It's a beautiful sunny day here, Kelly, but frosty.
My car is still sparkling!
Friday, 28 November 2008
Friday morning
I am supposed to be having a shower just now after which I will be cleaning the bathrooms and hoovering the house but I've put it off ...just for a few moments.
I hate showers, much prefer a bath but I need to wash my hair and it's easier to just do it in the shower.
When I was younger, before showers were the norm in folk's houses, I washed my hair in the kitchen sink with a basin and a mug. It was always better if you could get someone to rinse your hair for you, it saved the water running up your arms which wasn't very comfortable!
Listen, think that's prehistoric, when I was small, we lived in a house with no bathroom and the bath was tin and was sat in front of the fire.
Aye, folk don't know how good they've got it these days :)
I found an image of our tin bath on the net. They still make them!
...I wonder who uses them.
www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/Galvanised_Tin
I remember the bath was filled using a bucket, which was filled with hot water from the geyser (this is what we called the gas water heater on the wall above the sink) in the scullery. The scullery being the only source of water in the house!
I hate showers, much prefer a bath but I need to wash my hair and it's easier to just do it in the shower.
When I was younger, before showers were the norm in folk's houses, I washed my hair in the kitchen sink with a basin and a mug. It was always better if you could get someone to rinse your hair for you, it saved the water running up your arms which wasn't very comfortable!
Listen, think that's prehistoric, when I was small, we lived in a house with no bathroom and the bath was tin and was sat in front of the fire.
Aye, folk don't know how good they've got it these days :)
I found an image of our tin bath on the net. They still make them!
...I wonder who uses them.
www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/Galvanised_Tin
I remember the bath was filled using a bucket, which was filled with hot water from the geyser (this is what we called the gas water heater on the wall above the sink) in the scullery. The scullery being the only source of water in the house!
Monday, 24 November 2008
Starting to get light
Lucy, I never realised I had such an artistic and talented child! Your reindeers were phenominal! Did you think up that idea all by yourself?
Eight o'clock on Tuesday morning and I've already sent a long newsy email to a friend in Aberdeen. I taught beside Sheila for years. She was the learning support teacher in St. Joseph's. Now she teaches part time in Ashley Road School but she'll be sixty in January and she can hardly wait!
Sheila's from Elgin originally but came to Aberdeen to work in her early twenties and has never gone back. Don't think she has any family left over there now.
I got caught up in other things and didn't tell you about my trip to Inverurie last Thursday for a birthday celebration lunch with Carole and Luca, and Liz.
As you are all now aware Carole was not well last week and on Thursday she was still a poor, pathetic wee thing in her jammies who needed to sleep so Liz and I took Luca to the Garden Centre for lunch.
A trip worth taking. I would recommend it. True, it's self-service (something Granny Lottie hated - she was of her time!) and I agree it's not always the easiest way of getting lunch, especially if you have a potential 'run amock' escapee with you however it was worth it for the banquet that greeted your eyes on the display counter.
We were very good and just had soup, but what soup! It was gorgeous - parsnip and sweet potato - I went home and immediately attempted to imitate it. Delicious soup, served with huge chunks of bread - white, wholemeal or sun dried tomato.
There was a choice of soups, three main courses - a beef dish, a chicken dish and a vegetarian. The chicken was curry and it looked and smelled yummy. I was tempted.
Now the main courses were tempting but the desserts ( double s , Ian - are you proud of me?) they looked heavenly. My eye was drawn to the pecan meringues - they were gigantic and gooey and I'm salivating just thinking about them.
There was a complete counter diplay of different desserts. Paradise for the sweet toothed!
Having Luca does keep you moving. He reminds me, at the moment, of Ian.
"OK, we're finished eating/drinking. Why are we still sitting here? It's time to get on and do something else."
That was fine. We took a wee walk round the garden centre - Luca was enthralled by the Christmas decorations especially the arches covered in blue lights and you'll never guess what they had...
"Horses!"
Yes!
Little blue fluffy pull along toy horses!
You'd never credit it would you...but there they were, horses.
It made the day!
I overstayed my welcome as usual, spending a really enjoyable afternoon with Liz and I met my first South African, Thomas! Liz's husband.
My photos are a bit of a disaster. I tried to do it casually - you know like the newspaper reporters do - just clicking away.
I think there must be a knack to it that I haven't quite mastered yet.
Sorry Liz, the photos are appalling.
The photos are blurry and the second one does not do Liz justice. In real life she is a much better looking woman.
And I swithered whether to put this photo on the blog or not but, in the end I decided to put it on so that you, Lucy, have at least an idea what Liz looks like.
