It’s minus 3, my road is a sheet of ice and I’m at home, toasty warm with total disregard for the planet or my gas bill, so I’m happy. I wish everyone all the very best for 2010.
Happy Hogmanay
December 31st, 2009Christmas was lush
December 29th, 2009As (Gavin and) Stacy would say, or abundant if you prefer. The MacCauleys (Emma’s parents) are very hospitable and it was wonderfully full of food, drink and good company, so what more could you ask for? Here’s a sampler to give you the picture.
What a beautifully dressed table
This is a bottle of 'Costapacket' - want some?
Lush decorations in the hall
White Christmas Eve
December 24th, 2009It’s beautiful today, very pretty, and a bit warmer now at minus 2, having been minus 10 during the night. Not much of a winter for my friends in Canada or China, but for Edinburgh, it’s quite unusual. As always, a wee bit of snow and the whole country’s in chaos. Airports were closed, trains cancelled and roads blocked. But here’s how beautiful it is in my garden.
White Christmas - perhaps
December 20th, 2009It’s been very cold, so cold the central heating has been triggered by the frost detector and comes on in the middle of the night so I wake up sweltering - a strange paradox.
There’s a possibility of a white Christmas this year and it looks likely at the moment but it could all change by Friday.
Try watching this if you’re downunder and you’re feeling the heat - hope this cools you down!
Christmas Tree 2009
December 17th, 2009
You just can't have too much tartan
That’s it, then, the tree’s up and ready. We had some heavy snow showers today but wet stuff so not lying at all. I’m feeling the strain of all the marking I’ve been doing - or was it the tiramisu at 10pm last night at the work’s meal out.
St Andrew’s weekend
November 29th, 2009It was so badly publicised that I might have missed it, but I had such a good time in St Andrew’s Square yesterday. There was music, break-dancing, cookery displays and a procession of the most weird and amazing art cars - or moving sculptures I would call them. So here’s a selection of what I saw, maybe not so clear as my night vision camera doesn’t seem to be quite as good as the BBC’s.
Colourful, but what is it?
A whiter shade of Christmas
And now we’ll try a little video for those homesick for the old country and who think they’re riding a bike! That’s not a bike - this is a bike!!
Christmas Present to me from me
October 12th, 2009
Cosy koala
Drats - why is this photo sideways when I clearly took it the right way up and it’s the right way up in Picassa? Oh well, I’m sure you get the drift - it’s a sheepskin seat cover and yes, it’s only one, as I gave the other one to my sister. Bought these in Australia and they sent them land (well sea) freight, and here they are. How fab is that? Bet you all want one!
New windows
September 29th, 2009
Front of house
Finally got the new double glazing downstairs which has made such a difference to the heat in the house. And the kitchen windows below are just the cutest, that wee one especially, don’t you think?
Kitchen windows
So bring on the winter, that’s what I say!
Golden Oldies
September 13th, 2009I went up north for my Uncle Jimmy’s 86th birthday on 3 September. Here are three of the ‘golden oldies’ enjoying a wee sherry.
Here's tae ye, Jimmy
And here’s a shot of the birtdhay lunch.
And note the favourite cardi makes an appearance
I went with a bit of a sore throat and came back with the worst head cold ever! I couldn’t speak at all for days and now have what could be described as a deep, husky voice. Not good for the classroom next Tuesday when I have 6 hours teaching, so I’m doped up on everything I can think of. Still I’m definitely on the mend.
St Andrews Trip
August 31st, 2009On Friday we went to St Andrews with 7 teachers and 150 students - and came back with 7 teachers and 150 students. The weather wasn’t too bad compared to the last couple of weeks and we didn’t actually get wet, so that was a bonus. We came back via Anstruther to the famous fish and chip shop. They have been voted best chippie in Scotland about 5 times. So here’s the sea view and the flowers!
What a grey day
Bonnie flowers