insignificant ramblings of a 50-something woman
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The helmet brigade strikes again
There’s an article in the Telegraph that has got me all riled up. I’m not going to link to it but the headline is something like, “Teenager seriously injured because he wasn’t wearing a bicycle helmet”. Why do people think it’s ok to shame cyclists for not wearing helmets? Do they do the same to…
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Smacking to be banned in Scotland
It was announced today that Scotland is going to be the first part of the UK to outlaw smacking. This is great news. New Zealand banned smacking in 2009 as has most of the rest of the EU. Australia, as usual, is years behind everyone else; you can still hit children there. I told the…
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Arse trolls
Elizabeth has been reading Sophie’s World which is an introductory philosophy book for children. Recently she started talking about someone called So-crates and someone else called Arse-trolls. It took us a little while to realise she was referring to Socrates and Aristotle 🙂
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No pain, no gain
I caught a taxi home from the train yesterday. It was a very short trip and one we usually walk but I had Ben’s backpack (he walked straight from the train to the University) in addition to my own. Nevertheless I felt bad about sitting in a car when I could have easily walked. I…
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Vegan protein balls
I got some pea protein powder at the SFN Expo in GlasgowSFN Expo in Glasgow. Don’t ask me why. I guess I was inspired by the peanut butter balls they were making with it. They looked delicious. I’ve just made these: Ingredients: pea protein powder, cocoa, ground hazelnuts, sweetened condensed coconut milk, chia seeds, peanut…
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Glasgow SFN Expo
I was in Glasgow last weekend for the SFN Expo, an exhibition for anyone interested in health and fitness. WordPress.com had a stand at the exhibition and I worked there on both days. It was unlike anything I’ve attended for work before as I usually go to WordCamps or mathematics conferences which are technology-focused/academic events…
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Going native
For a few months earlier this year the kids learnt Scottish Highland Dancing at school. It’s a traditional form of step dancing but unlike Irish dancing, it involves upper body movements as well. It’s a competitive dance rather than a social or barn dance and almost always performed at Scottish Highland Games. Dancers typically wear…
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Ecocamp Glenshee
We are back from our fabulous glamping weekend at Ecocamp Glenshee. It’s about 2.5 hours by car south of Aberdeen through the Cairngorms. The drive was wonderful and part of it is along the highest road in the UK. Ecocamp Glenshee is wonderful for families as it’s safe and they have animals – llamas, chickens,…
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Glamping in Scotland
We’re having a short glamping trip this weekend and had a wonderful day yesterday with lots of lovely scenery, highland cows, llamas, and an evening sitting by the fire. There isn’t any wifi here so I’ll write more when we get back.
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I’ve been upgraded!
This week I was offered a larger plot at the allotments: a half size plot. Mine is a microplot and they’re meant to be only temporary. Microplots are 50m2 while a half plot is 150m2. I was very pleased to get the offer because my plot isn’t getting much sun now. I also think a half…
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Alien eggs in the backyard
Recently I spotted what had to be an alien’s eggs incubating in our backyard. So naturally, I decided not to disturb them. A little while later I went back and they’d “hatched’ but there was nothing to see other than a tiny slug. I’m pretty sure that’s a slug and not alien spawn. Today I…
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Porridge with peanut butter
Last Sunday we went to Bonobo for brunch and I tried their Bonoboats which is porridge made with peanut butter. I was a little skeptical at first but it exceeded my expectations so I decided to try making it at home. Here’s what I got at Bonobo: Here’s what I made today at home: Ok, so…
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Killer Kale
Elizabeth has been working on a screenplay for a vegan zombie film called Killer Kale and one of my co-workers graciously applied his Photoshop skills to the movie poster. Thank you, Ryan! It’s perfect.
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Is this a scene from a horror film?
In keeping with my earlier proclamation about not giving a rat’s arse about what anyone else thinks, behold the uninhibited Rachel looking like a dork and wearing pyjamas. I ate all that green stuff just after the photo was taken. It’s produce from my plot at the allotment which is where I went in the…
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When the kids unstack the dishwasher
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Goodbye goody two-shoes
Yesterday I did everything in my power to kill myself accidentally. It’s fortunate I survived because today is my birthday and I’m now the meaning of life, 42. I’m a bit of a goody two-shoes but this is only because I don’t like getting into trouble. This makes it doubly painful when I do the…
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Insufferable mathematicians
Elizabeth had some homework this week which involved asking a member of her family to write some random numbers between 0 and 1,000 on a piece of paper for her to put in the correct numerical order. She asked her father and this is what he gave her: 869, 17, 3.5, 29, 19, 437, 832,…
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The bungee run
We took the grandparents to Crathes Castle today and there was an event going on with lots of bouncy castles and children’s activities. The kids enjoyed this bungee run the most. We have been to Crathes Castle so many times but we only just realised today that King Arthur is painted on the ceiling of…
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Dunnottar Castle
Scotland has been voted the most beautiful country in the world by the Rough Guide. I agree with that sentiment. New Zealand has more striking landscapes but Scotland has history and culture and it’s also safe – no earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones, or dangerous animals. My mother is visiting and yesterday we went to Dunnottar…
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Sack racing in front of the Queen
We were very pleased to return our campervan today and return home to hot water and flushing toilets. I’ve realised that those old VW campervans are just for young, cool people who can defy their natural biology by not producing any poo. Ben and I both have war wounds. Ben for hitting his head on…
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