Monday 31 October 2005

                       A Ghost Story for Halloween.

 

In Scotland , among hill walkers there is a story of 'The Old man of The Mountains'. Many people hear him but none see him. Today for Halloween I am going to tell you a true story of 'The Old Man of the Mountain'.

The story begins many years ago a young couple were on a weekend camping trip to Glen Lyon with the girls parents.  They were very keen hill walkers and usually did this together but on this particular day the guy went to the mountain on has own. He was a very brisk walker and used to walk all his companions off their feet, maybe that is why he was on has own that day.

He set off at usual pace to climb the mountain nearest to the campsite, it was a lovely summer day with sunshine and he made good progress up the mountain, we are not talking Ben Nevis here, but around the 3000ft mark, just a stroll in the park for this guy. Up he went enjoying the beautiful scenery all the way. On reaching the top he had a few minutes rest in the afternoon sunshine. He then set off down the mountain but as he walked a bank of fog rolled in and it turned cold. As he continued he thought he heard someone behind him so he turned to look but there was nobody there. On he went again but he could still hear the footsteps behind him. For the five minutes he kept turning round as he kept hearing the footsteps very close behind him. This really started to get to the guy and he started to get the feeling of a presence as well. He kept turning round but could not see anyone there. he started to walk quicker and quicker. Now this guy was a seasoned hill walker, climbed many mountains and was not easily fazed but this was really getting to him. At last the fog was behind  him and the sun was out again so he thought all would be well. The footsteps were still there and seemed even closer. He was close to the foot of the mountain now but the presence and the footsteps were still there. At last he crossed the bridge over the River Lyon to the side the campsite and the road were on and he could see the people but the footsteps were still there . He kept on walking quickly towards the tents. He then saw his girlfriend walk out to meet him and as she approached  the footsteps stopped as quickly as they had started and the presence was gone.

I don't know if you have realised it or not but the guy in this story in my Stuart and it was me the walked out to meet hem and he stands by this story to this day and it must have happened 45 years ago. Talking about it today I could see that it still gives him the shivers even after all these years.

 

  

Sunday 30 October 2005

Sunday Musings

Good Morning J-Land, hope you all remembered to put you clocks back last night and had nice lie in this morning. It will take me about a week to get my body clock sorted out. Thinking of the clocks today it reminded me of a something that happened when I lived in Dundee.  This was on a day when the clocks had been changed the other way, forward into spring.  It was a Sunday morning and I was sitting in church, the service was almost over so it must have been about 11-45am when the door opened and a whole family trooped in not noticing for a moment or two that the service was in process. When they realised what was going on they were so embarrassed they did not know where to look.  They quietly took there seats and then I think the penny dropped they had forgotten to put there clocks on.

 Hope all goes well for me tomorrow as I will post my ghost story all going well. Have a peaceful Sunday and may your God be with you.

                            

Saturday 29 October 2005

Trying So hard.

Hi it's me again trying my best to get this right, same picture as this morning but hopefully you will be able to see it.  Was feeling very unwell this morning after trying so hard and it still not working so have tried something different this time so hopefully it will work.   If not I'll just have to try something else.  Thought I had it worked out earlier in the week but have a new Graphics/Clip program and that seems to causing the problem.  Can you tell me what todays entry is like now and also if you can see the picture I posted on Thusday   If I go over to Stuarts side of the computer all looks well that is what I cannot understand. Hope you are all having a pleasant Satuarday. Have been out Birding and for a walk which seems to have settled my blood pressure down a bit I hope as I am due for a check up soon and don't want another telling off from the Doctor.   By for now.

Thursday 27 October 2005

Today

 

Just wanted to pop back and remark about todays weather. Was'nt it the most beautiful day we had nearly 70c up here and I know it was nice down south as well.  It made such a change from all the gloomy wether we have had since our holiday.  The picture was taken on our second visit to Loch Fleet tha t was on the Thursday. The sun shone for us that day and thats the last good day we have had so today was very welcome.  Thats all I wanted to say we are always quick to complain but we have to praise as well. Goodnight. Love Joan.

