Saturday

Woke up at half 10. Stefan made me a nice breakfast including pancakes (even with strawberries!) eggs, baked beans, muffins, toast, donuts and fruit salad. Everything really. So nice.

After breakfast we drove to Loch Leven. Of course as soon as we arrived it began to rain. Thank you Scotland. Between the rain and the spray on our boat ride on the loch we were all drenched.

Looking out on Loch Leven. Check out those gray skies.

Boarding the taxi........for a three hour tour, a three hour tour.
Actually it was only a 30min ride to the castle on the island.

So the guys boarded first as you can see, and they took the last few seats under the shelter on the boat. David and Esther and I were left to sit exposed to all the spray coming over the bow of the boat. Oh man. By the time we reached the other shore I was soaked through and I thought it couldn't get worse but......

David messing around, Esther is not amused.

Much nicer.

Having some issues keeping my hair out of my face.

Trying to take a nice photo, too bad Simeon is in it.

The captain of our gallant, gallant ship.

Looking out from the castle.
Fact: Mary Queen of Scots was held captive in this castle before she was beheaded.

Oh no, trouble. Good thing he wasn't steering for much more than the time it took to take this photo.

......on our way back Esther and I managed to elbow our way into the sheltered area on the boat. Of course at that point it began raining again and it all came at an angle, soaking us more that on our way to the island. It was really un-believable.

But its good to have an adventure now and then.

Happy Mother's Day Mum!!!

I MISS YOU SOOOO MUCH!! I miss your hugs, and laughing together. I miss discussing life, books, family etc. with you. I miss being able to call you always for advice (I hate time zones). I love you so much, and I miss being with you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Horse Riding

Today I went horse riding with some of children from class for the first time. Clarification, it was my first time going, not theirs.

Every Thursday a group of children from class goes to the Activities School down the road for about a half hour session of horse riding. I have always been left behind to clean in the classroom with other children so I hadn't been before today. I was happy enough to stay behind and clean but I really enjoyed going today. It was great!

First of all I went along with one of our boys who hasn't been horse riding in a while and he was so glad to be going again it was really sweet. He was giddy with excitement, all smiles and playing shy with the ladies there working. It was real cute. They didn't ask me to walk with him alongside the horse like they do with some of the others, so I just watched from the side. It was wonderful to see how much he was enjoying it, especially when they were trotting around the ring! I think he even looked proud when he saw himself in the mirror sitting up on that horse. I really enjoyed watching him.

Then while I was standing there one of these old ladies working there invited me over to where she and a few others were chatting and having tea and coffee. So I joined them for a cup of coffee and chatted away the next several minutes with them. How fun! As I left one of them said to me "Give me a shout if you see around down in the village!" I'm such an old lady, I fit right in!