#31 deadlines

Deadlines are everywhere. Work - do this by then. We need that done today. These prices need updating. We need to have the new store open by Easter. We have to see them on that day. That boat needs to be here by then. Work needs done by then etc. Personal - Credit Card bills paid by then. Need to get the kids in bed by then. Need to see these guys by then. Need to get that done before we can do that.

All that doesn't matter when you have this little face to look at when you get home.

#30 for sale

Because 3 pairs of ski boots is probably too many! UK11 £200 ono if anyone is interested.

#29 easy day

With nothing particular to do today and still feeling a bit under the weather it was a trip to nana's for lunch.
Feeding the birds in the morning before we went was a nice time spent in the garden. Back to work tomorrow. Soon I'll get a couple of days off in a row.

#28 no work

So after a mixture of reasons I've just finished 11 days at work in a row. Day off tomorrow. OK it's not a week off but I'll take it. Thankfully feeling much better than Thursday and Friday. What will tomorrow bring?

#27 sick

24 hrs of sickness. Hate it, hopefully through the worst of it. No idea where it came from. Thankfully kids are currently ok. No pictures today you'll be glad to hear.

#26 ski art

Old skis mounted to the garage door today. 1990's Ski Art. These two pairs of skis were a lot of fun. I wonder how many miles they have transported me on the snow over the years.

#25 Burns Night

Happy Burn's Night.

Taken from Robert Burns.org

To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough

Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

I'm truly sorry man's dominion,
Has broken nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell-
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men
Gang aft agley,
An'lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e'e.
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

#24 northern lights

Scotland and the rest of the UK has been getting a rare chance to see the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis over the last couple of nights. It was clear at home last night but I saw nothing. Tonight it is thick fog. I guess I'll have to wait till next time.

#23 about the cold

It is good to stay warm. Wool is best! Mostly except for synthetic filling covered in Goretex..... I am enjoying my woolpower 200grm top today.

#22 light night

I finish work at 4.30 on a Sunday and almost got home before it was dark. Nights are stretching.!!!

#21 ipad apps

There are loads of them. How do you pick the good ones? Just been lost in top gear "where's stig" for about an hour.
Magnetic compass is cool too.

#20 WRC 2012

WRC 2012 has started. Well it started 3 days ago but hey. Go Fast got a team in late after Stobart dropped out. Good to see Solberg back with a factory team too. 2012 season is going to be a good one.

#19 hand made

Came home after late night at shop to some lovely hand made tartan stars and pillows. Why do we buy things when we can have just as much pleasure out of making things. We should all make more stuff.

#18 news

Some exciting news at work today. Early stages and lots of work to go to pull it off. But......fingers crossed it'll be good!!!!

#17 tired.com

Nuff said. Two days off with the girls. It's less tiring going to work. Good fun though.

#16 out to lunch

Day off today. Nice lunch out with the girls and then home for some baking! Mmm

#15 happy birthday

It's my brother's birthday today so happy birthday Dave! He is on the other side of the world right now in China so has probably finished his birthday day by the time I post this. Have a good one and I hope I see you soon.

#14 cold

It was cold this morning. But think about this, this time last year it was around -20 and piles of snow everywhere. So really it is quite warm.

#13 can a plan come together

 Camping next to the River Pattack.

Glenshee looking towards Braemar.

 Commuting

Having a bit of a plan thinkning day today. Should be working but I can multi task. Inspired by my night out to see Charley Boorman and the fact we are having a warmish winter here in Scotland my thoughts have turned to motorbikes.

I want to get out on my bike more this year and have garaged the 90 for a year or so to enable me the time and money to do so. It got me thinking, what would be a good big trip? Yeh there are lots of mini adventures you can have but I mean a big trip, almost once in a lifetime? USA! They speak our language but more importantly my brother and his family live there so we could have an easy base to work from and my family could join in.....

So then the question comes when and where. Well I'm going to have to save a bit of money so why not make it my 40th year so that makes it 2017! Like I said I'll have to save up for it..

 

So next question is where?Lots of States to choose from so I'll have to make a list of must see locations.

 

Lastly on what? My current bike is too small and under powered for a trip like that so maybe my dream bike BMW 1200 GSA. It might even make sense to buy one here and ship it out for the trip as a long period hire could work out the same as shipping.

Better save some more!!!!!!!!!!!!

#12 family

It is nice to have family. Sometimes they feel too far away and I always look forward to times with them. It is great to do things for them too and not expect anything in return.

#11 good customers

Mmmmm

#10 swimming

It is good to go swimming. Took Lizzie to the pool today and had a ball!

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

#9 fresh start

Everyone deserves a fresh start.

#8 favourite

Thought I would post one of my favourite camera phone shots from 2011. Love it, Little Explorer. April 6th 2011 by the River Garry.

#7 good parking?

A car reported as stolen from an Australian car park has been reunited with its owner, after parking itself in a closed garage.

Adelaide police say they think the car rolled down an incline in the car park, across a street and into a garage forcing itself under the roller doors.

The door closed behind it and the car remained undetected for 17 days until the home-owners returned from holiday.

On their return the homeowers, fearing a burglary called police, who deduced the curious turn of events.

"Although the roller door was closed, it had been damaged slightly and pushed out of its tracks," a police spokesman said.

Police believe that the car had not been left in the parking gear and so rolled though the car park and eventually "forced itself under the roller door, parking perfectly inside the garage where it remained safely under cover for 17 days".

The owner reported the car stolen after he parked it outside a shop in a suburb of Adelaide. Reports say that he had only bought the car two days earlier and only left it for a few minutes.

He told the police that he now recalls hearing a "bang", which may have been the car hitting the garage door.

Brilliant. Happy driving everyone!

#6 don't forget

I knew when trying to do this blog a day through 2012 I would forget one day. I didn't think it would be so soon. Hopefully this uploads in time.

Don't put off things you need to or want to do.

#5 on the road

Gets you thinking when you are on the road. Clear roads and sunny days it is nice to be out the shop for a few hours. Quick trip to Carlisle and back to pick up more stock and orders.

#4 Lost

It is not always a bad thing to be lost.

#3 Dig

#3
Blustery winter's day today! Scotland stopped. All major bridges shut to ALL traffic.
What did I do? Dig a hole. Engineers coming on Friday to check our house foundations for our new extension.

#2 DAKAR

#2
First real day of the Dakar. Sad day for one family's rider. One poor bike rider died of a heart attack after a fall.
Things people do can risk everything but makes them feel so alive.

#1 Happy New Year 2012

Whatever happened in 2011 I hope 2012 is happier and more fun!
I'm planning to eat healthier and look forward to more news like I got this morning. Congrates Craig and Dani.
My big year of blogging challenge for 2012 is to try and blog something everyday. Be it a picture a word or a book worth of words. Could be interesting.
Cool thing with New Years Day is the start of 16 days worth of the DAKAR!