First Day Back at School and a Wedding

Last Wednesday our American Grandchildren started school again. This is Tommy who attends Middle School. No uniforms in California and they dress for the heat.

Elliot, Eleanor & Tommy. In front of the new door so it will be a way of measuring their height each year.

Eleanor ready for her first day at High School and is taking up Hockey as a new sport, but will still play Football. When Tommy was in UK and visited Newcastle United ground St James park he made the announcement that it would be called Football now and not Soccer like in USA.

Finally Elliot and he is still at Junior School so its 3 schools to drop them off at every morning, although Eleanor will soon either walk or go on her bike.

This is the photos from last year and this year and I think Elliot has grown the most in the year.

They were only at school for 2 days when they had to take a day off to fly to Utah for a family wedding. Eleanor was a Bridesmaid and Tommy and Elliot were Ushers I think. It's been a hectic month for them all with a trip to Scotland for Fraser and Tommy, a trip to Maui in Hawaii for them all and now a wedding in Utah so back to school and sporting events next week. 

A Kippford to Rockcliffe Walk with the Southwells

 

We had arranged to meet our friends Doreen and Norman from South Wales at their chalet at Barend near Sandyhills where they are staying for 2 weeks together with their daughter and son in law. The weather forecast was awful but we decided we would still try and get a walk from Kippford to Rockcliffe and back. After we had coffee at the chalet we set out for the walk dressed for wet weather. We were soon casting off various items as it was dry, warm, and muggy, but a perfect walk. We left Gaye and Doreen back at the Chalet to catch up with all the news while Tom and I joined Norman and family for the 4 mile walk. This is the road above Kippford on our way back to the village.  

Rockcliffe at high tide but on a very quiet day

The Ice Cream van is always there and Milo waited patiently for his ice cream.

Norman with daughter Lindsay and her husband Jon

Tom and I have been friends with Norman since the days when he came to Langholm to play rugby for Bryn Wanderers against Langholm 2nds in the mid 70s. Tom used to play against him. He met Gaye's friend Doreen from Dalbeattie who was staying with us and the rest as they say is history.

We had great entertainment watching a couple blow up an inflatable Canoe at Rockcliffe.

When they eventually launched it we all gave them a round of applause

After our meal back at the Chalet this photo was taken by Jon. I will never complain about youngsters spending so much time on their mobiles again.

The Tree of the Year 2021 at Kippford

High Tide at Kippford

The party of walkers, Norman, Lindsay, Jon, and Tom

All 7 of us taken after dinner at the Chalet in Barend. A most enjoyable day in good company.

Common Riding Day

Ready for the first Fair Crying at 9.15 am

Its Langholm Common Riding day and Cornet Christopher Tait carries the flag through the Market Place

Up at the sports field and Tommy has a win on the first race of the day

Our friend Bruce Latimer up from Hastings in Kent

My long time friend John Irving from Edinburgh and his son Craig were down just for the day.

Granny Gaye with her two boys son Fraser and Grandson Tommy

John and Bruce and myself have met at this very spot on Common Riding Day for many years and its 9 years since Fraser was last at the Common Riding.

 

Walking and Bowling

This was Tuesday and a nice walk in Upper Tarras valley to show Fraser and Tommy the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

Tommy never wears anything else but shorts back home in California and intends to do the same here. 

Fraser found time to make 3 loaves of lovely bread just like this one.;

We visited Cooms Farm now owned by TVNR and Tommy enjoyed having a go on the Quad Bike as he often uses the one his granddad has in Utah

Many thanks to William the Shepherd at Cooms for making us so welcome. 

Wednesday morning and a walk round the Pheasant pens and the Curly Snake followed by lunch in The Buccleuch Centre.

After lunch we headed to Langholm Old Bowling green for the annual match Grahams v Weatherstone and for the first time the grandchildren competed as well. Tommy soon got the hang of it and his delivery was excellent.

The 2 families plus Tom who took over from Fraser when he had to go to meet his long time friend Alistair Hutton who he hadn't seen for 9 years.

Another action shot of Tommy

Lochan with a nice delivery as well

Gregor the oldest grandchild playing today. He is a natural sportsman and an excellent tennis player and one of the best of his age group in Scotland having recently won a trophy which had been won by Andy Murray over 20 years ago.

And finally the youngest grandchild Struan who also shows great promise. The result was a narrow win for the Weatherstone family but Tommy reckons he will get revenge next year. A most enjoyable day and we ended up visiting Alistair and his family where Fraser and Tommy played a rather complicated card game resulting in another Graham family defeat. Once again Tommy reckons the return match will see a Graham victory.

 

A Visit to Newcastle United at St. James Park

On our way to St James Park we were taken through the grounds of Newcastle University and Leo, Hannah, and Tommy stood beside the statue of Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kings visit to accept an Honorary Degree. 

From Level 6 and the East Stand is the lowest one and cannot be increased in height as there are houses just beyond it that are protected so they are unable to build any higher as they would not get any light. 

Tommy very enthusiastic as a Football player and real enthusiast but Leo was not as keen but soon got into the spirit of the visit and really quite enjoyed himself. The pair of them get on very well. 

The pitch is 10% synthetic and 90% grass from a Dutch ryegrass that goes extremely quickly. The grass only lasts for a year and is then re-seeded and grows in less than11 weeks. You will notice the pitch is on a slight slope of about 3 feet from left to right and you can see by the panels at the side of the pitch. 

The highest point in the stadium

In the press room for an after match interview the 2 star players and the manager. 

The north stand

Tommy loving every minute of the time spent there

The manager and 2 star players

One of the 100 private boxes. There are 300 people on a waiting list to get one of them so it could take 30 years before they all get one. Each of the top players gets a hospitality box as part of their contract.

The Visitors changing room which is much smaller than the Home team's and not as comfortable

 

We finished our day in Newcastle with Fish and Chips beside the sea at Cullercoats on a lovely evening. We then drove back to Langholm while Fiona and family have a day to get ready for a very early Wednesday morning flight to Geneva and then into France.

The best part of the visit according to Tommy was the Home changing room.