Soutra. Medieval Plague Hospital

Soutra stands alone on the desolate hilltops on the boarders of Scotland. At  1200 ft. altitude it was the highest monastery in the British Isles - with magnificent views... and reportabley one of the only ones which would cure the plague.  I think if a victim made it there, they'd be cured.

The hospital was founded by the Augustinians in the 11th century between Edinburgh and the Boarder. It used to be an important toll road built by the Romans, but is now an empty highway populated by sheep. 

All that is left of the hospital is a stone cottage with medieval carvings only barely visible through the moss and age decayed stone. 

Christmas Concert at Usher Hall in Edinburgh

A last minute decision turned out to be a wonderful experience for all of us today. With the snow flurrying about, it was a pretty chilly day to be venturing into Edinburgh, but I'm so glad we did.

Deck the Halls with Owen and Olly was a brilliant intriduction for young kids into the classical worl of music and dance - and fitted perfectly into our music curriculum for homeschooling as we've just been looking at orchestras , the instruments and all the sections it has within it. We were treated with a huge choir backing and..Oh and it featured the Nutcracker Ballet.. It couldn't  have been better!

The presenters were quirky, talented musicians who were well versed in entertaining a younger audience. 

They had everyone in the concert hall standing, dancing and following silly hand movements in sing a long christmas carols.

There were songs I'd never hear of, but were obviously cultural favourites as just about everyone knew the words. 

The Ballet company did extremely well in cutting the Nutcracker down to a narrated 20 mins and using only a skinny front section of the stage to perform.

I'm so delighted we saw it, as it was one ballet I wanted the kids to see before we went back to Aus. 

Thier finale piece, the Twelve songs of Christmas was brilliant, snc ond I not inlh hope I remember, but can replicate at a later date.

A brilliant hours worth of joyful entertainment.

Snow at last

I know.. Pick the tourist.. Its all very exciting here as its officially snowing.. And best of all its now laying on the ground. 

Our first photos are of the morning as it started. Sadly it turned to slush and mud during  the day but now into the evening, flurries of snow has settled and its beginning to lay. Its pretty cold so the ground will stay frozen to let the snow stay. 

Driving along the little roads was like going through a fairytale with the stone walls all frosted and sprinkled over with snow. 

The kids are bursting with excitement for tomorrow.. So lets just hope the snow continues!