Nothing says Christmas like forced family fun

 I don't know if you have ever had a 15 year old teenage boy, but I'm on my second one and to try and get them off of video games takes monumental effort!  I remember Jackson at this age BEGGING me not to travel and I lamenting that all of his friends would like to go if given the chance.  His answer was, "then take them!"  Because of course it was.  

Now Levi is at the same stage.  He likes to visit places, he says, but not travel to get there.  Levi doesn't even really like leaving the house if truth be known.  If he were left to be on screens for 24 hours a day, he would be ecstatic! 

But me, I'm another creature all together.  I would travel all the time if I could and if covid wasn't an issue.  But alas, here we are....

So to circumvent any trips across the pond to Dublin, or Paris or even London right now, I wanted to find fun things to do in Glasgow.  To the ever loving joy of the begrudging offspring Levi.  

First up was the Elfingrove ice experience.  A short 30 minute walk where they put together an ice skating rink in front of the Kelvingrove museum.  I grew up in Michigan with Oma who loved to skate, so why not.  It's only been a couple of decades that I've had skates on, but it must be like riding a bike!!  

I got on the ice as confident as can be, even pushing off with my less dominant left leg, to only start shaking, slipping and almost flopping right down on my backside.   Okay, so, this is not like bike riding.  I started slower after that.  

The inside was stunning and really fun for selfies.  

We even coaxed Levi's friend Cameron to join us. 

With a dinner at Wudon (Levi's absolute fav) afterwards.

I'm unsure if Levi has been in ice skates before, but he did great.  We all got more confident as the hour went on.  And I think in the end, none of us fell.  That was a huge accomplishment in my book!  But I will say this, 50 minutes is plenty of time to be on the ice IMHO.  

This was a fun way to end the experience.  I watched with hot cocoa in hand.  

While these photos don't do the museum justice, it was beautiful!

Okay, so the first outing was a success, but now I was ready for the big guns.  

The City Centre with George Square 

& 

the 

St Enoch Christmas Market

I prepped Levi and encouraged him to be kind and not ruin my eve with his teenage angst.  He did pretty well, but could use more practice!  If at first you don't succeed......  

Here  it is in all of it's glory!

This was near George Square.  The night was actually kinda warm at 50F.  

Many doors were stunning.
 

Fraser's, the high end department store always looks stunning at this time of year.

Now off to George Square, that was resplendent in all of it's glory.  

He is all ways so happy to take a selfie with his Mama.      NOT!

We ate out at the restaurant Cafe Anduluz, because I think
Christmas markets have only good dessert food.  We were ready to check out the market in the St Enoch Square.  

Here is the beginning of it.  

It was packed.

The dessert was quite good!

As we walked back down Buchanan Street, we aimed to find our bus stop to take us home.  

All in all, it was a great night.  Even when we didn't get off the bus at the correct stop.  In fact, it was the last stop, and we just sat there, good little patrons, not causing a stir.  When the Glaswegian Bus driver noticed us on the bus, he laughed and asked where we were going.  We then talked for a while, realizing our mistake, and he very jollily, decided to drive us to the exact stop where we were to get on to go home.  He was absolutely the sweetest.  I seriously find the Glaswegians some of the nicest and friendliest people in all the world.  

And to top it off, we got a good back drop of a store as we were driving (bussing) by.  

Happy Christmas Everyone!  

May all of your days be merry and bright.  

Kitty Kringle

It takes a globally diverse, open hearted, non-judgemental, village!

I know it's not over and that the cases are still high, but it is a helluva a lot better than last year.  (at least in my humble opinion).  And as always, my glass is half full, because I will always believe that is a choice and one I make determinedly EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!  (some days this is easier said than done!). 

This week and the past couple, have been full to bursting.  Trying to keep up with all that is coming towards me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

A very dear friend of mine, Effie, is moving into a new house.  And it needed to be gutted.  And when I say gutted, use your rawest imagination, it is down to the studs and trenches thru the floor kind of gutted.  IT'S WORK!  And isn't it ALL-WAYS so much more than you can ever anticipate?  Currently there is no electricity or heat, did I say they move in THIS FRIDAY?!?! 

YUP, they are moving in this Friday, and having 'been there and done that,' I know how it feels and that I needed to pitch in to help.  The more woman-power we can get, the faster this project will come to completion!  I mean it is a construction zone currently but we have to at least get the bedrooms livable.

So with tool box in hand, masks for sanding lead based paint, clothes that you don't need too badly,,,, I'm ready to go.  

