Pancakes

Hi Kai,

I like going walking. It helps me get fit and I can go exploring. This week I walked some of the way of what is called the speyside way. The Spey is a river near where I live it goes through a little town called Fochabers where they have a company called Baxters. They make jams and soups. When I was little your grandma used to take me and your uncle Iain and your aunty Rachel to the restaurant when we would go to visit you great grandparents. The pancakes were bigger than plates. I like pancakes they are easy to make. I made some panckes for myself and your grandad this week. I tried to make some cherry jam to go with it but it was too runny. I poured this juice into a glass and your grandad said it was the best thing he ever tasted! Have you tried pancakes?
I like mine with syrup and butter when they are still warm out of the pan.

Hamish the Haggis

This is Hamish, he is a haggis. Haggis is Scotland's national dish but Hamish is a wild haggis. Wild haggis are very rare and timid creatures and only the most dedicated haggis hunters know where to find them. A wild haggis has a small horn like nose and makes a honk-honk sound, but it's usually very quiet. It is said to be extremely lucky to hear a wild haggis call. They wear tammies with their clan tartan on them this is so they know where they live. This haggis is from Ben Nevis and so is one of the most famous haggis in their society. They are very confused animals thats why they always have to wear their hats, it lets them find their way home if they get lost. This hat-navigation is the basis for sat-nav technology that people use in cars. Wild haggis have three legs, two at the back and one at the front. They are almost like chickens feet but only have two toes. Having long legs at the back mean that haggis' are able to run up hills very quickly but the short leg at the front means they can't run down again and they roll and bounce all the way to the bottom. This is where the wild haggis hunters wait with their nets and catch them before they can get back on their feet and run up the hill again. The haggis hunter will then sell the haggis to shops. That is why a haggis is a very timid wee beastie but if you see a man running near the bottom of a mountain with a big net you will know why he is there.

Banana Muffins

Hi Kai,

Today I made Banana muffins, or rather am making while I'm telling you about them. There are in the oven right now and will be ready and warm and yummy in about 10 minutes mmm mmm mmm. I like cakes and muffins my favorite kind have icing on them but too much icing isn't good for you so the ones I'm making don't have any. I'll let you decide which one you want to have first.

Lots of love Dad.

Buckie Thistle

Hi Kai,

I live in Buckie and this weekend the local team won the Highland League, I don't support Buckie but as it is my local team I thought you may like to know. Most towns in scotland have thier own football team, either in the league or like Buckie non league. People in scotland love football. Buckie wear green and white hoops like one of the famous teams, Celtic. I support Aberdeen they play in red and play in the premier league.

Nessie

I Don't really have a nice picture of Nessie but then again nobody does.
Nessie is a monster that lives in Loch Ness about 60 miles from where I live she or maybe he has been there for 1000's of years or maybe it's her great great great grandchildren. Loch Ness is deep and long and must have plenty of places to hide as no one has really seen whether Nessie exists or not but they keep looking for her. Maybe you'll be the one to find her.

Lots of love Dad.

Cormorants, I think.

Hi Kai,

Today I was near the cliffs in Portknockie and I saw lots of black seabirds nesting there. I think they were cormorants but I wasn't too sure. This is a picture of cormorants though. There are lots of types of birds that live near me, but I had never seen any cormorants in the garden. They aren't like gulls that I see everywhere. There is also a little black and white bird I like, its called a wagtail. It's called that because it often stands and wags its tail up and down, but it's not a seabird it lives everywhere not just at the coast.

Lots of love Dad.

Findochty

Hi Kai,

Today I went to Findochty. I walked there from my home which is about 3 miles away. Its a small village but has a nice harbour with lots of boats. There must have been nearly 70 boats there. Can you count to seventy? Grandma works for the lifeboats, they help people at sea. Your Great Grandad loves boats, I think he must know everything about them!

Lots of Love, Dad.