"but mummy i AM learning"

Lilah had a pretty full-on weekend.

There were lots of successful experiments -- taking her scooter to the massive skate park around the corner and going down the half-pipe being one notable event.

Then there were the learning experiences (I'll tell you about those shortly).
And at one point, Lilah, attempting to hand a hot cup of earl grey to her dad, spilled it all over him and the leather couch.

At which point, I react, and say something cliche, like "Lilah!  You have to LEARN!"

And then she says,

"But Mummy, I HAVE learned!  I've learned LOADS of things.
I've learned not to stick my hand under a Daddy's saw.
I've learned not to stick my hand under the boiling water.
And I've learned to go to bed with the light off."

Steven and I just laughed.  As quietly as possible.

Because she was right.

adventures in inverness

walking into town

at the only Jamaican restaurant in Scotland

Kool Runnings

Lilah and mum

one tired princess

three generations after a long day

eilean donan castle

this is the most photographed castle in scotland

it's true

google it

on the way out of skye

one of the many one-lane "B" roads in scotland

you encounter more sheep on the road than cars

but if you do come up to another car, you must obey the rules

and pull into a "passing place" 

(designated by an extra swash of concrete)

because there ain't no room, man

there ain't no room for passing on these lanes

finally, the rest of our isle of skye visit

staffin beach

lilah at the museum of highland life

more of the museum

such a beautiful setting

nonnie at the museum

uncle jim at the museum

the last valley before the atlantic

dunvegan castle

the dunvegan castle gardens

necessary for protection

uncle jim, lilah, and mum at the castle

nonnie, lilah, and mum in the gardens

The Isles Inn... Lilah's first hotel

(ours was the room on the top left, the one with the window cut off in this pic)

it comes highly recommended -- great food, great atmosphere, and beds up the stairs after your night out.

detailed face painting

the ice queen becometh

a delicate process

easter bunny + ice queen + kali 

jack wanted blue lips

so jack got his blue lips

but man oh man, look at those blue eyes!

easter egg hunt, take 2

ashley and nicky supervising

rupert and cutie pie jude

the 8 september girls

lovely lilah

easter egg hunting success!

more shots from the red bus tour

mum and nonnie

george square 

(we did end up going on the ferris wheel)

sunglasses

glasgow architecture

the oran mor

for those that don't know:

it used to be a church.  now it is a pub, theatre, restaurant, live venue, and popular choice for weddings.

the fountain at glasgow green

behind is the West, which is now a brewery, 

but was closed on the day we visited for a "private function"

mmm hmm

the people's palace

(mogwai have played here)

the kelvingrove art museum

(it's free to get in!)

later, a trip to kelvingrove park

probably one of the best "swing" shots yet,

with the university tower emerging in the background.

much better pictures of our recent holiday, taken by uncle jim

on his first proper day here in glasgow, steven and i took uncle jim around the west end for an "architectural walk."

somehow, we ended up at our favourite pub, The Belle.

you would have thought i'd be drinking the gloriously advertised Hendrick's and Tonic, but i surprised even myself by ordering a Bloody Mary.

it was a damned fine one, as well.

Nairn

absolutely gorgeous

you wouldn't think it was freezing cold

(but that is the north sea out there)

Kool Runnings (Inverness)

uncle jim and lilah

eating at the only jamaican restaurant in scotland

we almost fooled you, didn't we

lilah's happy because she's getting fish and chips

(preferred diet of this growing girl)

holding up Flora MacDonald's grave

Flora saved Bonnie Prince Charlie

she dressed him up like a girl

(her servant, actually)

they stowed away in her daddy's boat

and sailed over the sea to skye

to escape the nasty englishmen who were after his head

(they didn't fancy another scottish king)

she was well travelled

one of the first of the settlers in north carolina

1774

tried her hand at nova scotia

but nothing compared with her lovely scotland

so she returned there for the last ten years of her life

and has a beautiful resting place 

back on the isle of skye

Dunvegan Castle

in front of one of 2 of the waterfalls in the massive garden

it was such a windy day that i finally realised the benefit of walled gardens in the UK:

inside you get to leave the wind, but keep the sun

the MacLeod Clan has the Fairy Flag, by the way

and they own St Kilda

(although nobody lives there anymore)

Skye's Museum of Highland Life

this way first, please

(we couldn't take pictures from inside the buildings, but trust me,

you wouldn't feel your 2 quid was wasted.)

lilah's first visit to a hotel

we stayed at the Isles Inn in Portree.  

it's a hotel that is situated above a pub, which is amazing.

i told lilah that hotels are places where you can stay up late and eat chocolate and custard in bed, so here is a picture of lilah staying up late, eating custard in bed.

i'm true to my word.

upon arrival in portree, isle of skye

portree harbour at low tide

probably explaining what a "tide" is

no snow here!