Tag: Elizabeth
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Cats and The Beyond Broadway Experience
Elizabeth performed in Cats the musical at His Majesty’s Theatre this weekend as part of The Beyond Broadway Experience (BBEXP), an intensive professional show for young talent under 25. Elizabeth has been obsessed with Cats since 2020 so she was ecstatic to have the opportunity to be in it but it was a roller-coaster of…
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Elizabeth on stage with Capercaillie at Aberdeen Music Hall
Elizabeth had the very great honour last night of playing the violin on stage with Capercaillie at Aberdeen Music Hall as part of the Scottish Culture & Traditions (SC&T) youth performance group. They played two songs with the renowned Scottish band: Callum’s Road and Lisnagun. Elizabeth is the 4th from the left counting from the…
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Dancing, hair and Dickens
Elizabeth got her first ever 1st overall trophy today in the intermediate section of a highland dance competition. She came 1st and 2nd in every dance taking 1st overall. She was absolutely thrilled. The trophy is massive and by far the biggest and heaviest one she’s ever got. I’m still having weekly highland dance lessons…
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Elizabeth, litterers, chocolate, Easter
Elizabeth is an unusual girl. Up until last year she didn’t have a smart phone and vehemently opposed the idea of getting one. I eventually force one upon her for a school trip but since then it has sat with a flat battery, little used. She’s not on any social media sites and has no…
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School trips and a bothy concert in Braemar
The kids both went on school trips last week and we were all alone for five days. It’s the first time we’ve not had a child in the house overnight since becoming parents. It was very quiet. Elizabeth went to Keswick in the Lake District and Daniel went camping in Glen Affric. Both participated in…
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A birthday, a trophy, some trains, and insects
What’s been happening lately? It was my birthday yesterday and I spent much of it at a highland dance competition with Elizabeth. She got third place overall which was a wonderful birthday present as there’s nothing better than seeing your child happy. The last two competitions she entered she came away with nothing so I…
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Elizabeth’s 13th birthday and a Hogmanay ceilidh
Welcome 2023 and happy hogmanay! Yesterday was a crazily busy day. It started early with cake-baking for Elizabeth’s birthday. She turned 13 and I finally got to hand over the ant colony which is thankfully still alive. She is still pondering a name for the Queen and her empire. I made a chocolate cake which…
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Ant colony
It’s Elizabeth’s 13th birthday this week so we’ll officially have two teenagers in the house soon. She’s been asking for an ant colony for months and months now so we finally caved and that’s what she’s getting for her birthday. Expecting delays with the postal strikes and public holidays I ordered it last week but…
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Covid in the house, school camps, and Rocket the hamster
Ben has had covid this past week. He started feeling unwell on Friday night over a week ago. On Monday he took a lateral flow test and it was positive. He says he’s felt achy, very tired, was a bit feverish and headachy for a couple of nights, and lost his appetite. He’s much better…
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Highland dance competition
Elizabeth competed in her first highland dance competition at the Newtonhill Highland Festival. She did very well and came 3rd in the Highland Fling and 4th in the Lilt. Well done, Elizabeth! No photography was allowed at the competition so I couldn’t photograph or film her there. She says she enjoyed it and may participate…
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Hogmanay and Elizabeth’s 12th birthday
It’s Hogmanay and Elizabeth’s birthday today. The years tick by and although there are big global events – like the pandemic – we still go through all the same motions each year. Elizabeth is 12 and had a lovely celebration at home with two of her school friends. Elizabeth was such a cute little baby.…
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High tea at the Fife Arms
We did something special for Elizabeth today to commemorate her finishing primary school and starting high school. She somehow missed both the beginning and the end of primary school and I know she was upset about missing the end. When we first moved to the UK in October 2014, year 1 primary school had begun…
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Meatless Farm and Elizabeth’s biology poster
We had Meatless Farm burgers for dinner last night. I’ve become a Meatless Farm convert: they’re UK-based and much cheaper than the Beyond Burger but with similar ingredients. Both are made with pea protein. They taste delicious too and are good for a quick, easy meal when you don’t feel like cooking. As part of…
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The Highland Fling
Elizabeth started taking Highland Dance classes about 2.5 years ago and I posted a little video of her prancing about our lounge room at that time. I found it on my blog – Going Native – recently and showed her. She was mortified by what she saw her younger self doing – “What on earth…
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Elizabeth’s application form
Elizabeth has applied to be on a Scratch game creator team at school. She completed the application form all by herself. We never even saw it until she’d filled it in and she’s done a terrific job for a 10-year-old. I’d hire her! Filling in forms is not easy to do but it’s an important…
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Inside Hoss and guns
Elizabeth and I had an appointment this morning which I cycled to on Hoss. We were a little early and it was cold so I hopped inside Hoss with Elizabeth because it’s cosy and warm in there. We took some photos. An adult can fit comfortably inside. My head did touch the roof but because…
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Highland dance and TV rants
It has been a crazy busy week and the craziness is still going. Elizabeth has been performing in her Highland Dance show and we’ve had rehearsals and performances all week with the finale tonight. I helped backstage on two nights and it was really well organised. I’m so impressed with the dance school. The students…
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Family history
For several years now I’ve been working on a family tree at My Heritage. Recently I discovered another Elizabeth Martin on Ben’s side of the family. Our Elizabeth’s great-great-great-grandmother was also Elizabeth Martin (nee Frisken). She was born in Scotland and moved to New Zealand while our Elizabeth was born in New Zealand and moved…
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My kids are amazing and I was on TV!
It was parent-teacher interviews at school last night and I’m so proud of the kids. They’re just amazing in every way. Elizabeth, according to her teacher, finishes her maths work in class then goes around from table to table helping other pupils with theirs. Her writing is also exemplary and she is spelling to the…
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The Plant Police
Elizabeth (who is 8) and her friend have started a committee at lunchtime called The Plant Police. The aim of this committee – from what I understand – is to protect the plants in the playground from rampaging children. I know what you’re thinking – she’s my mini-me. I almost feel a bit bad: what…
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