There are up to 10 tradesmen in this house at a time, but being my fathers daughter, I fit right in.  But this time Opa, instead of country music, we have the '80's! (sorry, not sorry)  My heart is in harmony!

I've been helping with painting skirting (base boards), cove moulding, ceiling medallions, caulking, lifting shower trays.  You name it, I'm doing it.  

And I can't be happier!

I like to be busy, I like to be of value, and I like helping people.  Especially when they are near and dear to my heart.  

My friend has been thanking me profusely, mentioning that I am the strong angel coming to help and being the glue to hold our trifecta of friendship together.  And while I take the compliment and relish it.  I think back to when she made the cake for Levi's birthday last year.  When she mentioned fencing and now picks Levi up every Sunday for said lessons.  Who also continually plans fun outings for the 15 year old (surly) teens we have, to get them out of the house and off of electronics.

I'm also on a mission to help my other dear friend Aine with paperwork and organization.  Something I love doing and may be easier on my neck and shoulders?!?  I also revel with gratitude to this dear soul, who broke the lockdown rules with me last year and drove me to a new park outside of Glasgow every week.  Who listened to my deepest fears and struggles during the lockdown with my 2 teenagers, without even a remote hint of judgement in her body.  Who just accepted me for who I was.  Do you know how valuable that is?  I do and it's priceless!

I remember for my birthday last year, the two of them threw me a birthday party in a wee Glasgow park, complete with balloons, homemade scones, and a poorly made birthday cake (that remains my favorite to this day!)  It meant the world to me.  They were the glue back then.  That is what a true village does.  We act as a community, taking turns being strong - and in the end, just walking hand in hand with each other on this journey we call life.  Lifting each other up, with no soul left behind.  

These two literally saved me last year.  They were the glue that held my frailty together, it is now just my turn to be the strong one, while wielding a hammer, toting a ladder and helping with paperwork.  

I was privileged to have Effie's youngest son yesterday join me as I left the house to find some mirrors for my mirror wall (thx Melanie for the inspiration).  He is 10 yrs old and a total poppet.  Just a pure joy to be around and a great respite from a depressing 15 yr old.  I asked him who his best friends were in school.  "I have many," he answers and proceeds to tell me all of their names.  'Wow,' I comment, "you have only been here as long as us, not even 2 years, how did you accomplish so much?"  "I learned from the best," he says without even missing a beat."  "Really, so who is the best?"  I now must know.  "My mom," he answers.  Yes, young Rafey, your mom is the best!  I wholeheartedly concur.

An Englishwoman, an Irishwoman and an American woman all (unknowingly and unwittingly) walk into a pandemic.....

and 

then 

proceed 

to 

SLAY 

IT!

knight, knight,

Kitty

Celebrations - Scottish style

My first Halloween in the Glasgow house and I had no idea what to expect.  Last year we were in a proper flat, but now that we have the main door in a semi-attached house, I had to be prepared.  I had gotten out to Costco and had my sweets ready (nobody says candy here), but didn't know if I had enough or too much.  Isn't that always the issue for Halloween!?!?  I was excited to see how this was all going to go.        

Lights blazing and blow up skeleton at the ready!

The 'guisers' started showing up. It's guising here, not trick or treating.  I love that!

I had about 6 groups of kids, and it really only went from 5:30-7:00pm.  I started to worry that I was low on candy at 7pm, yet as the time went on, shockingly, no more kids showed up.  Such a change from the couple of hundred kids in GR that I am used to, but I found it quite fun.    

This is the local botanic gardens all set up for a nighttime light show.  

I love Halloween and it has been so fun to experience it in Scotland properly.  I'll be even better prepared next year.      

But time stands still for no one, so we were on to our next celebration.....

"Remember remember the 5th of November."  I kept hearing that from everyone around me, yet it is tough to remember when you didn't know about it in the first place.  But.... I was soon to learn.  It started with a dear friend asking us to come over for dinner, dessert and fireworks.  Well that is a quick YES!  "What time should we be there?" 

It seems that this is called bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes night, and there are loads of fireworks.  Here in Glasgow, you can have fireworks going anytime you want.  It's quite funny, compared to GR where it is highly regulated (yet never followed) to when you can shoot them off.  But no matter, we were up for the celebration.  

Here is the reason for it all.  I'm hoping this link works, because I've read it and still can't explain it well.  But it seems to be a Catholic vs. Protestant thing.  Ugggg, can't we just all get along?  Live and let live?    Religion should be one of the last places to start such wars, but that is just my opinion.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Anyway, we had a lovely dinner, with waffles for dessert, complete with every topping imaginable.  We then corralled other neighbors and headed out to the back garden for our own display of celebrations.  It was great fun!  

