A little slice of heaven

So the past couple of days have been pretty relaxing! 

The other day we spent all day cutting material for Cathy to make into chicken jumpers. Cathy and Alex run an animal rescue centre and they rescue about 150 or so chickens that are about to be sent off to the abattoir. These chickens are all featherless so that is where the jumpers come in! So we spent the whole day watching chick flicks and cutting up material for these little chickeny jumpers. 

At around lunch time we decided to get up and stretch our legs. We glanced out the window and lo and behold, there it was. The most magical sight our eyes had ever beheld. Snow!! It was snowing right there in our back yard! 

Like little children on Christmas morning, we grabbed our jumpers, bolted for the door and stood outside for ages just watching the snow fall to the ground. We looked up and it fell into our eyeballs and onto our tongues! Who would have thought that it would taste like water? Haha ahh amazing! It fell so gently like rain but softer! Ahhh it was so cool!!!!!!

Sadly it didn't get thick enough to build a snow man but it was so beautiful! 

Yesterday was a lazy day but we did clean out part of the kitchen in the morning. We were so tired in the afternoon though, so Jess and I both napped (pffft what Nanas). After dinner we watched a movie and had an early night. It must be the weather that is making us so tired. 

I was told in the morning that I stole 3/4 of the bed last night.. Oops... Hahaha I'm a little bit sorry. I had a great sleep though and Jess kicked me over to my side anyway so I'm sure it was fine. I'll try better tonight...

Today we got off our lazy butts (after watching a movie) and took the dogs for a hike! 

We played fetch with Tanzy and Dougal the whole way.

Such stunning views!! 

When we got home Jess and I found Fred cleaning his male bits and suddenly realised that we didn't really know how cats reproduced. So we googled it and we questioned why 'doggy style' was called 'doggy style' when cats do pretty much the same thing. I suppose 'feline style' doesn't have the same ring to it. 

I went for a run along the sheep paddocks. My body was so confused! It was freezing but hot at the same time.. So it decided to feel numb rather than any particular temperature. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about what Jess should do at uni, watching Jimmy Fallon and reading story books to Leo!  

It has been an very lovely past couple of days. Cathy and Alex have been so welcoming and we feel right at home. 

We shall check in again in a few days!! 

:) 

Just your average Scottish Highland view

Well the past couple of days have been spectacular! 

So after sitting in a bus for 13 hours and having to change position every 20 minutes to avoid our legs going to sleep we entered the town of Inverness! 

But wait! Did I mention we saw snow for the first time?! AHHHHHHH SNOOOOOWWWWW! Real falling from the sky, white, fluffy snow!! 

There was only one problem.. The region it snowed in was about half an hour away from Inverness... But we still saw it! Ahhh it was so beautiful, as though Christmas had come again.. And then quickly disappeared again. But it was there, and in that fleeting moment it filled our little hearts with the hope and joy we needed to continue on our journey. Everyone else on the bus was probably rolling their eyes as we jumped from window to window snapping shots of the white, white goodness.. But at the time we couldn't give a toss, our childhood dreams were becoming a reality! 

Sorry it's hard to take nice photos on a moving bus. To get a good idea it looked exactly like this...

...in our young, eager minds anyway. The angels sung as the teeny, tiny snow flakes fell from the heavens and were splattered on the bus windscreen like the insides of an unfortunate bug. So beautiful :')

As we entered the bus station and sat in the cafe to wait for our helpx hosts to come and pick us up there arose a few problems. First of all Jessica went to use the rest room so I sat and looked after the bags, then the girl working at the cafe came and told me to leave because this was a customer area only and she told me I couldn't even drink from my own water bottle.. Well excuse me for being a little parched. My goodness she was going to make me move all our bags by myself to go stand in the corner. Welcome to Inverness please get out of my cafe. humph! So I told her Jess would be back soon and then we were going to buy something (except I wasn't too sure I wanted to buy anything from her anymore.. Cranky little sod).

THEN! After Jess went to the toilet she warned me that it was 30p to get in.. Ugh having to pay to go to the bathroom. That was all fine though and I got my 30p ready. But the money machine took my coins and didn't let me through! What is it with this trip and gates?? I just wanted to go to the toilet! After spending 13 hours on a bus there was a long call of nature that I urgently needed to answer! So after a bit of a struggle, a kind old Scottish lady, a helpful receptionist and a magic gold coin I was able to enter the bathroom, relax and let my problems go. Oh and the machine spat out 10p when I exited haha it was as though it was apologising. It was forgiven. Then I told Jess that it stole 20p and she pointed out that I got in for 10p less. Good point Jess very good point.

After begrudgingly paying the cafe girl for a sausage roll we ate and waited.

SUDDENLY the phone rang!

"Who could it be?" I cried with wonder. 

"Ummmm..." Jessica replied. 

Good point again Jess. Seeing as we don't really have any friends here that would want to call us yet it was probably the hosts. And right she was! Alex was going to be there in two minutes. 

We freaked out. Jess pointed out (gee she is full of good points today) that we had the upper hand as we knew what he looked like but he did not know what we looked like. So we went and sat next to another two girls incase he entered with a machete or chainsaw then we could tell him that the other girls were who he was looking for and make a quick exit. Good plan us. 

About 2 minutes later Alex entered. We didn't have to resort to our escape plan because he was so lovely! (Also I think the other girls had left by then) He greeted us with a smile and a handshake and helped us squeeze all of our belongings into the car. The drive took about half an hour and when we finally got here we were warmly welcomed by 2 dogs (Dougal and Tanzy), 2 cats (Daisy and Fred), a ferrit named Martin, two turtles and a back yard full of ducks and chickens. Cathy, Alex's beautiful wife, gave us a big hug and introduced us to Leo, their soon to be 2 year old boy! They have such a beautiful family! We were given the afternoon to relax and settle in so we unpacked our bags in our new room for the next couple of weeks.

