Sunday, July 26, 2009

New shed

Sunday, 26th July.

Up early as Bobby and Arthur’s pal Walter coming to put plug in shed so that the buggy can be charged up. Bobby came up to look at it. Unfortunately he didn’t get the job he was after, but he has some other prospects lined up.

Pretty cold this morning, so put conservatory heater on and read the Sunday papers.A bit warmer now.

Saturday. 25th July.

Arthur along for a blether.Stuart and Lisa moved out of Stephen’s house to her granny's house, so they’re getting the house ready for a new tenant.

Helen and Al came with soup for me. They're off to Blairgowrie for weekend. She wrote out recipe for pasta sauce, so went up to shops to get ingredients but couldn't get courgette .Really enjoying my buggy. Went to see Jean later and she gave me courgette, also some pea pods from the garden.Margo phoned. She says Jonathan still playing the mouth organ. Keir is trying to play too. Managed to get jacket to match her dress for the wedding,

Friday,24th July.

John’s birthday today. Still missing him so much, but remembering the happy times we always had on his birthday, especially the last one, when we had such fun in the garden with all the family. He would have enjoyed supervising Bobby and Gavin erecting the shed.
They arrived early and Kay and the bairns came too of course. They enjoyed helping with fetching and carrying.Their main job was to organise all the packaging and put it in the bin. They especially enjoyed breaking up the polystyrene by jumping on it! Dick came to take me for my shopping and hairdressing and they loved that as he always makes such a fuss of them. While I was away Kay made sandwiches etc. They’re off to Scone palace tomorrow for another week’s camping. Hope the weather holds for them. Shed looks really good.

Thursday, 23rd July.

Bobby away for his interview at York. Keep thinking about him. Shed arrived from Tesco. Was at Port Seton to have eyebrows done, then Helen's for tea. Always enjoy Al's pasta dishes.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sun and Rain

Wednesday, 22nd July 2009.

I'm looking out the window at the sun shining at the moment, yet not long ago the rain was coming down in sheets. The weather is so unpredictable, yet they say that's what makes the Scottish character- we're prepared for anything! Certainly wasn't prepared ffor lightning the other night. Chris and Rita here this afternoon, so had a good blether, but couldn't take my buggy out as too wet.

Yesterday Margo and the bairns here. Keir seemed to have grown a lot in a fortnight as, like Douglas he's nearly as tall as me now .It was lovely to see them after their holiday.They're going to a wedding where John is to be best man, so brought the dresses to show me.Wish I'd taken a photo, as they looked lovely.Margo is having a family photo taken, so i look forward to seeing that. Margo's dress is turquoise shading to purple and Ailie's is pale green with embroidery on the bodice. She is very excited as she's going to be wearing high heels.The boys are wearing kilts.

I had promised I'd take them to the Aroma for lunch, but it was so wet, Margo Ailie and Keir went down for "cairrie oots"while Jonathan and I set the table. They went into the baby shop, thought it was lovely.

After that the sun started shining again, so got the buggy out to show them and they had a high old time watching me, especially when I went along the back road and turned. They were all falling about laughing!

Arthur's pal, Walter was here fixing a plug outside to put inside the shed for the buggy. It's coming tomorrow and Bobby and Gavin and Bobby are putting it up on Friday. Bobby going for an interview for a job tomorrow. Hope he gets it.

I'm really enjoying going out in my buggy. I feel much more independent and I've met loads of people and stopped for a chat. Haven't ventured down the street yet, but may try at the weekend.Looking forward to going to the library. Reading "Ulverston" by Adam Thorpe at the moment. I'd forgotten how good it was! Kay gave me it years ago, but I'm enjoying it again. Reading some of the "Twilight" series too. They're for Ailie really, but thought I'd read them first to see what makes them so popular with teenagers.Going to read " the Great Gatsby" again too, as Jonathan is studying it for Higher and he was asking me about it.

May be going to the caravan at Blairgowrie with Helen next week. Kirsten was at the garden party at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Helen sent me a photo of her and Kenny. She looked fantastic!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Rae

Thursday,18th July.