Childhood Memories

                                                                 

                              Jeannette mentioned this morning writing about childhood memories.  I too was up in the night. I had had chocolate raisins last night I don't know what they put in them but my mind was whizzing.  I was thinking what I could write about other than my trials and tribulations of my electrical appliances .

     Halloween nowadays has become very big business the supermarkets and other shops are full of costumes and all the rest of the paraphanellia required.  Now don't get me wrong, wish we had had things like that.  Now thinking back to what we did and had, it went like this. First we carved out our lantern out of a Swede, no Pumpkins in our day.  We got ourselves dressed up similar to the picture above then off we went.  Don't know what you call it but up here in Scotland it was called guising, not trick or treat. We knocked at the door and when someone answered  we asked "Are you needing any guisers. " If the answer was yes in we went.  We then did a 'turn' a poem song or a joke we then were given a few coppers maybe sixpence or a shilling if we were very lucky.  We pooled all the money and at the end of the night we divided it up between us.  What great nights we had I remember. My parent did not like me doing this they thought is was begging but usually managed to persuade them to let me go.  As an only child they were very protective of me.  So that is one of my childhood memories I hold dear.

     Could I just say my new bagless vacuum cleaner actually picks up the dirt.  I doubt if I will be near this computer forthe rest of the day as Stu has just taken delivery of DVD-Rom Guide to British Bird which is a massive piece of kit it is 3GB so it will keep him busy for I don't know how long. Goodbye for now and have a good day.

 

Wednesday 26 October 2005

Flustrating Day

Good Evening a very late entry from me today as I have been out all day and never had a moment to call my own. We had to go up to Perth for a new Vacuum Cleaner as old faithful had had its last day . There was more dust coming out of it than going in so the time had come for a replacement.  That bit of business went fine we then started to look a Dishwashers but the delivery charges were ridictulous  so we are going to shop on the net tomorrow.  I bought a new program for the computer and have been trying it out since we got back and then it was dinner time, then time for Holby ~Casualty  at 8pm and soon Desperate Housewives. We did not watch it first time round as it is not my kind of thing but we have been hooked on the rerun if you have not seen it you really have missed a great funny program. Well I hade better go now as it is about to start. Goodnight and take care.

Tuesday 25 October 2005

Trials and tribulations

 

                                     

                                     

                                   Oh have I had a great Day I've had, thanks to Jeannette and my Hubby, I have now mastered writing my Journal in a Word Document and transferring it across to my Journal, I think this will make life a little bit easier in the future.

              I have written a long story (not to long) for Halloween and it will mean I will not have to write it all again. One thing I must thank journals for, is that I have learned more in the short time I have been writing a journal than in the eighteen months we have had the computer. I did not have any computer skills before we bought ours so I have had to learn the hard way (trial and error).

             Stuart has been busy again this morning putting up a blind in the study that will be, once we get it finished. Strange, we bought the blind at the week-end in B&Q and when Stuart went to put it up it did not have a lath (the weight along the bottom of the blind). Do you not get supplied with this component nowadays or what? Fortunately we had a spare curtain rod that fitted perfectly so we did not have to go all the way to Perth to complain.

            Later I'm going up to clear out the bottom of my cupboard where I keep my shoes and boy is there going to be a clearance there.  I am not able to wear high heels these days unless I am going out to a sitting occasion so as the saying goes if you don't use it or wear it for a year get rid of it

           It is nearly time for the computer to go back upstairs and I know in the beginning that I did  not like it down here but I have grown to prefer it as you can feel quite isolated if you are upstairs for a long time, but my lounge is not big enough to accommodate the computer and all the bits that go with it.  Well I will close now and hope all my testing this afternoon has not disturbed you too much. Love          

                         Joan.

            

Monday 24 October 2005

Monday Monday.

