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It hasn’t been too long but I thought I’d better warn you all out there.

While Kate and Terry were visiting I took them to see the botanic garden and feed the Squirrels. I’d been telling them how cute and friendly the squirrels are all day, so I think they were kinda looking forward to it. We grabbed a bag of Monkey nuts (peanuts roasted in their shells) and off we went down to the gardens.
We spotted the first little guy about 50 meters into the gardens and he came running across the lawn when bent down holding a Monkey nut. I was surprised when the little beggar came right up to me and snatched it from my hand scratching me and started munching it. I stood, up holding another nut in my hand, and we watched him eat and chatted to each other. Before I knew what was happening he was on me, clawing half way up my leg, trying to get at the other nut in my hand. I managed to shake him off and get away, while Kate was running away and Terry was in hysterics.
Unfortunately Terry was too busy laughing to get a photo so this will have to do.

Hello everyone
A few weeks ago Emma and Jaz came to Edinburgh to visit us, YAY!!!

They were here for about a week. Unfortunately, it happened to be a crazy busy week for me at work but due to all the over time I did get I take Friday off work to hang out.

They did their own thing for the first few days; visiting the castle, looking around old town etc. A few days after they arrived we all went and got a good old dose of kiwiana by means of a rockn’ Dave Dobbyn Concert. It was great, everyone was so into it! I think the crowd (of only about 200 people) was 99% kiwis. It was great being surrounded by familiar accents. If we had been away from NZ alittle bit longer I think I would have been very home sick. Dave played all the old classics; whaling, slice of heaven, etc and some of his new ones too.

We went for a walk up to Arthur’s seat. It’s a volcanic peck in the middle of Edinburgh. It was great to be surround by grass and open space. It’s crazy how little grass there is around the city. They don’t even have grass verges here. Ok don’t get me wrong there are some lovely big parks and gardens but it just not the same. The start of the track is only about 15mins walk from the royal mile and from the bottom it only takes about 30 mins to walk to the top. On the way we stopped at the ruins of an old church.

The views from the top would have been spectacular if it wasn’t for the Scottish mist.

We took Jaz and Emma to the Garden’s to see the squirrels, of course. We didn’t come across any giant ones this time, maybe next time. Below is a pic of a 200 year old hedge (at least that’s what I think I remember reading).

I know it's been a little while between drinks but there should be more posted here soon. Kate and Terry are coming next weekend and we've organised ourselves a trip to the scottish highlands at the end of the month. Also the Fringe fetsival is over august and we have started to buy tickets to shows. Also we're doing a South England trip early September (already booked flights). After that we can get to the serious business of travelling to the continent.

It's heading into festival season in Edinburgh with the Edinburgh festival, fringe festival, book fest and so on. The past weekend was the first of the bunch - the leith festival with it's main event the leith county fair.

Well not the county fair but the gala day of the Leith Festival. It was way better than we thought we were going to get. Not just the sweet stall and bobbing for apples that we expected.

Jamie was really keen to go on the ride that spun you around and tipped you upside down at the same time. I wasn't keen. We decided on dodgem cars instead. I got a very evil look when I smashed into a lady with a small kid. What was she thinking - it's kinda the point!!! Jamie amused himself greatly by hitting into the back of me making me spin 180 degrees. Anyway the 3min ride seemed to be over in seconds much to my disappointment.

After the ride we went on a mission to find candy apples. After asking several stalls we finally found some but to my disappointment (again) they were kinda poo, look good tasted bad.

for those of you that can view this it's a short (20 sec) movie of the rides at the fair.

On the 2nd and 3rd of July the 7's came to Edinburgh, we went along on the finals day to support the kiwis, and they did us proud.

Not only did they win the tournament but by doing so topped Fiji as the overall winners of the year. sweet.

We were sitting close to a rowdy bunch of NZ kids who added to the awesome atmosphere. Although they seemed a bit preoccupied with building huge cup towers, which didn't amuse security. One of the guys turned out to be one of my (rach) workmates. Anyway there was lots of singing, including a rendition of uma rapti.

It was cool to see NZ win all their games. But the crowd favorites (besides Scotland) was kenya with everyone getting in behind the team. Pretty sure they beat the aussies on Saturday!? yay.

28 - nil, and the game wans't even over

As some of you already know Rach has got herself a job. Yay Rach whoooowhoowhowo. This now means that the pressure is right off me and I can just bum around home, read books and write blogs which I know you all love and treasure so much.

To get myself up in the morning I have been walking Rach to work. About a 20min walk through the 'new town' (only 200 to 300 years old). So here's a glimpse of what I get to look at on my stroll home from dropping Rach off to make us some dosh.

This is the street Rach works on, Chester St

St Andrews church on Princess St with the castle in the background

The Edinburgh Castle view from Princess St

The Royal Scot Museum on the Mound

The Scot Monument

A view of the old town

The Royal Botanic Gardens are right round the corner from where we live. To kill time one of the waiting days before Rach started work we went for a walk round the gardens and through the massive glass house and indoor gardens.

You get a little radio that tells you about the different plants as you go round. There’s heaps of different rooms all kept at different temperature's and humidity’s. Stinking hot and humid in the jungle rooms and dry and dusty in the desert rooms.

They even has a fern room, felt like we were deep in the NZ bush (got a little bit homesick 'sob').

After the glass house we tried to find some British wildlife (squirrels). Rach had brought a banana which we used to lure them to us. They are really tame and will come right up and eat out of your hand. Cute little buggers aren't they.