Brawleys Blog

Skiing at Glencoe

2010-03-08T14:55:00.001Z

Last week, our local radio station, Real Radio, were doing a charity day, trying to raise money for CHAS (Children's Hospice Association Scotland). Throughout the day they were auctioning off various different things - signed football boots/tops, spa weekends etc. I had a wee look at lunchtime and noticed a "Family Mega Deal" at the Glencoe Ski Centre. It included all lift passes, hire and 2hrs of instruction, and the current bid was only £75. I won the auction - I...

Ski Jumping and Rory’s 1st Birthday

2010-03-06T15:22:00.000Z

Ella was having a shot on the jump slope for the first time. See what you think … After the lessons, we went through to Edinburgh, to Rory’s 1st Birthday. Loads of good stuff to eat.

Travellers IQ

2010-02-25T11:29:00.001Z

If you get a minute you should try this. Click here to take you to the web page – it is a picture of the world and it asks you to click on various places to test your geography. My score was 195.262, My final level was 6 and got a travellers IQ of 94. This should be right up Eddie’s street!!

Aviemore Skiing Feb 2010

2010-02-18T22:17:00.000Z

The kids were on holiday Mon, Tues and Wednesday this week and we had managed to get accommodation at Scandinavian Village in Aviemore. We were hoping to get some skiing in and I picked up skis from Bellahouston on Thursday so we were sorted for a sharp exit on Saturday morning. Saturday Mikie was coming up with us and we met him at Stirling Services. We offloaded some of our boots and ski poles (and Patrick) into Mikie's car and headed up. We pulled into Scandi...

Renfrewshire AAA Road Race Championships

2010-02-07T14:03:00.000Z

Megan & Patrick have been going to the running club for a few months and last weekend they went along to their first race. Patrick was up first – he was running 1 mile. There were some fast boys in the race. Pat looked as though he was really hurting trying to keep up with the more experienced runners, but he kept going and was able to do his legendary sprint finish down the last 100m. He was 16th with a time of 7:52. The winner made it in 6:05. Meg had a 2...

A visit to Noah and Daisy’s

2010-02-06T13:27:00.000Z

We popped down to see Fiona, Gerry and the kids. Daisy was sleeping the whole time we were there but Mo and the kids got a wee shot of Noah.

Today is a Plandrome

2010-02-01T07:51:00.000Z

Today’s date is the same read forwards and back – 01/02/2010. The next one is not until 11/02/2011 and the last one was 20/02/2002 – how very interesting!! A palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction Here are some word examples - RACECAR, DEED, LEVEL, PIP, ROTOR, CIVIC, POP, MADAM, EYE, NUN, RADAR, TOOT

Edinburgh to Visit Siobhan, Stuart and Rory

2010-01-31T19:30:00.000Z

After skiing on Saturday we headed over to Edinburgh to stay over at Siobhan, Stuart and Rory’s. We arrived at about 2:30. We had a coffee and then went for a wee walk down to the park. Back at the house the kids (and Mo and I) were enjoying playing with Rory. While Siobhan and Stuart were busy making dinner the kids played the Wii and messed about with Rory. The adults sat down for a lamb roast and potatoes – which was so tasty. After dinner there was another...

The Monks’ Burns Supper 2010

2010-01-30T00:30:00.000Z

Last Sunday Jean and Eddie had invited us all over for a Burns Supper. We had one last year and it was a great success, so they had decided to do it again. After Craig had toasted the haggis and Patrick had given us the Selkirk Grace, we were treated to Haggis, Neeps & Tatties for starters, Steak Pie for main and Cloutie Dumpling for pudding. After dinner the kids (and Gordon) treated us all to some Burns music and verse. Gordon’s recital of Tam O’Shanter is over the...

Bunch Of Phonies Mourn J. D. Salinger

2010-01-29T12:43:00.000Z

J. D. Salinger died on the 27th of January. He is best known for his novel “The Catcher In The Rye”. This was a popular choice to study at higher because it was easy to read and at times it was laugh out loud. I came across this announcement on the web, which is written in the same style as the book. In this big dramatic production that didn't do anyone any good (and was pretty embarrassing, really, if you think about it), thousands upon thousands of phonies across the...

Quick Post

2010-01-28T12:32:00.001Z

I have been busy at work and in the evenings over the past few weeks, so no blog. I have the Monks’ Burns night to do from last Sunday – I will try and get it done and updated over the next few days. Meantime I liked this … See it bigger here – warning, you might end up on this web site for hours. Calvin and Hobbs – fantastic!! Andy Murray has just made the final of the Australian Open. Will need to be up and watching the final on Sunday - It is good to see all...

Mikie’s Learning to Ski

2010-01-09T09:13:00.000Z

We got Mikie a taster session at the ski school for part of his Christmas. This is a 1/2 hour lesson to see if you fancy taking more lessons. We all went along to watch (Ella couldn’t go – she has got the Chicken Pox!!). After the lesson he went to TK Max after with Mo and bought a ski jacket, salapets and a pair of ski goggles!! He has booked a set of lessons starting on Saturday. The kids start the following week so it will be coffee and a cake at the ski centre for the...

