Fun Friday

New years resolution to get out for some family fun every friday. Went to Pizza Express, Hannah's favourite for a nice meal. Also out to see the Illusionist on Thursday evening - lovely animation largely set in Edinburgh.

Pentlands

Out for a short walk in the Pentlands to Allermuir summit. Snow still on the hills and temperatures at the foothills - 4 °. More heavy snow forecast for tonight.

Greenmantle Dash

First time I've made it down to Broughton for the new year run since 2007. A very cold morning but conditions otherwise fine. Time was the slowest of my 3 efforts at the race coming in at around 25:02. Not a lot of kick in the legs today.

Portobello Promathon

Out for the new years race at Portobello. Conditions were quite good if a little cold. I wasn't expecting great things having suffered a bit with a cold. Set off at a relatively easy pace but proved to be quite good at around 7:30 for first mile. Maintained that pace pretty well to get my third best time (of 5) for this race.

Festive Frolic Yellowcraigs

First orienteering outing in a month. The snow was still on the ground and temps at 2.5 degrees but it was quite a pleasant run around at Yellowcraigs. Quite pleased with my result given the poor form I've been in recently.

Snow

There has been constant snow on the ground since our last blog post in late November. Just about every race and orienteering event has been cancelled and we've only be out and about in the car with care given the state of the roads.

Out sledging today in Holyrood Park. Some fabulous long runs of several hundred metres. With temperatures starting to rise the thaw might at last be with us?

Andrew and Jo's Wedding

We all headed across to Cameron House on Loch Lomond for Andrew and Jo's wedding. Snow was on the ground when we headed off which made for a slow journey.

Short service and nice meal in the evening. Unfortunately we missed the speeches which were squeezed in before the scheduled time of the dinner.

A small crowd of Ledlie's in attendance. As well as the groom's family there was Irene, Jim, James and Wayne; Karen & Andrew.

Enjoyed a nice long swim in the pool on Sunday morning before another long journey in the even deeper snow on Sunday.

Work Experience

Well done Max for his week working at an Architects Office. Tasks ranged from pinching straws to making a model building.

Scottish Score Champs at Penicuik

Max and Colin were both entered for the Scottish Score Champs at Penicuik but both were suffering from a mild flu. Decided to compete anyway but walked round the course. Rained the whole time with temperatures down to 3.5 degrees. Cherry and Hannah also went out for a damp walk.

Went to see Harry Potter at the cinema in the evening.

Max's Blog

Max has a new blog. Click here to see it.

Tinto

Still struggling a bit for running form with my heel still a bit vulnerable. Beautiful sunny afternoon for the Tinto Hill race south of Biggar. Started the race right at the back of the field and started off at an easy pace. Continued all the way with a relatively easy pace. Time was around 5 mins slower than my two previous efforts in the race.

Roslin Glen

Colin, Cherry and Hannah went for a walk in Roslin Glen. Lovely afternoon - we were able to sit outside for tea and coke at the cafe in Roslin. Got a bit lost on the way back! Photos may follow later.

Blaze

Hannah and Colin went out to the Festival Theatre to see Blaze a street dance show. Pretty good.

Berlin - Day 4

Last full day in Berlin. Had hoped to do some cycling but the weather remained too grim. Went on a city tour bus and some of the more farflung sites light the Charlottenburg Place.

Berlin - Day 3

Another wet day so we headed off for more musuems. There was a new exhibition on the rise of Hitler. Then in the afternoon we went to the Jewish museum which was housed in a striking moderm building with eerie features like a large vault with a single bit of sunlight at the top.

Berlin - Day 2

The weather turned on Day 2 with cold and rain. It didn't change for the rest of the holiday. In the morning we went to the DDR musuem which had a good hands on exhibit about life in communist East Berlin. In the afternoon we went to the Pergamon museum which had ancient artifacts from Greece and Babylon. Included within the building were large temples and gates. Very impressive.

In the evening we went to the Sony Centre at Potsdamer Platz and watched the Social Network which was excellent.

Berlin - Day 1

Headed off for a short break in Berlin. A very early morning got us all out of bed at 4.45 am for a 6.30 flight with Ryanair. We arrive in Berlin tired after the journey on a lovely sunny but chilly morning. In the afternoon we went for a long walking tour of the city taking in all the main central sites over 3 1/2 hours. Very good and interesting.

Survival of the Fittest

Colin was up early for a tough run round the streets of Edinburgh. 1o km and 1o obstacles. Great fun. Hannah and Cherry were out to cheer along.

CATI O East Craiglockhart

Max and Colin went out from some social orienteering at Napier Campus Craiglockhart. Poor navigation from both led to very poor times on a short easy course.

Havana Rakatan

Three of us went out for an evening of latin dance and music. Spectacular dancing but a little lacking in variety.

Fight With the Night

First night orienteering of the winter. Kings Buildings which is now so familiar as to make the navigation pretty easy. Decent time although legs still stiff from Marathon.

Loch Ness Marathon

Completed my 5th road marathon on Sunday. Slowest time yet in 4 hrs 53 mins. Very hilly course and lack of training made it a tough day out.