The weather having brought to us by Darragh (or more likely Noah) it was an indoors sort of a day. So in honour of this brief moment of getting back on track – here are the day 7 Swans a Swimming. Keith’s football match was cancelled and so he is inching home on a reluctantContinue reading “On track at last”
Tag Archives: Christmas
six moos a haying*
With the geese departed to their winter homes, a substitution was required for day six and the Hirsel coos were willing to form a sextet…. Keith was off to Nottingham today for a football match. I had great plans for progress whilst he was away but I fear they mostly did not materialise. My onlyContinue reading “six moos a haying*”
Four golden rings, one tree and a small rectangle
Today rose bright and sunny. What the blazes is going on? It is December, I repeat, December. Leaving the quartermaster in charge of securing more eggs and evaporated milk, Mum and I took Lyra for a walk round the back of the loch. Half way round we hit the olfactory heights of fox. We triedContinue reading “Four golden rings, one tree and a small rectangle”
The calling birds are on hold
Four days in…. So what on earth did we do?? Well we went to mum’s new house in Coldstream and spent at least an hour measuring walls and doors and planning their relocation. We then spent a happy hour in the gallery wondering if mum had enough pictures. I was all set to make cakesContinue reading “The calling birds are on hold”
On the first day of Christmas……
The festive season approaches and it is time for the traditional T-25 Sit Rep by Santa’s increasingly creaky elf. So that’s all excellent. What could possibly go wrong? I have resolved (in my own mind) to keep a running update to generate solidarity and fellow feeling amongst all those adopting the same modern and efficientContinue reading “On the first day of Christmas……”
An unusual start to the year
In a somewhat unexpected turn of events my first post of the New Year comes to you from ward 17 of the Borders General Hospital. Dry January got off to a convincing start with a 24 hour pre operative alcohol ban and I have been nil by mouth since last night. Take that Christmas weight gain….. Nothing sinister. AContinue reading “An unusual start to the year”
The Zen of the Last Post
With the passing of the last sensible posting date and the annual Christmas party (when a few by-hands can be made) there comes, a brief period of seasonal zen. What could be done has been done and what could not be done can always be added to the list of interesting projects for next year. The finalContinue reading “The Zen of the Last Post”
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
There is a haunted look about the place today. The orchard is a spectral grove of skeletal trees bearing baubles of hollowed out apples. The gravel garden has the air of Miss Havesham’s wedding feast, with eerily preserved frozen shades of summer’s bounty. Driving down our rollercoaster of a road into town for coffee withContinue reading “The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come”
And so it was Christmas…
Christmas stole rather softly over Ruthven House this year. The bellwether of preparedness that is Monkey’s jumper was competed with 48 hours to spare and by Christmas Eve there was a fridge replete with pigs in blankets and stuffing balls, a lemon meringue pie cooling on the cake stand and, in an unprecedented feat ofContinue reading “And so it was Christmas…”
Luxury Stuffing!
I managed to hold onto the feeling that matters festive were completely under control until the 19th this year – rather a triumph! In the days running up to the Great Christmas Party on the 17th there was much cake icing and canapé making (making canapés that is, the cake is sacrosanct) is the veryContinue reading “Luxury Stuffing!”