Checkin' in on Kel

Yet ANOTHER weekend away from Edinburgh. This was probably the closest in proximity, only involving a relatively pain free 2 hour journey across the border to England. As pleasantly predicted it involved eating a lot of food, drinking a lot of wine, having scintillating conversation (aka talking bollocks as more wine bottles got emptied) and playing with babies. The first couple's wee boy, Thomas, blessed me with a cuddle and falling asleep on me (my chat is that good). Something very soothing about a baby falling to sleep on you... and na - not clucky, but it was a nice feeling. Ben and Steve went off and played golf on Saturday morning whilst I managed a plod around the sunny moor of Newcastle. Basically, it's a big park just out of the city with cows grazing in it! Mind the cow pats! Then I had a pleasant wander about the University of Newcastle and really enjoyed visitng the Hatton Art Gallery featuring Anthony Green's exhibition 'Resurrection'. Very engaging and personal account of his relationships with family, especially his father. Then just aimlessly wandered about Chinatown, the Western Walls of the old city (beware, this link gives you a history lesson with sound!) Met up with Ben along the Tyne River and we had a pretty average lunch and extremely shiite exhibition at the Baltic modern art gallery, a converted flour mill not too dissimilar to the Tate Modern. I'm not going to even tell you who the artist was as he doesn't deserve the plug.

Saturday night we stayed in delightful Hexham. My ideal home with rambling cottage garden, three stories of interesting rooms and set next to a stream. The boys and I went mountainbiking in Hadrian's Wall country for a few hours which was excellent fun. Lots of soft bogs to fall into ;)

On the drive home (yes, I'm finally driving a manual car!) we stopped in to admire 'Scott's view'. I can see why Scott liked to ponder life up there. Beautiful country.

Finally a weekend at home coming up!!!

Feel like I've just returned from one weekend before heading out on another?! About to hop on a train to Newcastle upon Tyne. Not the first place I'd choose to visit in the UK, particularly for my birthday weekend. However, Ben has planned a while back to visit his two mates from medical school who have both recently had babies (well their wives actually HAD them). So it's a very domestic weekend ahead. Probably a good chance for me to take a chill pill - I'm so crap at relaxation. As opposed to last weekend which involved totally packing it in and literally burning the candle at both ends...(hmmm good quote for my study that... any way, I digress)

So last weekend six of us headed off for a spot of camping on the glorious Isle of Arran. Now I have a new favourite Scottish Isle. The fact that we had clear blue skies and temperatures in the low 20Cs may have influenced me somewhat. However, we kayaked, hiked on the spectacular mountain ridge and Ben and I rode around the Island whilst the others pottered about and headed for the pub (why don't I ever make those decisions?!) In the evenings we cooked a BBQ and warmed ourselves by building bonfires on the beach. Or was that the whisky that gave me that warm glow?

Beware of the Scottish Effect... hmmm... maybe it's not such a good idea I stay here much longer. It could be taking years off my life!

Well, that was quite the active weekend! I caught the bus down to Peebles and met Ben for a quick spin around Glentress (up the black and down the red routes). Drove on to Mabie bunkhouse to meet up with the rest of the gang for some good chilli action and some vino to wash it down (thanks Sonya - we were starving!)

Saturday morning we were all bright eyed and bushy tailed to tackle Kirroughtree; by far the best mountain biking trail I have ever come across. Beautiful day, and good hard riding. Topped off with cranberry and white chocolate scones... it all seemed worthwhile!

Ben bravely let me drive back to the bunk house. Although I have been driving since I was 16 years old (and I'm now nearly double 3s), I have to admit, it's always been in an automatic car. He was a great instructor; very patient... he had to be. I even overtook a car! Phwar! Oooh the power at my hands. I think his alterior motives were to get me to do more driving in the future, especially when we go travelling in the not too distant future.

Of course, back at the bunkhouse there was more eating, drinking and socialising. I even took a moment to take off into the forest and caught a glimpse of a satellite passing overhead. Very cool.