Good Afternoon, What a day it is up here, we have a very strong east wind and very heavy rain,  what I call side ways rain.  In thelast hour things have eased quite a bit.   Stuart has just come off the phone and on line about new home and building insurance.  Our renewal came in the other day and the increase was astronomical. We shopped around and got a very good quote from Norwich Union.  When Stuart then phome Halifax to cancel our old policy she said she would try to reduce it.  Why is it whenever you try to cancel insurance they can always manage to reduce it for you.  Do these people not have any loyalty for there existing customers.  Thats my rant for today.  You may notice that I play Rod Stewart's American Song Books an awful lot. Ever since I was given the first one in a gift I have hardly played anything else.  They are all old standard songs and he makes such a good job of singing them you would not think it could be done by a rocker. I now have three of these CDs and find them very relaxing and calming as I am prone to get a bit het up for no good reason and his singing really calms me down.  I am often found dancing around the lounge just like they do on Strickly Come Dancing well nearly lol.  Well I will close now as I want to change the furnitune round in our bedroom. Bye Bye and take care.

 

                                                     

Sunday 23 October 2005

A Picture for you

Having a wee break from the upstairs flitting to catch our breath. I thought you might like to see this picture I took at Loch Fleet of a Sickener Toadstool its not poisous but does cause vomiting here endeth the Biology lesson for today and back to the grind for me.   Love Joan.

 

    

Staying out of the way

Good morning from a very rainy Scotland. At this moment I am staying out of the way as Stu is laying the new carpet in 'new study'.  I am better down here as I will just get the blame if it goes wrong and when your hubby has had a heart bypass you don't want to argue.  Of course he gets away with murder these days but I still love him most of the time. Upstairs at the moment is a complete shambles you  can hardly get into the loo never mind the bedroom as all the furniture is either in the bedroom or on the landing.  Our wardrobe is our original and is made of solid wood and we had to lift that our and it weighed a ton at least and that was empty. They don't make them like that anymore.  Never got round to finishing telling you about my holiday but I will get to it next week I hope. Well I will close now and get down here tidied up etc.  Bye just now.   

 

                                                

Saturday 22 October 2005

Busy Saturday

Hi J-land, having a busy day today we have been up to Perth for a new carpet for the nice new study that we are making.  The painting and decorating is finished and we are now ready for the finishing touches well nearly after we get the carpet fitted.   Not a good day here at all heavy rain on and off so glad to be home.  Hate the town  on a Saturday now that we do'nt usually go then but as we were just going to the retail park it was not too bad. Have had a fine old time trying to get my new mobile phone up and running I liked my old one as could hear on it very well and was a bit apprehensive about getting a new one as I can't tell if it will be compatable with my hearing aid some of the phones cause a buzzing and you can't hear a thing.  Stuart set my new one up and we tested it and it is even better than my last one so I  am happy. I do not use it a great deal but I like it for safety reasons if I am out in the car on my own or out walking alone it just makes you feel better nowadays knowing you have one with you.  Tried to get back to you all yesterday but the computer had a bug and it put me right off after 3 attempts at writing my piece.  Well I had better go now with congratulations to our friends that have been nominated for a VIVI.      Bye for now.

 

 

Friday 21 October 2005

My Morning

Good Morning J-land,while doing up the breakfast dishes (not liking it at all) I was looking out the window and noticed  a Rowan tree out there that does  not have a leaf left on it.  This tree is always first out in the spring so you can expect this but what I do not expect is my Yellow Buddleia is still in full flower as is the Lobbelia and the Lavatria, you see we have not had a frost yet which is most unusual. Global Warming?.  Stuart is out as usual being Friday he doing his Vincent thing at his art class think he will enjoy this more that the other painting he has been doing this week.  Well I will better go now so I can pretend, at least, to having been busy this morning. Have a nice day.  Love

                                    

Thursday 20 October 2005

Part Three.

