Monday 15th January 2024

It's snowed in the night, but it wasn't awful. Certainly not bad enough for the schools to close, so the boy had to stir himself and get up for the bus. The road down to the bus stop was very slippy, and the bus was a bit late, but he made it in. He had an English exam this morning. It went well, apparently. Literature paper fitted well with The Great Gatsby, and a Carol Ann Duffy poem, while close reading was about tattoos. Latin on Thursday.

I had a lot of housework and laundry to catch up on - usual Monday things. I cleaned out the fridge and it wasn't as bad a job as it usually is. I've been really quite dilligent at using up what food I have and being a bit more creative. I only had to dispose of a couple of pots of yogurt and one of cream which had been lost at the back of something else, some forgotten grapes, and a jar of bought salsa that no-one liked so went quietly out of date.

I ordered some tree saplings from a local nursery - mostly to go along the front of the croft as a windbreak, but also to create a couple of wee stands here and there. I'm excited about that. I also watched a video by Lovely Greens, where she built a dead hedge. I'm definitely going to do that over at the far corner where the big polycrub is.

I took a wander over there before lunch, and everything is a bit sluggish. It should perk up in the next couple of weeks when the light improves.

In the potting shed, though, the flower seedlings are all looking lush - especially the wallflowers. I need to get them potted on and hardened off, but possibly not this week.

Dinner was stovies made with the end of yesterday's roast. I put a couple of carrots in, because, as I said, I'm using stuff up as I go.

Not much else - tv and sock knitting. I finished the foot of the sock, so just the toe to do, then second sock to start. I did sign up for a mystery Lent knit-a-long, run by a Methodist Church in Bristol, so that's something to look forward to.

Sunday 14th January 2024

Sunday, so up and off to church this morning. The reading was from Ephesians but the sermon took us back to the old testament, looking for Christ there. He's all through those books. The old testament is a long journey towards Him. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing. Good hymns today too.

Back home, just as the first snow flurries fell, made a quick lunch and tidied round. I had a bit of topside to cook for dinner, so got that on.

It was very cold and snow was on the way, so I lit the fire early and we settled down to watch the snooker and the football. I carried on knitting my sock, which i’m getting a bit bored of now. I think i’m ready for a new project.

Had dinner later and then we cracked open the Vacherin Mont d'Or while we watched the final session of the snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan won again.

The boy has an exam tomorrow, so hopefully the roads will be OK. The snow hasn't really come to much yet, it’s more sleety rain, but the temperature has to drop during the night. It's January though - why are we always surprised?

Saturday 13th January 2024

It would have been my mother's birthday today. I have quite a run of them in early January - or used to, anyway. They always came so soon after Christmas that they would catch me out. She would have been eighty-seven.

I went to the women's prayer group this morning. What an absolute joy it was to spend time with these amazing women. More than thirty came today, which is quite incredible given where we are, and that we have only been going for five months. Prayer is so powerful, but when there are many of us joining together, then the effects are even stronger. Today our theme was Unity in the body of Christ (the church). We sang, listened, prayed, laughed, wept and prayed some more. God was with us.

I came home and after lunch I went into the garden. I had to force myself out, as I was feeling lazy. Once I got the wellies on, though, I soon got going. I tidied up a bit, planted up two pots of bulbs and a bed of garlic. I'm conscious of how late I am, but I'm not too bothered. All over instagram people are sowing leeks, onions and tomatoes, but I'll get to that eventually. We’re getting snow in the next day or so anyway - no rush.

Came in, lit the fire and made a generic chicken curry for dinner, which we enjoyed. We sat and watched the Newcastle v Man City game - it was really good. Man City just pipped it at the end, winning 3-2. The boy was thrilled because his favourite player came off the bench and scored. He then got an assist, which is apparently almost as important as scoring now. What do I know?

Friday 12th January 2024

It was a weird morning. Very dark and there was a muffled quality about the air - as if there had been a snowfall, or a thick fog. Everything so muted and still. It was nice. When I came back from the school bus run, I had to pull into a passing place to let someone pass and I noticed my wee house shining out in the gloom. That was nice too.

Very busy day at one of the community projects I am involved with. A visit from the architects, who have designed the refurbishment, but were here to go through a “value engineering” exercise with the trustees. It was interesting and I needed to concentrate hard, but we got through it.

I didn't get home until 5, by which time the boy had cooked his own dinner, so I had leftovers of leftovers. It was much better tonight that last night.

