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.

Bushmills and beyond

We've arrived in Bushmills after a pleasantly unremarkable two and a half hour drive to the Cairnryan ferry terminal this morning. The 1130 ferry time meant we were able to rise around 0630, breakfast, finish packing and get on the road at 0815 without the usual panic and rush and early start that accompanied our previous journeys to Stranraer for the 0930 crossing.

On arrival in Belfast we headed north for a change, through the showers to Bushmills, on the doorstep of the Giant's Causeway. We are staying at Aunt Rachel's cottages in a nice little stable / byre conversion about a mile out of Bushmills. The boys settled in quickly, had a wander round the farm (Angus was asking the ponies their names, but they weren't talking) then Sharon and Sean went for a run. Sharon is trying to capitalise on Sean's competitive instincts and the fact that he seemed quite pleased with himself after last week's "Race At Your Place" at the school, at which he and Finn ran the 1.5km course without stopping. Sharon accompanied Rowan round the course with just one or two stops. Tonight, Sean and Sharon ran for 28 minutes and managed about two and a half miles, which was a good effort, with Sean leading the way for the second part of the run.

We then went to the Smugglers Inn where Sean and Finn surpassed themselves, putting away ribs for starter (Sean was even seen to eat his salad, without coercion) followed by a burger and chips. Rowan and Angus tucked away their mains with little fuss too, so we went to a local playpark to burn off some energy.

After the usual carry-on trying to get them to settle in their new beds we've had time for a quiet hour or so. Time for bed, as I suspect, tired or not, they'll be up with the lark (or the farm animals, more to the point) tomorrow morning.

Finn Run

Predictably the good weather couldn't last and the 1st October saw a return to autumn mists and rains. It was fairly mild in the morning and I got it mostly dry up in Perth, where I had headed in the company of Scott, Steve, who was over on a flying visit from Canada, and John Porter, a Fife education pal of Scott's. We had a good round on the North Inch municipal course, despite its rather soft condition and a very poor start. Steve and I won a close match by 1 hole, with me finishing off with putts of 15 feet, 20 feet (for a birdie 3) and a testy 6 footer on the last to secure the match. My driving was much better with some good straight belts, especially on the daunting 15th which had the River Tay for company all the way down the left side of the fairway.

As we left Perth the rain came on. John departed but the three of us set out on the road for Aviemore, where we were due to play the relatively new Spey Valley course in the afternoon. The rain got heavier as we reminisced on the road up until it was battering down so hard we were almost soaked getting from the car to the boot to the clubhouse. Course closed! A two hour drive for nought. We went into the adjoining hotel for some lunch, a bit of trivia on the machine then the long drive back again. The rain abated, but only very slightly, and a fog to boot meant early bad light so there was no way we could have got a round in there or elsewhere. Still, at least we had a good chat on the drive up and sown the A9.

On Sunday the rain was still tipping down. Sharon had called off her attempt to run the BUPA run in Edinburgh in the morning due to still recovering from her knee and hip problems, but she was determined to run with Finn in the afternoon Mini Run. And she was very glad she did. The rain went off and her and Finn joined hundreds of others at the start in Holyrood Park. I followed on with the remaining boys in support and we saw a beaming mother and child on several occasions as they made their way round the 1.5km course up Queens Drive and back via Holyrood and the Scottish Parliament. Finn did really well, didn't stop at all and was very pleased with himself. Sharon said it was wonderful, running in amongst all the children and parents. Finn duly got his medal and goodie-bag. Well done, the Finn Runner!

Dunbar sun

Sharon was preparing for her "Grand a Month" dinner yesterday so I elected to take the boys out to Dunbar for the day. For once this summer the sun was shining so we took the beach stuff and parked by the beach next to Back Road. The tide was coming in so the bridge in the middle of the channel, and some people on the far side, quickly became isolated, much to the boys' amusement. We dug and paddled and had our snack and only Angus was a casualty, toppling the deckchair as he climbed on it, ending up with a faceful of snotty sand.

Getting everyone cleaned up wasn't as arduous as usual and, cones in hand, we wandered a little along the John Muir Way, the boys in their perpetual game of "Harry Potter" with spells being issued and repelled through their magic wands (any sticks they could find).

We wandered in to the Belhaven Bay campsite to see how it looked. There were some tents and it all seemed very pleasant in the afternoon sun. I still haven't taken the boys camping as I vowed to do this year and time is running out. Next weekend is the plan. As it was such a nice evening I decided to prolong the trip and sought the Tesco in Haddington to buy us a picnic tea. A long time and several circuits of Haddington later, I finally found the Tesco. Angus was by now in a terrible mood, having fallen asleep. However, we got some nosh (no hot chicken though!) and drove on to Gifford where the boys had a great run about in the playpark after their tea. It was a glorious evening, despite Rowan's wails as we finally headed for home.

Sharon did a fine leg of lamb for the dinner, with Jill, Rachael, Hannah and Alex all present, the latter giving us all a good laugh with some of his stories. Sharon and Hannah went for a run in the morning while I cleared up. They're going to be running in the Great North Run in September so time for more training for Sharon!

Keep on running

Well done to my running wife! Sharon has been really getting into her running recently and today took on the Edinburgh half-marathon on an unseasonably warm April Sunday. The race began at Meadowbank and made its way eastwards to finish at Musselburgh racecourse. Fortunately she didn't have to go over the jumps! I made my way out to Musselburgh with her four wee supporters. Parking was tricky due tot he closed roads and we had to walk a fair bit to get in position. Eventually Sharon made it down the final straight, a big grin on her face when she saw her boys 200 yards from the finish.

Turned out she should have already finished as a steward had moved a cone at the 12 mile mark which effectively extended the race. Still, she made it and was rightly very pleased with herself as she had been a bit concerned in the morning before the race. We walked back to the car and took her home for a well-earned rest.

Yesterday we had a visit from the Shaws. It was great to see Alana and Iain and the boys though their three and our four meant there was little chance of a quiet sit down and chat. Sharon did some baking which went down well. I erected the new tent, mostly to prove all the bits were there and I could do it with minimal assistance from Sean and Finn who are not renowned at focusing on the task at hand. The good weather continued, perhaps giving a false sense that camping would be a doddle!