Scottish Winter Wonderland!

Happy New Year! I hope that the new year is finding everyone healthy and happy so far. Things are great here - but the weather has been UNBELIEVABLE. This isn't even an overstatement. All of the news reports actually rate this the worst stretch of weather since 1981! I mean, the Canucks were still wearing their yellow Flying V uniforms, and were getting ready to ride towel power to the Finals! Thankfully, we are here to experience this memorable weather! Other than the usual driving problems that snow and freezing conditions lead to, we've actually had quite a bit of fun in the snow. Here are a few beautiful shots of our backyard. Amazing!

Have you ever had an idea that seemed so brilliant at the start, that you wonder how it could have gone so wrong? Well... this photo shows the brilliant part of my idea. I found one of Calum's old surfboards in his shed, and with all the fresh snow on the loooong set of steps leading down into the backyard - yes, I know that you see it too... Here's Isaiah having a great time riding the surfboard down the steps.

Funny thing happened. Each time down the steps, Isaiah gradually went further and further, packing a beautiful smooth path. Finally Sophia wanted to join in, and with her little bit of added weight, the surfboard seemed to want to "take off". Unfortunately, it finally did. Fortunately, Sophia bailed off the board as it continued through the yard, swish over the edge, and sploosh into the Water of Leith. As we ran to look into the water, the surfboard jauntily tipped its hat and floated off out of sight. As I reassured Sophie that it was MY fault, in my head I was trying to figure out how much I'd owe for a replacement surfboard. Dejected, the three of us decided to walk downstream a while to see if the board could have become hung up on something. Sure enough, I was very surprised to see it a few minutes later, stuck on a snowy rock in the middle of the stream. This is the shot below!

The kids, and a few interested onlookers seemed to think that it was great sport to see me wade into the freezing cold river, which fortunately was only up to my knees at its deepest. Although difficult to see in the below photo, I was very heroic rescuing this board in distress.

Well, out of the snow, we've been having a great time keeping ourselves well fed and watered. Here is a photo of 3 of my favourite things... a gigantic beverage, a ginormous burger, and a smiling wife. Not often do all three of these go together...

Here's a photo of Kim and Courtney standing with a piper who piped us into our New Year's Eve restaurant.

Here are a few videos that we took over the break. I hope that you enjoy them!

Here Isaiah cruises around the ice on the outdoor skating rink in the city centre.

This is a shot of Isaiah making one of his early runs down the backyard steps on the surfboard. Great winter fun!

The final video is of Edinburgh's New year's fireworks. I missed the first big blast by about a second or two. Oh well, it was a pretty impressive display and went on quite a bit longer than this video. Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Jimy MacJohnson