It's taken me a few hours to settle down, after being on all day. I've done a bit of knitting and watched the snooker, and am heading to bed soon.

It would have been John's birthday today. These anniversaries are always a bit sad, but I posted a nice picture of him on instagram and everyone was so kind about it.

Thursday 11th January 2024

The frost was gone this morning, which was helpful for getting to the bus stop in good time. I felt cold and miserable all day though, and went around draped in a blanket.

I had a lot of admin to do. I said before that I am secretary to a couple of committees, one being our community council. I've also agreed to help out with the admin for a new women's prayer group that has started up - not as onerous, but still requires a bit of organising. I decided that today I would just get stuck in and get it all done.

So, after I tidied up and sorted the laundry I spent my Thursday wrapped in a tartan blanket, typing up two sets of minutes, a letter to the local Council leader, a query to the community police officer, an email to the GP surgery manager, designed and printed off two sets of flyers, and did a social media post about a forthcoming meeting. I'm sure there was other bits and pieces, but, anyway, I got it done. Now I can relax for a couple of weeks, until it starts again.

Dinner was yesterday's leftover bolognaise sauce turned into a pasta bake with some bechamel sauce. It was ok, but pasta two days in a row is a bit much.

As I was making the sauce I was listening to a radio 4 programme discussing Wilkie Collins’ novel, The Moonstone. It really took my fancy, so I ordered a second hand copy from eBay. I'm so easily influenced.

Wednesday 10th January 2024

Another frosty day, but not quite as keen as yesterday. I think the temperature has lifted a bit.

I was busy all morning with laundry and housework, as well as getting dinner organised early. I had a couple of meetings today- one at lunchtime, and another at 5.30. Both were for the same organisation that I am a trustee of. Both were fine. Lots of decisions to make and deadlines to meet on quite a big project. Some of those depend on other agencies, so it gets quite scary at times. However, I work with good people and we manage to have a laugh as we go along even if a lot of the humour is quite dark. It helps.

I'm back in again, and this time, the boy let the fire go out, but it definitely not as cold.

I'm kind of at a loose end now - still a bit wired from all that social interaction, but not able to settle to anything. I might pick up the sock I'm knitting and find something nice on YouTube. Or I might just scroll on the phone for a couple of hours, then slouch off to bed, disgusted with myself.

Tuesday 9th January 2024

Even colder today. The hard frost did not lift at all, and I had to scrape the car several times. Very unusual for us here. Still, as at least three people said to me today - it will kill all the bugs. I’m never quite convinced.

I was back into the swing today - town, shopping, gym for the first time since before Christmas. I’m trying not to shop unless it’s absolutely necessary, because I have a larder and two freezers full of food. It’s not easy food to use up, though. I have to put some planning and thought into it. Remembering to soak the borlotti beans, or defrost and slow cook those lamb shanks - not really in the “It’s 4pm - what’s for dinner!” school of catering, which is how I usually operate. Anyway, Tesco had a clubcard offer on ribeye steaks, so we had one each for dinner with chips done in the airfryer.

I spent the afternoon on the laptop doing committee stuff and vaguely watching the snooker. The boy was tired after dinner so went for an early night. I’ve let the fire go out, so I might just do the same. I bought a Country Living magazine in Tesco, and I think I will retire with that and my hot water bottle.

Monday 8th January 2024

It has been a frosty start to the first week of Epiphany. A full week back at school too - although the boy goes off on three weeks exam leave on Friday.

It was a quiet Christmas and New Year. No surprises, really. I'm sure people would be very surprised if I said we had a crazy raucous time. I know I would.

I'm fine with it, though. I enjoy the season - I like the spirituality of it all. The anticipation - the spiralling towards the light, the stillness - all that.

And here we are again- back into the swing of it all, as they say.

Happy New Year.

Thursday 24th August 2023

School is back. The first full week of 6 o’clock alarms is almost done. It’s a more intense year for the boy this time. Important exams, decision to make, that sort of thing. How did we get here already?

We’re in that time of in-between seasons. Chillier mornings giving way to warmer days and muggy nights. Summer still holding on, but its grasp is loosening. I was working in the big polycrub this morning, and the bees were very busy - definitely a sign of the seasonal shift.

I haven’t really been inspired by the garden much this year. I’ve felt quite overwhelmed by it all, to be honest. Mind you, I have been very involved in a sizeable community project, which took up a lot of time in May and June. Then my visitors arrived and the holidays began, so I’m not being too hard on myself about it. Now that things have quietened down, I have felt a bit more motivated to get out there.