Jess has the little bed because she smells. I'm kidding we just share the big one and whoever has flatulence issues gets banished to the smaller one. I'm going to be sleeping down there quite a lot..

After unpacking we were given the grande tour and were left to explore outside for a bit. And oh did we explore!!

Here is their gorgeous house and yard from the neighboring paddock. 

Oh and if you turn your head to the left.

Not bad. And if you can muster up the strength to turn your head to the right..

Maybe take a walk up the hill about 100 metres..

Oh look it's the hundred acre wood. Let's go find Christopher Robin! 

Close enough. Now let's keep walking.

And a little bit further 

Well we've walked for almost 20 minutes now let's have a squiz at this view. 

You know, whatever, just your average 360 degree view of the Scottish highlands a short walk from the house. No biggie. 

Oh. (Here you go Mum haha) 

Sorry it's a little late but a very Happy Australia Day to you all.Ours was pretty cool (about 3 degrees)! How was yours?? 

Haha! 

Oh my goodness this view has got to be the most amazing spectacle ever! We were absolutely gob smacked by how truly astounding it was! And how close it was to the house! Crazy and unbelievable!! 

Ugh such a nice walk!!

When we got back to the house Cathy had prepared a beautiful roast chicken for dinner which we absolutely loved. Much better than pizza or microwaved packet meals!! Jess was introduced to true Scottish Whisky as well as being a comfy cushion for Daisy the cat.

And I fell in love with Fred

Jess took some selfies

Fred stole my heart again

And after watching a classic Scottish TV show (can't remember the name right at the moment but will get back to you) with Cathy and Alex we went to bed feeling tired but very very happy in our temporary home! 

This morning was our first morning in this beautiful house! We helped Cathy quickly clean some wood cabins that get let out to holidayers before rushing into town to get Leo and Alex to a dentist appointment. Jess and I amused ourselves in Inverness for a few hours while Alex and Cathy ran some errands before coming home and having another top notch dinner! Today was fun and we also got a chance to face time our families as well which was exciting! Jess and I were serenaded by my sisters to a lovely version of a song about building a snow man (from 'Frozen'). I also got told off by my mother for being inappropriate. How can I possibly still get into trouble when I'm on the otherside of the world? It just goes to show how powerful mothers are. 

This is Daisy getting very comfy.

Anyway we hope you enjoy the pictures!! Hopefully will post again soon :D

Oh and ps: it turns out that Loch Ness is about 10 mins away from where we are staying! So cool!! And so huge! No pictures yet but no doubt there will be some soon!! 

Notting Hill markets - take 2

This morning we were woken by our fellow Australian room mates.. Not impressed!! The young hooligans. Haha some of them were the same age as us but still they were way too excitable for a Saturday morning so they made us feel like tired old farts.

After checking out we had to put our bags in the storage room because our bus to Inverness doesn't come until 10:30 tonight. Silly me left my scarf and gloves in my bag so I had to suck it up and take the cold like a man. Lucky for me it was a scorching 11 degrees so didn't have to suffer too much. 

Jess and I went on a very dangerous adventure after checking out. Primark. We entered Primark. We went in for socks and a bag for Jess. But came out with 6 bags of lollies, batman undies (very necessary) and a jumper as well as 6 pairs socks and a bag.. And almost these glasses and this bag

But we talked some sense into ourselves and said 'no that is enough.' So we think we did alright only coming out with double and a half of what we went in for.

Also there are these spherical lantern thingies hanging from the buildings along Oxford street which are really cool! We were hoping they would light up at night but we didn't ever see them light up so they might not which is a little upsetting.

Didn't realise this but Marble Arch bus stop is called Marble Arch bus stop because of the big Marble Arch situated next to it. How original. Here is the Marble Arch.

Pigeons everywhere! Jess was not impressed.

We ate lunch in Hyde Park

And then I decided that I needed my gloves and scarf so forced us to go back and get them before we venture on toward the big Saturday markets at Notting Hill! 

This isn't a very good photo but it was very busy haha should have held my hand up higher sorry!!

Saw some crazy things at the market.

These shirts were pretty funny.

Also this interesting artwork.. Hehe

And some inspirational words from the great woman herself.

Truer words have never been spoken.

We were also fortunate enough to come across a busker. Not your average kind of busker though. He was an older gentleman wearing a single flipper (yes, a snorkeling flipper) on one foot playing his child size guitar (that was missing all it's strings) and singing along to the music blaring out of his big black speaker box. Sadly I didn't get a photo because we were concentrating on keeping a straight face and not offending the man. But he was very serious about it all so I have a feeling he thought he was convincing everyone that he was actually singing and playing. At least he was giving it a shot. 

Haha we also saw a professional headstander...

Some very interesting characters around Notting Hill on a Saturday. 

Also today took our classic Phonebooth photos..

Gross. It was truly gross in there. Pee on the floor and hooker adds all over the floor ugh smelly! 

Anyway we spent the rest of the afternoon passing our time in the bar playing scrabble, sitting through a quick storm and reading.

Jess won by 2 grr... Haha top effort!

There was lightning and thunder and wind and wew it was crazy. What else is to be expected after such a hot and humid day. We should have seen it coming. 

We are meeting our first helpx family tomorrow which is exciting but it might be a couple of days before we can blog again. Not sure what the deal is with internet at their house but either way we'll be in touch soon!