Biodiesel Boats and Ravishing Ruins

We had another adventurous weekend. We started it by going to the Edinburgh Farmers Market on Saturday morning. We were a little bummed about the market. There were only two stalls with veggies! The rest were basically all meat stalls, with the odd bakery. I guess that's your British stereotype playing out as the honest truth now isn't it. So, we bought a loaf of French bread from a French lady. Simon said that he could bake better bread though.... "so why doesn't he" is my response to that! Then we bought some smoked Scottish salmon.... yummy! And get this.... a half rabbit and some "mixed game" meaning rabbit, wild bore, pheasant, meadow dove and venison!!! So tonight we're making a mixed game pot pie. It should be yummy. But we just have to chew carefully as the package said "may contain shot!" Let's hope I don't need to run to the dentist tomorrow. I fear British dentists... for any of you who have seen that Simpson's episode with the Great Book of English Teeth!!!

After our market trip, we drove out to the north of town to check out Earthrace, the biodiesel racing boat. I had seen the posters of this boat from working with alternative fuels in Tennessee, so when I found out that it would be docked in Edinburgh this weekend, we had to check it out. Marius seemed to enjoy his first boat trip. We were talking to the captain about their biodiesel supply across the globe and apparently the UK was one of the worst places. They could only bet B5 (5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel) so they didn't even bother filling up with it. So, unfortunately they had to use regular old diesel fuel. When I eventually go back to work, I'm going to have to try and see if I can help that out... B5 only! I had my heart set on buying a diesel car so that I could use B100 or at least B20 in the wintertime.
Sunday we took a trip out to see Melrose Abbey and also took a little hike along the way in the Valley Tweed (yes as in the place that the fabric came from). The valley was absolutely stunning, but I was driving so I couldn't do a whole lot of looking from the car. I'm getting quite proficient at driving in the UK now. Simon only had a few moments where he had to scream because he thought I was too far over on the left side of the road!!! Melrose Abbey was yet another spectacular trip. The beauty of these old ruins is so amazing. This place is where Robert the Bruce's heart is buried. Remember his body is in Dunfermline, where we went last weekend... both places are pretty darn pretty if you ask me. I guess he wouldn't mind being dissected and buried in different places as long as they're nice looking abbeys! The weather wasn't too great and it started raining at one point. Afterwards we had some ice cream and I gave Marius his first lick of the cold treat. He hasn't got the whole licking thing down though. He kept opening his mouth and just pushing his face into my cone!
Oh and here's a tooth shot! A bit blurry, but you try getting a close up of a wiggly baby, it's not easy!!