A right scorcher !!!!!

After spending the first 3 months of the year in the Southern hemisphere, enjoying summer summer in Africa we thought we had pretty much had all the sun we would get for the rest of the year.  Scottish weather is notoriously unpredictable and the summer can be just as cold as winter.  However last weekend in Scotland was a right scorcher !!!!!.  Temperatures hitting 29oC it was unbelievably hot for this time of year.  So with the sun out shining it was time to dig out the shorts and t-shirts !!!

Afterwork on friday we thought it was only right to take part in an Edinburgh tradition when the sun is out: have a drink and some food in the Meadows and Bruntsfield links.  These are two large parks in the city center.  We bought a pizza and some ciders and sat out enjoying the evening.  It seemed every one in the city was out enjoying the sun.

Summer in the City !!!!

Next morning we went to watch our friend Jane run the Edinburgh 10K road race.  It was another very hot day and a very tough run which took the runners around the big "mountain" in Edinburgh, Arthurs Seat.  Jane did very well and completed the race in a great time of 58:30, just under her 1 hour target !!!!.  Jane also kindly raised money for the Nocet Orphanage and Pre School we volunteered at in Tanzania, big thanks to Jane !!!!

Jane running for Nocet.

Jane with her finishers medal.

After watching Jane and enjoying a post race breakfast it was back to work in the garden for us.  Gillian has been volunteering on a project called Artlink, and helping with their communities gardens.  She was offered a small allotment there, so now out Green Living Garden project has started to grow !!!.

Our first task was to clear the ground, pull out all the weeds and dig the plot over.  Not an easy task in the heat, it was just like being back in Tanzania building gardens for the Green Living Planet !!!!

Welcome to our Garden !!!

Follow the path......

Our plot before we started.

Hard work !!!

Can a have a beer break ?

Watering the plot.

Having a wee BBQ at the allotment !!!

Finished and ready for planting !!!

It was a tough afternoon in the garden, but very rewarding and to finish off the day with a BBQ in the tranquil surroundings was great.

Next day most people would probably have a rest, but not us ! it was our time to run. We had entered the Dunblane Hydro 7.5 Mile road race, so we made our way to Dunblane to take part.  Sunday was even hotter than saturday and the race started at 1 pm, so it made for a very tough race, especially as the finish was a steep climb up the driveway of the Hydro.

I was very pleased with my race finishing just under the 50 minute mark at 49:39 in 14 place, Gillian had a very tough race battling with fellow club runner Jan and finished 57 mins 42 seconds.  We finished off the weekend with a nice cold drink in the bar at the Hydro.

Dean, Gillian and Jan with their medals after a very tough race at Dunblane.

The Scottish Cup Final

As most of you probably know I'm a big football fan and my team is Heart of Midlothian or the Hearts, Jamtarts or the Jambos (which is also Swahili for Hello !!!).  The only downside of being away for the last 6 months that I have been missing the games, although I was able to keep in touch via the internet.

However I was back in time for the biggest game in the clubs history, The Scottish cup final against their fierciest rivals from Edinburgh : Hibernian (or Hibs or the Hibees).  Any game between the two is always a massive game in Edinburgh, and the this was huge, the last time the 2 met in the Final was 1896 !!!!!

The atmosphere had been building up in the city on the weeks running up to the final.  Hibs have never won the cup since 1902 and were desperate to bring some success to their club, Hearts have won it twice times in "recent" years 1998 and 2006, but this game was almost about not losing to your rival than actually winning the cup.  The losers would face humiliation for years to come.

Hearts had beaten the mighty Glasgow Celtic in the semi final 2 - 1 and Hibs had beaten Aberdeen by the same scoreline.  Hearts have had a reasonable season finishing 5th in the league, while Hibs have struggled with relegation and come second last.  This meant that Hearts were the favourites, but that bring extra pressure and that could be costly.

I was lucky enough to secure a ticket a couple of days before the game, and it was a hospitality package, so we got taken to a hotel in Glasgow before the game, got our lunch and free drinks and listen to a couple of Hearts legends John Robertson and Paul Hartley talk before the game.

After lunch the bus took us to the stadium.  The atmosphere was electric, the stadium was packed one half the maroon and white of Hearts with fans twirling their scarves, the other green and white of Hibs waving their green flags and unfurling a massive Sunshine on Leith mosaic.

Hearts and Hibs before kick off.

The game started will for Hearts scoring their goal after 15 minutes, then they scored again in 27 minutes.  Hearts were cruising and had taken almost complete control.  The looked confident and they were passing the ball well, Hibs on the other hand seemed disjointed and just could get near the ball, it seemed that they had suffered from stage fright.  However Hibs fought their way back into the game towards the end of the first half and scored a goal just before half time.  A perfect time to score and bring themselves back into things.  The next goal would be crucial, if Hibs scored the momentum would be with them and Hearts may start to panic.

