“Mother” Ishbel declares in ringing tones as I wait for the coffee to brew whilst observing the progress of the bird table war (Dunnocks now edging out the House Sparrows, Robin giving it the full Captain Mainwaring and the blue tit sneaks in under the radar and just does its own thing) “What are weContinue reading “Scheduled spontaneous fun”
Category Archives: domestic life
In between days
Sometimes I get stuck. I can’t quite settle to anything new, flit about about from distraction job to distraction job, avoiding anything too tricky. Well this was me a week or so ago. I was between kiddiwink visits (Lachlan had just left, Ishbel yet to arrive) and the weather had taken a colder turn, soContinue reading “In between days”
Doomscrolling
It’s hard not to at the moment. Obsessively monitoring news from Ukraine isn’t going to help anyone, but nonetheless I find myself scanning the updates morning and evening and at odd times in between. I sat half undressed on the edge of the bath yesterday evening for a full ten minutes watching an interview withContinue reading “Doomscrolling”
A miscellany
Keith and I have climbed unsteadily back on the wagon following a dangerously prolonged period of daily celebrations what with Mum, `Ishbel and Lachlan all being in residence (in various combinations), Barry coming to decorate the spare room and, to top it all, Alison along the road having a significant birthday. “There is no moreContinue reading “A miscellany”
Dry in parts
We are now about half way through “Dry January” (having started a bit late we really should run into February) and things are going swimmingly. We have had but two lapses (though in both cases I decided I’d rather be hung for a sheep as a lamb). A third is scheduled for tomorrow and IContinue reading “Dry in parts”
Bewitching ‘Twixting
The last two days have been all go. After breakfast and stockings on Christmas morning we had a slightly hair-raising drive to Gala to see Dad and deliver his presents (Lachlan drove, taking all the bends with a racing line, because I was deemed too slow. Ishbel admirably kept her breakfast down, but only just).Continue reading “Bewitching ‘Twixting”
The quiet before the onslaught
And so it is Christmas, and what have I done…. Everything!! Things have been manic since my last post. In the first wave of action cakes were iced, cards written and posted, mince pies baked in industrial quantities and force fed to the neighbours and two sides of salmon cured (one beetroot one experimental citrusContinue reading “The quiet before the onslaught”
One two three hop,
Back two three hop… goes the progressive barn dance. And so it is with all Ruthven home improvements. The lovely Barry painted and papered the big spare room in double quick time, the carpet fitters were secured for a few days hence. The carpet does indeed look lovely and tones nicely with the wallpaper. PityContinue reading “One two three hop,”
Flickering
After six days without power the lights went on last night. Then off. Then on again, but waveringly. We now have selective light, in some rooms, with a tendency to flicker if anyone else on the row decides they too want illumination. As a result the candles are still much in evidence and Christmas knittingContinue reading “Flickering”
Welcome to the 18th century….
(What follows was typed two days ago, and I thought had been lost when the laptop battery expired. However today, after a partial resumption of power (of which more anon) it reappeared so I am leaving it as is as it rather captured the moment. I have though taken the liberty of adding a fewContinue reading “Welcome to the 18th century….”