Secrets aren't safe

Siblings aren't great at keeping secrets from each other. Whether it's their lack of self-awareness (Angus and Rowan) or their bloody-mindedness in getting one up on the others (Finn), they are pretty hopeless. I took Finn and Angus swimming last week after work, to Loanhead, and bought them chips afterwards. "Don't say to anyone you got chips for supper", I cautioned. On our return, in storms Angus. "We got chips!" he immediately bellowed, tomato ketchup smeared across his face and greasy fingers waving in the air. Yesterday, since Sharon was going to a boat club barbecue, taking Sean and Angus, I agreed to Finn's request to go swimming with Rowan. "But don't say anything to your brothers," I warned. Down the stairs stomps Rowan, having fully changed into sun top and trunks. Had he been wearing a snorkel, flippers and a duck-shaped rubber ring, he couldn't have been more obvious! "Why is Rowan wearing his swimming stuff?" queried Angus as I bundled them out the door.

Sharon has enjoyed being back on the water in her few rows so far, although yesterday was rather windy and trying to organise a new crew was testing her patience. Finn also tested her patience on Saturday morning as she took him and Sean on their first 5k, a Park Run along the prom from Crammond. Megan and Freya were running with Gordon, the Barnes being up on a weekend visit. Sean managed his in 36 minutes and didn't stop once, which was a very good effort. Finn was in one of his more negative moods but did eventually complete the course. I met them with the wee two who resumed their swimming lessons on Saturday morning.

The Barnes girls came round on Friday afternoon and evening for a play and dinner, and Megan stayed over, much to the boys' delight. Sean had earlier proclaimed that "people from abroad and other places, like the Barries and the Kavanaghs and the Barnes are our real friends, more than the people from school" which reflects what a good time they've had over the summer, meeting others and playing amongst themselves, rather than seeking out their peers from school. We do tell them they are fortunate to have each other, but sometimes it can stop them making an effort to make friendships with others that they know through school and other activities, so they have to strike a balance.

Heavy showers have been a feature over the last while and Saturday was no different. Late in the afternoon, with Sharon at her Book Group afternoon tea, after the showers had cleared, I made a picnic tea and drove the boys down to Innerleithen, eventually locating the Golf Club by the river. Despite Angus's vocal dissent, we went for a walk up a forest path and down the deserted golf course, spotting some oystercatchers picking their way along the fairway. Dodging the showers, we drove further up the valley and parked by the river on one of the spots evidently used by wild campers. There we sat in a ring and ate our pasta and chicken sticks, in glorious peace and quiet (if Angus and Rowan would ever stop talking), until the dark clouds crept over the hill and the rain threatened once more. We timed it well! It made a nice change going for a picnic tea instead of a picnic lunch and the view north across the Lothians as we descended from the Lammermuirs was spectacular.

As well as completing some very good "kneeling dives" at Wester Hailes pool yesterday, Rowan also made an improvement on his cycling. He has been moaning, in inimitable Rowan, petted-lip fashion, that he doesn't have a talent (for sport) so we were encouraging him that cycling might be that talent. I put new pedals on the old silver bike and started wheeling him round the back grass, eventually giving him a shove to get him going. He did well on several attempts, travelling a good ten yards and braking to avoid collision with the trees or hedge. The next step is to get him out on a wider expanse of grass so he can go further, but he was pleased with his efforts.

King of the Pringles

King of the Pringles might have been an epithet for a top Casual in the 1980s, given that particular brand of hooligan's preference for what was then considered designer gear, but Angus wore the title with ease on Saturday evening as he sat back in his camping chair, a tube of the savoury snacks clutched between his powerful thighs as a mighty paw fed his chomping mouth with regular refills. He was very much lord of all he surveyed, which, by that time, comprised six families and their assorted tents, cars, windbreaks, chairs and other detritus, all in varying states of windblown disrepair (including the families) as the barbecues sizzled, the smoke rose and the sun descended through shower clouds, casting rainbows over the East Neuk.

Our annual camping trip began on the Friday, with Sharon and the boys heading up to Elie after Rowan's eye appointment (he got a slightly stronger prescription, but they think his squint has improved and feel he is less likely to need surgery, as a child at least). I drove car number two, as the list of stuff we require for camping is long and I was thinking of playing golf on the way up. As it happened, I didn't, taking instead a circuitous route through Fife, enjoying the drive while listening to the Ashes cricket on the radio. I arrived at Elie where the boys were happily getting filthy in the sand. Rowan was looking a bit spare, so I headed up with him to Nydie Farm, near Strathkinness, to the campsite.