Sorry Liz!
Eight o'clock on Tuesday morning and I've already sent a long newsy email to a friend in Aberdeen. I taught beside Sheila for years. She was the learning support teacher in St. Joseph's. Now she teaches part time in Ashley Road School but she'll be sixty in January and she can hardly wait!
Sheila's from Elgin originally but came to Aberdeen to work in her early twenties and has never gone back. Don't think she has any family left over there now.
I got caught up in other things and didn't tell you about my trip to Inverurie last Thursday for a birthday celebration lunch with Carole and Luca, and Liz.
As you are all now aware Carole was not well last week and on Thursday she was still a poor, pathetic wee thing in her jammies who needed to sleep so Liz and I took Luca to the Garden Centre for lunch.
A trip worth taking. I would recommend it. True, it's self-service (something Granny Lottie hated - she was of her time!) and I agree it's not always the easiest way of getting lunch, especially if you have a potential 'run amock' escapee with you however it was worth it for the banquet that greeted your eyes on the display counter.
We were very good and just had soup, but what soup! It was gorgeous - parsnip and sweet potato - I went home and immediately attempted to imitate it. Delicious soup, served with huge chunks of bread - white, wholemeal or sun dried tomato.
There was a choice of soups, three main courses - a beef dish, a chicken dish and a vegetarian. The chicken was curry and it looked and smelled yummy. I was tempted.
Now the main courses were tempting but the desserts ( double s , Ian - are you proud of me?) they looked heavenly. My eye was drawn to the pecan meringues - they were gigantic and gooey and I'm salivating just thinking about them.
There was a complete counter diplay of different desserts. Paradise for the sweet toothed!
Having Luca does keep you moving. He reminds me, at the moment, of Ian.
"OK, we're finished eating/drinking. Why are we still sitting here? It's time to get on and do something else."
That was fine. We took a wee walk round the garden centre - Luca was enthralled by the Christmas decorations especially the arches covered in blue lights and you'll never guess what they had...
"Horses!"
Yes!
Little blue fluffy pull along toy horses!
You'd never credit it would you...but there they were, horses.
It made the day!
I overstayed my welcome as usual, spending a really enjoyable afternoon with Liz and I met my first South African, Thomas! Liz's husband.
My photos are a bit of a disaster. I tried to do it casually - you know like the newspaper reporters do - just clicking away.
I think there must be a knack to it that I haven't quite mastered yet.
Sorry Liz, the photos are appalling.
The photos are blurry and the second one does not do Liz justice. In real life she is a much better looking woman.And I swithered whether to put this photo on the blog or not but, in the end I decided to put it on so that you, Lucy, have at least an idea what Liz looks like.
Sorry Liz!
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Almost lunchtime
You know how I had to waken sleepy head yesterday morning. Well here he is 10 minutes after he got in last night!
He's still out for the count.
I'll give him till lunchtime and then I'll start to annoy him!
I should be going out to the butchers and the dry cleaners this morning. What can I say... I've put it off! I didn't even get dressed till 20 minutes ago and it's now 12:15.
It looks beautiful outside but it's not the kind of weather you want to experience first hand. Better through the window.
So what have you done since you got up this morning, Josephine?
Well I got up. And not late either...it was before nine!
Apart from that, I've had three or four cups of coffee and sat in the kitchen reading 'The Grave Tatoo' by Val McDermid (author of 'Wire in the Blood' from the TV).
I'm on page 473 now and there are 543 pages in the book. I only mention this because I've taken forever to read this far.
It's not what I expected having watched Wire in the Blood but on reflection TV dramas always move at a much faster pace, cutting out half the story so I shouldn't have been surprised at the slower pace of the book.
And I took some photos of the snowy picture we saw when we drew back the curtains this morning.
It's a beautiful sunny day!
I've given you a photo of the embankment as well as the view from the front of the house because I love the silver birch trees!
Don't you agree they look beautiful in the snow!
They look ten times better in real life! Click the photos to make them larger...you get a much better effect.
He's still out for the count.I'll give him till lunchtime and then I'll start to annoy him!
I should be going out to the butchers and the dry cleaners this morning. What can I say... I've put it off! I didn't even get dressed till 20 minutes ago and it's now 12:15.
It looks beautiful outside but it's not the kind of weather you want to experience first hand. Better through the window.
So what have you done since you got up this morning, Josephine?
Well I got up. And not late either...it was before nine!
Apart from that, I've had three or four cups of coffee and sat in the kitchen reading 'The Grave Tatoo' by Val McDermid (author of 'Wire in the Blood' from the TV).
