Fraser and Hannes_Scotland_October 2012

Fraser and Hannes,

Scotland, October, 2

012

Day 1 and 2Fraser, Day 2 of our time together started at the seafront park in Ayr, we played on everything apart from the swings and the flying fox as you were not keen on these. We had a great time running around and testing all the equipment, including the fitness equipment. We then went over to the park where we played Frisbee. We then waited until 2pm to see the balloons being let go. We went over to the lady blowing up the balloons to ask when they would let them go. The lady noticed my accent and asked if I was from Australia. I was then completely shocked as you proceed-ed to say “This is my dad, he lives in Australia, and he is just here to visit me”. You made me so proud. I had not heard you speak about me in this way, and was so happy to hear it come from you. You also seemed very excited to tell the lady this news.

Hannes and Fraser-Scotland October 2012

Day 1

Day 3Today we spent the day at “Heads of Ayr Farm Park”; we had an absolutely great day feeding the animals, going on the rides, going on the bumper boats and the vari-ous jumping mats. We played on the diggers. We fed the goats, pigs, deer and the ponies. I taught you to keep your hand flat to avoid getting bitten. We had a great time on the tube slide outside and the vertical slides inside, espe-cially the one which finished in the ball pit. The soft ball shooting gallery was great too, we worked together to col-lect the balls and fill the air gun. I taught you how to keep your head down to avoid getting shot by the other kids. You went on the quad bike and the tractor alone. I was proud to see how you have grown up since my last visit and were able to go on the rides independently.


Day 1

Around the HouseHere are a series of photos of us spending time together in the cottage. We did a lot of chalk drawing outside the house, including with Olivia and Elliot from next door. We hollowed out pumpkins and cut out the faces for Hallow-een. I have also included a photo of your bedroom, with the photos we put up together. This is something we did together in Australia so it was great to see you still enjoy putting them up and asking about/reminiscing out great times spent together. Also a great photo of you and Mau-reen having a laugh together on one of our visits. You made the pony after your ride at Kelburn, your pony was called ‘Honey’. You can see our Lego and the other activi-ties we did together too. We had a really great time in this house and were very lucky to have your friends next door. Also your artworks are great!!!

Kelburn Castle and ParkWe had the most amazing day together at Kelburn, we explored the Secret Forest and ran down the maze paths together while navigating through the scarier installations. We then went and saw the artworks which adorn the cas-tle. Again you were fascinated by the various faces and the owls which surround the windows. We then went for a pony ride on a white house called ‘honey’. You really liked this, even if you were a little nervous at first. I held your hand as we went around the track. We had a walk through the stables to see where Honey lived afterwards. We had chicken soup for lunch and a great chat, especially about the various birds we had seen in the birds of flight exhibi-tion. You were particularly fond of the white owl so I have included a photo of you both. My highlight for today was when we were both in the playground and you said you couldn’t climb e of the walls. However after I showed you how to do it and after a few minutes of practice you were shooting up and down the wall. Then when it was time to go you didn’t want to leave, as you wanted to continue climbing. A great day had by all.


Day 1

Maureen’s and Glasgow Part 1We went to Maureen’s regularly during our visit as you enjoyed her house and seeing everybody. You would of-ten bake together or we would show them our latest Lego creations. We made a truck with a digger, a jeep with motorbikes and a police helicopter. We watched cartoons together too, your favourite was Scooby Doo!!! You would play with Richards and Maureen’s hair, pretending to be a hairdresser.On Saturday we travelled together to Glasgow to go to the transport museum, you were very excited and we actually arrived 45 minutes before opening so we had a good look around the tall ship parked in the Clyde, we had a chal-lenge of finding 8 rats on the ship, which we managed to do. We also did some of the manual labour on the boat.


Day 1

Glasgow Part 2One of the best things we did in Glasgow was get your li-cense, so much fun and so many laughs watching you try-ing to navigate your little yellow car amongst the cones. At the end they took your photo and printed your license. You were so happy with yours, you showed everyone over the next week, even Mrs McKenzie on your first day back at school. The old buses were doing tours of Glasgow so we sat up top and had a great time touring around. You would point out all sorts of things as we passed through the city. We went to ‘George Square’, to a ‘Fraser’s’ store, to ‘Ham-ley’s’ to find Lego and to the Lighthouse to see the view.


Day 1

Glasgow Part 3In the afternoon we did an open bus tour, these are some great photos of our adventures together!You had a bright red jacket so I tried to take photos of you with anything red. As you can see we found lots of red things. This was a great day out. Whenever I took a photo I would have to show you on the camera as you were very excited.


Day 1

Glasgow Part 4 and Wind farmWhile at the transport museum we had soup for lunch, you really liked it. We were playing with the camera and pull-ing faces while we were eating. This page is the result of two boys mucking around while waiting for our lunch. So funny to see all the faces you can pull. I think you might have learnt a few more in your first term at school! We also played on the giant seat set up at the front of the museum. I lifted you in and you asked me to take your photo. On the way home we visited the wind farm, we went for a walk between the windmills and you ran and asked lots of ques-tions about the windmills. It was the first time I had walked amongst them and I think we were both impressed, espe-cially by the scale of them. They are massive.