Nydie afforded little shelter, especially as we, as part of a group booking, had been alloted a pitch at the far end of the field, a long way from anywhere and rather exposed to the freshening wind. This was evident as I tried to erect the 2-man tent and soon found myself with a broken pole. As the others hadn't arrived, I drove into St. Andrews with Rowan for a short wander and dinner at Nando's. It was nice to have time with just him and me. Once back at the site, the others were present and the mass tent pitching began, with all hands required to battle against the breeze. We got our big tent up and elected to use the 2-man tent as a store. With windbreaks encircling the seating area, everyone settled into their fish and chips from Guardbridge as the sun, and wind, dipped. Eventually we got the children off to bed and followed suit, six of us crammed into the 4-man tent.

I slept OK, as did the boys, although the wind picked up in the night and various flappnig flysheets disturbed Sharon and Finn. There was a good shower block (albeit a long hike from the bottom end of the field) of which I made good use, then Sharon fired up the stove and began the production line of bacon and sausage rolls. It was dry and everyone was in fair spirits. Late in the morning we all headed to Craigtoun Park, which has recently had a bit of an overhaul. It was free to get in, with payment only if you made use of the activities.

The men kicked a ball about while the kids played in the playpark and the women sat in the sun. We had our picnic lunch then had a wander. Sharon took Sean, Angus and Rowan out rowing, with Sean having his first taste of being on the water (he's been on the rowing machine two or three times). Sharon was delighted to have her biggest boy pulling on the oars. He did well, managing a half circuit of the pond around the dilapidated Dutch village. After ice-creams, I took Angus and Rowan round the crazy golf (twice), they all had a good bounce on the bouncy castle, Rowan and Angus played on the tractors and then we headed back to the camp.

Disaster! In our absence, the wind had picked up (Craigtoun was relatively sheltered by the trees and so we hadn't really noticed) and on arrival back at Nydie we were greeted by a number of damaged tents. Ours had to be taken down and two of the poles repaired in makeshit fashion with the help of spare sections from the camp owner, gaffer tape and patience, with Charlie Barr especially helpful. Eventually we got the poles in a working state and re-pitched the tent.

To the Barrs, McLeods and Valentines, we had added Vincent Hanlon and and Trevor Power and their families earlier in the day. A big game of rounders was organised as dark shower clounds threatened (and occasionally struck) and a double rainbow spanned the East Neuk. The barbecues and fire-pit were lit too and soon everyone was tucking into burgers and sausages and all manner of unhealthy food options. It wasn't a weekend for a balanced diet!

Whereas the night before had cleared to reveal a sparkling starry sky above, Saturday remained cloudy as we sat on into the night, getting ever closer to the fire once we had got the children to bed. We had a good laugh and eventually crept into the tents after midnight. Sleeping in a camp bed this time, Sharon slept more soundly, and the tent lasted the night with its running repairs. On Sunday we cleaned out the last of the food and started to pack up, but there was more damage done to the poles as we struck the tent. Finn, unfortunately, was sick a couple of times, so, once we were all packed, Sharon headed straight home with him and the wee two while Sean and I drove into St. Andrews.

We had a lovely stroll round the town, from the Kinness Burn through St. Mary's Quad, up to the Cathedral, by the Castle and back to South Street for baked potatoes in a cafe called Zest. It was great to have a chat with Sean about stuff, with him showing an interest in my past. The town looked well too, with the final day of the Women's British Open being played out on the Old Course. We drove back down later in the afternoon, with me then repacking all the tent gear under the quieter conditions of Swanston Terrace, in preparation for out next trip, whenever that may be. We really enjoyed it this time, despite the hiccups. It was a good team-building exercise for Family Wallace!

Big week for Sean

We are very proud of Sean. Today we drove down the A7 a short distance and, after a brief picnic with the wee three, we made our way down the winding road past Borthwick Castle to the scout camp tucked in a dale. As we drove in to the field, there was Sean looking taller and older, standing by the dying campfire with a long stick, flicking cans out of the ashes. In his green wellies and green cub top he looked as grown up as we have seen him, and handsome too, as he greeted us with a big smile.

Sean, and a few of his other cub buddies, had the chance to join the Scout camp this weekend. He hummed and hawed a little but we're delighted he took up the chance. It was cold and damp when I dropped him off on the Friday evening and they had to pitch tents (no bunks this time), finishing in the dark. Beyond that he seems to have had a great time, between activities and inspections and cooking and tidying up. He was close to nodding off as we returned home in the car after the closing ceremony. Rowan is desperate to get to Beavers and emulate his older brothers.

