Hedgehog impressions

Inspired by a picture of the blu one and her rugby team-mates trying to do hedgehog impressions using only their hands (i.e. just your own body - no props or costumes), which she posted on facebook, I have spent 15 minutes trying to do the same. This has proved two things:

1. You need one hand to do the extended nose, and that only leaves one to represent the spines
   
2. Their impressions were actually quite good.

DIME Weekend

This weekend was also the DIME weekend up at Aviemore. We had great weather- a bit damp on the Saturday, but not enough to stop the activities, and clear cold weather on Sunday. I managed to escape having to go on the bus, and instead met two otehr Leaders at Perth, and went up by car.

I was with the S1's as a Dorm leader, which we knew would always be slightly challenging as they are youngest, and not so acquainted with being away from home. They were, as expected, a wee bit hyper when they arrived, and despite best efforts to run the energy out of them, they still were a bit disruptive at bed time, so much so they didn't get their bedtime story.

Saturday was despite the rain, a good day. I was running the craft bay and we made stress balls, using salt and balloons. this was a great idea and I wish it had been mine! The kids also had options to decorate photo frames or make Hama bead creations, so all in all it was more of a quiet hour amidst the adventurous activities outside.

On my free session, I went with the S5-6's on the ropes course, and was beaten in the forward rolls game and probably most of the others, but we had a laugh with the Leaders looking almost as silly as the kids at times. However, Rachel and the blu one videoing me crawling through a net tunnel wasn't very nice, as I hardly look my usual composed sophisticated self! Then they went off into Aviemore for a coffee and I stayed on site with the younger ones.

Our Saturday night film was Monsters Inc, which I haven't seen before. The Tattooed drinker recommended it by text when i asked him what it was like. Given that he is a gore / horror fan, i did wonder what we were about to unleash, but was pleasantly surprised - it is a great film, though I do worry about agreeing with the Tattooed Drinker on anything!

The Sunday was a nice clear day, and while the kids played games, we tidied the centre, so that just after the kids left, we were finished and on our way. We stopped for a nice coffee at House of Bruar on the way and looked at the necessities of 'country living'. In hindsight, I think the main necessity is money.

Open wide

I need to see a dentist.

Why?
I've not seen one in over 3 years, because I used to go to my childhood one, but then he wet private and Mum & dad only registered themselves. Also, being 250 miles from your dentist isn't good. More immediately I need one as I have worn down one of my fillings so now very hot or cold food result in pain.

What is the issue?
I can't afford private dental care, so I need to find a dentist with an NHS list. Call me snobby, but more NHS dentists tend to be in less nice areas of town, and miles from home and/or Uni. The ones near Uni are expensive private ones. And the ones near home in the city centre are mostly also expensive and private.
What's wrong with the free NHS dental hospital?
Firstly i should let you know that I hate injections in my mouth - I smashed my front 2 teeth as a wee kid, and had 3 years of root canal treatment and caps so I had hundreds of injection in my upper gums and hate it.
Secondly I like dentists who a) know what they are doing and b) have only ever had one dentist from the age of 2-22, so i feel nervous about finding a new one. Also i know what state Med students are in in the morning, and I worry that dental students will be the same.

Ok, so why be picky?
I acted as hand-holder to the blu one when she needed dental treatment last year (she is scared of dentists beyond belief) and saw that some dentists are friendly, let you watch TV etc, and all on the NHS. In fact if I thought having a dentist in Edinburgh was a good idea, i would have gone along with her choice of dentist.
So have you any hopefuls?
Well after a google search and consulting the NHS lists from the health board I have found a possible dentists on the Southside, in Burnside. So I;m gonna phone them in the morning.

Holidays and friends

This time I had to kill the time from 1pm-6.30pm (when my DIME Team meeting was due to start) so i looked up a few old friends in Edinburgh and toured the coffee shops. First up was Dr A, who was one of the medical students who intercalated on the same course that was my honours year for my BSc. he has just started as an FY1 and was telling me the joys of his rotation compared to some others who work for weeks on end without a break etc, then have 2 weeks off.
It is quite worrying that in 2 years I could be in the same situations... very worrying!

Later in the afternoon I met the blu one and magrat, and we went for coffee before the DIME meeting and had a couple of ideas which I will work on. As usual the blu one needed lots of espresso, and some headache tablets.....

The less said about the DIME meeting the better really, but as normal I left with a long list of things I think I need to sort out, including a Treasure Hunt to organise and a Ceilidh to organise. Magrat kindly gave me a lift to the station so I got home not too late (in the rain!)

I still haven't yet got hold of the Harry Potter book - WHSmiths at at teh stations I passed through didn't have any!

Rannoch or bust!

I am starting to develop a wanderlust to head for the hills, or at least up to the Highlands towards Rannoch moor area.


I really enjoyed my last visit to Rannoch, in 2004, with the blu one. Its something to do with peace, quiet, emptiness, space and away-from-it-all ness.

Shrek the third

Tonight I went with DIME3 to see Shrek the 3rd at Fountainpark UGC, which since my last visit has morphed into a Cineworld. Thankfully none of the kids has morphed in the past two weeks. The blu one was back from her European wanderings and gave me a hug as well as telling me off for failing my exams. The kids really enjoyed the film, and so did the leaders funny how we all laugh at a U even when the rest of the cinema didn't find some bits funny!

I was really good and didn't buy a huge tub of salted popcorn (or even a small one).

Rach proved again to be the most punctual DIME TL at handing in her accounts for the last term. I'm not holding my breath to see who is last, but I bet he is Irish.

Edinburgh Rugby

In exciting news, Edinburgh rugby have managed to sign Stephen Larkham the Aussie, as well as managing to hold onto Hugo Southwell. With this years Rugby World Cup in the autumn, the season and hence pre-season start early this year (ie now).

Having watched Edinburgh rugby matches for close to 4 years, since I was a 3rd year studying Biology, I am actually quite excited by their chances in the season ahead, assuming that their Scottish internatials don't get too injured, and that the Summer internationals, World Cup, Autumn Internationals and 6 nations don't prove too much.

Hopefully I might even get through to see a few games with the blu one again, but with her rugby team training on Friday nights, and me being in hospitals next year, that might be a bit hit and miss. The only match I got to see last year was the derby with Glasgow, at Hughenden last December on a bitterly cold Friday night. It was a good match, which Glasgow won (grrrrr) due to having less injured players.

It is quite worrying that so many of the Scotland internationals and Edinburgh players seem to be only a year or two older than me, and the majority of the Edinburgh team are younger than me. Kinda makes me worried when others are fulfilling their potential already.


I have to point out that despite supporting Edinburgh, I support England at the Calcutta cup. At other 6 nations matches, I am more ambiguous.