It’s not been a total loss - there are tomatoes and chillies ripening, vegetables and fruit are being harvested, flowers have bloomed and vases have been filled. I’m already planning for next season, as far as anyone can. Winter crops and biennials have been sown, bulbs have been ordered, and I have a to-do list I want to tackle over the autumn.

That’s about it right now. Life returning to its term-time rhythm. I’ve been reading a lot over the summer, and I’m planning a bookish post soon.

Today, in the potting shed, I finished listening to The Great Gatsby, perfectly narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal on Audible. It was a masterpiece.

I was sowing a tray of lupin seeds as the words of that closing passage drew the novel to an end, and I wept.

Friday 11th August 2023

Almost mid-August, and the sunflowers are blooming. I don’t normally grow them, but this year I have about a dozen dotted about the croft and garden in different stages of their rising and setting. My mother once grew a sunflower at my childhood home, and it grew right up to the second floor window. I recently posted a picture of it on a local Facebook page and it engendered quite a reaction. I was surprised, and touched at the number of people who remembered it, almost fifty years later.

It’s been a decent few months here in the Hebrides. The weather has been more summery than not. The holidaymakers have arrived in their tour buses, campervans, bicycles, and cars, and the island is busy. I have had my own visitors too. From midsummer onwards, I have enjoyed the company of a series of family and friends. Our days have been full with visits to the beach, leisurely wandering around galleries, a trip down to Harris, even a wedding at the standing stones. Much of the time, however, has been spent drinking endless cups of tea around the kitchen table, chatting, laughing, reminiscing - re-filling our cups in more ways than one.

Sunday 21st May 2023

I’ve been very busy lately - not really getting a minute, to be honest. Committee and board meetings, getting the garden ready, chivvying the boy along during his study leave and exams, and a wee building project happening, on top of the myriad of everyday things that need attention. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you are on you own.

But then, a bout of covid brought a halt to all the busy-ness, as it does. Just me, fortunately. The boy, having finished his exams was able to fend for himself, and so we waved to each other at a distance. He has just started getting over long-covid, and neither of us want to go there again.

So, a week off - all commitments dropped, except to myself. Rest, fluids, more rest, more fluids, a few pages of reading, a few rows of knitting and more trash TV than I have watched for a long time. I stayed away from Church today, just in case, but I definitely feel as if I am on the mend.

This morning was warm and sunny. Everything here is still so very green, with just a few pops of colour here and there, but you can sense that summer is straining at the leash. I took my coffee out to the patio and read the May chapter in Ronald Blythe’s last collection of meditations on his life, faith and community. His writing is simply wonderful - I can’t say anymore about it than that. The entries for each day are short, but I was led down so many rabbit holes, as he invariably mentions a person or event sends me to the search engine on my phone to explore further.

He quoted a line from a poem which had me looking up the Amercian poet, Robert Lowell. The name seemed so familiar that I fancied there might be a book of his poems in the house. I popped back in to check and soon emerged, triumphantly with the slim volume - and another coffee. Interesting man and life, but not very happy, by the sounds of things. His poems feel quite bleak, as post war poetry can be.

Blythe describes watching a tv interview with writer Muriel Spark , aired not long after her death. I remember watching it too. I felt a connection with him - as I did when he remembered his grandmother being horrified when he brought a bunch of lilac blossoms into the house. My mother had the same superstition, and I feel consternation when I see all those jars full of lilac flowers on instagram kitchen tables and window sills

Further on, I downloaded an image of John Constable’s painting of The Ascension, currently hanging in St Mary’s Church, Dedham, Suffolk, and listened, on Spotify to the Choir of Kings College Cambridge sing Hubert Parry’s anthem, I Was Glad. The latter is having a bit of a moment, after featuring in King Charles’s Coronation, but it has always been a favourite Psalm of mine.

The lushness of Blythe’s prose stayed with me most of the day. It is so nourishing. Quite enabling too, as later on, inspired by his description of watching the cow parsley flowers wave in the breeze outside his kitchen window as he did his washing up, I ordered a jumbo packet of seeds from ebay.

So, anyway, that’s where I’ve been, and where I am. I never mean to stay away for so long, but - life, and all that. Priorities - priorities.

Saturday 18th February 2023

It was such a lovely day. Frosty morning, turning into warm sunshine - almost spring-like.