Earlier in the week, Sean also saw the culmination of his enterprise project which has consumed his attention for a few weeks. Along with two others, the plan was to make and sell key-rings using Hama beads to design a variety of fobs. They each got £5 from the parents' council, provided their presented plan passed muster (which it did) and had to use the capital to buy what was required and undertake their activity to try to make a profit. Their class organised a craft fair on Wednesday and had all the other classes visiting. The key-rings were a big hit, in fact the three boys made £100 profit, easily the biggest contributor to the £300 the class made. There's definitely an entrepreneurial gene in Sean - from his mother's side!

Cub Camp

Despite the prolonged bitterly cold spell, with flurries of snow stinging into our faces on a sharp easterly wind every time we leave the house, Sean and Finn were looking forward to cub camp up at Bonaly. For the last two weeks they have been at the planning stage, drawing up a list of what they needed to pack, looking out all their kit days ahead of schedule and checking online for "cheap sweets in Edinburgh" (Sean) to supplement their tuck boxes.

It has been especially pleasing to see Finn taking up the challenge after his aborted stay at Group camp in Fordell Firs last spring. He couldn't decide whether or not to go to camp this time, being the youngest of the 18 selected, but we asked him to consider the pros and cons and Sean was very good at selling the idea to him so he committed to go, partly because he didn't want to tell Simon, the leader, that he wasn't going. So, last Friday, after school broke up and Sean and Finn completed their skiing for the term, they packed up and headed up to bitter Bonaly as dusk fell. Rowan and Angus had a good look round too. Rowan would have been in the bunkhouse like a shot. The big two took their leave of us with nary a backward glance, reminiscent of first days at school and nursery.

Sharon was "away" for the weekend, holidaying in Edinburgh with Ruth and Susan who had flown in for their annual reunion. They were staying in an apartment in Jamaica St. Sharon was thinking a lot about Finn and how we was getting on. I was mildly concerned, when he said he was going to go, that I might get a late call asking to pick him up because he didn't want to stay, but once I saw him go in I wasn't worried. He was much less bothered than last year, plus, at Bonaly, the cubs were staying in the bunkhouse rather than under canvas. Even when he was split up from Sean and sharing a room with other cubs, he took it all in his stride. Inevitably they were up late both nights and were tired when we picked them up on the Sunday afternoon (Sean had lost his glasses and seemed more weary than Finn) but they had a great time doing various craft activities, sledging and playing a nocturnal wide game on the Friday.

It was good to see Finn confident in a new situation and credit must go to Sean, as the big brother, for generating the excitement and fostering that confidence.

Camping contrasts

As term ends there are many activities for the boys to take part in. Sean was looking forward to the Group Camp across in Fife, at Fordell Firs, for some time. Finn, on the other hand, had taken some persuading to sign up and was still apprehensive as I drove him across the bridge on the Saturday afternoon. It wasn't helped by the fact that he was a bit late, as a result of us having mixed up the times. Consequently, the beaver troop was already assembled and tent spaces had been allocated so Finn didn't get the place he wanted. I could tell he wasn't happy. He joined in the activities readily enough and I left him to it.

I passed a few words with Sean, who had arrived on the Friday evening and was tired, dirty and loving it! He was on his way to do some caving and had been having a great time with his pals. He hadn't got to sleep until some ungodly hour of the morning but didn't seem to care.

Predictably, once I was back in Edinburgh and had fed the wee two their dinner, I got a call to say Finn wasn't settling and was quite adamant he wanted to come home. So, back in the car and across the bridge to pick up Finn who wasn't upset at all, just quite clear he didn't want to spend the night in a sleeping bag in the corner of a tent inside a bigger marquee in a muddy field. I can't say I blamed him. At his age, I doubt I would have fancied it either and Finn is generally a bit of a homebird who likes to have his family and familiar comforts around him. Sharon was out for Anne Marie's birthday, at Castle Terrace restaurant, our new favourite haunt it seems, so I had to collect Finn with Angus and Rowan in their jammies, the former falling asleep and fortunately transferring to bed on our return.

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On the Sunday it was back across once more, this time to pick up Sean. He was sick the night before (apparently the "spaghetti with mince" was as appetising as it sounds) but was still running around and participating in the Highland Games that were on. Eventually we gather together his muddy gear and returned home. Not surprisingly, he was a little bit tired!

Audi sold

Another must-do for this summer is to go camping with the boys. I dug out my old two-man tent to see if that was still serviceable. It is, but memory serves me that it had a leak somewhere, which could do with being fixed given the long range forecast for this summer. I bought a two-ring cooker and some cookware and a windbreak, so I've gradually compiled most of the gear. I now need to bite the bullet and get out there! I did manage to leave my credit card in Go Outdoors after this purchase,and it was several days before I realised and then was able to track it down. Minor panic with the trip to London and Dubai looming.

