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.

SOSOL 2 - Clobberfield

Max and Colin headed off to Glasgow for orienteering on Sunday morning. Both had pretty decent runs. Max was 4th on the Light Green, Colin 9th on the Brown. Bit wet but nice courses.

Sosol1 - Devilla

Colin headed out to Devilla forest just north of Kincardine. A good long run of over 2 hours. Finished near to last on the hardest course in spite of a fairly decent run.

Lammermuirs

Colin headed off for a run in the Lammermuirs on Sunday morning. Remote & bleak. Watched a bit of the world duathlon championships in Holyrood Park in the afternoon.

Arthurs Seat Again

Another trip to Arthurs Seat. Got Hannah to the top !

Arthurs Seat Sunset

Out for a short evening walk and enjoyed a stunning sunset.

Lammer Law

Colin was out on his bike on Sunday. Cycled and pushed up to the top of Lawer Law in the Lammermuir hills and then a cycle round Gifford and a few other villages in the foothills.

Scottish Housing Expo

We had a trip up to Inverness to visit the Scottish Housing Expo and a look at 28 new architect built houses. Max is keen on being an architect so wanted to visit the Expo. Interesting couple of days.

Meall Glas and Sguith Chuil

Colin went out for a spot of munro bagging. Generally good weather. Tackled too hills to the North of the Killin-Crianlarich road. Very tough going with no paths to be seen making it very tough work walking through the long grass and bog.

Spotted a badger between the two hills.

Street Orienteering - South Gyle

Max and Colin went orienteering on a newly mapped area of South Gyle. Different courses but they were the same for the first 7 controls. Max took an early lead through the very confusing streets.

Shopping

Colin took Max (and later Hannah) out shopping. Max bought all the latest fashions.

Cycle in Midlothian

Our for a long relatively leisurely cycle from home through mid lothian villages. Still on holiday from work for this week.

Gullane Beach

Glorious day at the beautiful Gullane Beach. The hours flew by as the kids built their castles.

Holiday in Aldeburgh 5th-14th August

Travelled down on the Thursday with the last bit of the journey finished on Friday. We had a nice half day stop on the way down at an Anglo Saxon Village near Bury St Edmonds.On Saturday we went for a walk along the shore at Aldeburgh and then took a trip to Dunwich, the town washed away by the sea.On Sunday we visited Orford Castle and walked along Orford Ness.
On Monday Colin went for a walk to Thorpeness whilst everyone else had a quiet day at the house.
Tuesday - Snape MaltingsWednesday - Michael,, Michael & Lusi visited and we had a row on the water at Thorpeness
Thursday - Minsmere RSPB reserve

Turnhouse Hill Race

Haven't been running or racing much with my mild Achilles Tendonitus meaning I need to rest up a bit. Decided to get out however to this excellent little mid-week race in the Pentlands. Nice summer evening and a bit crowd in attendance. Ran quite well at just under 140% of the winning time and beat a few who normally come in ahead of me. Feet were badly blistered however as my Inov8 212's weren't quite tough enough for the terrain.

Visit to Maxwell & Rosemary. Pictures from the walled garden.

Hay Fever

We headed out for a family walk from East Linton to Traprain Law and Hailes Castle. Hannah discovered that she suffers from hayfever and Colin's nose also started to run in spite of the nasal spray. Hot sunny afternoon.

Hannah Dressed for the Party

Primary School Football Final

Hannah and the girls put on a good performance but not quite good enough to defeat the mighty South Morningside. The girls lost 4-0 in what was a keenly fought and exciting game. Pictured with runners up cup.

Long O

Colin ran in the Pentlands Long orienteering event. Tired after the race on Saturday it was a fairly pedestrian trudge round a long and boggy course. Navigation was pretty good but very slow over the ground.

Edinburgh Cup Finals

Hannah and the JGPS girls had a stunning performance this morning against Mary Erskine PS winning by something like 8 - 1 (lost count!) in the sem-finals of the Edinburgh Primary School football cup. The team played like a well trained unit. Hannah was great in goals with her big kicks and saved a penalty.

In the afternoon Colin had a great run at East Linton in the Traprain Law Hill race. Another personal best taking 1 min 40 ish off last years time.