Cute and mischievous in equal measure.

Today we loved and adored our new addition some more, and welcomed home our intrepid explorer - it seems Romania is still standing!

And into work I went, with careless disregard for my own personal wellbeing, I ventured into my place of employment during a proper, actual, real life holiday. Psychiatric referral can’t be far away…

I think the weather is having trouble recognising the knife edge on which my exercise regime balances!

It’s much easier to stay dry at home and play with the family and dogs, than to travel by foot or bike in the pouring rain!

And in to work tomorrow, so that’s a great excuse. Er, reason. Er, I really don’t have this sorted yet do I? The mental attitude, that is!

On holiday and still never managed to blip this yesterday. Playing catch up…

Young Maisie, in her ninth week, is angelic and demonic in equal measure… Her cute run, gorgeous grizzle coat, and diminutive stature lead you into a false sense of security… When she asks to get out to wee, or sits adorably to be fed, you are tempted to thing she is the perfect pup… But…

Dog and human alike are under constant threat of ninja style attack, and her razor-sharp teeth! Her preferred targets being noses and ears, with a backup of feet or just plain anything smaller than a whale that she can get her canine canines sunk into!

She’s gorgeous! :)

Another day another cycle!

I used to pedal daily, and would think little of trundling along 50 or more miles of country tarmac for a jaunt - not particularly quickly I might add.

Every now and then I try to resurrect the old cycling spirit, and today continued this year’s attempt!

The views are nice!

Today was spent avoiding sunshine, family, and puppy in the name of work. The bills need to be paid.

This blip signifies my return journey. My crossing from monochrome work, seeking the colour of play. The journey was hindered by burning trucks (well truck (singular)) and jaunty angles but I made it home!

Out on the bike today. This capture was taken at the halfway point (more or less). I like the combination of straight lines and fluffy clouds.

Okay, so I only rode 20k or so, and now various parts of my anatomy have formed a coalition in rebellion at my actions, but it was oddly satisfying being out on the road again.

I just need to keep it up!

And the other halfway point of the day is in getting to my 365 blip anniversary. Metaphorically all downhill from here on in…

When an anniversary approaches, and your wife is brooding over her eldest daughter leaving home…

You know it’s time to get a puppy!

This has to be the cutest way to start a holiday. Especially when the wee madam is feisty enough to stand off two stunned greyhounds! :)

We warmly welcome eight week old Maisie to the family.

I drove home from work, holiday begun, sun shining, and clear blue skies! Does it get better?

But this is Scotland. So to the left of me was heavy cloud and distant rain. To right of me grey sheets of rain in the distance. And yet above me, sunshine.

Arriving home, a little drizzle would have distressed a resident of another nation. Although I generally consider myself a citizen of the world, when it comes to weather I am extremely patriotic! I love it!

Bring on the (changeable) Summer!

Tomorrow ends another year, and starts another holiday. Time to reflect? Today? No time to reflect!

In fact next year starts next week anyway, so much to sort out… but at least it’s at my pace!

If the Summer continues in this vein, I will be happy… sunshine and thunderstorms… perfect!

Blue skies!

Dog walking is a great pastime on any day, but a peaceful summer evening with the hounds is a lovely way to end the day.

I am sure that enjoying it too much will be as powerful as a rain dance for tomorrow’s weather - but you gotta love it while you can!

In the absence of a feline subject, I tend to revert to pointless close-up. Sorry.

Today was fraught with fights unfought and battles deferred. The world above me unwilling to budge when pushed. It’s quite claustrophobic.

Youngest hid in her room tonight (again, teenagers huh?). Middle is now safely in Romania. And eldest came to visit us!

How very peculiar entertaining your ‘child’ as a visitor!

PS: the unexpected visit is my excuse for the cat blip!

Sunrise.

Just packed our adventurous girl off to Romania. All prepared! Passport, tomato ketchup, and pants with days of the week on them!

And now I can sleep, yes?

So our youngest bursts into the bedroom this morning, 8.30 is not normally a problem but sleep depravation and liquid consumption induced dehydration are factors, and she enquires in her loudest, most teenage manner…

“Have you seen my iPod?”

!@#%¥?*!

Ain’t she cute?

/sigh

That and too much looking at scrawny handwriting today results in double vision!

Extra strength Belgian beer and Isle of Jura single malt. Strewth!

Inside outside BBQ stay at home Glastonbury festival back garden experience tonight!

Screamadelica!

Out of Control!

And walk home to Bob Dylan. Kerching!

Light guide me home!

Today old charges came a-visiting. It’s great to hear how those who have flown the coop are getting on. So much better to hear they are doing great!

I wish the same for all that I have known and shall know. Even the odd loony cow-orker from the past that doesn’t even deserve it! May they never fall foul of life in their pursuit of happiness.

Oddly juxtaposed text for a weird stalker-like pic, but that kinda sums up my day! Weird that is, not stalker-like…

Okay, I’ll get my coat…

When I was at school, school shows were dire things. Stutters and clumsy gestures, lack of projection or extreme and uncontrolled over acting, and that uneasy sense of pity mixed with despair.

It all changes as a parent, when the show becomes an uneasy moment of pride clashing with previous experiences.

And tonight. Yet another amazing school production which, quick honestly, has professional quality performances on a regular basis. I am astounded. Again. And proud. And vaguely disappointed that my own school settled for so much less. Or I did.

Photo comment: usually I would not post something quite so processed, but I thought it pretty and therefore it’s in! :)

My kids love me so!

So much in fact that they were late with recognition of that artificial celebration of fatherhood on Sunday, but still keen to mark it… with things to make me fat… and a beautifully crafted homemade “one day late” card!

And in keeping with the spirit of the whole, crazy laugh-fest, I was presented with it (or rather given instructions as to how I might find it) one day late!

It makes me smile deep down inside that my kids do meta-humour with such panache! :)

The rain fell no more. And the games could commence. The battles of Saturday’s cancelled Sports Day were played out today on the field of dreams in bonnie Dundee! And the spectacle was worth the afternoon as ever.

From the egg and spoon and sack races to the javelin, 1500m, and 4x100m relays there was something for everyone to endure, excel, or be entertained!

Addendum:

I took almost 300 pictures this afternoon, it’s great fun having captive subjects! I just wish I had the time tonight to actually look through them… Another night perhaps.

My only problem is… I never used my iPhone for the image. I feel I have cheated a little. My plan was a year of iPhone photography. Proving the point to myself and all that stuff. Seems I could only manage 170 pictures… but I should be back to normal tomorrow.

If us humans dream of that dog’s life. Then dogs surely must have their own dreams…

And what else could they dream of than a greyhound’s life? They take carefree to new heights, vertigo-enducingly so.

Today I snapped our Pi in a rare moment of focussed excitement. Note the single disapproving eye almost opening to see what I am up to, and the coiled spring posture?

Normally she is much more relaxed than this…

Lovely weather for it.

Nice to have a peaceful family day instead of the excitement of competition. Visiting relatives, ferrying children, and relaxation replace it. And now a movie and a beer!

Some days it’s nice when it rains!