Feeling sad today. At funeral of my dear friend and colleague Rae. We first met at university, then both ended up at Ross High. Rae wouldn’t want me to be sad as we had lots of laughs over the years.We used to call her “Rae’s a laugh” at school.

Sat up in my wee bower after tea listening to a blackbird singing its heart out and drinking in the smell of the honeysuckle and the climbing rose. Bobby came up to see how the widening of the new path is doing. It will be finished tomorrow.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Scooters

Sunday, 12th July

Kay and Gavin arrived. Been camping at Loch Lomond and had a great time. The boys thought it was very funny to see me on my scooters! Douglas seemd to have stretched when he was away and now to his delight, he is taller than me. It's not hard right enough as I'm not quite five feet. Robert brought me radishes he had grown in the garden so I had them with my salad for tea. Delicious. Going to phone him to tell him I enjoyed them.

Saturday, 11th July.

Bobby came up to walk round to Rita’s with me, though I told him I’d be fine. Stopped at Dick & Joyce’s, then Nettie Mack’s. Had lunch with Rita,then came back on my own and really enjoyed it Lovely morning of course and the gardens seem to be at their peak just now with the rowan trees heavy with berries just ready to turn red. After tea went up to top shops as I needed a few things and stopped for a chat to one or two people I know. Arthur phoned from Paxos. Coming home on Monday.Stephen was camping at Blair Atholl, then went to York.

Friday,10th July, 2009

Finally took the plunge and bought a scooter/buggy . Before it arrived Bobby came to to cut down the honeysuckle at the back gate as there is not much space to turn the corner. Then Stuart arrived to help him,then Stephen and finally Helen.Trying to decide where to keep it so thought best place was round the back of the conservatory. We’re going to look at little sheds for it at B&Q. Rita loaned me hers on Monday, so that I could practise and Helen walked beside me. I was fine- the only difficulty was turning in the front gate. Anyway Stephen and Helen went a wee walk with me on my own one so I was OK. It's great to be independent!

Stephen off to T in the park.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday, Ist July, 2009

"Hot July brings cooling showers
Apricots and gilly flowers."

Wish the cooling showers would hurry up! Don't mean that really, as it's good to have the sun.We see so little of it during the year.

Gas man back with new part, so working fine now. Bobby came up to put orange tip butterfly back on hut and move the hanging basket.. Brought loads of information about scooters for me, so hopefully Helen will take me to see them this week.
Heard thunder rumbling, so may not need to water garden tonight.


Tuesday, 31st June, 2009

Very humid again today. Think the heat makes my pains worse.Cooler indoors, but sat up in my "bower" with a cooling drink and the Scotsman.Text message from Stephen. He is camping at Blair Athol. I Remember we went there with the twins when they were in their early teens. Beautifui place. They loved paddling in the river and making friends with other children. One night we got dressed up and went to the theatre at Pitlochry to a concert. The open air theatre was great too, doing traditional Scottish music.

Stuart came along to put out re-cycling boxes for me, so had a nice chat with him.
Monday, 29th June.

Gas man came early, but has to order new part. Coming back on Wednesday. Too warm for heating anyway. Pretty dull all morning, but sun came out later. Lots of bees and white butterflies. but no peacocks so far! Jean popped in with strawberries from garden-delicious!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Faulty Fire

Sunday 28th June, 2009.

Thought the house was going to go up in flames last night! Put on fire in living room as it had become rather chilly, then it wouldn't switch off! Annual maintenance had been done on Monday, so tried to phone, but couldn't get through. Knew Arthur was playing at wedding and Bobby was doing the taxis, but finally got in touch with Bobby and he came straight up. He couldn't manage it either at first, but finally it switched off. Margo phoned emergency number on Sunday, so man coming on Monday.

Didn't make church as I hardly slept. Lovely when Margo, Jonathan and Ailie arrived. Ailie was all dressed in yellow, even her nails painted to match!. She was desperate to go and see Sandra's dog Molly, so Jonathan chummed her. Bobby popped in to see if we'd managed to contact British Gas. Arthur and Catherine came in to see cheerio as they're off to Paxos in the early hours. Kay phoned later,telling me about Douglas's school concert. He was the compere and she said he was really funny. Like Uncle Bobby I think!