Validation day again

I totally forgot to blog about my validation walk last Wednesday. As readers may know, I have been qualified as a Basic Expedition Leader since 2006, and am required by my council to be validated each year to check that my navigation skills and fitness are up to date. For various reasons I missed the recent validation days and arranged with Max that I could do mine on a Leaders' Walk that he had arranged for a group last week. However instead of doing it himself, he arranged that the validation would be done by another outdoors leader. I was rather dismayed because this particular leader has a rather serious style that makes me feel nervous and reduces me to a babbling fool. I hoped that he might observe me while we all walked together, but oh no - "Susan, you're coming with me!" he said relentlessly. Separated from the group like an impala being singled out by a lion in the Serengeti, I had nowhere to hide. I felt under pressure as I navigated along, answering questions about the route and using map and compass to pinpoint exactly where we were at all times. I managed fairly well although I was a bit rusty on how to take a "back bearing" and promised that I would practise this. The leader asked me to identify a tree and I correctly said that it was a rowan tree. He then asked me what the fruit was called. "Berries?" I hazarded. "No, pastilles," he replied, deadpan. "They are rowan tree fruit - pastilles!*" I was completely thrown by this unexpected display of humour! I'm glad to say that I passed my validation and actually found it to be quite enjoyable. *Rowntree Fruit Pastilles! Ha ha! 

Helpful

It has been a leisurely and pleasant Sunday. James and I went into town in the morning to choose a new duvet cover because our pale blue set (or according to James, pale green set - we cannot agree) has finally started to disintegrate after many years. We chose a rather attractive duck egg blue set, with broad stripes of the same colour but a slightly different texture, a bit like the stripes on a mowed lawn. We also looked at couches and light fittings for the new front room. 

We then met Heather and Ewan for a very pleasant lunch at Prezzo's, they were telling us about their recent ski holiday in St Johann which sounded great. 

When we got home Ally was putting up shelves in my "Susan room" and had done a few other useful things around the house. I knew exactly where this was coming from; Ally and I had an initially trivial falling out a couple of days ago, but neither of us would back down and we have been a bit grumpy with each other since. As James explained to me years ago, Ally hates to revisit things that have gone wrong; instead he prefers to make things right by helping you out with something new. Once James pointed this out to me it helped me to understand how Ally deals with things. And indeed he was very helpful, and we had a nice chat and are now back on good terms I'm glad to say. I love him so much.

Weekly round up

So it has been a busy old week but the signs of spring continue apace so I'm in a good mood. Jamie sent us some amazing photos of himself in a helicopter when he was on the way to treat an unwell baby who had just been born in a remote area and needed urgent treatment. After he stabilised the baby they were flown back to the hospital. What an amazing (and scary!) job he has! 

I had a couple of really nice evenings with friends during the week. It was great to meet up with Jennifer G for an Italian meal on Tuesday and we had lots to catch up on. I really miss working with her. And I also miss working with Jackie, with whom I met up on Thursday, when she made me a delicious dinner. They are both amazing, wonderful friends. 

On the theme of friends, I had lunch with my school friends today - there were four of us; Helen, Libby and me, and Libby's son Euan. He is all grown up now and seemed very patient with all of our girl chat! Zizzi's has wheelchair access at the side so after lunch we exited that way and Helen and I accompanied Libby and Euan back to the Buchanan Galleries. After a quick browse I headed home. There wasn't anything that we fancied seeing at the cinema, so James, Ally and I watched a reasonably good thriller on television; Ben Affleck's "The Accountant." 

Bag Pack

After a relaxing breakfast in bed this morning, of pains au chocolat and coffee, I set off to supervise a bag packing session at a large nearby supermarket. The purpose of this was to raise money to buy Duke of Edinburgh equipment. There were only two of us to supervise a changing rota of pupils so we both needed to be there for the full five hours. The supermarket was one of the first ones in our area which opened for twenty-four hours a day. Although it has been refurbished recently, I have vivid memories of going there in the middle of the night on frequent occasions about ten years or so ago, when my Mum had been rushed to hospital. Often I would be told to go away for an hour while the doctors were attending to her at the Victoria Infirmary, and since this wasn't enough time to go home and return, I would while away the hour browsing around the supermarket at about 2 a.m. It was just me, people stacking shelves, and a few other lost souls wandering around. Strangely enough these memories are not upsetting for me; in fact I found the supermarket oddly comforting during the wee sma' hours! 