Skiing in the Cairngorms

2010-01-04T10:47:00.002Z

We have had quite a lot of snow recently and we had thought about trying to go skiing a some point over the holidays. Jean & Eddie, The Mejury’s and the Edinburgh Monks’ were up in Aviemore for the New Year week so we were keeping in contact with them to see what the conditions were. On Hogmanay (Thursday) in Aviemore, it snowed all day and basically stopped all skiing because the roads were all closed until Sunday. On Sunday we picked up skis from the Ski centre and headed up...

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-01T16:51:00.000Z

Happy New Year Everyone. We met Rosie & Stephen and the kids in Paisley at 5. We had a great dinner in Raeburns Bistro & Grill, before walking down the road to the Paisley Arts Centre – we were all off to the Panto!! What a belly laugh it was – the best Panto/Show/Concert I think I have ever been to – the main star, “Silly Billy”, was fantastic. Ella, Zoe, Patrick and Luke all ended up on the stage at one point to help sing a song! I must admit I wasn’t sure...

The Wangie

2009-12-27T20:32:00.001Z

Gordon had arranged a walk today – we had planned to go up Connick Hill at Loch Lomond, but as we drove out of Milngavie, the snow came on really heavy and the road started to get a bit hairy. We decided to have a change of plan and go up the Wangie. Dad and Mikie and Mikie’s pal Gordon arrived and we headed up the path. The snow was quite heavy when we started and was a bit nippy on the face, but it soon clamed down and at times the sun came out. The snow was really deep –...

Boxing Day 2009

2009-12-26T18:10:00.000Z

We all got up and watched Megan’s “Take That” DVD. The snow came on really heavy. Michael headed home and we got ready to go over to Jean & Eddie’s. Everyone was congregating with all the left-overs from Christmas day. There was a full house and another great day was had.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T18:05:00.001Z

Happy Christmas everyone. Hope everyone has had a great day. On Christmas Eve we headed through to Wishaw hospital to see Fiona & Gerry and the twins. The traffic was a nightmare – we left Houston at 2 o’clock and never got to the hospital until 3:45!! Visiting was supposed to finish at 4, but I think because it was Christmas, they let us in for a bit over. I have seen Fiona better!! She looked spaced out and knackered. The kids were not able to...

The twins are here

2009-12-22T17:09:00.000Z

Good news from Fiona & Gerry - text from Gerry Hey bros + sis, u may hav heard that the twins Daisy (5'9) + Noah (5'4) were born @ 8:49 + 9:49 last nite. They doin well + r having bed + breakfast in the neo-natal unit until fiona (who isn't doin great but is stable) gets better + out of critical care. Will send photos if i get a chance but im not allowed any phones etc on the ward. Im sure mums will keep u updated. Spk soon G. We have had a load of snow today. Mo took some...

Megan’s School Concert

2009-12-22T15:56:00.001Z

We were all up at the big school last night to see Megan in her first school show. The whole night was great. There was a broad range of acts, from hand balls, guitar solos, big bands and the finale was the concert band. Great night and hope to see plenty more.

Meg’s Birthday

2009-12-17T07:27:00.000Z

It was Megan’s Birthday on Wednesday – Jean & Eddie, Mum & Dad, Michael and Meg’s pal Christy all came round for dinner. Fiona, Gordon, Laura, Craig and Arnold (Laura’s boyfriend!!) came round for a while after dinner. Good night. Not many photos taken.

Ella’s Nativity Play

2009-12-15T18:30:00.000Z

Mo and I were up at the school today to see Ella in the school nativity play. She was part of the chorus, but managed to get a line … “"It’s a party, and you are all welcome.” Pause, Pause, Pause … “… and it’s free” It was great. There was no photos or video allowed during the show, but we got to take a few at the end. This is Ella with her friend Adam and the Wise Man below is Scott.

Bous a la Mar

2009-12-14T22:00:00.000Z

I joined the AV (Audio Visual) workshop group this year at the camera club. I went along to the local AV Club – Diaporama, last month and it was really interesting and learned quite a lot. This month they were having a competition, which I decided to go along and enter. I came in 2nd – beginners luck!! The main problem is coming up with something worth showing. The winner was a short documentary about the tug boat that was lost on the Clyde 2 years ago – good...

Patrick’s In the Paper Again!

2009-12-13T15:42:00.000Z

One of the better pictures of Patrick made it to the paper – Thursdays Paisley Express. Only have a picture at the moment. Getting a copy of the article later and will update the entry.

Paisley Gazette – 9th December 2009

2009-12-10T11:41:00.000Z

Patrick made it into the paper – not the best picture as far as Pat was concerned but at least he made it. The Queen’s Baton was officially welcomed to Renfrewshire with the help of some pupils from St Fillan’s Primary School. Ten P5 pupils took part in a St Andrews Day games heats last week that allowed them to take part in the day’s events. They then got to be involved in a range of fun games, including tug of war and throw the welly, before they got their hands on the...

Kids Message from Santa

2009-12-06T12:15:00.001Z

We got 3 emails from Santa this morning – check them out - Ella’s , Patrick’s and Megan’s