It is Scotland after all

It is infrequently that we are allowed to forget where we live. As the rain, snow and hail lash upon us - even attacking us horizontally at times - it is as if our home country is a jealous lover, unwilling to let us dream of another place. Scotland screams at us to love her because of and not despite her faults.

Today proves the theory. As I sat in my office, consciously willing the window to my right to continue to withstand the assault by hard rain, the weather reports provided us updates of the happenings on the unpleasant side of the window pane. Driving rain and gale force winds have barraged much of Scotland today with the North East taking the brunt. My journey home echoed scenes from movies such as "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012" as my car intricately weaved through the dozens of fallen tree's in it's path.

Someones roof even ended up lying across the dual carriageway halfway between my office and home. Yes, a roof. Ironic really, your roof deserting you in severe weather is a bit like owning a dog that doesn't ever respond to your commands. Isis

At least the Scottish summer (cough) is consistent, much like our Luca. Every day he continues his quest to be the worlds most awkward 4 year old. His delaying tactics when we ask him to do something he doesn't like have now reached legendary status. My personal favourite is the new "fluff between the toes" tactic, which he employs every night before he puts his jammie's on. "Hold on" he'll demand as you attempt to get him ready for bed "I have fluff in my toes". He will then proceed to spend five minutes picking the imaginary fluff from between every one of his toes, determinedly never meeting your gaze, knowing that with eye contact endeth the lie.

He really frighteningly resembles his Mum now. Forget the physicality - eyes, hair, build, smile - he has taken on many of the nuances of his Mother, most pertinently his single minded and determined nature. I love the knowing look he gives you when you tell him to do something, the grin appearing on the corner of his mouth as he contemplates how to manipulate the situation into making you think you've won while actually ending up doing exactly what he wants.

I would write more, but with Lucy's earlier blog (about driving over snakes and chasing bears) having blown everyone elses efforts out the water for a least the next calendar year this effort feels a little superfluous.....

**Useless fact of the day - Despite misconceptions, Scotland actually has the longest summer days in the United Kingdom - 17 hours of daylight. Alternately, Scotland also has the shortest winter days, with a mere 7 hours of daylight**

Granda would have been proud

As you'll have been aware (I may have mentioned it once, twice or thrice recently), I was playing football this weekend at the theatre of dreams - Firhill Stadium, home of Partick Thistle FC. It was great fun walking out onto the hallowed turf, and my enthusiasm obviously influenced the club photographer - if you click on the link below you may recognise a certain ageing enthusiast:-
www.ptfc.co.uk/media/photo_galleries/miscellaneous_galleries/2010-2011/firhill_cup_and_fun_day/image_011

Once viewed, please vote on the poll on the right........



It's not only opposing strikers who have had to put up with my close attentions of late, Luca has also "enjoyed" a little more of my time of late. Here he is above outside the polling station before I cast my vote (I voted Green just to p**s off Alex Salmond) sporting the most curious of grins. Click on the picture to gain a closer image, has Luca been taking smiling lessons from Cherie Blair?

Back to Firhill, here's the boy getting his face painted. That familiar reticent smile and questionable stare was bestowed upon the face painter throughout

I'm a tiger!

For most of you this picture is simply a cute photo of Luca eating a cake. Dad however will be looking at Luca's company - yes, that's Willie Kinnibugh, Simon Donnelly and Jackie McNamara in his company

Yes, this was his favourite bit of the day. We simply couldn't get him off it, he loved it. Luca is without question the most cautious of children, so we relished watching him repeatedly throw himself from the top of this bouncy slide. I've rarely seen him so carefree. Indeed, at one point he threw himself from the top with such abandon that he didn't touch the slide until halfway down, rolling the rest of the way down like a chubby avalanche. "This is really good!" he squealed as he prepared to climb the steps again while simultaneously hiding the fact that he'd hurt his elbow.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Carole yet. But fear not, as I will in the next blog. Carole bought a raffle ticket at the stadium, and when the draw was made during a break in play was delighted to hear she'd won something. Her disappointment as she reached the centre circle to find her prize was a signed picture of the Partick Thistle squad was negated by the company around her. As the photographer lined her up for a picture she stopped him to insist on having "two good looking men in the picture with her"

She wasn't referring to Luca and I.

Two Thistle players were quickly identified and rounded up into the picture, both giggling like schoolboys. "They'll have thought I was a proper cougar" Carole confided with me later, "but I don't care" she declared, falling about in laughter

**Useless fact of the day - A "cougar" refers to a powerful, predatory older woman who uses her appeal and status on younger, more inexperienced males**