Sit Rep T-4

I have decided to provide a series of brief news flash updates as the Christmas situation develops. Yesterday all was gloom. After the latest announcements, it was clear that Ishbel was stuck in Surrey on her own for the duration. She had a brief weep then volunteered to work Christmas Day and Boxing Day, swappingContinue reading “Sit Rep T-4”

The Christmas warp speed effect

So it has been a few days since I hit the keyboard. “Why so?” I hear you ask. Reader, I was blindsided, as I am every year, by the realisation that Christmas is only a week away and I am sitting on a gazillion half finished projects all designed to be completed by Christmas and,Continue reading “The Christmas warp speed effect”

Better than Gravybones

I have established that there are some things Lyra likes more than gravy bones (her dog treat of choice). Usually any wandering off or other errant activity can be interrupted, and order restored, by bellowing loudly “Baby puppy, gravy bones” (and producing said treat). Over the last few walks, however, we established the limits ofContinue reading “Better than Gravybones”

Mudlarking

Exemption from catering detail post Gourmet Sunday only lasted a day as Tuesday brought beef olives and “mum is good with those”. Hmm, it is not rocket science…….I do love them though, and have discovered that cold leftovers sliced perform very well in a baguette. You never see beef olives in London (or at anyContinue reading “Mudlarking”

Gourmet Sunday #2

Yesterday was my second turn in the “Gourmet Sunday” slot. The boys were heading off to do a friend’s garden so Lyra and I would be left to let the day develop. I was up with the lark (or by 10 past 8 at any rate) and had two loads of washing on, Saturday night’sContinue reading “Gourmet Sunday #2”

Twitchery

Bird watching proper has never really appealed. There seems to be far to much lurking in hides for my taste, but our hedgerows are thronged with the little peeping, chucking and warbling fellows and I have been feeling rather remiss in not learning their names. To this end I reclaimed a giant bird book fromContinue reading “Twitchery”

The corn snack universe sends a gift

Yesterday was Keith’s gourmet Sunday. A fine rack of lamb was consumed and dinner conversation meandered from the sublime to the ridiculous as per usual. Ignorance being no barrier to heated debate at Ruthven, Lachlan and I piled into a spirited argument on the meaning of infinity. We are nothing if not ambitious. (This provedContinue reading “The corn snack universe sends a gift”

The wisdom of coos

The morning starts late. The sun is already up and we are having a coffee in bed. I am exempt from dog walking as Lachlan’s lecturer is off sick. Something black moving in the corner of the window catches my eye. It is a butterfly. I sip my coffee and resist the urge to springContinue reading “The wisdom of coos”

Reasons to be cheerful part 4

I am smiling to myself as I type, with the lyrics to Part 3 running round my head. You have to love a bit of Ian Dury and the Blockheads (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIMNXogXnvE). And this week I have many reasons to be cheerful. Gourmet Sunday, over all, went off well, and I have therefore been relieved ofContinue reading “Reasons to be cheerful part 4”

Self Preservation

The skies are intense at the moment. This morning there was a darkly luminous grey. A few days ago there was a dawn of the most startling fuchsia which had me prancing around the garden in my dressing gown. When I wake in the wee small hours I find stars so startlingly bright that IContinue reading “Self Preservation”