Warm toes and tummy

It was my birthday on monday, a great spent walking on the beach in the sunshine and then home to a cup of tea and a big slice of birthday cake (with coffee cream icing, yummy!) made by my wonderful mother.

With my birthday pennies I will be treating myself to these little beauties to keep my toes cosy in my wellies. My parents gave me a slow cooker (and recipe book!) and I'm now looking forward to a winter of coming home on cold dark evenings to a proper hot meal waiting for me! Thank you Mum and Dad x

P.S. If any one has any good slow cooker recipes I would be pleased to get them.

Image from toast.co.uk

Can it really be 2 months since I last posted?

Yes, apparently it can and very much is.

The lack of internet in my new (or should that be current) home and the craziness of work over the summer season has lead me to not only be unable to post but barely able to follow any of the blogs that sustained me through my dull NYC job!

A crazy and wonderful summer it has been back here in Scotland and working in the rafting industry again. It is now drawing to a close again and many of my friends are disappearing off on exciting winter adventures; rafting in Nepal and Morocco, canyoning in Washington, skiing in Alps. And the sun worshippers well they are off to rafting jobs in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

As for me and a few other hardy soles we are toughing out the Aberfeldy winter. A winter which will most likely to be cold and wet, with less faces to make us a smile on dreich days. I have a new job lined up for the winter, and a new contract for my current one to start back in January and with this news today, I feel pretty lucky.

I'm on the look-out for a new home to call my own, well I say my own but it will be rented. I really like where I am currently but it's my friend's place, full of his things. I feel some need to nest, although I'm very much neither pregnant or newly married (and very far from being either!). I want a home to place my stamp on. I already have a picture in my mind of one corner of a sitting room; an old winged armchair in battered leather, a standard lamp behind, illuminating a wall of photos..... one day.....!

But for now who won't want one of these on their doorstep?

Woohoo!!

Expedia have finally refunded me!! My credit card is now sitting in credit....weird!! It's only taken since the middle of March but they have accepted they screwed up and I have all my pennies back.... well kind of. The exchange rate has changed and I'm actually still about 200 british pounds out but most of it is back so I'm a happy bunny.
After far too many expensive calls to the US and quite a few letters and emails, I finally spoke to an intelligent girl who sorted it all and withing 24 hours my refund had been processed.

Note to Expedia - employ more girls like Terrilyn, she's is awesome and almost made me rethink my vow never to use you again....almost!

Pigtails

Well I am doing my best to keep up on reading all the lovely blogs that sustained me through the 8 hours a day at my New York job. I was delighted to spot this post on A Cup of Jo.


While my new job keeps me busy at my desk every day or out taking photos like this and this I do get to spend some time on the water and then pigtails (or braids!) really are the only option for my wayward locks. I'm tapping away at the moment with the hair still in damp pigtails!

All images by me, River Tummel, Perthshire, Scotland 12.06.09

Flowergirls make the best dance partners!

My friend looked so so beautiful, the groom cried when he saw her come down the aisle, and I danced all night with the 2 great little flowergirls. It's official, bouncing up and down while holding hands is the dance move of the season!

New Chapter

In the last week I have moved to the wee town of Aberfeldy in Perthshire and started a new job with these guys. (The website content needs some work but I'm hoping that I can attack that soon.) All is going well, although I'm currently like the Princess and Pea, sleeping on a pile of 3 mattresses in my mates kit room. Yes, kit room, I sleep amongst kayak and climbing gear with ice axes not far from my head...and I'm perfectly happy. Obviously it is a bit of a change from the bright lights of New York but I'm enjoying this slower pace of life and the very chilled out office work in.
I used to work up here so it is good to be back amongst friends and I'm looking forward to a summer of sunshine & sunburn, BBQs & beers, and going to work in shorts and flips flops...sweet!

Slap on the wrist

I've been a very lazy blogger recently, not even spending time reading the ones that kept me going through my dull job! I've got a good excuse though I promise...I'm a busy unemployed bum, honest....well ok then, not really. The benefit of the great weather we have been having though is that I've been keeping (and even increasing) my tan while doing LOTS in the garden at my parents.

I have the next installment of my Baja adventure started and I will get it finished soon. Tomorrow I'm meeting a Mountbatten buddy in Edinburgh for the day before heading to Glasgow in the evening to attend this. I love pipes and drums so that combined with seeing a 'New York' friend means I'm rather excited about my tuesday.

I have a job interview on wednesday, not for a real grown-up job, just a summer job, but right now I'm keen just to be busy again and I'm not having any luck with 'real' jobs yet, boo :-(

Blosson on the damson tree, Kilgrammie Cottage, Sunday 19th April