"The Green Green Grass of Home"

Wednesday, 14th May

Gilbert here first thing. He is going to paint the doors on Friday morning Margaret helped me to empty the cupboards in kitchen, then helped with rest of housework. She’s a real treasure. Rita here as usual in afternoon and we caught up with news. Went a short walk and was just in when Arthur came. We had a cup of tea and sat in the conservatory, then Helen arrived so it’s been quite busy all day. Kay phoned. Gavin’s away to London with his work. and Robert was away a Nature trail to Hailes Castle with the Beavers. Granny and Grandpa Mike were going too, so I’ll be hearing all about it when I see him. Hope he doesn't want me to go next time!

Tuesday, 13th May
It’s unbelievable how quickly the grass has grown! Jim cut it last Wednesday and again it’s nearly over my ankles. This is the fast growing time of course for everything.The
clematis is a fine example as it is running riot up to the top of the lilac tree! Out for a walk later (as the doctor ordered) but my legs were pretty painful when I got home. Phoned Gilbert Taylor about painting the kitchen doors

Monday, 12th May
At Longniddry Inn with retired friends from Ross High, so had a good blether about the old days, schools (then and now), our families, books, politics, local news etc. etc.- as well as enjoying our lunch.! Went to see Jean on way back, then met Sandra who came up for a wee while. Bobby came up later and fixed the trellis at the front as the clematis was falling all over the place!.

Oh dear Oh dear what’s going to happen next in Corrie after Liam’s night with Carla? It’s not back on till Friday too!

Sunday, 11th May.
Stephen’s 29th Birthday. How the years fly in. I’ll never forget that day when he was born. I was being paged all over Ross High to tell me I was a granny!At church in morning, then Margo arrived with Ailie. The band was having some publicity photos taken so Ailie stayed with me till she came back. Took her out a walk but she was desperate to see Vincent at Sandra’s so went in there a wee while. She couldn’t believe he’d grown so much!

Saturday, 10th May
Surprised to receive an invitation to a retirement party from Ross High. I’ve been retired so long I hardly know anyone there now.Anyway it’s nice to be asked and of course Christine will be there and Sandra’s going so I’ll see. I’m not very good at late nights now though!. Meeting fellow “retirees” on Monday for lunch so maybe they’ll be going too. At a brass band concert in the community centre at night with Helen and Chris and Jim, which was excellent.Years ago both the Grange and Lnks pits had pipe and brass bands and John played the cornet when we started going out together. Now we just have the Monktonhall band which won the area championships recently. They played all types of music ranging from the traditional stuff to “Chicago” and some Scottish marches.When A soloist played “Song to the Moon” by Dvorak it was so beautiful I felt the tears running down my cheeks,and it was the same when a seventeen year old boy played that lovely Irish Melody, “The Lark in the Clear Air”.

Friday,9th May
Went with Sandra to Cockenzie for Beryl’s mum’s funeral. which was in the “Auld Kirk”. I’d forgotten how interesting the church is, despite the plain exterior Very small but model boats on the window sills and two large fishing boat lights on either side of the pulpit. Also the fisherman’s banner was on display. The tide was coming in gently on the shore and as we passed the promenade, I remembered the fun I had playing there as a child and then how I spent lots of time there with my own family during the summer holidays.Nobody ever thought about going abroad then! Went shopping with Bobby, hair done etc.Kay phoned with all her news.

Neighbourly chat

Thursday 8th May

The sun still shining, so I’ve been out in the garden, which looks a lot better with the grass cut.Sandra got Dave to bring me milk from the shops and he was very interested in John’s butterflies and the windmill. Went a walk round to the Day Centre in afternoon, but it was closed. When I came back, I had a chat with one of my neighbours, who is heavily pregnant, but was busy putting plants in the garden! It will be nice to see a young baby in the street again. She already has a wee girl of three and two teenagers.
Bobby took me to Port Seton to have my eyebrows thinned out, then assembled my wee garden table and chairs when we came back. Had a cup of tea alfresco then he helped me water new plants. Margo phoned. Jonathan pretty tired after his Maths exam, but was away to his choir tonight.Arthur phoned later.
Yesterday, had a phone call from my friend Elsa from Armadale. She comes to Musselburgh on a Wednesday to look after her three year old grandson, Oliver and wanted to pay a visit. We share a lot. Being at University together, having families the same age, and both losing our husbands to the same illness ( though she is a bit younger than me).We talked for ages about coping without our men, but also recalled happier times when our families got together and sometimes ended up sleeping on the floor in one another’s houses! Oliver was a delight. He didn’t say much but loved playing with an old fire engine and jigsaws etc I keep for visiting bairns.

