The last week of our summer was a much quieter one than the rest of the summer had been.
It started with lunch at Auntie Anna's. It was nice having lunch cooked for me after a week cooking at camp.
Auntie Anna always takes fun photos of the boys.
We spent the start of week six unpacking everything from 5 weeks away. I made space for my beautiful new picture that I was given as a thank you gift from camp. It's a picture of the Western Isles from Skye and goes perfectly with my new plaque.
Exam results came out this week too. Both James and Calum did really, really well in their exams. James had sat Advanced Highers and Calum had sat National Fives. They both worked hard for their exams. Calum had worked particularly hard and had such a methodical study plan he had worked out on his own. I was so pleased that his hard work had paid off so well for him.
We did think about going out for dinner to celebrate, but if you live with food allergies you will know that this isn't usually the most relaxing option and so we decided to go with a special dinner at home instead, including some free from sticky toffee pudding.
I was pleased to see that my little veg garden had survived for five weeks without me. I do have lovely neighbours who watered for me during the heatwave while they were out doing their own veg gardens.
I had loads and loads of green beans.
Carrots, onions, kohl rabi and beetroot.
More carrots and onions.
And a selection of random flowers.
After a week at camp, and with the boys all involved in lots of sport, with several changes of clothes a day, you can just imagine how much washing I came home with!
Once the washing was up to date and the unpacking all done we took a trip to the cinema to see the Incredibles 2.
Towards the end of the week we prepared to say goodbye to James.
He had always planned to take a year out this year after finishing school, to work for a year and save up a bit for maybe going to Uni, to try and get some work experience in the Gaelic media and to just try and decide what he wants to study and Uni - should he do music or art or media?
When we were in Lewis he had been chatting with someone who has a Gaelic media company and had been hoping for maybe a week's work experience while we were there. Instead he was actually offered a job with them for a few months!
We were so happy for him, but also so sad for him to be going away. But it's not a big scary leaving home for him as he's staying with my mum and dad so he has a home away from home with Granny and Shen. He already knew plenty people in Lewis and is making new friends now too. He is learning loads in his job, and is really enjoying it. It's so lovely to see him thrive in it, and we are getting used to life without him here, but that doesn't mean that we don't miss him loads too.
The boys came with me to see him off at the bus station a week after we got home from camp.
When he left we thought he was going to be away until October, but his contract takes him up until Christmas. Again, this is absolutely fantastic for him, and he also has some holidays he can take so we are looking forward to him coming down in a couple of weeks.
I've heard and read so many things about how boys are terrible at keeping in touch when they leave home, and I'm so glad to say that this has not been true of him at all! It's great that we can video call each other and if he calls then it will usually last for about an hour and a half. Although I suppose by the time he has spoken to everybody then that isn't that long.
The first couple of days without James were a little strange. David was missing him more than he thought he might and so we took him, and the other boys, to the driving range. David loves all sports, and golf is his new found love. He seems to have a real talent for it too.
Ally wanted to make a chocolate cake for supper one night and so he did.
Like we do every year at the end of the summer holidays, we took the train through to Glasgow one day so that we could go to the Lego shop.
I think UNO will be the game of our summer as we played it just about every day and several times a day too. Fraser absolutely loves it. We passed the time on the train by playing it too.
Fraser spent his holiday money on an Incredibles set, which Calum was only too keen to help him build.
Ally got some new Ninjago Lego.
And then, far too soon, it was time to go back to school. I didn't remember to get a back to school photo this year, but Calum has started S5, David S2, Ally P5 and Fraser has his last year at home.
As a little back to school treat I had bought tickets for myself, Fraser and Ally to go to a Gaelic Oor Wullie event at the book festival after his first day back. He just loves Oor Wullie and The Broons just now.
It was a lovely little event.
We arrived early and enjoyed some Ginger Beer and Popcorn in the cafe first.
In the event we learned lots of facts about Oor Wullie, or Uilleam Againn as he is known in Gaelic, and had a step by step draw along with an illustrator.
This was Fraser's drawing. He put so much detail into it!
This was Ally's.
And this was mine.
Now it already seems so long ago since the summer, I'm so glad I got the chance to get everything written down in my weekly summer holiday posts.
