Thursday lunchtime

The hairdresser was a marathon 2 hour session this morning. However every cloud has its silver lining and whileI was there I managed to catch up with my Rebus book.

Not only that but the lady sitting next to me, having noticed what I was reading, commented on it.
"I see you're reading Rebus," she said in way of introduction.
"Yes," I responded, "and I'm so disappointed that he's retiring and there'll be no more."

"I know what you mean," she said with an edge of loss in her voice, " but I've found a couple of others that you should try."

She mentioned the Swedish detective... Inspector Kurt Wallander. Kenneth Branagh played the part of Wallander in the TV series.
She thought the novels were pretty good.

But, Sylvia gave me one of the series years ago and while they're not bad, the main character - Wallander - is a miserable sod with a very unhappy personal life.
Actually that description could fit Rebus too!

More interestingly, she mentioned a detective based in Aberdeen... the author is Stuart McBride.
Might be worth looking for.

This next photo is for Ian's benefit...just to let him see the scanner at work!

Ian, you wrote TROLLSTIGEM on the back of this photo.
I know its Norway but you'll need to fill in the blank for me.
Where exactly were we?
We were obviously on the road to somewhere.
Maybe you can tell me, Gary, since you took the photo!

Check out Ross and Kelly! I'm not sure how old they are... seven and eleven, maybe?

By the way, Kelly and Craig, I think your suggestions for names were very imaginative especially Knackered Knees Knocker and Bus Pass Brew. though perhaps these names may limit the numbers of those attracted to that particular beer.

Our first birthday cake of the year!

I

Good video, huh?
Gary took it. I wondered if it would upload being so long, but it did!

The birthday cake was out of Marks and Spencers and very nice it was too.

I thought the footballer was a good choice.
Do you see the little hand trying to make off with some of the icing?

back dates

As you know from other blogs I was in Inverurie on Wednesday holding the fort between Carole going to her fitness class and Gary coming home from work.

I stayed for a wee while after Gary got home.
We were all sitting at the kitchen table while Luca scooped up spoonfuls of beans and speared little sausages.
His favourite foodstuffs of the moment.

As we waited for the requests to clean his hands or scrape more out of the bowl, we were discussing Ian's birthday presents.

On hearing the word, 'birthday', luca stopped dead...

"Birthday," he said.

"Happy birthday to you!" he sang.

Followed by, "Candles... ", then "Phew!" ... as he blew the imaginary candles out.

Cute?
Gary and I were quite delighted!

I think I know where it came from. When Luca visits, we often go upstairs to the computer and look through some photos and we usually watch his birthday video which he loves at the moment.

He especially delights in the bit where I cry out a warning thinking he is going to burn himself and hoots with laughter every time.

I know he'll eventually get fed up with it, but it's fun just now! So here it is again :)

Saturday afternoon

It's almost three oclock.

I've been down to the village twice. The first time was to go to the butcher, the fishmonger, the chemist and the plumber.
The second time was to revisit the plumber.

I had decided to pop into the plumber's shop on my way past when I'd been in the village the first time.

I felt it was time for another little reminder to the fact that they still hadn't been to fit the taps on the outside walls at the back and the front of the house or to mend the broken cystern handle - you need the knack and both hands to use it!

Anyway, when I finished telling the lady behind the counter the whole sorry saga, she suggested I give her as much information about the job needing done so's she could put it in the book.

The taps were straight forward but the cystern was slightly more complicated.

"What make of bathroom suite is it?"

"Armitage," says I.

"Is the handle one of those with the porcelain inset?"

"No, it's just a plain lever," says I.

Not complicated, you might be thinking...well no, not if the information you give so confidantly is accurate.

I used the toilet in question when I got home...

The manufacturer is Heritage and the handle has a porcelain inset.

We got that bathroom suite put in after the fire so how long is it that I've been using that toilet?

Much happier!

You will all be glad to know that I have my handbag back!

Ross convinced me to go. He checked the forecast on the BBC website and according to them the snow wasn't coming in till tonight.

So I went! Shovel and sack of grit in the boot, duvet on the back seat and chocolate in my pocket.

Everything covered, apart from a few very wet flakes on the Lecht, I didn't see any snow.

Fred was surprised to see me since I had phoned to say I wouldn't be up till later in the week but he made me a coffee and chummed me while I drank it.

The cafe belongs to his parents, he just works there when he is home. He's training to be a tatoo artist at the moment and is going back down to London to carry on with his training on Thursday.

The cafe sells lovely homebakes and their fruit scones looked especially yummy so I bought a couple to bring home.

I've eaten mine already. It was very nice. Ross can have his when he gets home tonight.

A depressing Tuesday morning...

I've decided to give the drive to Tomintoul a miss today.

I've looked at the snow forecast and it talks about considerable falls today and tomorrow, so I'll phone Fred (the young man at the end of the phone) and tell him not to expect me before Thursday at the earliest.

Most unsettling!
I want to go now and get it done with, but I think that would be foolhardy.

Radio Scotland has a representative of 'Plain Stupid' on their 'phone in' this morning. Seemingly some of their members cut a hole in the perimeter fence at Aberdeen airport and staged a demonstration on one of the runways.

Lots of strong and differing opinions on energy conservation coming through.

Changing the subject completely, Ross and I made it to Kingussie yesterday in time for lunch.

We thought at first it was closed, then we found a wee cafe with condensation running down the windows and loads of people inside but we couldn't get in because the only empty table had a reserved sign on it!

Do you think we missed out on dining at Kingussie's high spot?

Eventually we ended up back at the hotel next to the carpark where we had left the car.
'The Duke of Gordon'
A huge extravaganza in grey and pink granite on the outskirts of the town.


This is the hotel, but the picture is taken from the back so it doesn't look quite like this from the road.

When we eventually found a way in, we found ourselves in a small bar with tables set for lunch.
Quite acceptable...we both had ciabatta rolls with chips and salad (...and no, I didn't eat the chips - Ross ate them!!).

I had blackened chicken on my roll and Ross had bacon and mozzarella on his.

Nice coffee.

We were very pleased our choice of venue was close to the carpark we had used because apart from being really cold, it was lashing rain when we came out.

Monday night

I'm really tired so I'm not writing much and I'm going to bed early.

It's been a long day.

Ross' car has given up using third and fourth gear completely now.

Last week saw it taking a dislike to third gear but he could coax it from second straight into fourth and seemed confidant and fairly blase about the whole problem.

However today, ten minutes after he set off for Kingussie, he phoned me from Kinker to say that he couldn't get above second and could he take me up on my offer of a lift.

A rather long winded way of letting you know why my handbag is in Tomintoul.

We stopped there for a coffee on the way back.

I didn't realise I'd left it till we got home and I was taking everything out of the car.

I felt ill when I realised the bag wasn't in the car :(

I got the number of the coffee shop on the internet and phoned them.

"Is this the Old Fire Station Cafe?" I asked when a young man answered the phone.

"Come off it. Stop fooling around!" was the reply I received.

Slightly confused, wondering if I had dialled the wrong number, I repeated the question.

"Oh sorry!" said the voice on the other end of the phone, "I thought you were my mum! You must be the lady who left a bright yellow bag here."

Bright yellow bag... how dare he. I don't have a bright yellow bag! I have a muted yellow real leather bag which I dearly love.

"Yes, " I said.

So tomorrow afternoon, I'm heading back over the mountains to get it.

The forecast is for snow tonight at high altitudes, but I'm hoping the rain forecast for the afternoon happens.

Wish me luck.