Paris in pictures

One of the greatest benefits of living in Aberdeen is the proximity to the rest of Europe. We promised ourselves when we moved here that we would take advantage. We did again this last weekend, with a quick jaunt to Paris to meet our good friends Christian and Tara, along with their cute little brood, who had come from Singapore for a conference.

Fiona went over on the Tuesday. EuroDisney was on the menu. The kids enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it went over quite as well with Fiona. She did enjoy reconnecting with Connor, Sydney and Zoe, who, I think, liked having their "two Moms" back.

On Thursday I took an evening flight and we got a new hotel in the St. Germain area of Paris. Christian was still at the conference so on Friday Tara, Fiona and I took the kids on a walkabout. We walked through the Tuilleries, enjoying a "le hot dog" and a plate of crepes. We walked through the Christmas Market on the Champs-Elysees and toward our destination - the Palais de la Decouvert - a great children's science museum. As an added bonus, while waiting outside the museum we got a tap on the shoulder from some Teamsters standing around a pair of trucks. They were organizing the delivery of a new dinosaur exhibit (they had a great big box labeled "Guts and Poo interactive display") and offered to give the kids a sneak peak. Connor was duly impressed.

Saturday was another great walkabout, or sailabout, as the case may be. We took the Batobus to the Eiffel Tower. Connor offered me the fantastic sum of 20 eurocents to climb to the top. I declined.

Fiona and I went out alone for dinner on Saturday night, taking the concierge's recommendation and going to "le Coupe Chou". Utterly fantastic. A bottle of Rothschild Bordeaux, ouefs en cocotte, shrimps and foie gras, boeuf borurginon and steak au poivre. We'd go again in a second.

On Sunday we had a mid-afternoon flight, but still managed to squeeze in a visit to the Pantheon. Very cool. Voltaire and Dumas, Rousseau and the Curies, Braille and a whole platoon of Napoleon's buddies. If there is one thing we like, it's large building with friezes and statues and lots of dead people.

Misery, movies, vacation plans and Paris

I think someone has informed Scotland that we are no longer keeping a rainy day counter. We continue to be inundated with miserable weather. It's not just the fact that it is raining, but it is cold and windy and constantly wet. Combine this with darkness at 4pm and it starts to wear a little thin. We haven't changed our minds about what a great place this is overall, but it is a few more weeks of rain away from sliding a little on the list. I'll give it a little extra time because I don't think we've really helped the situation any. With the move and the myriad of other things we've had going on for the last little while we haven't gotten out and about as much we used to. I think if we get exploring again and enjoy the wonderful scenery and history again, it will help balance out the weather and keep Scotland in the good books.

We had a bit of a pick me up on Sunday afternoon. We went to Cineworld to go see Up. North Americans may chuckle a bit at that, but it has only recently come out here. Fabulous. One of the best animated movies I've ever seen - somewhere in the mix with "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", "Wall-e", "the Incredibles" and "the Emperor's New Groove". Probably the most heartfelt of the bunch, there were not many dry eyes in the theatre during the first 10 minutes. Highly recommended.

Our Cote d'Azur vacation for April of next year is coming together nicely as well. We've booked flights, a car and most of the hotels. The only place we couldn't get in was Cannes - there was some kind of convention in town and the hotels were full and doubly expensive. With each progressively darker day we look more and more forward to the beach at St. Tropez. Whatever gets you through!

We're also off to Paris this weekend. Actually, Fiona is leaving tomorrow and I'm joining her on Thursday night. Friends of ours from Singapore were going to be there for a conference and since it is only an hour and a half away we thought it would be nice to see them again. Fiona will get to see Tara and the kids during the week - Eurodisney is on the agenda - and then we'll all get together in the city on the weekend. Zut alors! C'est tres bon!

I'm Watching NFL Football!! Woo-hoo!

We said goodbye to Fiona's dad this week after a nice week together. Fiona and Roger took a day trip to St. Andrews before he left. They also took some nice walks along the old Deeside railway line. The last night was a bit long, as we all went to go see the great comedian Eddie Izzard (look him up on Youtube - especially the "Cake or Death" or "Death Star Canteen" bits!). Unfortunately we only got home close to midnight and Roger's flight required us to be out again at 5:30 the next morning.

We've spent a very nice, relaxing weekend getting everything in order in the new house. Hanging pictures, moving the knick-knacks, tidying up, etc ... With everything in its proper place it really feels like home. We even met the new neighbours.

Polished it all off with a great roast beef dinner. Roast beets, potatos, green beans and yorkshire puddings made it all very authentic. Now I'm sitting with a full belly watching a good Houston Texans team give the Indianapolis Colts all they can handle. Typical - as soon as we leave they get good.

We're also starting to plan our next vacation. We're looking at a nice three weeks touring around the Italian and French Rivieras. With the prospect of another Christmas at home (I have to work through the holidays) I think by the time spring rolls around, we'll be ready for some sunshine and time off.

Autumn in Aberdeen

We're coming through probably the wettest period of our stay in Aberdeen, with rain on and off for the last two weeks. But we seem to always have a little bit of luck when visitors arrive. There are always a few days of glorious sunshine and pleasant weather. This time it was Fiona's Dad who brought it with him. He decided to drop in on his way to Germany from his home in Mexico.

His first day here was probably one of the nicer ones we've had all year. Blue sky, a light breeze and the trees in full autumn colours. While I had to work through it, Fiona and Roger took advantage and went for a walk out on the dunes, close to where Trump is building his new golf course. They took Casey with them and ran her ragged. I always like the dunes. With mountains and forest so close by, they are hardly the type of features you'd expect to have in the neighborhood.

Friday was spent doing some shopping, or buying rather. Mostly just those things that you find from the old house that are not quite right in the new one, or now have a reason to buy. We're settling in rather well, things are in their place and we have everything connected and attached.

On Saturday we hit the golf course and played 9 in nearby Inchmarlo. The weather was brilliant yet the course was deserted. It was like playing on our own private course. I started and finished poorly with some good golf in between, Fiona played steadily with some fantastic shots off the tee and excellent putting and Roger beat us both quite handily with his usual great play. The rain had left the course a little soggy in place and while it didn't affect play it made some of the hills a little treacherous. We all took a tumble, but Fiona was the only one lucky enough to find the mud.

On Sunday the rain came back with a vengeance and we were forced to spend a day indoors. Fiona and Roger stayed productive, covering some of the old dining room chairs. It was kind of astonishing how dirty the old tenants had let them become. Fiona had picked out a great tweed to cover them with and Roger gave us a lesson in the proper method.

Fiona and Roger hit the old Dee-side railway line today to take advantage of another nice day. They did a good 11 or 12 kilometers before hitting the pub in Peterculter for lunch. They had Casey begging for a break. After going nose-to-beak with an angry goose she was ready to go home.