Thursday, March 22, 2007

History Boys. garden

Wednesday, 21st March

Another great evening at the Brunton seeing the film of "The History Boys".I think it's great having a wee theatre so near at hand and it's so much cheaper than going into town. Callum gave us a lift and came back for us. He is so obliging, bless him, and is always saying. "When's your next gig, Granny?"Another lovely day today, so had a wee look round the garden and deadheaded some plants in the pots. Neighbour gave me cutting of plant I'd admired in his garden. Planted it, but back started playing me up, so I stopped. I could almost hear John saying, "Come on in now, you've done enough, you'll tire yourself out," went short walk at lunchtime, chatted to one or two people.Helen came in to discuss plans for us going to Dunkeld next week for two or three days.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Three Welsh Tenors, Daffodils


Tuesday, 20th March


Bright and sunny this morning and lots of daffodils in the garden.What a pleasure it is to see them in all the gardens and so many along the high road, which brings to mind......

I wandered slowly through "The Pans",
Weary from climbing up the hills,
When there - before my very eyes,
I saw -the Golden Daffodills!
Beside the track, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze!

(with apologies to Wordsworth)

Really enjoyed " The Three Welsh Tenors" at The Brunton Theatre last night although one of them,whose name was Adriano Graziani, joked about coming from Swansea! Jean and I were quite carried away, they were so good.I wanted to tell John all about it when I came home, like I always did, so I felt a bit tearful when I came in, but I know he would have been glad that I enjoyed myself.On Wednesday we are going to see the film "The History Boys"

Quite a busy morning, as Arthur came and showed me how to download some of my photos to disc, so I will have to get organised.Then my neighbour arrived to tell me about her holidays, followed by Kay, then my sister.The kettle has never been off! Helen and I are going to Dunkeld House Hotel for a short break next week.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Family


Monday, 19th March

Friday I was at the Rural Coffee evening in Tranent with Rita and Helen. The tea/coffee was served buffet style and everything was home baked. Especially enjoyed the border tart! Woodland Group one in Town Hall on Saturday with Jean and Mary. Enjoyed the goodies at both and bought nice plates from Jan at the bric-a-brac stall and great sponges at home baking stall. Won couple of prizes at tombola. Lone Robin pecking at fat balls on the apple trees this morning,then some sparrows arrived. Must put out more food and clean water in bird bath for them. Hope it doesn’t freeze over, as it’s very chilly today, with a slight flurry of snow. Margot and Ailie stayed on Saturday again as band playing at community centre. Margot gave me a white gold butterfly necklace for Mother’s day. Spoiled by my family on Sunday. Tea and toast brought to me in bed, then Arthur, Catherine, and Sephen arrived with lovely yellow roses. Took flowers to my darling John, then up to Margo’s for the afternoon. Keir gave me box of Thornton mulled wine toffees.John had prepared lunch, which I really enjoyed and I was waited on hand and foot! Persuaded Jonathan to play his violin and I was amazed how quickly he has come on. His Grandpa would have been so happy to hear him. Margo managed to coax Ailie to play her recorder and she seems to have picked that up very quickly and we had a good laugh at Keir doing his Billy Elliot impression! When I got home. Bobby arrived with golden roses and lilies and sorted out his dad’s computer. Enjoyed Mansfield Park, as I love all period dramas, but would have enjoyed it even more if it had been spread out a bit . The characters weren’t given time to establish themselves properly and some important parts of the story were missed out.Also not sure about Billie Piper as a Jane Austen heroine. Must read the book again.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Nan and Jerry

Tuesday, 13th March

Quite a few ladybirds in the garden. The sun must be encouranging them. I'm looking out for peacock butterflies this week as there are supposed to be some around. Must take a photograph if I see one.Quiet day yesterday, but went a walk to Nettie's.Did a bit of tidying up later -sorting out books etc. Arthur here after work with his digital radio as I asked if we could do a swop over as mine is pretty heavy. He is delighted as he can plug his I Pod into the big one.Must say I like digital - better reception - variety of programmes.Like radio 7- good plays,stories and old fashioned comedy shows.Also some different music programmes. Kay phoned. Robert not well again with ear infection so been given antibiotics.He has this pretty often, the wee soul. Kay sounded pretty exhausted, as been up through the night with him.

Today, Nan & Jerry took Helen and I to the Mallard at Gullane for lunch. I first met Nan when we worked in the office of J & R Allan, a posh department store in Edinburgh (like the one in the T V programme "Are You Being Served") when we were young. The store is long gone now, but our friendship is still strong. John and Jerry became friends too and all the family love Auntie Nan & Uncle Jerry. It was a great day for a run down the coast and we had a lovely lunch with them and a good laugh as Jerry is very witty.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Sad morning

SUNDAY 11TH MARCH

Went to cemetery with Margo.Pleased with John's headstone, but still can't believe he is lying there. Put golden roses in the vase and Bobby is going to plant some polyanthus and pansies for me. The ones on Geordie's grave look lovely just now.Put some flowers on Katharina's too. Still find it shocking that she died so suddenly after struggling so hard to look after my brother Billy for so long. She always said that she wouldn't let him go into a home, and now he is in one after all as their family live in England and Ireland.

Cheered up a bit when we went to pick Ailie up from Arthur's and had a cup of tea and a croissant. Catherine's sister-in-law Jeanette was there, as her daughter, Lynn was having a guitar lesson from Arthur. Ailie seemed to enjoy her stay at Granny's, but she nearly pushed me out of bed! She brought her set of simplified Shakespeare for Children, which she got from her Auntie Margaret and we read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" together.She thought it was hilarious! She had already read "Twelfth Night" and is enjoying her school reader, which is one by Joan Lingard. She also loves the book I bought her.The books I bought for myself are "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky,"Keeping the World Away" by Margaret Forster and "Blue Shoes and Happiness" by Alexander McCall Smith.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Ailie's Day


Saturday 10th March



HI I'm Ailie. I 'm staying over at my granny's tonight. I like staying here.Yesterday I went to a beauty place called Pure.I went there because it was my friend's birthday she is 11.I got my nails painted purple and I got my makeup done i looked beautiful.("She always looks beautiful", granny).Tonight I have brought dvds with me. They are called "High School Musical",a Disney dvd and the Pink Panther box set.I love the Pink Panther. I love pink as well!!! Granny bought me a book at Border Books . It is called "The Girls Book - How to be the Best at Everything."Got to go. Bye Bye.

P.S. I love winnie the pooh as well!!!!
P.P.S I love granny too!!!!!

Coffee Morning


Saturday 10th March

Was at coffee morning this morning with Dick and Joyce. Won two bottles of wine at raffle and some soft toys. Also bought pretty little milk jug and two egg cups. They will be handy at Easter when the bairns do their colouring. John used to make a super job of decorating eggs when ours were wee.Also bought marmalade, home baking and tablet. Good to see Jan with Georgie and Emily. They are so sweet. In the afternoon Helen took me to Border books. Bought three books for the price of two! That's all I need when I'm trying to clear out the study!

Hurrah! Margo just phoned to ask If I wanted a wee lodger for the night.Yes, Aile is coming and Margo too as she is playing at a wedding at "The Quayside."

Thursday, March 8, 2007

53rd wedding anniversary

8th March, 2007

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Saturday, March 3, 2007


Wednesday, 14th February, St. Valentine's Day

JOHN, MY DARLING VALENTINE,

24TH JULY, 1926-25TH SEPTEMBER, 2006