I wandered around the croft and garden, inspecting the flowering bulbs and the trees, watered the polycrubs, and picked up some litter. Making plans…

Later on we had a wee fire outside, and sat around, eating blood oranges, throwing the peel into the fire. We stayed out until 6 o’clock as it was still light.

Then we came in and lit the inside fire and had a late tea. I’ve sat up far too late knitting on the lace border of a shawl.

Its been a good day.

Wednesday 11th January 2023

No school today as teachers were on strike, but the boy was still working at home, because there are prelim exams next week.

It was nice not to have to set an early alarm, and I slept in until 9 am! That kind of upset my routine somewhat, but I pottered around and did get some tidying up and laundry done.

When I went to make dinner, however, I discovered that the steaks I had taken out the freezer was actually boiling beef, so we ended up with a frittata type of thing instead.

Meetings are starting back up again, and I had my first one yesterday. Fortunately it was on zoom, as it was a pretty stormy evening, and I didn’t want to move far from the fireside. I also typed up the minutes for one of my other committees, which meets at the end of the month. I am usually rushing at the last moment to do this, so it felt good to get that out of the way.

I’ve started reading Tristram Shandy, and I’m struggling with it. I know it’s a notoriously odd book, and I am finding it really quite funny. The trouble is I have to wade through an awful lot of text to get there. I’ll give it a bit longer.

Sunday 1st January 2023

An unusually snowy start to the New Year, for us. The world has turned into a winter wonderland - all pale blue and white, flushed with pink, and the air sharp and pure.

We’ve had a quiet time, as is the norm. Travel during December and January is notoriously unreliable, so we opted to stay at home. Exams are on the horizon too.

I haven’t really much to say today, other than Happy New Year to anyone reading. I really just wanted to drop in and type up some sort of post. It’s a few months since I have written anything. I normally use the app on my phone to do this, but it hasn’t been working properly - the app, not the phone - and to haul out the laptop is sometimes too much hassle at the end of the day..

But, I do enjoy blogging - documenting the ordinary stuff that I get up to, so I’m going to try and make more of an effort, and post at least once a week. It will be the usual things - what I did, cooked, read, kind of thing. Did I get the laundry hung out or not? Have the brassica seeds sprouted? You know - cliffhangers like that.

Sunday 23rd October 2022

My maternal Grandmother's birthday - she was born 124 years ago today, in Edinburgh. It's quite a thought, that timespan. It seems no time at all that she was in my life - an important daily part of it, and then, by the time I was 16, she was gone. Yet, she is still here in my memories, in my cooking, my knitting, my love for flowery aprons and my middle name. I like that.

I’ve been thinking about Lesley's comment about Bake Off, on my last post. I've really not been invested in it at all - the spark has gone. It's the same with Strictly Come Dancing - all very meh. I wonder if it's because we have been living with the relentless daily soap opera of Westminster since the summer. The trouble is, we can't switch off from that and the consequences of their dramas are very real and far reaching. A light entertainment TV show that has been obviously edited and manipulated to create drama, seems very tame in comparison to what we are living through right now, and yet it provides no respite for our fraying nerves. Not sure if that makes any sense, but I know what I mean. It's an awful situation, borne of selfishness and narcissism, aided by a weak and gullible media.

I’m almost finished my second sock - working my way down the foot. The boy is back boxing tomorrow so I might get it finished then. I think I might cast on a hat next.

I’ve picked up The Brothers Karamazov again. I started it at the beginning of the year, but then the war between Russia and Ukraine started, and I lost the notion for it.

Obviously nothing has changed in that situation, and has even got worse, but I really felt drawn to reading it again. It is superb. Dostoevsky's understanding of the human condition is just incredible, and I am loving every sentence.

Nice weekend. It was a big UFC fight night, on Saturday and at a decent time for us, so we were able to enjoy it live. Popcorn, snacks and a wee glass of white burgundy for me. Lovely evening.

Tuesday 18th October 2022

Beautiful day here today. Crisp, cold, misty morning, with a touch of frost, lifting into a warm still day. Washing hung out and dried, doors and windows opened and just a general feeling of wellbeing all around.

We went into town this morning - gym sessions for us both, then a quick shop and I picked up my new glasses from the opticians. Met a friend in Tesco that I hadn't seen for ages, so we had a speedy catch up.

Home and a late lunch, tidy up then a wee potter outside, until dusk and time to light the fire.

Dinner was steak, mushrooms and onions, with a salad- later than usual, then TV and general chat. Just watched Bake Off - it's going as I predicted at the beginning. Strictly is the same - all so managed now. Still enjoyable enough I suppose.