Now where was I oh yes day three.  This was to be the worst day of the week weather wise so we know the weather at Dornoch is supposed to be the driest in Scotland so we headed off after our big hearty breakfast.  The rain stayed off as we stopped at Dingwall's brand new Tesco's for sandwiches for our lunch.  You don't need too much at lunch as you have to a good appetite for dinner. We then drove round to Dornoch and Loch Fleet, the rain still staying off.  We had a lovely walk there and then moved round the bay to a small nature reserve.  Now I am going to show you a photo of Whooper Swans, thats the ones that visit us from the Arctic every winter, promised not to bore you with bird talk but these picture were taken through the camera being held up against the Telescope.  Am needing to buy the thing that attatches the camera to the telescope but that little ring cost over £150 so I will have to save up. The Swans were about  120 yds away so I think I did not too bad. (Now for the hard bit) Hope that looks ok when I save it, still not finding it easy getting the pictures to the right size. There was about 24 of these Whoopers all together along with about 1000 Grey Lag Geese. We just got all settled when the heavens opened and the rain came on very heavy. I retired to the shelter of the car but Stu stayed it out for another 30mins or so brave soul that he is.  It was a good day and the birdwatching was really rewarding.  After that soaking it was back to Strathpeffer for a shower and a nice dinner.   Could not resist this picture I was lucky the dining room was almost empty when I took this picture so I did not look too silly

Back up to day the weather today is not too bad it has brightened up and I got my new Whirly set up and the washing is blowing in the wind hope its drying as well.  So I will close now and see you later. Love                                 

Wednesday 19 October 2005

My Day

Good Evening J-land  been out all day today and when we got back Stuart bagged the computer with a new tutorial for Excel so I had to wait as I really get more time on here than he does.  Had a good day out and got my new whirly so if it is nice tomorrow I will be able to hang out the washing again.  Thats one of the things  I hate about the winter not getting the washing out.  It has been very mild up here today in fact all week but today was rainy and very misty if I had hair like a friend of ours I would have had curls but my hair is of the straight variety so the hair spray was out in force today.  Don't know what I've  done wrong to deserve all the bad luck just now you remember the fridge freezer, the dishwasher , the whirly and I lost my Mobile Phone clambering about the sand dunes last week so they say bad luck always comes in threes that's four so I hope thats the end of it.  Will try to replace the vanishing pictures tomorrow time permiting as we will have to get on with the decorating or refurbishment of the study if you want to be polite. So I will say goodnight for now and hope you all sleep well and take care.  Love

 

 

Help

Hi  did'nt realise that if I deleted pictures from File manager that they  would be deleted  from my journal at the same time never mind lesson learned.  Love Joan.

Tuesday 18 October 2005

Happy Birthday.

Hi J-Land, OK, I'm going to put my hands in the air and say I watch Neighbours.  It started, when I was home alone all day and I did or do enjoy it. Today the programm was 20years old. I must have just been in my early 40s when it started.  Hope any fans watched it today there were a lot of very old friends in there. It was a bit soppy but it did bring a tear or two to my eyes. There now I've told you all, surely I am not alone in J-land .  Goodnight and sleep well. Love Joan

Part Two of the Holiday

Goodmorning J-land, now that I have got Stu settled upstairs with the paint brush and roller I can grab a few moments to do my journal.  Going back to the holiday, on Tuesday morning we watched to weather forecast and it said that the rain was traveling from west to east so we decided to go west and we made the right choice for once.  We headed off after a big big hotel breakfast won't say what we had or you will all be running for the frying pan. We set off to go to a place called Ullapool you have maybe heard of  it a lovely spot. I have been going there since I was about 5 years old so love the place to bits. Straying off a wee bit I sent all my Tesco vouchers for computers to Ullapool Primary School this  year and got the most lovely letter back in reply.  Back to Tuesday. The weather did as it was supposed to and brightened up all the way.The picture below is one I took looking down Loch Broom towards Ullapool. 

The next one the sun had just come  out and caught all the lovely white cottages in Ullapool itself- it looked a picture and Stu had to do a fast pull over to let me get this shot, its a pity about the tree but maybe it adds something.

