Airshow 2012

Ciaran and I spent the day at the air show at East Fortune airfield.
We were lucky with the weather - the cloud base was high enough not to obscure any of the display. It did mean that when the rain fell, and it did fall, it had more of a sting when it hit.
In total there were 17 performers in the programme, with the display running for the best part of 4 hours. That included the Red Arrows who put on a 20 minute display.

This was the second time I've been to the air show and I enjoyed it almost as much as last time 2 years ago. I say almost because despite the flying display being impressive, due to the fact that the runway is now unsuitable to land aircraft on, there are no static aircraft displays apart from the normal museum pieces. Since I seem to get to the museum about once a year, the pieces on permanent display are getting a bit familiar. Still though the flying display is worth seeing.
Ciaran did get to heft a Bren gun. His XBox seems to give him a scary amount of knowledge about guns.

The other aspect of the afternoon was the Army Surplus tent. Ciaran managed to find himself a camouflage jacket and a webbing set. Once we arrived back home he sat admiring himself in the reflection off the door.
The thing stinks to high heaven!

Cycling Success

Ciaran and I went out on the bikes on Wednesday. We did a simple run along National Cycle Route 7 from Troon into Eglinton Park. Nothing too dramatic, its something we do regularly - easy cycle paths and as its coastal is all pretty flat.
On the way back we did try to hook up with NCR 73 which ends in Kilmarnock, about 7 miles northeast of Troon.
Interestingly, but not enough for a visit, route 73 passes Dreghorn, where John Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, and then founder the Irish company Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co. Ltd, was born.

Sadly our attempt to get onto Route 73 failed. Although these cycle routes are great - the surface tends to be high quality and they are car free, but they are signposted quite poorly. Compounded with local footpaths and you can get quite confused, especially when the signs are only 3 inches square in some cases.
The line in red is my log from my Garmin. The blue line going diagonally through the middle is what we were looking for.
We were on it at the start until the bridge. I then had the great idea that if we didn't cross that bridge and continued south we would come across another path which would join with our usual route 7. We didn't cross the bridge, continued south and actually found the path, but its still under construction, so we turned around and headed back tot he bridge and crossed. We then headed south again on the path. Easy. Until we missed a marker saying sharp left choosing to stay on the good condition path. As we looped back and passed under the very distinctive bridge we had just passed we accepted we missed the turn and would have a look at the map once we go home. Continuing north, past the bridge we thought we could rejoin the path but unless we headed into Irvine main street we couldn't. So turn around again and back to the bridge and cross again heading south. Via not too busy streets back onto the cycle path.
Once we got home and looked at the maps we could see the mistake and remembered the junction.

Today we decided to give it another go. Fiona is away "Going Ape" so its boys on their own.
Started out not too bad until about 3 miles in when I heard a metallic boong coming form behind. I stop and see Ciaran picking himself up from the ground having failed to see the second bollard. It hit his handlebar throwing him off. Luckily we were not going too fast as it was a sharp turn onto the path, and he fell onto grass, but he was a bit surprised.
Apart from that it was a great cycle. We ended up doing 35 miles in 3.25 hours, ending up in Dean Castle park.

Well done to Ciaran! A tumble and away from his xbox! And no complaints.

The importance of being Earnest

Had a fantastic evening out at Culzean Castle at an outdoor performance of The Importance of Being Earnest.

It was great.

We arrived with some folding camp chairs, a blanket, some hot chocolate, and some assorted munchies. Unfortunately forgot the midge repellent but luckily didn't need the umbrellas.
The munchies didn't last too long but then you have to be quiet so we needed to make short work of them.

I only had a basic knowledge of the story so I didn't really know what to expect. The 9 roles were played by 6 performers, with a Michael MacIntyre look alike playing a female role.
It was all very well done and quite enjoyable.

Table Tennis and a Wild Walk

Up sharp this morning.
Fiona had a Bollywood dance class while Ciaran and I went to badminton. Now that I have some grip back its rematch time!
Once we had all finished our respective activities we met up for a session of table tennis.

Ciaran seems to have all the moves with an elaborate Chinese style grip, but in reality I think we spent as much time picking up the ball as we did playing, something which seemed common between all the tables and the short tennis courts alongside.

After an early dinner we had a nature walk - 'What's out at dark'

It was quite interesting but apart from ducks and a glimpse at the badgers we didn't actually see anything. A woodpecker was pointed out fleeing from our approach, and the bat boxes were all empty. We did learn about the red squirrels - Whinfell is one of 6 red squirrel sanctuaries with paid 'wardens' who will actually cull any grey squirrel found - and ducks - the mallards will produce mainly males if food is plentiful and will have to be culled to ensure breeding and there is a set of albino mallards and their descendants on the lake.
The badgers have their own TV channel - there is a webcam feed into all the houses. We had seen it but never saw any activity and had only figured out it was a live feed on Tuesday.
Their sett and webcam is just down from where our cabin is and as we passed two badgers were out but low light and distance means blurry photos.
We also found out that the noisy bird outside our cabin is a partridge.

Field archery

Finally managed to make it out for 'breakfast' :
Personally I went for the 'savoury' option of ham and cheese with Maple syrup. Lovely.

We then spent a fantastic 90 minutes hunting with bow and arrow as we tried out field archery.
This is basically using a bow and arrow but instead of using the normal bulls eye style target foam animals are set our and you get point for the type of hit. Anywhere on the body give 5 points. Within a small ring gives 10 and inside a smaller ring gives 15. Any kill shot also gives 15 points.  You have three arrows per target and have to shoot around trees and bushes.