Rafe the sparkler wielding, spiderman destroyer.

Not great photos, sorry, but you get the idea! 

The party is never complete without sparklers.  

Levi and Hugo, the fire-starters.

Hugo and Levi the sparker fencers.

All complete with spooky vibes filling the air.  

It was such great fun with friends!  As we walked home, my friend Aine mentioned how it was a magical night.  The weather was perfect and almost warm, people were out enjoying each others company, the botanics were lit up with music floating out.  It really was a magical night, and what else would you want really?  

Happy Fall,

The contented Cairns

Visiting Dignitaries

I don't know if you are aware, but Cop 26 is happening in Glasgow starting tomorrow.  Dignitaries from all over the globe are descending on our wee city to tackle climate change.  Greta Thunberg is already here.  Biden is on his way and even Matt Damon, though I'm not sure they are traveling together.  Bummer the Queen had to back out, but understandable due to her recent visits to and fro the hospital.  We've got 120 world leaders and Lord Levi is already here, so we got that covered.  

But my favorite visiting dignitaries have been the friends who feed my soul!   

My best bud Heidi has been a friend for decades, we even moved to Dublin at the same time.  She is one of the greatest souls I know and I'm honored that she lets me be her friend!  She is a slice of home to me because I feel at peace in her presence, never having to prove who I am or even explain it.  She's just that precious to me.  

She has a love for travel that matches my own and is up for adventures of any kind!  So we hit the road.  

Stirling Castle was first up and we got to explore it with her daughter Morgan and Chad.  The three of them were touring Scotland all while visiting me in Glasgow as well.  

I loved this castle.  It was complete with people dressed in period clothing touring us around the castle.  This was the home of Scottish monarchs including Mary Queen of Scots.  The graveyards and garden walks were amazing.

We then headed over to the Wallace Monument for another heart and lung workout.  The climbing felt like 5 miles straight up into the sky, and is where I found these skallywags.  

William Wallace to the rescue.  A national hero here in Scotland and said to be who the Braveheart film is modeled after.  

I created my own shield.  Since Levi can become a Lord, I think I will become a knight in neon armor!

The views on this stunning day were incredible.  

After Heidi, Morgan and Chad toured the Scottish countryside, Heidi returned to Glasgow for some more adventures.  And boy did we have fun!

The first day we set off to go to Pitlochry for Heathergems jewelry.  We decided to stop at the Scone Palace since it was on the way in Perth.

It was the crowning place of Scottish kings.  

There were peacocks everywhere.

Heidi and the Highland cows were discussing the meaning of life.

This wee one, couldn't care less.  

We then decided to head on over to St Andrew's, because it really isn't that far.  It was a bit rainy for the golfers.  

But they were dressed well!

I love the wee town of St. Andrews.  It is stunning and fun to walk around in.

We even found a fantabulous Thai restaurant complete with free beer glasses to tourists.  At least that is how we interpreted it!

On Heidi's last day in our fair country, we got to visit the Mackintosh house.  I've been wanting to go there for a year, and it was well worth the wait.  Besides the Museum nazi's that targeted me and my deviant ways, we had a great time exploring and enjoying the house.  

I can confirm that touching the table is off limits! 

So much of the designs were beautiful, and smacked of Frank Lloyd Wright to me.  Stunning and quite uncomfortable IMHO.  (though trust me, I DID NOT sit down, we would have been immediately evacuated if I had!)

Margaret Macdonald was Charles Rennie's wife and was an artist in her own right.  They met at Glasgow Uni.  It is cool that she was/is celebrated as well as he is.  But they did not gain that fame until long after their deaths.  So true for so many artists I'm afraid.  

These are the exact same iron spindles I have in my house.  I was feeling quite special about it until the guide said that the Macintoshes wanted to change them, but didn't have the time or resources.  I'm just gonna pretend he loved them and kept them for that reason.  Because I do love mine and think they are cool (until I have to clean them, and then I curse them!)

It was so great to see friends and enjoy some travel.  It was a blast.  All while having a bit of a 'chinwag' (a 'chat' in Britain - I find that hilarious and a bit graphic).  

Thanks for stopping by Heidi!  

Okay who is next?  The guest room is ready!

Celtic Kitty

  

PS.  We never did make it to Pitlochry.  Maybe next time..............