Roses are Red, Violets are blue.....

Happy Valentines Day to all bloggers!

We celebrated in style last night with a rather competitive darts game in a gorgeous Highland retreat at the Spittal of Glenshee where Holly triumphed over Poppy and parents and we all enjoyed a magnificent dinner and sampled a few malt whiskys beside a roaring log fire. For an indulgent escape we can highly recommend Dalmunzie Hotel (www.dalmunzie.com) suggested to us by Ian. The chefs there are going to send us a recipe for Hollys comfort food recipe book to raise funds for The Monster. We had to travel to Aberdeen this week for G to get his Pet scan so we stayed overnight with my sister Dot and my mum and dad helped look after the girls when we went to the hospital. We also took the opportunity to deliver mum and dads belated christmas present which was a computer and internet access so they are busy making up impenetrable passwords and practising with the mouse. Mum has already got the hang of things as she has acquired a free mouse mat from a "charming young man" and John Lewis will shortly be delivering the computer desk...watch this space we predict day trading in stocks and shares starting shortly at No 71.

G is back into hospital tommorrow for Chemo 3 so he is busy packing his bag; computer and gadgets, DVDS: West Wing, Sopranos, Lost and Black Adder....some hefty intellectual books in case anyone with a digital camera is around, otherwise it is copies of Top Gear, Playboy and Viz and the obligatory photo of the bluesmobile, messages and pictures from Poppy and Holly and some Irn Bru and chocolate. He is looking really well at the moment and although he gets a bit tired he has generally been feeling OK so...fingers crossed for a good run with chemo 3.

Tim, Sean and Dave came round today to start the decking on the roof which we are all really excited about as this will be our outdoor roof garden from our lovely study upstairs. We are also getting into training for our Monster challenge and Lorna and I went for a lovely walk along part of the Southern Upland way last week from Longformacus to Abbey St Bathans with Lorna's friends Mike and Alison. Mike is a ranger on the Southern upland way so it was very interesting to hear more about the area. I was up the Pentlands on Sunday in the rain and met a man with an Eagle who was going hunting for rabbits.....Tim has started training in earnest but needs to get a suitable cushion for the bike, Duncan was also whinging along the same lines having gone for a 50 yard bike ride at Torridon this weekend. We have been trying to sort out accommodation for the event which has been quite a challenge in itself due to the size of our team, however we did manage to get places at Loch Lochy youth hostel for the night of the 4th May so we can have a team send off party then and a followup in Inverness sometime...on the 6th May. Duncan has taken on responsibility for the Inverness passing out party on the Sunday so we will keep you all posted. The Scots and the Irish teams will also have a couple of chalets in Drumnadrochit for the weekend for basecamp and for the support people. G and I tried to set up our fundraising webpage tonight see attached link: http://www.justgiving.com/gerrysblogteam

We intend to get a team photo to post on the site so will try and get everyone together for that.

So I shall sign off tonight and wish you all a very indulgent Valentines Day.

Deputy Blogger


Distances

Swifts turn in the heights of the air;
higher still turn the invisible stars.
When day withdraws to the ends of the earth
their fires shine on a dark expanse of sand.

We live in a world of motion and distance.
The heart flies from tree to bird,
from bird to distant star,
from star to love; and love grows
in the quiet house, turning and working,
servant of thought, a lamp held in one hand.

Philippe Jaccottet