companions over a happy Christmas. 2014 itself started quietly for us, with a quiet night in and bed shortly after the bells (we're getting old!).
As has now become customary for us, we celebrated Eilidh's birthday towards the end of January (given that that's when it is). Eilidh had a party with a bumblebee theme and a bouncy castle, held in the local Scout hall. Having had years of experience managing 8-10 year old Cubs, and more latterly Scouts in the older age range, Craig thought that a hall-full of 3-4 year-olds would be a breeze; it turns out his logic was flawed. Nevertheless, Eilidh (and her friends) really enjoyed themselves, so much so that every time we now go past the Scout hall, Eilidh talks about having parties there!
In February, we took a trip up to Sallachy for the February weekend. It's an ideal place to escape to and just relax. The end of March was a little bit hectic. Whoever decided to put Iona's and Gwen' birthdays on consecutive days should get a severe talking to. Of course, for a one-year old, a birthday is the same as any other day, only you can get away with making even more mess than usual. (Perhaps that applies to all people?) Anyway, we had a little birthday tea for Iona on the Tuesday, and then, thanks to some obliging baby-sitters (thanks Grandma & Grandad!), we had dinner in Edinburgh in a new (to us, anyway) restaurant just off the Royal Mile called Daft Jamie's. Very nice it was, too!
Easter's a time we always enjoy, and this year was a particularly pleasant one. We were joined by Auntie Eleanor, Uncle James, Bronwen and Imogen. Amongst other things, we enjoyed a visit to the Scottish Owl Centre (Bronwen loves owls). Spring quickly passed by, and by the end of June, we were well and truly ready for a relaxing summer holiday. So we went camping! We had nearly a week on a lovely campsite on the Isle of Wight, and had a great time going on steam trains, dinosaur hunting, going to the beach and eating ice cream. Iona got her first taste of a chocolate milkshake, and given the paltry amount that she left in Daddy's glass, she wasn't disappointed! Fortunately for us, it stayed dry (and pretty warm) for nearly the whole time.
After leaving the island, we spent a few days in Lymington with Grandma and Grandad. The weather turned a little, but that didn't stop us having a good time. Eilidh and Iona (and possibly even Gwen!) got to visit a theme park for the first time. It didn't take terribly long for Eilidh to decide that the rides in Peppa Pig World were too tame for her, so she quickly moved on to the more grown up rides in Paulton's Park. She was a bit peeved when we told her she was too small for some of the more adrenaline-filled rides!
There was time for one more stop on the way home - we spent a day and a half with some of the Beamond clan in Bishop's Castle in Shropshire. Eilidh had a great time turning the garden slide into a water-slide with Jamie, Tom and Edie, and we introduced the Jayne, Tony, Jamie, Tom and Edie to geocaching. Eilidh also really enjoyed helping Howard doing the silaging in the tractor!
So that was our summer holiday. However, summer had much more in store for us. No sooner were we home than we were away again to the Crieff Hydro (where Eilidh enjoyed some pony trekking) to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's Ruby Wedding anniversary, and we had a lovely time. Good company, good food, good ambience, good weather (on the Sunday at least!). One of the highlights of the weekend was getting to meet the aforementioned Gemma for the first time. The following weekend, we went to the Bo'ness railway for a "Day out with Thomas" (the Tank Engine, for the uninitiated). It was most memorable not for the steam trains, the magic show, the fun that Eilidh and Kieran had together on the bouncy castle, the cakes baked by the Brownies that all got thrown in one bag and ended up a squidgy mess, or for the two irritating little boys who blew high-pitch whistles at each other across the canteen at lunchtime, but for Iona taking her first steps. Given the nature of the occasion, we had both a camera and a video camera there to capture the moment for posterity and provide footage which is sure to make Iona blush in years to come!
And then, all of a sudden, our little girl grew up. In mid-August, and with much excitement, Eilidh went through the gates of Williamston Primary School and turned left to go into Primary 1 rather than right, into the nursery class. After the first day, she came home and asked: "can Adam come round for a sleepover?" We didn't think she was growing up that quickly! She has settled in very well, quickly made new friends (inc Adam), has learned all her letters / sounds and a good few words.
We had another relaxing break up at Sallachy at the September weekend, but our return from that was soured slightly with the news that one of Gwen's colleagues had gone off sick for what was likely to be the long-term. With one of her other colleagues already off long-term, and insufficient locums to cover all the vacant sessions, her work since then has been incredibly busy, resulting in regular occurrences of 45+ hour weeks - a fair amount more than the three mornings and three afternoons that she is supposed to do. Mitigating that to a small extent is the change in Craig's working hours. Craig went part-time in January, allowing him to spend Friday afternoons with Eilidh and Iona. We have also been very grateful for the flexibility and willingness to help shown by Grandma and Claire, who have both stepped up to look after the girls in times of extreme hecticness.
Another couple of weekends away during the October holiday, going to see the Peplers in London the first weekend, and then going away with friends for a weekend in Peebles the following one. To describe either weekend as "relaxing" might be a bit of a push, with 4 and 5 girls aged 5 or under at each weekend respectively, some of whom were sharing rooms and not terribly willing to go to sleep, but they were certainly "fun"!
Other than all that, it's been life as normal. Eilidh has started doing after-school French lessons on a Monday, which she enjoys and is doing well at, and she still loves her dancing. She took part in a big show in April, which included 2 evening performances and 2 afternoon performances over 4 consecutive days, 3 different costumes, loads of practice, and seemingly hundreds of girls of all ages (and few boys!). She really enjoyed the whole experience, particularly the "end-of-run" meal and chocolate milkshake!
Iona is coming on leaps and bounds – almost literally, as she has joined a baby-gymnastics class (though she's not quite at the aerial summersault stage yet)! She is starting to learn to talk, and is finding it useful to be able to communicate. For example, "Mummy" is useful when she wants Gwen's attention, "Daddy" is useful when she wants Craig's attention and she realises he's not answering to the name "Mummy", "no" is useful in just about circumstance under the sun, and "bluergh" is useful when Daddy wipes snot from her nose. Funnily enough, another of her first words was "banana", but she doesn't like them; it's often accompanied by "no"!
Following Hearts' relegation last year, Craig is enjoying visiting new stadia this season, aided no doubt by the fact that they are, currently, winning more than they are losing! Gwen, in between those long weeks, is managing to squeeze in some concerts. If a rehearsal for one of those happens to be on a Saturday, Craig is more than happy to take the girls to Tynecastle!
If you happen to be coming near Livingston, please feel free to get in touch, and/or leave a comment below. All that remains now is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