Forecast is for another good day tomorrow, so I'm planning a pretty full shift in the garden. Looking forward to that.

Sunday 16th October 2022

Sunday night already. Even though it's the school holidays now, there is still that sense of ending and regret, as Monday morning looms.

Mind you, I've just been watching an evening of T S Eliot on BBC4, which included an amazing performance by Ralph Fiennes, of the Four Quartets. Stunning, but melancholic, so probably added to the feeling. All those endings and beginnings and still points.

I almost finished my sock, while watching it.

I ended up with a few errands to run on Friday and got back late in the afternoon so didn't have much time to do anything else.

Saturday afternoon, however, was glorious, and I spent most of it doing some work on the gate to the croft. This was a prime position from which to chat to anyone who went past, and, as it was such a nice day, I had several pleasant conversations over the fence.

Today was the usual quiet Sunday. I like to make lists for the week ahead and do some vague planning. It's always a bit looser during the holidays. I caught up on some reading, chatted to the boy, lit the fire, cooked dinner - that sort of thing.

I still have the kitchen to clear up, so I'll go and do that now, before book and bed.

Wednesday 12th Ocotber 2022

Couple of days catching up on things before the school holidays next week. The weather hasn’t been good, so I’ve been unable to get washing out, or much gardening done. I have wildflower seed to put down in the new meadow area, and I really want to get that sown this week, but it looks like I will need to dash out between heavy rain showers. Everything is so wet right now.

I had to rip out my pediment jumper. I was getting on so well with it too, but I finally realised that I had twisted it when I joined in the round. I had kind of suspected it, but always managed to convince myself that it was fine - it wasn’t. I’ll leave it until the weekend now, as I’m a bit cross with it. However, I am working on new socks with some lovely natural hand dyed wool I bought in Canada, and they are skipping along nicely.

I feel that I had a few things to write about, but they elude me at the moment. I’ve just been at a community meeting on zoom, and my head is full of the business from that. Thankfully it wasn’t too long, so the minutes will be quick to type up. I have a few emails to send in the morning, but nothing too onerous.

So that’s really it for now. Into town tomorrow morning - the boy has a dental appointment, and I will take the chance to go to the fishmongers and see what’s nice in there. Dinner tonight was a mixed grill.

I’m looking forward to the schools being off - I like not setting the alarm. We’re not planning to go anywhere - maybe a day here and there, but mostly home. There’s always something to do.

Sunday 9th October 2022

Sunday night already. The week has flown past. Not much really happened - the weather was cold, wet and windy. I feel as if we have gone from March straight to November. Hopefully some calm sunny Autummal days will come along.

My Internet has been excruciatingly slow too - there is a fault on the line, so I haven't been online much either.

The week was busy. I had a few appointments and meetings. The chimney sweep came, so we can have the fire on in the evenings again. The dog went to the groomers, and there was the usual round of shopping and gym. Meeting minutes and admin to be done for my committees, as well as attending an event on Saturday morning.

I'm almost finished my book and have been plodding away at my knitting. I'm going to cast on some socks tonight, while watching the Young Musician of the Year. I always like to have a pair on the go.

Full Hunter's Moon tonight - watch out.

Monday 3rd October 2022

There was a forecast of heavy rain this afternoon, so after a quick tidy round, I went out into the garden this morning. I could have done more grass raking, but felt like a change, so decided to work in the flower beds. I had a few herbaceous plants that have been sitting in pots since July, and really needed to be in the ground. I knew where I wanted the lupins and everlasting sweet peas, so they were easily dealt with, but the two large hydrangea were harder to place.

I eventually found somewhere I hope they will be happy in - and I can see them from the kitchen window. I love hydrangea but never seem to have had much luck with them here. They do grow well in other gardens, so I'm obviously doing something wrong. I've nestled them in with half a bag of ericaceous compost each, so fingers crossed.

The rain came on just before noon, so I came in for lunch then just pottered around ineffectively until school pickup.

Watched the Chancellor's speech - unimpressed. I think they are just making it up as they go. It's a worrying time.

Dinner was a repeat of yesterday (roast beef) but I did some mashed potatoes instead.

I cast on a new project - or rather re-cast on one I starter earlier in the year but ripped out. I decided I wanted to make it in a size up so I can wear it as a top layer. It's the Pediment jumper, on Ravelry, and I'm knitting it in a dark blue shade.

Not much on TV, so early to bed to hopefully make a dent in my book. It's very good.