After a while in Ullapool we had a run out to Ardmour Point to see if there were any divers in the bay will not go into details about the birding and bore you all to tears enough to say we had a sucessful trip there.  We then had to do an about turn back through Ullapool to go to Gruinard Bay to look for Sea Eagles but as usual no luck but we did have a grand day out......To Be Continued.  Love

                                             Joan.

Monday 17 October 2005

Monday Musings

                          

Just had a lovely wee walk round to our local shop for a paper and some milk.  What a lovely day it has turned out the sun has broken through and there is no wind. As I was walking the leaves were falling ever so gently from the trees it was oh so peaceful. When I got back in my mood changed oh so fast.  I went to hang out my washing and my whirly drier snapped not the rope one of the spares that holds it up.  I am very annoyed as I have only had this one for 7 months does nothing last these days.  That must the the last thing to go on the blink for now surely. Stu is painting upstairs not the arty kind the on the walls type so I am staying out of the way,and only go up when he needs me. Hope to be back later.  Joan.

Sunday 16 October 2005

Our Holiday Part one.

Last Monday we left home at 10 am for our car journey to Strathpeffer.  The roads were very busy all the way and it was not until later I discovered that it was a Monday Holiday in the north.  Up here in Scotland we stagger our holiday Mondays so we are off at different times. It works very well and has always been like that and we don't get the roads too clogged up.  We only had one stop on the way up for a coffee and a comfort break at a picnic area we always use when going north it is about 80 miles from home so it comes at athe right time.   On again north the weather getting better and brighter all the time.   We then headed over the Kessock Bridge and stopped off a Dingwall for a coffee as we were too early for our hotel it was only 2 o'clock.  Had a wander round the small town (Stuart has just read a piece out of today 'Scotland on Sunday' newspaper  saying that Inverness is the fasted growing city in Europe) will talk more about Inverness later.

The Ben Wyvis Hotel.

We arrived at our hotel at about 3 o'clock and everything was ready.  The hotel itself has has a total refurbishment since we were last here in two years ago.  I am happy to say they have not taken away any of of old features we came to love but have put in showers which is great as we only ever had baths before and I and Stu are shower people.  We had plenty of time to have a seat and a we lie down before dinner as the rain had just started. The birdwatching today has been the worst I have ever seen it up here I don't know what was wrong but we are hoping it will improve soon or we will be two unhappy birders.  Well will close now and will do part two tomorrow. Love Joan.

 

 

Saturday 15 October 2005

Back Home

Feeling very down today as we are back home after a great holiday.  Have taken lots of pictures for you to see but am a bit busy just now with the washing etc. Thought we were going to have the worst weather but the rain fell at night after we we back at the hotel and we had one hour of rain that affected us.Will tell all later. Hope you are all well missed all the stories but will catch up soon. Bye for now.

                                              Joan.

Sunday 9 October 2005

Busy Day

Today has been a busy day trying to get everything packed and ready for a reasonably early start in the morning.  It will take us about 3-4 hours to get there depending if we stop off at Aviemore on the way. The Weather forecast is not very good for the week but we will just have to hope they are wrong as they usually are for us.  We have also been to the recycling skips this morning with our glass. Thats the only thing we have to take ourselves as we have bins for our paper and our garden waste. I think recycling is a very good thing the way things are going these days we seem to have a very angry planet with all the natural disasters we have had in the last few months, so if we can help in any small way I think it worth trying. Had another try with bookworm these last few days and we managed to get into the top 20 for the day on line scores even though our score was not as good as the one I told you about.  We lost a good score when our comprter crashed a couple of weeks ago and we had to reload all the games. We were lucky  we did not lose any important thing like our bird records which take ages to do although I have them written down the old fashioned way just to make sure we never lose our lists as we have been birdwatching for thirtyfive years and we would never be able to remember it all.  Well I had better go now and complete my packing Love.                          Joan.

