The Big Wheel

So I have been away to Canada the past week and a bit, well I have been back a few days too, but I had a really good visit with some of my friends and most of my family. So I really appreciate all the effort that everyone put in to see me and getting me from one place to another. I did take a bunch of photos while I was there but not really any of the actual places I stayed. I reverted to my non photo taking self. But maybe I have a post in there. 

I got to meet my nieces and they are both such awesome wee people. I could probably fill this blog with pictures of them!

But I realised I am quite behind, Hayley and I went to the Christmas market and on the big wheel way back at the start of the month. So I thought I would go back to that and get some of those photos out there.

I have wanted to go on the big wheel ever since I very first moved here, and yet somehow between working and not wanting to go alone, I have never done it. But it turned out to be a gorgeous day for it, and it couldn't have been better. We finished off the day with mulled wine and churos/crepes.

I didn't find my speculass cookies so I will need to try next year!

The Game Masters

Hello! Back again this December, I didn't know if I would post again before the year was out. I have been super busy working and my days off have been busy too, so this is the first time I have had a chance to actually sit down and post about what we have been doing.

It was my birthday not long ago now and we had some pretty excellent plans, firstly Dixon was going to make me breakfast, but we went out the night before. And boy were we hungover! So we went out for breakfast! We were planning on trying a new place for it, but they stopped serving breakfast at 12, ridiculous! So we went to an old standby, Pappi, and I of course got waffles! They had their new coffee machine installed now, and the coffee was amazing! I didn't get a photo for you of breakfast but you get the idea if you have seen them before.

After eating I for one felt a whole lot better, I think Dixon was putting on a brave face.

Afterwards we went to The Game Masters Exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland, you got to play everything from original Donkey Kong and Pac Man on the Arcade machines, to The Nintendo 3DS, Computer games like Warcraft and Starcraft, PS2 with Shadow of the Colossus, which I have wanted to play again for ages. All the way to indie games for the iPad, with loads of info about their creation and concept art for some as well. It was really cool!

I was hoping to take a lot of photo as we weren't told you couldn't when we went in and there are no signs posted, but my flash went off and this guy came hovering over and said, "You can't take any photos in here" So I was totally fine with this and said sorry and whatnot. Apparently, I didn't sound sincere enough because he felt the need to come closer and say, "If you take any more I will have to ask you to leave" I don't know if that was necessary, but he wasn't on the job too much when other people were snapping away and he was playing Mario 3 on the SNES.

Anyway that didn't dampen my spirits too much, and I had a lot of fun, though Dixon almost had to drag me away from Sonic 2. And he got me a wee souvenir from the exhibit, a Pac Man ice cube tray!

We did also plan to head down to the Christmas market, and get some Mulled Wine, got ice skating and go on the big wheel, but my hangover had not gone away as much as I though it had when I was in the museum. So we just went for a bit of a walk through and then home again to see Gail Gordon and Hayley.

New Year

I hope everyone had a brilliant New Year, mine was pretty great from the moments I remembered, as well as had some downs, but I am not going to focus on that. This year me and Dixon were next to each other when 2014 hit and that was a first, making it pretty special already. 

I'm totally looking forward to 2014, so I hope everyone else is too!

I got totally spoiled this Christmas, it was incredible, and we had an awesome day, Gail and Gordon came over for breakfast, and Dixon made a massive feast with a Buck's Fizz to go with it which was both elegant and funny in our plastic wine glasses. And the Dinner at Gail and Gordon's was amazing, Hayley made me a Lentil Loaf, which I need to get the recipe for, and some of the best Brussel Sprouts I have ever had. It was a really fun day.

I took some pictures, and Dixon took more, so I will have to see what he has and maybe add them later.

I also didn't think that I would have continued on with the blog as long as I have and though there have been some gaps I think it is only going to get better so thanks for reading and we will see what this year has in store.

Advent Calendar

Christmas is coming and we are getting in the spirit! Town is getting busier, the days are getting shorter and I still do not have my Christmas tree up, I am hoping we can get up into our attic to get it down this week, cause I really want to put it up! Dixon says its too early, but I still want to!! So to tide me over until we do get our tree up I got myself an Advent Calendar and made on for Dixon! Lego and Beers!

Dixon has even opened the windows, and not all at once like I know some people do with their advent calendars, total self control!

So its been a busy week for parcels coming as well, not just through the door but picking them up and paying customs charges, hopefully everything will make it here on time. One package that I got came from Camille and Caryn, with a post card from Lea! It was full of amazing things, including a Batsign and a National Geographic, I really should get a subscription!

And we also got our couches! Finally! They were supposed to be at the house late Friday evening, but because of the horrible weather on Thursday, winds in excess of 80 mph, the truck was stuck in Glasgow, but they eventually made it and it is awesome to have something to sit on!

So its a lot of this and that, but hopefully soon I will have my Christmas tree up and more adventures to share with you!

Edinburgh Light Night

It the Christmas Light Night ceremony this weekend and I got to go. Hayley and I went to the Stand comedy club again for a free lunch time show of basically Whose Line is it Anyway first, and then had a wee coffee, and then joined the festivities. I maybe should have taken some pictures of George Street, because they had about 8 stages, where different groups and schools were putting on performances each, and I don't think I have ever seen anywhere that full of people, except for maybe a concert. So that was really nice to wander down the street watching bits and bobs from different people until the main stage was ready.

They sang some Christmas songs and then the countdown was on for the lights coming on, and fireworks too. It was really nice and you did feel full of the Christmas Spirit afterward. We also walked up to the Christmas tree to take photo of that with the Winter Village in the background. I do need to work on my timing for the Fireworks, I got way more of smoke than of the actual fire!