Good Morning is it really November.

Good Morning, still wakening early so thought I would pop in and do today's entry before I start my day proper. Remembered to take my camera with me yesterday so will download the pictures to share with you. Our two brave windsurfers were back yesterday and were having a great time in St Andrews Bay. There was a stiff breeze or strong wind which ever way you look at it but it was cold. Every time they got along to where we were parked and tried to turn they both fell over and it took some doing to get upright again and oh that water must have been cold. It was a lovely sunny day and we really enjoyed our time there. Yesterday is our special day I remember I told you last year that Stuart and I started going out together on Friday 13th November 1959 so that is another notch in our belt 47 years where has it gone.
I remember it was a terrible November night lashing rain and thick fog compared to yesterday 13 degrees and sunshine the weather has changed for sure.
All the way home now, when it has been a lovely day the sun is shining straight in our eyes and I, being so small, have to sit up very straight in the car so the sun visor covers my eyes as the winter progresses is gets worse as we travel home due west.
Don't know what is instore for us today as Stuart is still asleep. I have still not managed to shift my body clock even staying up late nothing seems to help hope time will. That's about it for this morning only to hope you have a pleasant day it seems to be a nice morning here at the moment so we can but hope. Bye for now. Love,

                                                    

                                                   

Sunday

                      

Thank you D's Design for the graphic today it is just perfect.

Good Morning I was up with the lark this morning to do this entry all quiet and calm had it all done only had to sign it and hey presto closed the wrong window and lost it all so I have been and had breakfast and have come up again to start over.
It is a grey Remembrance Sunday up here in Tayside. I heard someone say last night that there has only been one year since the First World War that a British Serviceman or woman has not been killed on active duty.  I think that says it all.
I have been away from journal most of the week as it has been taking me so long to read journals that I have not had time to write in this one. I know you too have been having trouble mine seems much better this morning so we can but hope it stays this way.
Started to clear out some kitchen cupboards yesterday afternoon in the company of my wee telly and Death on the Nile.  Its a great movie and I can even remember 'who done it' which is most unusual. I enjoyed Angela Landsburgh's over the top performance and I did like Peter Ustinov as Poirot. I know David Suchet has made the part his own and I do love him in it but they all bring their own magic to the part. Stuart and I love all the Agatha Christie movies and dramas on the telly I think we have just about seen them all. Midsomer tonight goody goody.
We had our usual outings to St Andrew and Perth this week but I forgot my camera again I keep leaving it up here on the desk in the study and then I forget to take it with us when we go out. I am taking my Omega oil capsules every day but they are not helping yet we can but hope they kick in soon lol.
I see the Vivi awards have been given out and well done to all the winners but oh they do cause so much trouble.
That's me for today shower next and then I think its the damp patch in the bathroom  Stuart is tackling this morning and he will need my assistance. Think it is condensation that causing it with all the steam etc in there.  Hope we can fix it as it is very unsightly.  Bye for now and have a peaceful Sunday. 

                                                 Love

An Autumn Walk.

Above our desk in the study we have a Scotsman calendar with  views of Scotland.  On Wednesday when I turned over a new month it was this lovely view of Kinnoul Hill just outside Perth.  As it was such a beautiful day yesterday we wanted to get out and about and decided to go up there as it is a long time since we have been to that area.  So with picnic packed off we went. The first part of the walk was uphill and through a large wood we saw may birds and lots of Red Squirrels and one or two grey ones.  We walked for ages and did not seem to be getting anywhere near Tower so after careful thought we turned back. It was much easier going back down and we were soon back at the car a bit sore from our efforts. There is a lot of building of pathways going on and the place where you get directions was no use at all. We had the feeling than we were in the wrong place but it is so long since our last visit it was hard to remember it has all changed so much.  We got back in the car and had a look at our map.  We drove on a bit and at last we came to the car park we remembered. After a coffee and a sandwich we started uphill once again.  It was a long walk but we were determined to get to the Tower and to see the superb view you get from the top of Kinnoul Hill.  I think you will agree when you look at the pictures I have posted.
The hill is one of the five hills which make up Woodland park it rises to 728 feet. From the top of the hill, on a fine day like it was yesterday spectacular views are assured to the River Tay and Dundee, Fife and the Lothians. The folly tower was built on the edge of the cliff by one of the earls of Kinnoull to simulate one of the romantic German castles perched above the Rhine.
It was long walk uphill most of the way and we were pretty pooped by the time we arrived at the top but it was worth the effort.  One thing it was a downhill walk all the way back to the car.  We had a great day out and I hope you like the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.  Have a great weekend.  Love

                                            

Chickly Bits?