The bag packing went extremely well; we raised £937 and I was really proud of the pupils' behaviour and hard work.

When I got home the weather was beautiful and I sat in the garden for a while and looked at all the signs of spring - miniature daffodils, buds on the quince tree, and the camellia was flowering. I love this time of year. 

Hair Rescue

Yesterday afternoon Cat arrived through and bravely (and enthusiastically) tackled the task of sorting out David's hair. When he had arrived in the morning he was sporting a very strange haircut that included a startling diagonal fringe. I don't know if this is the fashion or if it was just a shockingly terrible haircut! Davie had tried to correct it himself already so it all looked very lopsided. He was as going to go to our local barber for assistance but when Cat offered to take on the task he accepted with alacrity. 

After finding a suitable pair of scissors, Cat started snipping away in a very professional manner. And she made a very good job of it, despite Ally making various jokes about Jim Carrey's fringe in the film "Dumb and Dumber!" The most hilarious moment was when Cat was carefully cutting a bit of hair very near Davie's eye and Ally suddenly appeared with the handheld vacuum cleaner in order to clear up some trimmed hair from David's neck. It roared to life and startled us all; it's just as well that Cat has a cool head and a steady hand! We had such a laugh, and Davie's hair looks great.

In the early evening James arrived back from his Bothy Weekend to Gleann Dubh-leigh in fine spirits and we all had a hearty curry before having a film night on our new big television in the front room, complete with drinks and popcorn. However there is only one two seater sofa in the front room at the moment, so in order to accommodate five of us, Ally and Davie had to carry through a sofa from the back room. But the internal door was too narrow so they had to bring it out through the garden and round to the front of the house and in through the front door! It was so funny! 

The film was a light-hearted spy caper called "Keeping up with the Jones" which was quite amusing and suited our happy mood. It was a lovely day. 

Shoe shopping

Today I took Grandma shopping for shoes. Davie came too, having just arrived home for a visit from Dundee, and Grandma was absolutely delighted to see him. Davie's presence meant that I could drop them off right outside Grandma's favourite shoe shop in Hamilton and then go and park the car. When I joined them in the shop the news was not good. Grandma's favourite type of shoe, comfy but smart (patent leather) with a small heel, do not seem to be in style just now. She didn't like the flat, more casual shoes that are currently on offer, and I can understand that; she has always dressed simply but elegantly and wants something with a bit of style. I will need to do some research on where to find shoes for her. 

We then headed to Marks and Spencer for a light lunch and she got a few bits of shopping there, including her beloved Saturday Herald. 

Forest Friday

After a really good night of sleep (nine and a half hours according to my Fitbit!) I woke feeling restored and ready to face a busy Friday, including an afternoon of Forest Schools in our local park. What a great experience it was for the pupils. They were free to choose any activity and were soon making shelters, lighting fires, building swings and hammocks, learning to tie knots, playing games, and finally, toasting marshmallows in the fire. Every single pupil was full of enthusiasm and had a great time. 

James had set off this morning for his bothy weekend so Ally and I had risotto for tea and a pleasant, quiet evening. We ended up watching the first Pirates of the Caribbean film; I had forgotten how good it was when it was fresh and original - I wish they hadn't made so many sequels. In fact I think the 5th instalment is coming out this year. The first film was really exciting with some great lines, the best ones from Captain Jack Sparrow of course! My favourite is when Elizabeth is shocked that when he was marooned on the rum runners island he just drank rum for three days until he was rescued by chance.

She says "That's the secret, grand adventure of the infamous Jack Sparrow? You spent three days lying on a beach drinking rum?" and Jack Sparrow replies, "Welcome to the Caribbean, love!"