Going to bed now. Nearly finished reading “Icarus Girl” ,then going on to “The Rice Mother”

Reading in the garden

Tuesday,6th May, 2008

Another bright, sunny day. Thank goodness Jim comes tomorrow to do the garden as the grass is growing so fast it’s nearly up over my ankles. Went up to the shops then to the community centre to find out about the brass band concert on Saturday.Phoned Rae to see how she was and then Chris to tell her about the time of the concert on Saturday. She is feeling much better now.
Decided to tidy out the little “ bus shelter” as John used to call it. He made it for me, so that I would have a shady place to sit and read. Washed the chairs,swept the leaves,then had a seat there and a cup of tea.
Enjoyed reading my Spring issue of Discover NLS. It was packed with fascinating articles and included lots of information about their latest exhibition, “The Art of the Graphic Novel” and an article about SKAMM, the project about training young film makers. Jonathan will be interested in both of these, so I must keep it for him. Also enjoyed the article on Lady Nairne, who composed some of my favourite Scottish songs.
Just got in from Jean’s when Margo phoned, as she usually does when she comes in. Kay phoned later to tell me about her invigilation at the Standard Grade English exam. She is doing some more next week and has managed to fit them in with her other job.Jonathan sits Standard Grade Maths tomorrow. Arthur has just left after having his favourite-a cup of tea and oatcakes and cheese before putting out the re-cycling boxes.

"If I were a blackbird I'd whistle and sing......"

Monday, 5th May,



If I did my blog more often, I wouldn’t take so long to do it as my typing skills are of the one finger type! Anyway here I go again. When I got up this morning, there was a blackbird on one of the apple trees singing its heart out. What a lovely start to the day. On Thursday, after choir practice, as we came out the church door, there were two blackbirds singing to one another. I think they were trying to tell us they were better singers than we were (which wouldn't be difficult)

Friday, I was out for lunch with Chris, Ella and Mary and really enjoyed it. We went to Merryhatton Garden Centre first and enjoyed the run down. Mary took the long way round which we enjoyed as the fields and hedgerows look so fresh just now. We had our lunch, then took the coast road to Gullane, where we browsed round the Bethany charity shop. I bought some books, a pretty Renoir address book and a blanket for the cat. Poor Chris looked a bit pale as she fell and broke her wrist on Tuesday and I think it was still quite painful.

Arthur took me shopping on Saturday and stayed for a blether and a cup of tea.Was at church on Sunday and was surprised to see Stuart and Lisa there, but a friend of theirs was having their baby named and blessed. I hope it doesn’t give them ideas! On the other hand I would love that! A great grandchild! Kay, Gavin and the boys arrived later.Robert was dying to tell me he had been trying on his kilt etc on Friday in preparation for the Gala. He was also desperate to let me hear him reading. He has improved a lot and is very proud he can read on his own now. Douglas was telling me he has reached level E in his reading, which is excellent.I was fulsome in my praise of both of them of course!

Margo arrived later with Ailie who showed me her dancing shoes and her T shirt with her dancing school’s logo. I’m glad she’s joined something, as she is a bit shy, so going to dancing classes will maybe bring her out a bit. Later we went to the cemetery with flowers for John and Geordie. Ailie was a good help clearing up the leaves etc. while we sorted the flowers. The pansies are still blooming, but Bobby says he’ll plant the geraniums when they are finished.

Pottered about in the garden after Rae’s visit this morning,but just wished John was pottering with me! Walked along to Dick’s later and spoke to one or two folks along the way, including Stephen Dixon who was playing rugby for PL on Saturday.I was delighted to congratulate him on the team’s win! My walking is a bit better now. Don’t know if it’s the course of acupuncture I’ve been having or the recent pills I’ve been prescribed. Long may it last anway!

Going round to Jean’s tomorrow. No doubt we’ll be discussing the recent political events in England! What a disaster! I hope Gordon can pull things together before the next election.