Here endeth my bonsai growing experiment. Turns out it’s not as easy as I’d hoped. Next stage I think will be trying to grow from a cutting rather than seed. And I’ll find out how difficult that is too.

In other news, I’ll be doing my first video filming with my DSLR this weekend, so looking forward to that. I don’t have an external microphone so unless I can get a hold of one before the weekend, the sound on it had better not be needed! I don’t think it will be though.

Also, Paul and I have been working on our joint website for professional photography services and it’s nearly ready for prime time. Check back regularly to  PandBPhotography to see when it’s live. I’ll probably also post here when it’s ready too.

A third shoot appeared shortly after my previous post, giving me three shoots to 5 seeds which I was very pleased with. But…

Two of the shoots have died off recently. Suppose that was to be expected. One still survives though and I’m hoping it manages to hang in there through the winter.

In the package I got a small Pot, a peat pellet, some pruning scissors, 5 seeds and a little booklet. The little booklet gives you some background and history then tells you how to get started with the seeds. First you have to soak them in water for 24 hours, then you put them in the fridge for a week in a damp cloth (to simulate Winter). After that you plant them.

What it doesn’t tell you is that the peat pellet they supply will only take two or maybe 3 of the seeds. So my Dad came to the rescue and provided another little plastic pot and some normal garden compost for my remaining seeds.

From some further reading I’ve done recently, it turns out you’re not supposed to use normal garden compost as it can kill off the seeds, but it doesn’t seem to be doing mine any harm

So after a couple of weeks, nothing was happening, and I go away for 2 days and come home to this:

First sprout of what will hopefully become a pine tree!

This is only one of the shoots, with the peat pellet producing one also. I am very happy with getting two sprouts from 5 seeds, and from reading into the subject to get anything from seed on the first try is unusual. So I’m very pleased with this. Just hope they keep growing and thriving. Hopefully by next year it will be ready to live outdoors!

There is only one gallery just now and it’s all holiday photos from Disney and other Florida attractions. Don’t try and sit through them all, there are over 1000 pictures! I just did a quick upload and stuck them all in there.

So on day one, I popped the question (yes I got down on one knee for anyone wondering), and when she finally took in what was happening she said yes!

Of course this made a very special holiday all the more special! Thought I’d include a picture I took just after she put the ring on.

P.s. I know I’m only a couple of months late posting the news

Fraser's T-Rex impression

So now Gill and I have to concentrate on our holiday preparations. We have sorted out our currency and most things seem to be prepared. Just the little things now like getting toiletries and packing suitcases (which in my case means finding out if I have any clean washing!). Also since I am a gadget maniac, I’m thinking about what gadgets to take and to make sure I have all the chargers and batteries I need. Also I picked up a new laptop the other day so trying to get that ready with films for the plane etc.

Taken with another of my birthday presents

Today has been very uneventful and quiet but the real celebration was yesterday. We had a barbecue at my house and it was planned for several weeks. Obviously being in Scotland it’s never really a good idea to plan anything as the weather is unpredictable but I wasn’t going to let any weather stop a good barbecue.

Right enough it started pouring during the afternoon and we were glad of a big gazebo and shelter on the side of the house. With tons of us under the gazebo and the barbecues (yes there were two!) under the shelter, we managed pretty well.

I have to give a huge thanks to my family who took care of everything for me. From food preparation to cooking and keeping everything going. It let me just enjoy the day and have a laugh with my friends.

I won’t embarrass anyone else with pictures but here’s one of me, in the Zorro mask that came with my barbecue sword