Saturday 8 October 2005

Saturday Musings

Never got round to writing a journal yesterday don't know why maybe I did not have much to say or tell you.  Stu had his art class in the morning and is partaking in The Big Draw I will show you the result of that when it is finished it is looking good at the moment. The picture is done in a mediun he has not used before namely Pastel which he is really enjoying.  He will miss his class next week as we won't be back till Friday afternoon, I hope as one of my favourite programmes starts again next Friday (The West Wing).  Discovered this by accident as it is hidden away on a new channel which launches on Monday called More 4. 

Enjoyed the Eden Project last night but felt it could have been better,considering they spent a year filming . Would love to visit but the crowds put my off.

Don't know what we are doing today yet as it is a rainy morning. Bye for now.     

Only 2 more sleeps.

Thursday 6 October 2005

 

At last  I have managed to put a picture in where I wanted it to be . Thanks to everybody who has lent their advice.  This is a very rare picture of Stuart and myself together as its usually one of me or one of Stu.  I got the waitress to take this one after we had our lunch today. I think we look a bit older than on the ones taken on 6th October 1962 but we are not too bad yet.   This is the third time of writing today as we had a family visit and  I lost my entry again with the exception of the picture which Jeannette has seen I will try to do it in word tomorrow. I would have posted a wedding photo for you but we do not have a scanner yet hint hint to Stu. and Santa.  I think if I start early enough tomorrow I will have my entry ready by teatime. Goodnight all . Joan.

The lady from AOL

I did have my entry for this morning almost done when the lady from AOL says Goodbye and of course I lost it all. If she does it to me one more time when I am working I think I will stretch into the monitor and strangle her.  I don't have time to start again just now as we are off out to our Anniversary lunch . Speak to you later.  Joan

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Have You Got Your Receipt Madam

As you will have guessed by the title I am about to have another rant today,  The subject being Ink Cartridges for the printer.  We replaced our cartridges in our printer the other day with Tesco's own brand which have always been OK,  up till now that is....... Stuart changed them,  as I don't touch things like that. and ran off a few pages but it did not look right at all.  Now Stuart does know what he is talking about as he was a Lithographer in the printing trade all his working life.  There is no blue ink in this cartridge he informed me but we did go through all the normal rig -ma-rol to reset the printer but to no avail.  So-- right we said we will take them back tomorrow when we are up in Perth.  So after a nice day in Perth we arrived a Tesco's. Crunch time..........Stroppy assistant --oh you have to put you cartridge in the envelope provided and send it back to the makers.  " We did not get an envelope in the package we said" Stroppy assistant I'll get you one and off she went.  She duly returned and said thought we had them but we don't you will have to phone them on this free phone number and they will send you and envelope to send the cartridge back they will send you a new one back.  We said this would not be of any use to us as we would have to buy another cartidge to use till this was sorted out. OK this would not have been the end of the world but I was angry by this time-- she then played what she thought was her ace card "Can I have your receipt please" well you've guessed it we did not have it.  Without the receipt I do not have proof of purchase she said.  I fortunatly had read the packaging and it said that you could have a replacement if the product did not satisfy,and we were not satisfied.  She then said she would call the Duty Manager on the phone, now I thought, we are getting somewhere.  Another wait and the DM arrived.  She apoligised for the faulty cartridge and gave us a replacemant no bother at all.   The stroppy assistant was not at all pleased but sorted it all out .  I was banking on this happening .  I did not work for Safeways Morrisons for 20 years and not know the system  So alls well that ends well as the saying goes. So after that I tale  will go and make the tea and say Goodnight  and God Bless.  Joan.

Tuesday 4 October 2005

Christmas in October

Stuart and I went up to our local garden centre for coffee this morning and Lo and Behold its Christmas.  Now don't get me wrong I love Christmas but this is only th 4th October, and, this was not a few things this was the whole shooting match, trees, lights everything you can think of.  I just think it spoils Christmas when it starts at this time of the year-by the time Christmas comes its taken the shine off so to speak. Maybe you will not agree with me but that the way I feel. When you think of its nearly 4 weeks till Halloween. Thats my rant for today.

