Where did the weekend go? It's nearly November and autumn is in full bloom. I wish I'd taken some photos today as Aberdeen is looking very pretty in its autumn clothes. My tomatoes are just about dead but there are still a few fruits ripening. Two weekends ago I picked this from the greenhouse. And… Continue reading Scottish things, foraging, and a haircut
Tag: Highland Dance
Photos from our weekend
Friends of ours who we haven't seen since 2014 visited us from New Zealand this weekend. It's wonderful to catch up with old friends again. Daniel in particular really bonded with the son who is a similar age to him. Here's a photo in our backyard, complete with finger in front of the lens. On… Continue reading Photos from our weekend
A computer game and a highland dance update
Daniel wrote a game in Javascript. It's a re-creation of the snake game. You're the snake and you move around the screen consuming fruit. Each time you eat a piece of fruit you get longer. If you touch the edge or yourself you die. Movement is via the keys W, A, S, D on your… Continue reading A computer game and a highland dance update
The Umbrella Project
Elizabeth got to dance in town today and yesterday for the launch of the Umbrella Project in Aberdeen which is a nationwide campaign to celebrate neurodiversity or different ways of thinking. One in five of us have a condition like ADHD, Autism, Tourette's Syndrome, Dyspraxia, and Dyscalculia and the umbrella project seeks to raise awareness… Continue reading The Umbrella Project
Highland dance finale, sushi, school reports, and a cat pic
The finale for Elizabeth's school of Highland Dance end of year show was last night. We went to the opening night and it was fantastic. Yesterday I was wishing I'd bought a second ticket so I could go and watch it again but they'd completely sold out. Never mind, we'll get the DVD when it… Continue reading Highland dance finale, sushi, school reports, and a cat pic
Dancing for the Platinum Jubilee
Elizabeth got to perform at Craigiebuckler Church yesterday for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. I took lots of photos and some videos. They really put on a good show at this church as in addition to the dancing there were pipers and singing and crown making and that was just in the 1 hour period we… Continue reading Dancing for the Platinum Jubilee
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… Continue reading Highland dance competition
The highland dance exam, some crochet, and groat oats
Elizabeth did her highland dance exam today and she thinks it went well but she won't get her results for at least a few weeks. She got highly commended in the national exam she did last year. Thankfully the socks arrived in time along with the kilt which we sent off to have the hem… Continue reading The highland dance exam, some crochet, and groat oats
A boy in a suit
Daniel is on a school trip. This is one of the nice things about being back at a regular school: he gets to go on trips with his classmates. On one of the evenings they were planning to go to the ballet and we were told a jacket and tie would be required. Daniel was… Continue reading A boy in a suit
A sockcessful national dance exam
Elizabeth had her pre-bronze National Highland dance exam today. She performed The Lilt and she thinks it went well. I took this recording before the exam. She won't get her results until next year. https://youtu.be/dA_a5G_Opmg When she was getting ready this morning she informed me that the teachers told her last Monday her socks were… Continue reading A sockcessful national dance exam
Snow and storm Arwen
The first snow of the season arrived last Friday. We didn't get a huge amount in Aberdeen but enough for me to get excited and for it to look Christmassy. I went for a bike ride on Sunday and this was the scene. On Friday night we got hit by Storm Arwen which was fierce… Continue reading Snow and storm Arwen
Highland dance exam
Elizabeth had her highland dance exam today. It all went well as far as we know but she won't get any feedback for a little while as it was recorded and the judges will have to watch it. I took this photo of her waiting outside the dance studio in her full dance outfit. They… Continue reading Highland dance exam
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… Continue reading The Highland Fling
Happy Easter!
Thankfully the Easter Bunny is a key worker in Scotland and he really outdid himself at our house with an Easter Egg trail, complete with clues! These were my clues and I found the surprise at the end which is a Booja-Booja chocolate egg. The Vego bar was in my cargo bike which has 3… Continue reading Happy Easter!
Caber-tossing for kids
We went to the Braemar Junior Highland Games today. We've been to the hugely popular "celebrity" event in September a couple of times but this is the first time we've been to the kids' version and in many ways this version is better. It's far less busy and children can participate in everything. It's very… Continue reading Caber-tossing for kids
Scottish poetry and highland dancing
I managed to clock up over 12,000 steps on my Fitbit yesterday while sitting on my butt. It's not like the last time I boasted about doing exercise without doing any exercise - last time I really did exercise, thanks to active travel. However yesterday we used the car-club car to get around and so I… Continue reading Scottish poetry and highland dancing
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… Continue reading Highland dance and TV rants
The Highland dancer and inside Hoss
Elizabeth had a Highland Dance performance on Sunday afternoon. She was wonderful! I enjoyed watching this show immensely. Highland Dancing is so different to the dancing I'm used to and I love that they get to dance with swords. Luckily the swords are not sharp otherwise a few of the children would be missing toes… Continue reading The Highland dancer and inside Hoss