Sunny days

Tuesday, 31st July

Summer seems to be here at last,as the sun's been shining today and yesterday. Everyone who comes in admires the flowers spilling over the path. Lots of sparrows in the garden and one or two blackbirds. It's good to see them back again. Yesterday Rae arrived and we discussed the physiotherapy.Decided to wait to talk to my doctor when he comes back from holiday. Chris here for lunch.Talked about her family's visit to Dubai to visit Andrew. Interesting photos, one of a ski slope built inside a shopping mall and another of the huge buildings shaped like a sail! Other tall buildings are built on land reclaimed from the sea! We talked about the effect of it all on the environment. Later went to sit in the wee shelter John made for me so I could read in the shade.Noticed a bramble at my feet, thought a bird a had dropped it but noticed a bush peeking over the fence from Mary my neighbour.Must ask her if there are lots of berries.Maybe she'll give me some! Arthur says he'd like them for his fruit drinks.

Today Nan and Jerry came for lunch.I'm getting really lazy about cooking, but they really enjoyed the "cairry oot" I'd ordered from "The Filling Station", especially the "lumpy-bumpy" cake.! John would have enjoyed it too.Helen collected the order and Catherine came in, so and helped to dish up.Walked up to bus with them then took the long way home. Felt legs a bit sore when I got in, but OK after I put my feet up a wee while and read a bit.Must try to walk a bit more each day.

Weekend News

Sunday, 29th July

Friday - usual little shopping and hairdresser. In the co-op met one of the actors who was in the play "Battle of Pots and Pans" and told him how much I enjoyed it.Said there is a performance of a play based on "Catriona" by RLS in the Goth in August. Must check it out and see Jean and Sandra. I'm sure they'll want to go. We really enjoyed the last two plays which were on as part of the Fringe ( was it three years ago?) He also mentioned the possibility of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" being performed in Cuthill Park, which would be super, though I think it might be difficult to get a large audience.Good luck to the company anyway.

Saturday - Put eggs in microwave and Bang! What a mess.One compensation was it made me give all the work surfaces a good clean. Arthur was laughing when I told him, as he came in when I had just finished. Good job I don't cook in it very often. Kay phoned to say the boys were really enjoying the outdoor life and so was she by the sounds of her.Was going to tape the old version of "The Thirty Nine steps", but ended up watching it.Always feel guilty about watching TV in daytime. Not only that I then watched a bit of "A Town like Alice', which I found very moving.Bobby and Pauline arrived after tea with a lovely bunch of lilies. Bobby made me laugh as usual.

Sunday- Arthur gave me a lift to church as Ina still in Canada. Miss her cheery presence in choir. Bairns from holiday club took service. All about Heroes and it was very well done. Absolutely freezing in church though.I was wishing I had my my winter clothes back on. Stephen came in and watered plants for me. Also locked hut as I couldn't turn the key last night. Was interested in article in paper about Cuba, so looked it out for him. Had a little walk in afternoon.Pretty sore now.Rae coming tomorrow, so think I'll get her to arrange the deep massage from her physio.

Nights out, Shakespeare on TV

Thursday, 26th July.

Lots of bees on the honeysuckle this morning.

"How doth the little busy bee
Improve each each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower."
by Isaac Watts -"Against Idleness"

Once the rain started they disappeared of course.Had to turn back for umbrella on way to Jean's, rain was so heavy.Had a look at Brunton Theatre brochure, so going to book for three shows for Autumn. Also discussed our usual concert at Fringe, then she persuaded me to stay for lunch. Talked about John and Jimmy a lot. She is a good help, as she can understand how I am feeling at the moment. Wonder how Kay, Gavin and boys are doing in their tent. Hope it's not too wet for them!

Watched a modern version of " A Midsummer Night's Dream on E4. It was a bit Americanised, but still magical. Going to watch "Still Game" now.

Lunching out again

Wednesday 25th July

Helen asked where I wanted to go for lunch after my appointment at Hearing aid clinic. She suggested Braid Hills Hotel Bistro, which was lovely. Afterwards went a run and then to Luca's in Musselburgh for an ice cream.I'll be putting on weight again, if I go on like this! Washing all dry so ironed a few things and put it away. Margo phoned. Bairns away on the hovercraft with the Aunties. I'm dying to hear how they got on. I would love to go on it myself, but I couldn't queue for hours!

Dick and Joyce came along. They are so proud about Alex's first piece of reporting and brought the paper to let me see. Hope he gets a permament job soon. He's worked so hard to get his degree.Message on phone from Jean, so got in touch.Going round tomorrow. I was worried about her as she went down to her son's, who lives in Warwickshire and I wondered if she 'd been affected by the floods.They had problems on the road going down, but not too bad. We'll have a good blether tomorrow.

Stuart came to put out bucket.Asked him to lock hut. Blethered a bit. then he said he heard a noise. Lucy must have slipped into hut, before he locked it! Good job he heard her mewing, or she would have been in there all night!

Must finish reading "Miss Garnet's Angel" before I start on Harry Potter.

