I hope you all had a wonderful Easter Holiday. We certainly did !
As you are aware we ventured to the beautiful island of Mull for a week at the beginning of April. We were very fortunate with the weather and only had one or two damp days. Thankfully the heaviest rain came during the night and died away during the day, so at least it didn't stop us from touring and experiencing the island.
The dogs are well and truly exhausted and are in dire need of another holiday to get over this one but they did enjoy themselves on the beach every day.
We were also very fortunate to see plenty of Golden Eagles even from our lodge and we were especially blessed in seeing the Sea Eagles without having to pay for a tour. Sea Eagles are also known as "flying barn doors" and if you ever get to see one you will know why! The Isle of Mull is a fantastic place to visit and a week isn't long enough to see it all. Hopefully, we will get back to visit again in a few years.
Here is a video of some of the photographs I took when on Mull. I hope you enjoy the video.
Video Copyright Scotweather.co.uk 2009 All Rights Reserved
As some of you are aware one of my dogs last year ran into the trampoline safety net bolts and required surgery as a result. Since then I have been trying to work out a way of making the trampoline safe for both the kids and the dogs at the same time.
As blocking the lower part of the trampoline wasn't a long term fix, I have now found an excellent solution to the problem... pity I didn't think of it sooner.
Since I have been unable to obtain suitable end caps for the bolts I have now purchased and fitted tight fitting plastic tubing to the safety bolts so should a dog or child run into the bolts neither will sustain serious injury.
Also last year I took note that children were going under the trampoline while someone was on it even after being told not to do so. This issue has also been addressed with the fitting of plastic coated mesh fencing around the legs of the trampoline. So hopefully this year we will have safer fun on the trampoline.
Other Childminders and Parents should take a good look at their trampolines for missing end caps to the safety net bolts - Serious Injury possible. I will publish my fix as soon as possible for anyone in the same boat as I was with missing end caps.
I shall again, this summer try and tackle the on going problem with the slippery decking amongst other items requiring maintenance.
This year the following will be tackled: Slippery Decking, Re-decoration of areas in need of attention, repair to the leaking sink in the bathroom, repaint the outdoor furniture and the repair of the slatted bench.
The central heating boiler will be due for it's annual maintenance in June or July this year also.
I shall also endeavor to keep the weeds at bay over the summer period.
I am currently updating the website with more information that is informative for adults but I am also adding more content aimed towards the children. Some of the children will see their baking efforts shown on this site and I also aim to scan their lovely pictures and add them to the gallery too. I shall be creating, over the next few months, information on the excursions the children have taken over the years but please be reassured that no pictures of your children will be published. I hope you like the new and improved website.
2008 into 2009 has been an incredibly busy period with children coming and going and sadly we have not had much time to experience new and exciting activities. However, since late 2008 the younger children have been enjoying a weekly visit to softplay and from March 2009 I have been introducing baking and cooking for the older children to experience on a one to one basis. Our first little cook is JT who, so far has baked us some fairy cakes and pizza which were both a great hit with his family. The aim behind baking and cooking is to enlighten the children to the fact homemade food can and does taste far better than packet or tinned foods, and that it can be so much fun too. This also encourages the more fickle children to try new and exciting foods and adapting cooking to fit their tastes. Not to forget mentioning that homemade foods can be far healthier than processed foods particularly by limiting sugar, salt and fat intake.
2008 into 2009 has been an incredibly busy period with children coming and going and sadly we have not had much time to experience new and exciting activities. However, since late 2008 the younger children have been enjoying a weekly visit to softplay and from March 2009 I have been introducing baking and cooking for the older children to experience on a one to one basis. Our first little cook is JT who, so far has baked us some fairy cakes and pizza which were both a great hit with his family. The aim behind baking and cooking is to enlighten the children to the fact homemade food can and does taste far better than packet or tinned foods, and that it can be so much fun too. This also encourages the more fickle children to try new and exciting foods and adapting cooking to fit their tastes. Not to forget mentioning that homemade foods can be far healthier than processed foods particularly by limiting sugar, salt and fat intake.
