(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….”
Category Archives: domestic life
Christmas Stocktake
“The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things….” Ishbel has booked her train ticket and we have set a date and for the annual neighbourhood Christmas party, so there’s absolutely no getting out of it now. Christmas is coming to Ruthven. What with the rather reduced travel and entertaining over intermittentContinue reading “Christmas Stocktake”
Whirling Dervish Redux
No sooner had I declared that all is sloth, relaxation and a very laid back contemplation of my navel (see previous post) than mum came down with pleurisy (or some such) which triggered a massive asthma attack. She was duly ferried to hospital (protesting all the way) and firmly left there plugged in to theContinue reading “Whirling Dervish Redux”
Gingerbread days
The trees are starting to turn now and the first leaves are falling. The coating of spice brown leaves on the rich dark soil after the recent rain is redolent of gingerbread. Lyra and I finished this morning’s walk kicking through the leaves on the Hirsel forest tracks and whilst she thought of squirrels (whichContinue reading “Gingerbread days”
Send Ark Urgently…
It is tipping down. All productivity has been halted pending an improvement in the precipitation levels. Keith and I started early, as Edna the Morgan was scheduled for a service first thing and I had to drive Keith back from the garage. Sadly, the heavens opened just as we set off. I scooted off inContinue reading “Send Ark Urgently…”
The Aftersloth
Another huge gap with no post! The late August wave of visitors had barely broken on the shore when the September tsunami rose. The Highland branch of the Bee clan finally made it down and, in nothing short of a miracle, both of the esteemed offspring came (down from Edinburgh and up from Surrey respectively)Continue reading “The Aftersloth”
Order, Order…
The last week or so has been rather frenetic. We plunged from splendid covid isolation to a week with visitors staying every night, and for the first half of the week, different ones every day. I was a veritable Mrs Tiggiwinkle, scuttling to and fro with bundles of laundry between arrivals and departures. Our firstContinue reading “Order, Order…”
The Luncheon Quickstep
Having discovered that the Waterwheel Tearoom in Selkirk was trialling a bring your own wine option Mum and I (OK mainly me) decided it would absolutely be rude not to try it out. We had hoped for a dinner slot but managed to miss the August ones (next up 5th and 6th Sept) so resolvedContinue reading “The Luncheon Quickstep”
Using the plot
The produce is really starting to come home to roost now. We are drafting in the neighbours to try and keep on top of the gluts. The rainy spells have finally shifted me out of the deckchair on the gin terrace. However, in anticipation of next year’s summer balcony boozing I have started the firstContinue reading “Using the plot”
Different Strokes
I’m still largely in summer sloth mode. I have had a few tentative forays out to cut things back, but in the main it’s still either (i) too hot and dry or (ii) tipping down with a summer monsoon. To maintain an illusion of activity I have filled the top of the garage with danglingContinue reading “Different Strokes”