999 to go

Nearing the end of the year, and Shona has decided that I need to focus on the good things in life, 

and so my quest for 2013 might well include hunting down and tasting some of the contents of this book.

Happy New Year - Thanks for sticking with me in the last 12 months.

bouvet-buzet.blogspot.co.uk

http://bouvet-buzet.blogspot.co.uk/

I need a way of remembering the wine I like.

So here it is.

Take it or leave it.

Pumpkin carving for Christmas - Whatever next?

I was trying to carve a carol-singing snowman.  You be the judge!

I had bought the pumpkin in good time for Hallowe'en and it was still in good nick.

Never say cheese again

Sorry, Hazel.

While in conversation with Uncle Bill, I let slip that there was a second photo from the now infamous "staring wars" series.

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

It seemed wrong not to let it go....

Getting ready for Christmas in Belfast

Fun fun fun

Good to see that Eilidh has got her tambouriners dancing in time!

Well done Son.

vw camper carving

Not as easy as a fierce face!

Describe a bramble

We have had Mr Thapa to stay with us. Mr Thapa is from Nepal. We don't speak Nepalese.  So we headed off for a walk in the country.

 

This is a bramble.  This year's crop were tasteless, so avoid the 2012 jam.

 

Curly clouds

Well I liked them.

The nights are fair drawing in

And the leaves are dropping.

Back to the bird man

You can't miss this guy, standing tall, looking down the valley to the Wallace Monument. 

He's the man!

The Dancing Fountains

 

And when they die down, look who was hiding....

Back to Belfast in October

We had fantastic weather for our city-break. Half a week of crisp mornings.

Band Camp

Another day and another pick-up for the children. They have survived another weekend away with the HMFY.

Well done to the adults who looked after them over the past couple of nights.

Sealed with a kiss

Heading home past the Cromarty Firth we saw this guy just watching the cars go by.

And so ended our trip to the highlands.  :(

Who ate all the cheese?

The morning after the night before, and Hazel starts a staring contest.

I'm sure there was more cheese than that!

Dornoch Cathedral - minus the wedding party

41 Years on, and this time we didn't play hopscotch in the aisle.

Cousin Mark - artistic consultant

Never get involved in a discussion between a husband and wife regarding the best way for a mouse to wear a bow tie.

Mark was lucky to get out of his mum's house with his life.

Let them eat cake

Lovely cake.  I tried most parts.  There was a sponge for the weaklings like me who don't like marzipan, and there was chocolate cake for the Scots who don't like fruit, and there was a most tasty traditional wedding cake under it all.  10/10 again!

The bitter-sweet taste of success

You would struggle to improve on the main course, but I loved this.

Passion fruit?
Mango?
Apricot?
Banana
Strawberry
Dark mousse.
And cream.

10/10

Pleased to meet you or meat to please you?

Steak, medium rare with potatoes and a parcel of wee vegetables. Could not be better.

Lots of fruit for kids and caviar for adults

A good starter.
Still hungry and am optimistic for a good second course.

Caption competition

??

Highland Cathedral

Dornoch Cathedral from the path to the hotel.

You couldn't get a better day for a wedding.  

 

Bridesmaids from the rear

Lovely flowers

Happy family

Finally married

The sun was shining and the rain stayed away.

Highland wedding fever?

Final check:

Groom in church?                       check


Guests all present and ready?     check

Bridesmaids in church?               check

Daughter ready for wedding?       check



Phone switched off?           

Boys all dressed up

It was good to see the boys have made an effort.

Ba-Ba Black sheep

One of the last to arrive...

I am the music man

I have tried to play the pipes only once in my life.

You have to blow, squeeze, move the fingers, and march in time.  No thanks!

They let anyone in here

Strathview B&B

We've found the ideal place to stay.

Fantastic.

Crossing the Kessock bridge

Progress has been swift up the A9 this morning. We didn't get stuck in the 6 mile virtual queue near Perth because you shouldn't always believe the SatNav. So we're now looking for a coffee stop before we get to Dornoch.

Happy times!

The long journey home

After the excitement and buzz of the championship we were able to celebrate a magnificent seventh place.

I am amazed that our wee band did so well against some quite famous English bands.

And no... It is nothing like the film "Brassed off"

And now we are heading home through the longest shower of rain I have seen. Stopping at Tebay for a break I saw the ducks were partying too.

We made it to Cheltenham

Eilidh is pleased with her performance.

Just about to leave to hotel

Well, there's no more time to rehearse. The bus is ready and we are off to the Nationals!

And it is raining.

Passing through the Lake district

Well when in the lakes, you wouldn't miss a chance to top up your supplies of Kendal Mint Cake.

Lanarkshire morning mist

Well here's a thing. I knew Eilidh was heading to Cheltenham to play in the National Brass Band Championships after winning the Scottish sectional contest but I never thought that I would be going too!

We're on the way now and will be playing tomorrow.

Another milestone for Fiona

It would be a shame to miss this chance, and I was lucky to get a suitable lay-by on the way to work. 
If you are keen, you can flick back and work out my estimated annual mileage.







Or get a life....

Amazon: Named after the rainforest?

The postman left a card on Wednesday.  "You have a package which it too big for your letterbox.  Please trail down to the sorting office and collect it."

And so I did.

And luckily I took the car to bring home my parcel.

It was huge. (Not heavy, but H-U-G-E)

And under the paper......

...was a single pair of drumsticks.

... which sound great, by the way.

Sunset over Alloa

After the sun goes down, creatures of the night might appear - well it is Alloa after all!