Hearts on the attack.

No sooner had the second half started it was all over.  A Hibs defender pulled the shirt of a Hearts player as he attacked the Hibs goal, right on the edge of the penalty box.  Everyone's hearts was in their mouth, was it a penalty ?.  To be honest it was probably just outside, but the referee decided it was a penalty and the Hibs player was shown a second yellow card meaning he was sent off.  Hearts scored the penalty to make the score 3 - 1, and then the Hibs players lost their confidence and were swept aside by Hearts.  The poor Hibs supporters had also seen enough and they had all but left the stadium by the end of the match.  Hearts scored 2 more to make the final score 5 - 1 to Hearts.  A dream result for Hearts fans, but the worst possible nightmare for Hibs fans.

Hearts lift the cup

Player and fans celebrate.

The next day the team paraded on an open top bus through the streets of Edinburgh, back to their own stadium Tynecastle Park on the west side of Edinburgh.  The sun was shining, thousands of fans lined the streets,  it was a great occasion for Hearts Fans and for the city of Edinburgh.

Happy Jambos waiting for the bus.

People everywhere trying to get a view.

The Scottish Cup

Dean and Dave remind us of the score !!!

A cool Hearts motorbike !!!

We only won 5 - 1 !!!

Probably once of the greatest football matches I've been at and a great weekend with my Jambo Pals !!!.

Run to the Hills !!.................

Yes its the title of a classic Iron Maiden tune, but this weekend we did actually run to the hills!!!!!!

The weekend started with a wee party on the Friday night.  We were invited round to Alex Wallace's place for wine and a lovely dinner and a chance to catch up with some of the James Gillespie's students we met working on the Jabulani project in Durban, South Africa.  They certainly had a great experience on their voluntary work in Durban.

The next morning was a bit hazy,  but we hadn't time to lie in , Gillian was keen to get down to the Edinburgh Council plant sale to see if we could pick up some bargains for our garden.  I was expecting a relaxing walk around the gardens, but it was quite  competitive  with gardeners pushing in front of each other for the best plants, and fighting over wheel barrows !!!, I thought gardening was supposed to be a relaxing past time !!!

Plant Sale !!!!

Gillian and Evelyn with their new plants

Gillian and Eileen get the early bargains!!!

After the plant sale and a bacon roll (yum yum), we decided to put on the off-road trail shoes and gofor a run in the Pentlands hills just on the South side of Edinburgh.  Its a beautiful place to go for a walk, run or cycle and there is even a ski slope !!!.  Its a place for the residents of the city to go to get away from it all !!!!.  We ran for about 6 miles, which took up about 1 hour inc hills and photo stops .

Gillian running past the thatched cottages in Swantson village.

The climb begins !!!

We got some fantastic views (of Edinburgh, not me !!!)

The scenery takes you mind off the tough running.

Gillian finds a comfy place to rest of the summit of Caerketton hill !!!

After the run and some hot tomato soup lunch, it was back to the garden to get some of the plants planted !!

My "functional" hanging basket creation.

Gillian getting her hands dirty.

Planting my courgettes !!!

4 Bags of potatoes at the back and courgettes and cucumbers in the front

Our we green living garden !!!!

A Royal Running weekend.....

Last weekend was our running club's Corstorphine AAC annual trip to Balmoral for 10K races and a spot of hillwalking.  On the Saturday where was a number of different distances 5K, 10K and a 15Mile Trail which all take place in the beautiful Balmoral estate.

All the members of our running club ran well and both Gillian and I were very happy with our runs as this was our first race since the Kilimanjaro Half Marathon back in February.  Gillian even won a prize for 3rd senior female.

Corstorphine AAC

Dean Running.

At the Finish line.

Gillian picks up her prize.

Balmoral Castle.

On the Sunday we hill walking in the Cairngorm mountains to climb Beinn Bhuird.  It was one of the most beautiful days walking in Scotland we have ever seen.  Blue skies, sunshine and lots of fresh snow on the mountains, it felt like we were in Patagonia !!!!

Start of the walk at the Linn of Dee.

Beinn Bhuird in the background.

Lunch stop.

Looking back down the valley we walked up.

Some amazing Scottish scenery.

Snowy Cairngorms.

At the summit of  Beinn Bhuird 1197M.

Heading back....

...to the pub !!!

Another fantastic weekend in the Scottish highland, just goes to show Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Help Required !!!

Our friend Jane Anderson is running the Edinburgh 10k on May 26 for the orphanage we volunteered at called Nocet (New outlook Center ).  They are a new orphanage and are in need of many basic resources such as pens, paper even food to feed the children.

We would really appreciate if anyone can help.  If so please go to Jane's fund raising page :

http://www.gofundme.com/kwvuk

Go Jane !!!!!