Summer holidays i

This year, we had an interrupted summer what with having to attend the graduation of the first-born. We ended up with only a week away from the offspring and headed off to Cheltenham for a week.

Plans were made to visit Gloucester, Oxford, Bath and Bristol.  The caravan was prepared, and food left for the children.  So where did we end up?

We went to Gloucester on Sunday.

Monday was a wee tour around and about:

 

 Out for a walk on Tuesday - we saw this bug: 

and had a couple of pints.

Wednesday was Oxford.

Famous for punting and Morse. 

.-- .... -.-- / -.. .. -.. / .-- . / -.. --- / - .... .- - ..--.. 

We skipped the Uni tours but did enjoy the Ashmoleum. 

Fevriér en France (ii)

Tuesday - the day in the Stones

Carnac is famous for the standing stones.  We had visited in the past, but hasn't had the chance to get up close.  This is not Stonehenge with an entry fee and ropes to stop you getting close. This is Carnac. 3000 stones standing in lines, stretching for miles (or kilometres)

We also saw birds. At Quiberon.

Fevriér en France (i)

Dans le vacation, Madame C et moi sommes allez en France.
Mrs C had a week's holiday, and I had some time left in the holiday year.

We found an Air BnB near Carnac (Brittany) and got a wee deal on the ferry.  

Here are some of our highlights of the first day:

 

Portsmouth from the water

St Malo by fog. Our Ferry is almost visible from here

Pointing the way to Quebec

Breakfast in St Malo

Lunch in the DS3. We are professional picnicers

The beach at the Gite

We sailed into St Malo in a bit of fog, found the town, and went for a walk round. We really need to remember that Europe is closed on Mondays. Eventually I was allowed to stop for breakfast, then we headed on along the coast.  
We had a lovely day working our way down to Carnac in time for a 5 pm check in.  It was getting dark by the time we arrived, but we had time for a quick walk along the beach to admire the sunset before retreating back to the Gite for non-existant wifi, and a DVD.  

It was a lovely day.

Parkrun despite the snow

Junior and I are not really keen on this sort of thing, but we took the chance to run along the Aberdeen sea front on a chilly saturday (9:30 start)

Not our fastest time.

Happy New Year - 2019

Parkrun anyone?

The Candlish Juniors were delighted to see that after a year or so of encouragment and cajoling, Mrs C, Mr C and the kiddies all completed the first Saturday Parkrun together of 2019, in Victoria Park, Belfast.

Well done us!

Heading towards Christmas holidays

I had a bit of time off around Christmas. Apart from trying to get the usual things done, we also managed to make paper chains (but without a stapler - first-world issues) and tried to get out and about.

Stirling Station

Kept up the running - gloves and 2 tee-shirts needed.

Winter Sun - Menstrie Railway track

Cooked a duck which tasted great. The raw smell was not to everyone's taste. (and minichef baked some bread)
 

Duck down

Did some proper man-christmas shopping at the last minute.

Primark queue

Played a few gigs with Billy Ferguson and the Kettles family.

Had a lovely time.

 
 

Kelpies - again.

We love visiting the Kelpies. Not in the summer when it can be a tad busy, but off season.

Here's why:

It was a calm day.

Park Run Anyone?

No I can't believe it either, but about 30 years after I last went for a run (New Jersey - Out and about round the Marriot) I have completed a 5km (3 long mile) parkrun.

And wonderchild 2 was there to encourage me along the way.

 
Well done us!