Thusday will be our 43rdWedding Anniversary and it seems like it was only maybe last week I can remember it so well. It was a lovely day cold and sunny for October a really nice day.   One thing I do remember was the new smell in our first house.  It was a small 2 roomed flat with no bathroom but we did have an inside toilet which was really something in 1962.  Everything in the house was new and thats what made this lovely smell even Stuart still speaks about it to this day.  I am being taken out to lunch on Thusday which is quite a occasion as we don't eat out much as I always feel I could feed us for days on what it cost today.  Oh dear I sound a real meanie. I better go now before I get on my high horse about something else.

 

Monday 3 October 2005

The Missing Makeup Bag.

Good Afternoon, today I am a very happy bunny why you ask I found the lost makeup bag.  All last weed I have been searching for my makeup bag. I have hunted high an d low but to no avail.  It is not valuable at all but you girls will know what I mean.  My fold up hair brush my lip brush my bronzer and my favourite lipstick were all in there.  I searched the house and the car and came to conclusion that i must have left it in some ladies room but still I felt it was in the house.  This morning we were going away birdwatching and I brought down the picmic bag and there in the sticking out the side pocket was my makeup bag  I was so pleased you would not have believed it you would have thought i had found a fortune but you will know what I mean.  I have plenty of cosmetics but that was not the same.  Never mind we had a good outcome in the end.

     We had a good day out and ended up at a place right under the two bridges the is the Forth Rail Bridge and The Forth road bridge it's a good place to watch the seabirds.

     Stu has been looking a my dish washing machine as it has not been feeling very well and has just come through ansd pronounced it dead.  So after   the fridge freezer a few week ago and my wee toasty maker last month that should be the three things for now I hope.  If this keeps up I'm going to be ruined.  Glad we booked the holiday before this happened.   A new one is a must in Stu's world as he hates washing dishes so this is the easy way out.  Well I had better go and see what we are going to have for our tea.  I think maybe Macaroni and cheese sounds tasty. Bye for now Joan.  (only 7 more sleeps)

Sunday 2 October 2005

Something for nothing.

Going back to yesterdays subject I heared a good idea years ago somewhere can't remember where but it said if you bring in some of your bedding plants, in small pots you can get a few more weeks out of them.  A few weeks ago I had a very sorry looking Begonia (New Guinea Hybrid) they seem to be more tender up here in Scotland, so I brought it in and you should see it now it is absolutely super.  Yesterday when we were out I saw one of the Fushia's was still looking good and knew the first night we have a frost that will be the end of things so I repotted it and brought in hoping that it will last for a while in the cool vestibule where there is no heating but plenty of light.  So there you are plants for free.

    I was playing music on the computer and could not help to marvel at the wonderful show the grahics on the Windows Media Player was giving I would love to know how it works as I am not all that good at understanding computers but it was beautiful and I really enjoy watching whenever I pass the computer as I busy around the house.  Hope you all have a pleasant Sunday. Love Joan.

Saturday 1 October 2005

Our Garden

Have been busy in the garden this morning getting the grass cut etc.  The photo above I thought was funny, there are two Woodpigeons on the bird table and really there is not room for one but they were crushing in it was very amusing. You will have to view larger to see it properly.  Its not a good shot as its a bit dark but I had to sneak up on them from the back door.  We had just come in for some home made soup when our Robin came down to see what was what he seems to be a real bossy boots this year.  Not planning to go out this afternoon as we are both suffering with backs and thighs after working in the garden. Only 9 more sleeps till we go away on holiday.  I thought I would not look forweard to holidays so much once we retired but we are still the same, looking forward to getting away.  I always think of this break as my special holiday as we are not self catering we are in an hotel so I don't have to cook or tidy up just go down to breakfast and then away for the day and then when we get back someone else has made the dinner -Magic.  Its been a nice day here the sun has been shining and it has been nice and warm for the start of October.   Will close now and hope you all enjoy your weekend.  Joan.