Thursday, January 24, 2013

Snowy Stirling

I've waited and waited and finally we've gotten more snow!  Maybe it's because I'm from California, the land of perpetually moderate weather, that I love the snow.  I love the cold, I love the inconvenience  and it's always great to go on a dog walk when there's snow because the dogs all go crazy.  We had a lovely snowy week at the beginning of December so I was hoping for a white Christmas this year but we had another abnormally warm December which was a bit disappointing.  

Anyway, we've got some snow now and we're expecting a bit more at the end of the week!  All I can hope for now id that it gets really  really cold so there will be some ice skating on the Lake of Mentieth!



Snowman in the garden

Oscar at the quarry

A very snowy quarry walk

Stirling Castle blurry with snow

Saturday, January 19, 2013

My 6 Year Anniversary

Of course we're looking tan, we're in Nice in the picture!

I moved to Stirling in January 2007 and it's 6 years down the line.  It's been a hard adjustment, I miss my friends and family and funnily enough, thought that this would somehow get better but it doesn't and there are times when I miss my sister so much that I'm just bereft.  It's difficult coming in as the 'new guy' in your late thirties.  You have no history with anyone, no stories to share that anyone will 'get' and you sit around and listen to the countless stories that everyone else share with each other - normally really funny stories which are great but you never know who the people are or where the places are and, well, you understand what I mean.  

That said, David's friends have all taken me under their wings and include me as one of their own and you couldn't ask for better people. 

The reason I'm writing this little blip this morning is because last week when I was walking into town, I ran into some friends who were on their way back from the farmer's market and then immediately when I left them I saw a little puppy that needed some petting and when I looked up it was one of my former work colleagues at the University and, as we were having a chat, the nurse from my doctor's surgery walked by and then as I finished my final stretch into town, I ran into the lady who works at Sainsburys who I always chat with.  It was the first time that I've felt that I was part of the Stirling Community and it was amazing.  I've always referred to America as my home and it always will be but now it's really quite nice to actually feel that I've got a new one here.

Monday, January 14, 2013

A New Year...



A new addition to your arrival this year...we welcome you with cupcakes!


Boy, have I been remiss about blogging but I am very good about our Facebook page so make sure to visit us HERE in order to see what we're up to.

We've had a busy Christmas and New Year.  On the lead up to Christmas we were really busy updating the house...it looks brilliant!  We've painted and decorated, we've bought new linens, we've moved furniture and got new furniture as well and it has come together so well.  The thing with a house like Newholme is that you want it somewhat modern but not so much that it takes away from the heritage of the house and I think we have a nice combination of old and new here.  You take a look yourself by checking out our pictures on our website gallery.

The biggest news for Newholme this year is that David and I will be building a house next door.  This is great for us but is presenting a few challenges.  Don't get the wrong impression, Newholme still sits on about 3/4 acre and when I say next door I actually mean about 20-25 meters away from the house - but one mentions the word 'construction' and people can lose interest rather quickly.  The weekend lets, which run up until June, won't be bothered as there's no construction on the weekends but during our high season we only rent out the house on a weekly basis - oh dear.  We have decided to compensate in the form of a discount and you can check this out on our rates page.  We will be keeping everybody updated through the blog and Facebook, so stay tuned for updates!