Sharon has been back doing some running, testing out the repaired foot. She managed to get round Arthur's Seat this week but the "good" foot is now giving her some pain. As the surgeon said, he doesn't have the experience of his patients asking about running after their operations, with them generally being about twenty years older than Sharon.

We've put on a couple of dinners recently, with the St.Johns round and then Ruth and Norman Martin, Anne-Marie and Hannah on another occasion. May often seems to be our time for entertaining, especially in the run-up to the Pampered Chef incentive trip. Sharon's excitement is mounting as the days go by and the outfits are considered and discussed (not, generally, with me).

I had some rare time alone with Rowan while his bigger brothers were at their golf and Angus was with Sharon. We went down to Ocean Terminal, where unfortunately the soft play has closed and the juggling ball has gone! This was a ball stuck on a pillar outside the windows - someone must have removed it. Rowan and I had lunch at the handmade burger co., overlooking a submarine in the dock. It was nice just to get him on his own for once and interact with him. Too often his head is buried in his Nintendo DS or he is distracted by his brothers for him to talk any sense to you.

I sold my Audi Avant on e-bay for its reserve price of £500 to a chap from North Edinburgh. Subsequent to making the purchase he mumped and moaned about me not having truthfully represented the car's condition but he had the opportunity to look the car over before handing over the cash, so, galling as it is to be traduced somewhat, it was sold as seen. And if it hadn't developed the oil leak I'd have preferred to keep it as it was a better drive than the Mazda 6, albeit with a more thirsty engine.

I had a quick repeat visit to the Michelin-starred Castle Terrace restaurant for a "Big Data" dinner hosted by Oracle, with some of my peers from Edinburgh organisations. It was quite an interesting evening with good food to boot!

Cub camp

Sean set out on his first cub camp on Friday evening, up to Bonaly with 17 of his peers from the South Morningside troop. He seems to enjoy the cubs and has been really looking forward to the camp. In the event, he was in a room with five of his class-mates from school. They were staying in a lodge rather than in tents. Needless to stay they were up very late, past midnight on the Friday and just before it on the Saturday. He had a great time. They had Olympic-themed teams and tasks, inspections and cooking and tidying up and he just loved it. Sharon and Angus went to collect him on the Sunday and Sharon said they sat down by a stream and the normally taciturn Sean ("How was blah?" "Fine") went into overload, describing what he had done. I've yet to persuade him to write it all down here for posterity.

Sharon had her own thrills on Saturday when, on the last leg of her road trip up the M74 to Glasgow, the drive shaft sheared while she was in the outside lane. With Lilias in the car, Sharon calmly navigated across three lanes of traffic and a joining slip, with only the car's existing momentum to get her to safety. Fortunately she made it without mishap. The AA were called and towed her to a Halfords garage in Glasgow, near Hampden. No chance of getting it fixed so she had to make it to her night out in Glasgow and home on the Sunday by train. It meant she was able to take Angus on "a big 'venture" on Tuesday, getting the bus into town and the train through to Glasgow, then another bus. He was a star man throughout, tiring in Glasgow (the finger goes in the mouth), but perking up at a MacDonalds (the first Wallace child to venture over the threshold of such an establishment) and a soft play. Irritatingly the car was not fixed, the actual source of the problem being a part attached to the drive shaft. Sharon demanded a courtesy car and drove home to cram all the boys in it and take them to swimming. She returned to Glasgow today to pick up the Sharan, £675 lighter.

I was up at Bonaly on Monday with Finn and Rowan for the Beavers' sausage sizzle. It was a balmy evening. There was a scavenger hunt which turned into a Rowan hunt (easily distracted, as ever, he disappeared off to do something he found more interesting) then we sizzled our sausages and sang songs round the campfire. It was good to see Finn join in the singing this year rather than sit with his thumb in and Rowan certainly enjoyed himself. He'll be heading to Beavers in the autumn.

Not surprisingly, Sean has been rather grumpy this week. Add the clocks going forward to his lack of beauty sleep at Cub Camp and you can see why!

Mortonhall madness

Sean started longer golf lessons at Swanston Golf Club on Saturday morning. The lessons are two hours long and feature a bit more than just hitting balls. I hope the boys do take up something like golf so that I can play with them in my dotage. Who will be the first to beat me? Finn has a decent, slow natural swing which could be coached (if Finn took to coaching) whereas Sean tries to hit the ball too hard at the moment which is literally very hit and miss.