Day 1

Football

Fraser, today I got the opportunity to kick the football with you. This is something I always pictured myself doing with you so I was very excited to finally get the chance. We are both very keen footballers and like any dad, I am keen to see you enjoy your football. I had seen you train on Sat-urday so was great to have a kick. We both ran around for over an hour, we both had a really great time with me in goals and you trying to get past me. The weather was amazing too; we played at the shorefront in Ayr. Later we went to Denure and walked and played at the Harbour.


Day 1

Arran day tripToday we went to the island of Arran, I had wanted to visit here for some time as it can be viewed from Ayr on a clear day. I mentioned this and you were very excited. It was great to get the ferry together and experience the winds and the views back to the coast from the top deck. You were so excited to be on the boat, so we spent the trip going between the various decks on the boat. We also had lunch on the boat. On arrival we did a bus tour around the island to see all the sights. Again this was lots of fun as we spotted animals and landmarks on our trip. A very nice place and great to explore it with you. On our return journey we had hot chips with sauce. You were one happy boy.


Day 1

Edinburgh Day TripToday we travelled to Edinburgh to see Emma and Gra-cie, your Auntie and cousin. David joined us for the day. It was great to see Emma and meet Gracie. The 5 of us had a great day together, we went to a local park, where we played on the playground. We pretended to be in a castle and were under attack from dragons. We all had a great time on the flying fox, especially pushing your grandpa Da-vid along. We had brought a mask at Cullean Castle and this provided many laughs as you made everybody wear it before lunch. A great day spent with Emma and Gracie, great to see you running around and having so much fun with your family.


Day 1

School Days.Our school days together were always busy, I would lay out your clothes the night before, you would usually wake me before the alarm went off and we would make toast and cereal, then get dressed, then play or read a book be-fore walking to school. I chose the cottage because it was close to your school so the walks were a very enjoyable experience. We would talk about the other children in your class and Mrs McKenzie. It was great to see the school and to get to know your friends and teacher. You are lucky to be so close to the ocean, the view from the upper floor looks amazing. At the pickups, I would wait with the other parents in an-ticipation as suddenly all the students began to pour out of the buildings. I would then go in and get you and say hello to Mrs Mckenzie. I am so happy you like your teacher and the school.


Day 1

HalloweenHalloween is not really celebrated in Australia so I was excited when you asked if we could hollow out some pumpkins when we were shopping at Tesco’s. Together we planned how we would hollow them out and where we would put the scraps. Together we decided to put a happy face on one side and a scary face on the other, that way we could turn them around for each face. We put them on each night of my final week with you. On our last evening together I took you to a Halloween event at the Robert Burns Museum. You dressed as a pumpkin! We had a great night listening to all the scary stories and making Halloween toys together. A great last night together. We were later featured on the Robert Burns Museum website making spiders together!!!


Day 1

Wet weather daysDuring some of the wetter days we stayed indoors and played together, you were very keen to draw faces so you drew faces for me, Jess, Daniel, Pop, Dagmar and Hella. You would ask me to write each person’s name and then you would copy them onto the back of the faces. We also wrote postcards with pictures drawn together to Nanna, Omi and Opi, Jess and Daniel and Hella. We cut out pap-per to make lots of different patterns. You really liked these so I had to promise I would keep them for you. We played with the Jenga blocks and built lots of different bridges together. Doing these activities together really gave me the chance to get to know you, we would just sit and talk and play. So much fun, I am so grateful we had this opportunity to just be ourselves together.


Day 1

Cullean Castle and ParkToday we spent the day at Cullean Castle as part of their school holiday program. Together we made a Silver Fir tree as these are being cut down around the park due to disease. We had to design, draw, college and paint our tree together. This was a great activity to do together as we could spend time together while working with the other family to create the tree. The other children were slightly older so it was good to see how you were learning from them. They would draw a squirrel on one side of the tree and then you would draw one on the other. It was so nice to see how you interact and speak with perfect strangers. You are always confident and polite. I think you were very proud of our finished tree, the photos are certainly testa-ment to this!!


Day 1

Carrack Hills and the Harbour RestaurantToday was my final day with you. I picked you up from School and we travelled up to the Carrack Hills, from here you get a great view over the Ayrshire coastline. I was surprised to see you march up the hills with great confi-dence. At the top we spoke about the view and if we could see the cottage. We also decided that we needed to get a billy cart so we could bring it here and ride down together. It was excited about the prospect of bilycarting here and I could tell from the way you spoke you could’t wait. For dinner with travelled to Dunure for our dinner, you hade fish and chips which you seem to choose whenever you are given the option. I had a yummy steak pie. We laughed together and made a pirate hat from the newspaper. We pretended we were waiting for a drink as the waitress took our photo. Another great day together. I just have to re-member to bring the billycart on my next visit.


Day 1

Fraser and Hannes_Scotland_October 2012

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