Poor Fiona managed to get around in 0 points but there also included the last 2 target which had penalties if you hit the wrong animal or the tree.
Ciaran finished with 30 points and I finished with 85, which included gelding a deer.
The winning score was 130 but the average for the course with first timers is 40. It was really great fun but the midges were a nightmare.
Dinner was at the American diner in acknowledgement of independence day. Old habits die hard.

Took three attempts before we managed to get Ciaran to look away from his food even a little. Look at the sauce moustache!

Lake district

Spent today driving round the lake district. 
We had lunch at Ullswater in a quiet layby watching the boats go by.

Had the unusual experience of cars coming speeding into the layby and one or two passengers getting out, snapping a few pictures and then jumping back into the cars and speeding off. We decided to describe it as 'extreme sightseeing' and decided we would try it out sometime.
Once we finished eating we sped off south until we got to Aira Force were we decided to stop and look around. This is a National Trust managed site containing an impressive waterfall and ravine.

One of the paths had a sign - Path closed due to fallen tree. Both Fiona and I presumed it was a tree simply blocking the path which they hadn't gotten around to cutting. Fortunately there were alternative routes to the top of the waterfall. One the way back down we passed the site of the fallen tree and understood why the path was closed. The tree was originally below the path and when it fell, presumable due to the heavy rain, it essentially ripped out the base of the path leaving an Indiana Jones style gap with Victorian style iron handrail
It also had a 'wish tree'. This is a fallen tree trunk which visitors have hammered coins into, instead of the usual tossing onto a fountain.

After leaving Aira Force we continued south towards Lake Windermere but the road got progressively  more windy and narrow as it climbed over the Kirkstone Pass.

At one point a side road appeared which Ciaran wanted us to take, though Fiona as driver was adamant we would not. She explained to Ciaran that often dodgy roads are fobbed off to tourists as 'Scenic Route' or 'Coastal Path' but any road which the locals called 'The Struggle' was not something she had any plan to drive.
We did get to try our Extreme Tourism by snapping our pictures from the car as Fiona negotiated the bends.
I think by the end of the day she was getting a bit annoyed by all our snapping but had to admit that Ciaran can take a nice photo, but is more reluctant to smile in them, unless you can sneak up on him.

After driving back to Penrith we stopped in a nice Mexican restaurant for a lovely dinner.

Tree tops

Up early this morning. Again its been wet overnight but isn't actually raining. We have our tree tops activity at 0930 so we have to be there early to get kitted out.I'm looking forward to it. We did something similar with Cubs a few years back which though frightening I know its safe.
When we arrive there is another woman there with her child so once all 5 of us are fitted out in helmets and harness we set off.
Rules are simple. Only 2 people on a platform and only one on a bridge at a time. There were about 10 bridges to cross with platforms between. Our harnesses are attached to an overhead rail.
We let the other 2 people head off first then Ciaran led with Fiona following and me bringing up the rear.

Ciaran and the other 2 scampered off while Fiona and I were taking it more sedately.
All went well until about half way in. The bridge was a single line with another single line about chest height.
Fiona headed across making it look easy.

I then started off. Got about halfway across when my grip started to fade. I figure I was holding on so tightly that I strained the tendons in my forearms. Then the panic kicked in. With no grip if I fell there was no way I would be able to haul myself back up onto the line. I started to tremble which started the line shaking which didn't make it any easier. Apparently I went sheet white. When I tried to lift my leg to step tot he right I was shaking so much that I couldn't get my foot onto the line. That was when I was able to lift my foot.  I don't know how I did it but I managed to continue and make it to the platform where Fiona was still waiting. After that the rest was easy (well easier) but my grip was effectively gone in both hands. Finally made it to the finish and back onto ground where Ciaran was smugly waiting.

I have to say I enjoyed it but I was scared. Even though I knew I couldn't fall ...
Annoying thing was my complete lack of grip for the rest of the day. Couldn't hold my fork at lunch. At three we had a badminton court and I could barely hold the racquet though as the session progressed my grip did get a little better. I did lose the racquet a few times it almost hit Ciaran.
Back for dinner. Ciaran strikes again - chicken curry. Great little chef.
By after dinner drinks my grip was slowly returning so we headed out to the pool where they also have an outdoor pool which is warmer then the indoor one and a rapids pool which is great fun.
Big kids really.

Driving range

Had a bit of an easy day today.
We had planned to go out for breakfast but by the time we (Ciaran, a typical teen) got up and were ready to go there were waiting list at the breakfast/brunch places. Ended up just getting a French stick and heading back to the cottage for lunch.
We then booked some badminton for tomorrow and field archery for Wednesday. We also had a look at the tree trekking which we are doing tomorrow. This in in training for Fiona's 'Go Ape' later this summer - she wants some prior experience to show the others up.

It doesn't look so bad.


We then headed out for a  wander up to the outdoor activity centre. We had hoped to book segways but they were all booked so we couldn't try that but found the gold driving range. Apart from some pitch and putt 25 years ago I have never tried golf. Nor has Ciaran. Fiona had received some lessons but hasn't played in years. After selecting clubs and collecting balls we had Fiona demonstrate.

She is an excellent tutor but in the "do what I say not what I do" mode. Ciaran then had a go and started blasting balls out to the 100 yard marker. I had my turn and apart from them initially going well off to the right I was also hitting 150 yards on most.

Fiona then explained that she had mostly hit her instructor and gave her remaining balls to Ciaran who was blasting them out like a machine gun. Once Ciaran finished his double bucket he was keen enough to go get another bucket.
After dinner, another Ciaran special of pork stir fry, we headed to Christine and Alan for an evening of rummikub. We also found out that it seems every version of that game had a slightly different set of rules.