A Day in South Queensferry

Nathan and I decided to go to South Queensferry for the day on my birthday. We had planned to cycle on the old railway path all the way there but after Sunday's torrential rain we decided to get the train. It was so easy. We jumped on the train at Haymarket station, just down from our house and it took us 15 minutes! 

 

 We went via Starbucks so I had a nice Americano for our trip!

 

The Station at South Queensferry is up high as it is just before the Forth Rail Bridge. The station was very cute and we walked down to the main village via the end of the cycle path.

 Peeping through the trees on the cycle path you could see the Forth Rail Bridge.

 

 We got a great view at the top of the hill. The Road bridge on the left side and the Railbridge on the other.

 

 I love how quaint and old the buildings in the main street of South Queensferry are.

 

 

 

 We were lucky with the weather that it wasn't raining. It was a little cloudy at times and then there would be a burst of sunshine!

 

 When we went for lunch this was the view out of the big glass window looking onto the water- beautiful!

 

 

Nathan and I shared a mammoth feast of soup, salad, wedges and the most amazing (and highly calorific) croque monsier! Yum! It was my birthday after all! 

 

Having lunch at Orocco Pier in South Queensferry. 

 

 After lunch we went for a walk along the pier and it was so pretty- if a little cold.

 

 The sun was starting to set- hence the screwed up eyes!

 

 We attempted to take some shots but the sun was too strong!

 

 The bridge looked beautiful bathed in warm winter sun.

 

We walked back up to the railway station and were back in Haymarket by 4pm! So it was only a wee 3 1/2  hour trip but it felt like we we had a good break away and got out of the city!

2nd of November- My birthday morning

I haven't had a chance to post all my birthday photos yet- I have been so busy with work but here's hoping I can do it in the next couple of days. 

 

Even though I was on holiday from work on my birthday- (everyone gets their birthday off as an extra holiday  at my work) I still couldn't sleep in! I was up at 7- probably earlier than normal! Nathan had taken a days holiday too so he brought me my presents and cards in bed with a nice cup of tea.

 

 Very sleep but in good birthday spirit! I had on my birthday sash and tiara that Becky gave me the weekend before!

 

 I have been quite good recently but for a long while I used to put confetti in everyone's cards and presents so it sprinkled everywhere! So my sister and friend Amber got me back big style! It made the bedcovers look very festive!

 

 I had loads of lovely cards with beautiful messages inside- which meant a lot! The Royal Mail strike also didn't ruin the delivery of cards through our mail box- always nice to recieve cards in the post!

 

My favourite present of all was from my sister and Dougie- I have wanted a Paul Smith purse for the longest time and in particular a longer style so I can put cards, cash and coins in it. I was so shocked to get it. I had put it on my birthday list thinking maybe a few people may club together but I didn't really expect to get it. A very very generous and much wanted gift!! I love it!

I brought my 30th balloons home to Nathan and I's house and put them up in the livingroom with all my cards. My Grandma also got me a lovely bunch of red roses as part of my gift.

1st of November

The 1st of November Nathan and I's families celebrated my 30th birthday and Nathan's Dad, Neil's 61st Birthday. Neil is the 1st of November and my birthday is the 2nd so the joint celebration worked well. 

 

 

Becky went to so much effort for my birthday- she had decorated her flat with huge 30 balloons and 30 decorations and had made loads of tasty treats. Including amazing pink cupcakes with decorated chocolates.

 

 

Everyone made something for the lunch- Becky made soup, Nathan did the Main- Beef Brisket (in his crock pot!), Lily & Neil provided the cheese (from Ian Mellis- yum!) and Becky made delicious chocolate pudding.

 

 My Grandma Ellen and I

 

 Becky and my Dad

 

 Me and my cupcakes

 

The traditional Victoria Sponge I made Neil for his birthday. We both were sung happy birthday at the same time and blew out our candles together.

 

Nathan was given the camera to take some snaps but instead I got shots with a coke can and his Mum way in the distance! David Bailey he is not!

 

I loved my large 30 balloons. 

 

 Becky and I couldn't resist having a wee photo shoot with the balloons!

 

 I felt so special with all the effort Becky went to.

 

 Becky, my Dad and I

Becky, Dougie, Nathan and I

 

 I love fireworks and Nathan had wanted to surprise me with a fireworks display for my birthday. Dougie, Becky and him had planned the logistics and then on the Sunday it was pouring with rain- it was so heavy! There was no way we could have the fireworks.... you can sort of see the puddles out of Becky and Dougie's window.

 

 It ended up working out better as we did the Fireworks display on my birthday- there's a whole long post for that one too! I had such a lovely time with my family. I wish my Mum could have been there but we had gotten to spend a good amount of time together in London the weekend before but she was missed.

Halloween at Loreen's

I loved Arnie and Loreen's decorations- they had gone to so much effort! I couldn't help but laugh at the hand in the mail box! he he! It looked so real!

 

 I also loved the cutlery that came packaged in little black coffin tubs- simple but so well thought out!

They had decorated their fireplace in candles and severed heads- lovely!

 

I was a black widow spider! I put my fasinator together and it worked. I used a spider halloween decoration, black netting, a woven round hat base and a hair comb.... I bought a glue gun at John Lewis on Saturday and put them all together and they stayed stuck (miracle!) so my glue gun may be the best investment I have made because I can see it being used again and again!

 

All the girlies round at Loreen's. (l-r) Alex, Emma, Emily, Lorna, Wendy, Vicki and Me. Since the boys had their rugby boys only evening down at the club house we got yummy take away, made loads of cocktails and watched X factor! I couldn't have asked for a better evening! The girls also got me a cake and sung Happy Birthday and we had some fizz to celebrate! So nice! We then went out later and caught up with the boys.

 

Emma, Emily and Lorna (dressed as Amy Winehouse- I love her tattoos....Lorna is an flight attendent and got called to work (as she was on call) at 8am- tattoos and I- love it!! I think she wore a long sleeve top though! 

 

 Emily, Wendy and Vicki.

 

 Wendy and I (you can sort of see my black gloves which I glued little spiders to.. all up my arm)

 

 Little Red Riding Hood making cocktails in her kitchen.

 

 We each took turns to make coktails and Lorna made Pina Coladas.

 

Loreen and Alex. 

 

 Leona was dresses as a Grecian Goodess and looked amazing!

 

At the Standard we had a good giggle at all the boys costumes. I loved Squawkers Mr Incredible but the best bit of his costume was the fact he was wearing loafers!! he he! 

 

Ewan McSherry dressed as a ghost buster and Nathan was the guy from Texas Chainshaw Massacre (I don't watch scarey movies so I wouldn't know if he did a good rendition- he was pretty scarey though!)

 

 Nathan and I (I'm trying to do my best scarey movie face!)

 

 Loreen, Lorna and Alex

 

 Andy dressed as a scarey scarecrow, Vicki and Stu

 

 Wendy and Ed in a very scarey outfit!

 

Wendy, Vicki and I outside the Standard before the girlies headed back to Loreen's for more cocktails and we left the boys to it!

Alex, Wendy, Me, Leona, Loreen and Lorna with Spongebob and Matt in the background.

I had such a fun night and we didn't go too ott so I felt good the next morning- tired but that was more due to the time that my Texas Chainshaw friend got back in!!