Bounced out of bed ready for some alternate activity Sunday morning. The others all took off to do various cycling routes around Mabie Forest. However, I decided (in my wisdom) that I would do a 10km trail run on the 'blue route'. I headed off just after 8am with no water and on no breakfast (good prep - but done many times before on a relatively short run). At the junction where there was the option to head back to the bunkhouse or continue on for what I thought was an extra 2.5 km (misread the map before I left), I was feeling fine, so took the 'extra detour'. However, you will note by looking at the map that it clearly states by taking this 'detour', you add on another 12.5km loop in addition to your 10km. So not only did I unintentionally run 22.5km, but I also got myself well lost due to poor signage along several roads to nowhere in and around the Forest. I reckon I ran closer to 30km with all the detours and panicked running about into dead ends. Due back at the bunkhouse at 9:30am, I plodded in at 11am. Ben was standing all dressed and ready to go (as we'd agreed) wondering where and what the hell...

Quick slurp (water never tasted so goooood), shower, tidy and goodbyes, to then head off to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Situated on the grounds of a private home (Portrack House), this amazing garden is only open one day in the year. It just so happened that we were staying in Dumfries on the weekend of the open day. How fortuitous and well worth the visit. Ben and I did speculate at length amid the glorious blooms of the rhodedendron bushes. How very fine indeed.

Tonight starts a weekend involving a little mountain biking, a little socialising, and a little culture. What are you getting up to?

Well I voted... did my civic duty. The polling booth was conveniently located across the road from our front door. I voted Lib Dem for whatever that means!? But I think I'm illegal!? My number was well dodgy. Eeek! Maybe I've committed voting fraud

To vote or not to vote... is that the question?

It's election time this week in Britain. Sorry to those non-Brits not giving a toss about this fact, but the point applies to all who vote. So, yes, it's all to the polls on Thursday 5th May. But a question that has been debated several times in recent conversations (maybe because I'm living with an enthusiast of all things political) is... to vote or not to vote? If you want to protest against Blair's decision to go bomb the bejesus out of Iraq, what other options are there? Michael bloody Howard? I don't think so. Dear old Charles Kennedy? His heart and mind's in the right place, but could he seriously pull off the leadership of the United Kingdom? Then there's my old fall back, the Greens. My Dad argued last night that the environment is the only decent policy this party can come up with. That may be the case in Australia, but to be fair, I'm not up to speed with UK politics (care factor being my personal barrier). I agree with the principles that the Greens put forward but I do wonder about their ability to actually bring them into action.

So you may argue the three main alternatives to Labour look pretty lackluster. Does that mean I should just vote Labour and ignore my disillusion with democracy when my (and the millions along with me around the world) protests against the war went ignored? Bugger that for a joke. If I don't turn up at the polls, does this say 'I don't agree with the approach of any of these parties.'? No, I think it probably says 'apathy'.

The point up for discussion (and I'd be interested in your views) is the option of a 'no vote' on the ballot paper. If this was instituted, by taking this option you would effectively state: 'I choose not to vote for any of the candidates standing for this election because they do not adequately represent me and my convictions.'

Three weeks since Paris and what a delight that I don't HAVE to run nearly every friggin day. Now I can joyfully go out on my mountain bike or take a spin on my new road bike. And when I do run, it doesn't have to be an hour plus.... except if you are stranded with your bike in the middle of Midlothian.

Must remember to buy punctureless inner tubes, however! Ben and I went road biking on Saturday to wear off our minor hangovers(LCD Soundsystem kicked ass Friday night!!!! Amazing live!) Fooled ourselves into thinking we were well prepared before we set out with spare tube, repair kit etc. Little did we expect to get half way around our route for me to hit a pot hole and get a double puncture. We (OK, Ben) repaired one and replaced the other... only for the damned valve to blow right off... so that was me... done. Ben had to saddle up and ride on off home leaving me to jog with cycle to the nearest tea room to wait for my rescue squad (the tea room closed at 4pm... and what time did I arrive there?) Ah well, all a learning experience for next time... take more than one tube and more than one patch in your repair kit! Duh!