I'm on page 473 now and there are 543 pages in the book. I only mention this because I've taken forever to read this far.
It's not what I expected having watched Wire in the Blood but on reflection TV dramas always move at a much faster pace, cutting out half the story so I shouldn't have been surprised at the slower pace of the book.
And I took some photos of the snowy picture we saw when we drew back the curtains this morning.
It's a beautiful sunny day!I've given you a photo of the embankment as well as the view from the front of the house because I love the silver birch trees!
Don't you agree they look beautiful in the snow!
They look ten times better in real life! Click the photos to make them larger...you get a much better effect.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Movies hot off the press!
I'm just back home having now cleared my car of snow twice; once at home before I set out and again when I came out of the supermarket!
I think Sommerfield are taking Gordon very seriously! The shop is full of 'three for the price of two', 'buy one get one free' and 20% off the recommended price.
"Spend, spend, spend!" says Gordon and Sommerfield, like all the High Street stores, is making it easy for us to do just that.
The utility room is now stacked full of loo rolls, kitchen towels, fruit corners, 'Highland and Island' cheese and much much more.
Talking of bonanzas, on the way home from Carole's yesterday (I'll fill you in on my visit later) I heard on the radio that there was a police alert out, warning folk not to go into Aberdeen especially round about Denburn as the roads were jammed with cars trying to get to the Christmas sales!!
No shortage of potential retail customers in Aberdeen, then.
Anyway, I dropped by Ross's work on the way to the supermarket . Would you like to share the experience?
OK...
This is the view from the front door. Very pretty?
Ross was not keen to be filmed. I suggested he think of you, Lucy. It would let you see what his work looks like.
"She'll see it when she comes over," was his reply.
I'm not his favourite person just now, although I think I've made some recompence by bringing him his swipe card, because seeing that he was having trouble getting up this morning, I went down and flicked on his overhead light. I didn't hang around afterwards! But I heard him shouting, "Put that light off," as I tore up the stairs!
The other voice you hear on the film is just the radio in the car. Do you think my overvoice is improving? No? Oh well never mind.
I think Sommerfield are taking Gordon very seriously! The shop is full of 'three for the price of two', 'buy one get one free' and 20% off the recommended price.
"Spend, spend, spend!" says Gordon and Sommerfield, like all the High Street stores, is making it easy for us to do just that.
The utility room is now stacked full of loo rolls, kitchen towels, fruit corners, 'Highland and Island' cheese and much much more.
Talking of bonanzas, on the way home from Carole's yesterday (I'll fill you in on my visit later) I heard on the radio that there was a police alert out, warning folk not to go into Aberdeen especially round about Denburn as the roads were jammed with cars trying to get to the Christmas sales!!
No shortage of potential retail customers in Aberdeen, then.
Anyway, I dropped by Ross's work on the way to the supermarket . Would you like to share the experience?
OK...
This is the view from the front door. Very pretty?
Ross was not keen to be filmed. I suggested he think of you, Lucy. It would let you see what his work looks like.
"She'll see it when she comes over," was his reply.
I'm not his favourite person just now, although I think I've made some recompence by bringing him his swipe card, because seeing that he was having trouble getting up this morning, I went down and flicked on his overhead light. I didn't hang around afterwards! But I heard him shouting, "Put that light off," as I tore up the stairs!
The other voice you hear on the film is just the radio in the car. Do you think my overvoice is improving? No? Oh well never mind.
Morning
Well, the weather forecast got it right. It is snowing!
Have a look...
I am tempted to delete this rather naff piece of filming with commentarybut I keep thinking how long it took me to upload it - over two hours - so I'm going to leave it for the moment.
Would I improve with practise or would I be better just to scrap the whole idea?
Heading out to the supermarket and Ross's work. He left his ID at home so I'll pop it in to him. It's his swipe card to get into his office as well as his ID.
Have a look...
I am tempted to delete this rather naff piece of filming with commentarybut I keep thinking how long it took me to upload it - over two hours - so I'm going to leave it for the moment.
Would I improve with practise or would I be better just to scrap the whole idea?
Heading out to the supermarket and Ross's work. He left his ID at home so I'll pop it in to him. It's his swipe card to get into his office as well as his ID.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Morning
Just read your blog, Gary.
The photo of Luca was taken in May 07!
Here are some other photos from May 07...
I found photos of Cornwall in May but that must be a mistake. When were they taken? Could it have been April?
The photo of Luca was taken in May 07!
Here are some other photos from May 07...
I found photos of Cornwall in May but that must be a mistake. When were they taken? Could it have been April?
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