Still more snow falling and Edinburgh just can’t cope. I got to work today but bread and milk is getting scarce. My German students are asking why can’t the council clear the roads, like they do in Germany? And I have no answer. And it’s going to get even colder apparently.
No work today!
No schools are open today, it’s been snowing for a wee while and it still is. Nothing much for some people, but we’re not used to it here so it’s causing chaos with traffic. What a good excuse to have an ‘at home’ day, it’s like a freebie.
I am so impressed with our Fire Service. They check your house, give you advice and fit smoke detectors FREE. I got them a few weeks ago. Then on Sunday morning about 1am ie the middle of the night, mine went off. Luckily it stopped after a couple of minutes as I couldn’t figure out how to stop it, though I reasoned a brush handle would be involved and had gone to get one. So I phoned the freephone number to ask advice and they have just been round and changed them for new ones. And all free. I hope our serious cutbacks don’t diminish the service as I think it’s just fab!
I’ve been back for 2 weeks now and it’s all doom and gloom. Our uni has to save £2.5 m (give or take) meanwhile the newpapers are ‘outing’ uni principals’ pay rises and expenses. Our EU student numbers are down by about 60% on last year, so I’ve got fewer classes and so have to make up the hours doing something else. It’s all a bit more of the same really – the things we have to do toe arn a crust!
Yes, and it’s one of my own ones – a beach in Shetland which is just known (by Mary & I anyway) as the ‘eggy’ beach because of the shape of so many of the pebbles.
Just in time for X Factor!
My first flat screen telly, so I decided to buy the red cabinet I’ve been looking at in Ikea for about 2 years now. And I’m really happy with it, now I hope it doesn’t show the dust too much. And Callum has smartened up my bog to go with this new sleek style. It’s just all so smart, isn’t it?
New car July 2010
I’ve driven it to Inverurie to get a good feel for it and I love it. I can overtake lorries going uphill – wow, that’s a novelty. But the most important thing of all is, of course, the colour – Morello (or ripe cherry to you and me). I love the colour. And I suppose some of you might be interested in the fact that it’s a Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec.
Got back to horizontal rain and wind so didn’t notice the serious dent in my car wing till next day – and I’m just about to trade it in, so that’s cost me a good bit extra. Mind you, no more than I saved with my purchases from Turkey – Chanel was top this year and I got shoes, t-shirt and sunglasses.
Here’s the ‘big sea’ (it’s all relative) which made it a bit tricky for me to swim in – or even get into.
Big sea in Side
So what’s a girl to do in the circumstances?
Mud. glorious mud
Well i,m on a surprise holiday in Side, Turkey. So far the weather has been hot, very,very windy, thunder and lightning and cloud, but not all in the one day. What more could i expect? But i try to look on the bright side – the wind is blowing so much sand over me it,s lıke the scrub treatment i had at the Turkish baths. Side is a predominently German resort so i have to try with my Turlish and that,s always fun when you get it all wrong. No photos till i get back as i can,t connect the camera to the computer at the ınternet cafe.
Went to beautiful Beauly then on to Thurso with the fabulous 55 club (that’s £15 return anywhere in Scotland if you can prove you’re over 55). Yet again, I spent most of the sunny times on the train and when I got back sweltered from Inverness, the rain started before I got to the supermarket for my shopping. What is it with me and weather. It has since rained for a week, then got a bit cooler, now so-so! Thurso is famous for stone slabs and slate, as you can see they put it to good use
We also went to Fort Augustus where the town was full of Indian and Chinese visitors – a sign of the times. Fort Augustus is at the end of Loch Ness, hence the Nessie sculpture which will be topiarised (?) in due course. It gets pretty hot in that hat in summer, he tells me.