It was Ross's special sleepover birthday party on Saturday evening at Mortonhall Caravan and Camp site. The Pattersons took their caravan there and booked the Wigwam cabins for 7 boys (and Phoebe) and their dads. Wendy laid on food throughout the day. We had a treasure hunt round the campsite then played rounders and football up at the top end. I think the dads were enjoying the sports more than the children! After dinner the wine appeared, marshmallows were toasted and eventually, long after it got dark, the children were put to their beds, not helped by Charlie scaring them at their window. Before too much wine was consumed, the adults headed for bed too, although there were a few sorry heads early next morning, only partly assuaged by the bacon and sausage rolls.

The weather held fair, otherwise it could have been a bit of a damp squib, and everyone seemed to enjoy the event. It's the first time I've gone on holiday about a mile from my house!

Later that day I took all the boys to Saughton Park. The wind was a bit chilly but the flowers looked great as they always do at this time in the winter gardens. In the evening the boys had a fine time playing in the garden. It's good to see them outdoors having fun instead of stuck round the DS, heads down, oblivious to anything non-digital.

Sausage sizzle

I never had the pleasure of attending a sausage sizzle in my childhood. I recall Lesley going on one up the Braes but it was an exotic event beyond my ken. Not so any more! I took Finn and Sean up to the Beavers' sausage sizzle at Bonaly this week. It was Finn's event but Sean tagged along too. There was a treasure hunt to collect the letters E-A-S-T-E-R and then a bit of reheating sausages by the various fires that were on the go. We finished off with a sing-song round the campfire. Finn, as usual, preferred to be on the edge of things and not really joining in but I got him and Sean involved by the end.

It was the swimming lessons fun day this week, the last lesson of the term. Rowan hasn't really progressed at all and the other two are "treading water" rather than advancing so we'll see what next term brings. Angus can be a handful during lessons so Sharon just stripped him down this week and threw him in the shower. Needless to say, by the time he was due for bed he had worked up a fair old sweat once more. Him and Rowan just love running about daft chasing each other right before bedtime - definitely a case of second wind after dinner.

After a few weeks deliberating I finally bought a four man tent from Halfords. No doubt I'll spend more time deliberating over when and where I should actually take the boys camping. It'll have to be Sean and Finn first off: the thought of Rowan waking at 4am in a tent and having to subdue him before he wakens up the whole campsite doesn't bear thinking about.

45 today

45 today! For the first time I can recall, or certainly since having children, I'm having to share my birthday with Mothers' Day! It's not quite as bad as Christmas Day but my star has been eclipsed somewhat! 45 isn't good. I'm starting to creak. 50 suddenly seems too close for comfort. The boys are getting bigger, heavier and quicker. When will the inversion point be? When will they be better than me at the things I'm currently better at than them?

I got a couple of books and some chocolates and tickets to see Bill Bailey in November. And new slippers. And I welcomed the new slippers.

In our effort to get the boys more active, we took them and their many bikes and helmets to Braidburn Valley Park. Sean was doing reasonably well and is growing into the bike that was too big for him last year. Finn was very close to cycling properly but unwilling to persevere beyond a few bumps. Rowan was in one of his woe and torment moods, wailing uncontrollably at every slight mishap. Given his usual heedless approach to physical activity, his reluctance to try cycling is baffling. Angus was just content to be plunked on anything that could move and be pushed about, but keeping him steady is back-breaking work.

In the afternoon we headed to Go Outdoors, a massive new outdoors shop in the north of Edinburgh, by Granton. Sean and I went in to try out a few tents, as the rest had fallen asleep in the car (tiredness may have accounted for the cycling histronics in the morning). It was the kind of shop that you could have spent a day in before emerging with things you really don't need so it was just as well Sharon came in to get us as we were about to leave. From there we went to Ocean Terminal. The boys checked that the juggling ball was still there - "juggling ball at Ocean Terminal" sung to the same tune as "Istanbul not Constantinople" is a feature of any Ocean Terminal visit. There is a juggling ball visible from the windows overlooking the Royal Yacht, trapped on a ledge edged with anti-seagull prings and so unlikely to be removed any time soon. It's been there at least 15 months.

After some ice-cream and light shopping (Sharon had her eye on a jacket in Ness) we returned home. I didn't even get a birthday cake, although the boys did sing happy birthday to me in the morning. Angus attempted to reprise it a number of times thereafter.

I enjoyed a bike ride in the evening though, through the fields of the Mortonhall Estate, up Alnwickhill Rd, back across Stanedykehead and through to Braid Road via some hairy (for me) forest tracks. Fortunately I didn't come a cropper but the odd tree root nearly did for me!