Smuggler's Cove

Emma took Evie and me for a trip to a kids' indoor playarea with her and Effie. It was basically various slides with ball pools at the bottom of them. Evie spent much of the time just wanting to play with the balls. There was also a button to push that played a pirate's tune so Evie loved dancing to that too. This photo is of Evie with her friend Effie (who is blurred) and another friend from playgroup called Emma (not to be confused with "Big Emma", Effie's Mum!).

Robbie's Hoose

This is the house that Robbie built! Well, the house he's restoring anyway. It's a protected building so he has to get approval before he can do anything to it and he has to restore it to its original state. It was a barn when he took it over and in really bad condition. He's replaced the roof himself and has rebuilt most of the stone walls as well! The inside looks stunning and the view is to die for! The place looks out over Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers! It's amazing! That's Robbie in the scaffolding in the photo. Effie is giving us a guided tour!

Holm Play Group

Since we're in Okrney a while I decided to take Evie along to one of the local playgroups.This is a morning one so it suits better around Evie's afternoon nap. Sheena was able to come along with us on this day as she got the morning off work. This is their morning tea time, lots of fruit but Evie always seems to go for the crisps and biscuits!

This is Evie with her friend Effie, who is our friend's daughter and they are only a month apart in age. They do running races up and down the hall at the end of each session. Effie always wants to hold Evie's hand while they are running. Effie runs a bit faster than Evie so it usually ends up in Evie being dragged a bit and then eventually tripping up! But still Effie perseveres with it!

Aunty Edna

Aunty Edna visited us today, she was on holiday up from Wick in Scotland. Evie had a lovely time playing with her and drawing pictures. She gave Evie some pencils and a big poster book to draw in.

The Gloup

Kenny and Kenny went for a walk to the shore near the Gloup in Deerness to look for slate one evening (gloup is Old Norse for ravine, so it's basically a big hole in the ground created by running water).

Dingieshowe

Today was lovely again so we went to Dingieshowe and built sand castles - can't believe how much good weather we've been getting!!




I managed to keep a hair clip in Evie's hair all day - she never realised it was there otherwise it would have been out!











We went around the rocks to look for crabs as well.







Evie discovered her footprints on the way back to the car.

Bedtime yummies!

Evie's often peckish before bed so she sometimes has a wee pack of cracker biscuits. I just like this photo!

Out for dinner

We went to Snelster for tea tonight, Bobby and Gladys had their son Robert and his girls over too. Evie sat in the high chair and had a second helping of spaghetti bolognese.

This is Bobby and Gladys with Ruby.

Gladys, me and Ria, the eldest grandaughter.

Here's a lovely shot of the moon looking out from Kenny's house.

Shona arrives

Shona came up to visit for a weekend. Evie had a lovely time playing with her and loved the extra attention and cuddles - as if she wasn't getting enough already!

We went for a walk to the beach. This was an old boat shed at the shore where Kenny lives. The roof has come off but the stone walls are still stunning.




Evie's just about to head out for a spot of fishing.

Gathering cockles for lunch

It was a lovely morning so at low tide we walked out to get some cockles for lunch.

Kenny raked the sand and we dug them up.

Evie was very helpful!


She may have leaned over a little too far and slipped in! Luckily I had a change of clothes but she didn't want to stop, she was having loads of fun!



I do still have the top you sent me Mum! Evie tried the cockles but she wasn't at all fussed so ate a big bowl of mince instead!

A visit from Effie and Emma

These are the horses outside Evie's bedroom window. She was taking Effie to see them.

The neighbours have told us that we can use their trampoline whenever we want, which has been brilliant. It means however that we can't walk past it without a visit! Effie and Evie are examining a "pider" in this next photo.







Evie finds that she can bounce higher when she can push off on someone's hands. Although she has got pretty good at bouncing high by herself now with all the visits we've had.





Grandad then put the girls in the wheelbarrow and took them for a ride up the road.




Two little angels.

This is me and Emma with the girls just before they were about to leave