John's birthday

Tuesday, 24th July




John on 65th,79th and 80th birthday
John would have been eighty one today, so felt a bit sad when I woke up. We always exchanged cards and I still have every card we ever sent one another. Had lots of company and phone calls so coped all right.Three friends from church took me a run down the coast and then to the Dirleton gallery for tea and scones. We sat in the courtyard, which was full of flowers, then looked at the paintings.Some nice antiques up stairs and pretty jewellery. Bought hand painted cards.

Nan and Jerry phoned, so they're coming up on Tuesday. Rita came along, brought me some pretty soap from her holiday and we caught up with all the news.Catherine phoned to ask me along for tea, then Chris, who wants to take me out next Friday. Catherine had made a lasagne, which was delicious. Stephen was there too and he looked so handsome, with his suit and tie on. Had a good chat with Catherine and Arthur. When I got home my niece Pat phoned and we had a long chat.

John's Birthday Party

Monday,23rd July
What a pleasure to wake up and see the sun shining - and it's continued all day! Even saw one or two butterflies, thank goodness, beginning to think there weren't going to be any this year as the rain has been terrible. I feel so sorry for all these people in England with the terrible floods. Hope the government makes sure they're all right, but it will take ages to clear up.

Enjoyed my weekend, with all the family coming out and in.Beginning to feel a bit low, But Kay came and took me down for lunch for lunch on Saturday. Douglas a bit unwell,but was enjoying reading his book. Helped Robert with his dot to dot book.Margo brought Jonathan with her to stay the night. Band playing at Winton House. Heard all about it on Sunday. Jonathan busy reading new Harry Potter, finished it in no time. He said he felt quite sad to think that there would be no more in the series, but it sounds as if the ending had been well crafted. He is great company. Decided I am going to read them all, so Margo brought first two down today as he stayed on Sunday too.Arthur,Stephen, Craig and Joanne all came in while Margo was here.Lovely to hear their chat.Kept thinking how John would enjoy it but they all talked about him. It was a year since we had the party for his 80th birthday

Rae came this morning, going to put me in touch with a good physiotherapist as my pains have been awful lately.Bobby phoned Just come back from holidays.Margo came for Jonathan,brought lovely roses and freesias for my darling's grave so went to cemetery.Stayed a wee while.Miss him so much. Arthur came in tonight.He's pretty tired, as been to gym and he had quite a hectic weekend.

Holidays, birthdays, weddings

Trying to get going again with my blog, so here goes.Still not sure how to do it properly! Missing John dreadfully, but I'm lucky, I've been kept quite busy.Was away a wee holiday to Pitlochry with Margo and Kay and really enjoyed it. Our hotel was very posh and they persuaded me to go into the pool where they took a video of me swimming! The scenery is superb up there, so we had some lovely runs and I was trying to remember the Jacobite songs associated with the area just as I used to do.It was like old times, and we talked about John a lot, but they managed to keep me cheerful. I'm very fortunate in having my girls and boys. Arthur came back from holiday on Monday night and I was so happy to see him as I missed him popping in most nights.Bobby comes back this weekend. Have had one or two texts from him. A lots been happening since my last blog. May my nephew Rory's 40th birthday, Nan & Jerry's Diamond wedding,Kirsten's Wedding, Jonathan's birthday,lunch with various friends.June -Three Harbours Festival, Gala days, my 75th(sh!) birthday, Bobby's and Arthur's birthdays and now John's birthday coming up on the 24th July.I've been asked out for lunch then and I've decided I'm going to go, as I'll just be moping around all day if I stay in. On Sunday it will be a year since we had the party for him in the garden which he really enjoyed, it was such a happy day leaving lots of lovely memories.

Rae came on Monday and made me feel so much more cheerful. though she'd not very well
herself poor soul. Talked about school, families,politics, holidays,books,newspapers TV and goodness knows what else. She'd read my copy of "Miss Carter's Angel" recommended by Kathleen, but she didn't really like it much. I couldn't comment, as I haven't read it yet.We both loved "Suite Francaise", but agreed it finished a bit abruptly and Jean loved it too.Told her I enjoyed " Digging to America" so she's going to get it from the library.I'm reading "A short History of Tractors....." now.

The weather was sunny on Tuesday and I was at Port Seton for lunch with Nancy and Kevin.They were very kind and we had a good blether. It's the first time I've been there without John,so I felt really weepy at first but they were telling me all about their wee grandson, who is is lovely and they were asking about all of mine.They also have two sweet wee kittens, so we were swapping cat stories.Nancy gave me a book by Ernest Hemingway, as I was telling her Stephen had been to Cuba and sent me a text from Ernest Hemingway's bar.I haven't read any of his before, so I'll see how I get on with it.

Wednesday,tried to do a bit of cleaning, but arthritis was playing up.Catherine ironed the downie and made up my bed for me when she came to take me to Port Seton to have my eyebrows done ( vanity, vanity all is vanity!) She also took me along for my tea, which I really enjoyed.Really appreciated her help and the meal -she is a good cook - as sometimes I can't be bothered making anything myself.Thursday, Helen phoned to say she was going to the Fort and did I want to come, so went to have a look at the new Marks and Spencers. Bought polo shirts for the bairns as packs of three were only £5 and if you bought three packs you got one free! Kay came in when we came home, so Robert and Douglas tried theirs on and went home wearing them!

Just remembered, I've read Hemmingway's "Farewell to Arms"