Good Evening, very late for me to do this entry but we have had quite a day. Will tell all tomorrow morning, but tonight just a small entry about something that  came to mind today. We were out walking in woodland and I saw all the little pieces of wood lying on the footpath and it got me to thinking.  I was born in December 1942 right in the middle of the second world war. My Dad was in the Royal Corp. of Signals so there was just my Mum and me in the family. My Grandmother and Grandfather lived below us in the tenement block in Dundee.  Mum and I did a great deal of walking as we lived very near Balgay Park. The park is a wooded hill in part and we used to go up the hill on our walks.  I always carried a little brown leather bag in which I would gather 'chickly bits' don't know where the name came from but that's always what I called these small twigs just like the ones in the picture above. Whenever we are out walking even to this day I always remember gathering the 'chickly bits' in the bag and coming home and Mum would put them on the coal fire. Stuart thinks I have a great memory for all the thing that happened as a child but the memories are very vivid to me and I always seem to be recalling them these days.
You maybe remember me saying I had been put on a Statin for my Cholesterol three months ago I got the latest results this morning and its down to 3.97 and I am chuffed, about that its nearly as good as Stuart's. Joking apart it has been a long slog getting my Blood pressure down to an acceptable level but the doctor said this morning we had done it. Its three years ago since she read me the riot act that made me stop smoking but I think it has all been worth it. So on that note I will close for today wishing you all goodnight and God Bless. Love

                                                        

A New Month

           

Dull November brings the blast,
Then the leaves go whirling fast.
*************************

Good Morning, very early today, I am having my usual problem of not being able to put my internal clock back to I am awake from about six o'clock. I try to fall asleep again but to no avail so by seven I am just as well up.  I have tried staying up later but nothing seems to work. Hope time itself will work it out for me.
I can hardly believe that today starts November it seems no time at all since the start of summer and we had all that warm weather to look forward to but time marches on as the saying goes.
This is our busy day so this early start will do no harm.  We will be going to Perth for a wander and a coffee Tesco shopping then picking up Ellen from school so we will be out till about six.  I am saying this, Stuart is not up yet he does not suffer like me with sleeplessness but he was not very well yesterday felt a bit off colour we think it was maybe the flu jab he had on Saturday as he said he was full of aches and pains.
Am doing well with the new DVD recorder managing to get things recorded it takes a bit longer to get it set up but thats the way with thing that you are not used to. Will better go now and head for the shower and breakfast. I hope you all have a lovely day think it is going to be nice here blue sky and cold.  Love

                                                   

Second entry today (Back by public demand).The Old Man of the Mountain.

I did my entry earlier and thought that my ghost story from last year was still in previous entries but it has disappeared so for those of you who have not read it I have downloaded the copy for you as requested. Enjoy.............

                            A Ghost Story for Halloweeen

 

 

     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 Mountains.’

    This 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 walkers and usually did this together but on this particular day the guy went to the mountain on his own.  He was a very brisk walker and used to walk all his companions off their feet, maybe that is why he was on his own that day.

   He set off at his usual pace to climb the mountain nearest to the camp site, it was a lovely summer day with sunshine and he made good progress up the mountain, we are not talking Ben Nevis heights 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 again 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 next five minuets he kept turning round as he kept hearing the footsteps behind them.  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 suddenly as the footsteps had started they stopped and the presence was gone.  

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

Love Joan.

                    

                           

First of all thank you D'Desigs for the lovely seasonal graphic.    Good Afternoon, unfortunately I told the only ghost story I know (Which is true by the way and still there if you have not read it) to you last year so I will have to do some homework so I have something of interest for you next year. Have spent the last hour or so sitting in the kitchen in the sun with a lovely pot of coffee and The Radio Times.  I went to the store this morning for a paper and some odds and ends and saw the RT and thought I wonder what it is like nowadays as it is years since I bought one. All I can say is if you have not had a look lately its well worth a look. Really enjoyed some of the articles in it and found lots to read and am not finished yet but I wanted to do my entry before we had lunch.  We had our usual trip to St Andrews yesterday it was sunny and mild and we ended up on the beach again. While we were there we saw the blackest clouds I think I have ever seen away to the west I wished I had lifted my camera but as usual when I see something I want to photograph my camera is at home. I had been downloading it and left it beside to PC so I did not see it in the morning before we left for the day. Was really annoyed with myself as the sky was just right for photography. We had a lovely walk and had our lunch in the car and watched four wind surfers out on the water they were having a great time but they must have been frozen they had on wet suits but their hands and feet were bare it made me cold just to think how cold the North Sea can be just now. Its a very windy Halloween here today but at least last night's rain seems to have passed. Think that's all for now and hope if you are going out guising or to a party you have a great time.  Love,

       Joan.