Red Funnel boogaloo

Well, what a wonderful weekend I had in Leiden. Thanks Gary, Caren and Sam, and Jan and Ge, for making it a truly memorable weekend.

I've uploaded a whole heap of photos, just click >here< to see the new album

New fence

Turmoil at chateau stu this week, as John the joiner erects a brand new fence, and installs new upstairs doors and frames. John brought a fencing guy, Ian, with him, and Dave helped enormously: digging holes, roots, helping erect the fence and clearing the garden. Thanks to all for such a fantastic job. The fence really will improve the garden by letting in so much more sunlight. A working party of four - Neil, Debbie, Dave and I finished it off on Saturday morning with a coat of paint. Photos of new doors to follow. (they're not painted yet...)

River Don floods

View from my front door, Thursday 22nd October. The River Don is flooding and flowing at running speed. The black "thing" in the river is actually the bench on the footpath. Click the pic to enlarge.

Dave also took some really good pics.
>Dave's pics of the flood<

I drove over the bridge at Inverurie, and it's very flooded there too. Further downstream at Kintore, a farmer was tragically lost today when his tractor submerged in the river while he was trying to reach his stranded cattle.

I've also uploaded some new "Around Kemnay" pics
>Around Kemnay<

Donkey riding...

Skye and Gaia, October 2009

John Lewis gets value competitor

Operator Sam...

...learning the trade early!

(click the pic to enlarge)

Coo-eee...

Frances, September 2009

Three go mad in Kemnay

See Adele, Maggie and Janice have a swinging time in Kemnay on their tour of the North.
Click the pic to enlarge, or >link to the album<

Pay attention Debbi :-)

Just jokin'...
Thanks Julie-Ann for making the incredibly fantastic chocolate cake (mmm...), and a big thanks to all my wonderful friends and colleagues at Aker Solutions for making my 60th birthday just the absolute best. You are a truly inspirational bunch!

Another of Julie-Ann's masterpieces

...the cake says it all really!

(click the pic if you want to see a really HUGE chocolate cake!)

early September

Looking west across the Pleasure Park in Kemnay, on a fine Saturday morning in early September. This is the view from the new Barratt apartments currently under construction. Click pic to enlarge.

Lights, camera...action!

Paul appears in Aker Solutions' office with Bluestone Film Productions' film crew. He had a short assignment as a runner on a promo video.

Amanda's adventures in Aberdeenshire

We had a great day out - lunch at Gaddie's restaurant, Oyne, followed by a visit to Huntly Castle and the shortbread factory. Click the pic to enlarge, or click the link to >view the album<.

My living room, August 2009. Clck the pic to enlarge.

  I've had dozens of butterflies visit my buddlea, and fortunately managed to snap some of them during an idle moment in the garden this morning. Click here to see more pics

T in the Pleasure Park

Kemnay kirk yoof eating. Nothing new there then!

Happy birthday Alex!

I hope you're having a whale of a time!

The boys are back in town

New Isle of Wight photos, taken June 2009.

21 today!

Happy birthday Paul... you've got such a good future in front of you... go for it!

On the beach...

...digging for gold?

Sam and Gary, May 2009

Springtime in Kembhill Park

Outside the house. The River Don is visible behind the tree. Click the photo for a fantastic enlarged view.

This one's from my front bedroom window, May 2nd. 

There's more new shots of springtime in the park in my photo album.

Skye and Gaia, spring 2009

Swine flu

Take two... with a bacon buttie!

Life's just a carrot cake...

Well hey ho indeed! The icing on the cake says it all really. D-day was officially 21st April. Thanks for the cake, Julie-Ann, and thanks to all my fantastic colleagues at Aker Solutions for making my day. Every day, that is! What a hoot!