A Busy Weekend Relaxing and Getting over Jetlag

The weekend was spent getting acclimatised to Pacific Time Zone and for the family it all centred round a Soccer Tournament involving Thomas. He was playing in a big tournament about 20 minutes drive away from Saratoga with hundreds of kids playing several games over the weekend. He played a one hour game on Saturday morning and another one late Saturday afternoon. On Sunday it was the same format with his afternoon game the playoff for the Bronze Medal. They won 3 out of the 4 games and he scored 2 goals. It was a well organised tournament for both boys and girls with various competitions in different age groups. He was very pleased with his medal. His mum spent most of the weekend travelling to and from the sports ground and watching Soccer.

On Sunday evening we had the first BBQ in the new house with Fraser and his friend Stephen preparing a great BBQ on the brand new outdoor Grill.

Stephen prepared huge Chicken pieces at home and then finished them off on the Grill.

Dining outside is certainly the way to entertain in Saratoga. This new table was only installed a few weeks ago and this was it being used for the first time. It is being replaced this week as it has developed some cracks so a brand new one will replace it by the company it was bought from.

After our meal Fraser lit the Fire Pit with wood from some of the trees chopped down 2 years ago to create this lovely garden that previously was completely overgrown with trees and bushes.

A nice way of ending the weekend as it got darker and with a few Beers in the company of family and friends.

Gaye enjoying her iced lolly as it was still a nice warm evening.

Monday morning and I headed off with Sammy for our regular morning walk along Wildcat Creek. It may be a Creek but most of the year there is no water in it.

It is very popular with dog walkers and all of them must be kept on a lead.

Week 5 in Isolation

Today should have been the opening day for Langholm Old Bowling Club. It looks like most of the Bowling season will be cancelled and we can only hope we might get a few games played near the end of the season in August or September but I have my doubts. Our age group who are most of the bowlers may have to stay in Isolation for months. I am very sad about missing the Bowling season as I had my best ever season last year and won the Club Championship. The green is looking good and opening day would have been superb as the weather for the 5 weeks we have been in Isolation has been perfect. We now could do with some rain for both Farmers and Greenkeepers. 

My Saturday walk round Potholm shows just how dry the land has become. February was a record wet month but March and April has had little or no rain so this ploughed and Harrowed field is as dry as a bone and nothing will grow until it rains. 

I am spending a lot of my time in the Sitooterie in the garden playing  Patience and this is a game called 11s which I managed to get out after many hours of failure. 

They leave one tree for the Raptors and this is one of the best in the area on the Potholm walk.

Lambing is in full swing and the dry warm weather certainly has helped them, although the grass needs some rain soon

In California Fraser recruited Elliot and Thomas to work in his Home Apple office so they dressed for the job. Elliot makes sure they have a Coffee break.

Most days on my morning walk I make sure I pass this garden at Wauchope Cottage. Alison helped by husband Tom has a lovely garden that gives me loads of pleasure every time I pass it.

Gaye has spent some time baking this cake for Tom Stothart's cousin Jean who will be 100 on Monday so she will be spending this birthday at home alone but hopefully the neighbours and Tom will be outside helping her to celebrate at a safe distance.

The Bluebells are coming out and I hope to have better photos of them in the next few weeks but these early ones give a taste of what is to come

This shows how low the River Esk is getting 

An unusual Bird Scarer near Potholm Bridge