Northfield House

Monday, 30th June, 2008

At Chris and Jim’s for lunch and later Jim asked me if I knew a song he had heard and started playing it. We finished up having a wee singsong and I managed all right. I’m fine singing solo in a small company.
Watched Corrie, then started watching the tennis. Know nothing about the game, but became interested as it was very tense. Finished up it was too tense, so put it off.

Sunday, 29th June, 2008.

At church in morning, then a pleasant afternoon visiting Northfield House with the History Society in the afternoon.The house has much improved since I last visited it, though the gardens were always lovely. The first visit was as a Guide about sixty years ago. when Miss McNeill,the local Guide commissioner lived there and allowed us to take our woodcraft badge in the grounds, then gave us tea on the lawn under the willow tree! We were very impressed, as it was served by the maid wearing her cap and apron! Next time it was an open day by the National Trust and more recently an open doors day, when all the historic buildings in Prestonpans were open to the public.

This time the present owner himself and his girl friend served us a lovely afternoon tea in the dining room complete with home made scones and jam and cream! He was very pleasant showing us rouns the house, telling us a bit of the history of the house and inviting us to stroll around the lovely garden as long as we wished. The herbaceous border is lovely and he gave credit to Jim Foster for giving him lots of advice about the garden.Wish I'd had my camera!
Very sore when I got home as I found the stairs quite difficult, but it was worth it.

Saturday evening 28th June,

Nice surprise visit from Margo on her break from playing at a wedding at the Royal Musselburgh. enjoyed the blether. She looked lovely in a black and white dress. Coming next week with the bairns.

Photos - Back Garden

Seton Sands Caravan Park

Saturday, 28th June

Quiet day, but unexpected visitors. My second cousin Janette Millar from Hamilton and her husband. They were checking their caravan at Seton Sands. Had a good chat about old times when the caravan park was just lots of old huts, railway carriages etc and there was always a huge influx of visitors from the West at the "Glasgow Fair" - still is I think. Her husband is a keen gardener. Still grows all his own vegetables. Most I can muster now is some lettuce amomg the roses.Very tasty though.
Took some photos of the garden.

Friday, 27th June

What a pleasant surprise to see John's pal Jimmy Ralph on the Scottish news last night and his photo in the paper today. John would have been so interested in him making the replacement "Whale's Jaws" for Berwick Law. Must phone Pat and ask if I can speak to the TV personality! Also good last week to read about Bill Bailie's M.B.E. for services to music. Very well deserved. Bill is so unassuming.

Usual Friday, shopping etc, but lovely when Kay and the boys arrived. They were very excited as they'd brought part of my birthday present. A big spotted cup and saucer (for a plant) to match the other spotty dishes in the kitchen! They were very serious about telling me how to look after it! Got them to help me water the tubs in the garden.Of course when we used the hose at the front, Robert just couldn't resist spraying all over the place! Great fun!

Choir at night. Last one for the summer. Edith had brought delicious cakes as usual.

Feeding the birds

Thursday, 26th June

Just been out to lock the back gate and the scent of the honeysuckle is just heavenly.
Same in the morning when I open the door, the scent just wafts in.Reminds me of John, of course as we always used to sit outside in the evening when the honeysuckle was in bloom.

Helen came this morning.Discussed going to Bruges, then went to hers to check dates with Al.The ferry stops running in September, so hope we can get booked.Enjoyed the pasta she made.

Wednesday, 25th June

Jim, the gardener here early this morning.The grass being cut seems to make the herbaceous border even brighter. Lots of bees on the blue flowers, but still haven't seen a butterfly. Plenty birds around. I've noticed when I throw out food in the morning, first the seagulls snatch up the big pieces, then starlings, followed by the wee sparrows scratching about for what's left.Some of them sitting on the hedge just outside the kitchen window, so put some crusts there and got a super view of the sparrows and two coal tits when I was doing the dishes.

Margaret here later. Helped me put up light curtains in bedroom. Telling me about her new grandson, Calum. He seems a very contented wee soul. She gave me a lift to Rita's. Alex was out for a walk.He is feeling better, but quite tired when he came back. Finished reading"The Old Wives' Tale"by Arnold Bennett". Started "The Bottle Factory Outing" by Beryl Bainbridge.

Key

Tuesday, 23rd June

Out shopping this morning,got home, realised I'd forgotten my key . Sandra ran me to Helen's as she has a spare, but she wasn't in.Was going to Jean's anyway, so just went a bit earlier. She had made a Duke cake. Haven't tasted one in years.I used to make them all the time. It was delicious! Catherine brought her key when she came home and ran me along in the car.Must find a hiding place for spare key in garden.Lazy evening.

Celebrations

Monday 22nd

Made soup in morning as Chris coming for lunch.Her arm is still very sore, but she's having the screws taken out on Thursday. Hope it's not too painful for her.
Ailie phoned to tell me she's passed her dancing exam.I'm going to send her a wee card. So glad Jonathan passed his piano exam last week. He was so worried about it. He's going to continue, but not aim for exams as he'll have enough next year with Standard Grades.



Sunday afternoon

At the Town House in Haddington for Douglas and Robert’s music concert. Arthur took me up and escorted me into the hall where I made sure I got a good view of the piano. The bairns all looked lovely, the girls wearing their party dresses and the boys all very smart. Robert was very escited as he has graduated to playing recorder and was
explaining his music to me! He did really well, but was dying to tell me he had made some mistakes but had just kept playing -a real wee trouper. Douglas was playing two minuets by Mozart and this time he didn’t need a stool for his feet! He’s doing really well and It must be quite daunting playing a grand piano! Anyway, I enjoyed all the performances from four year olds to six teen year olds,so again I had a magical, musical weekend.

Sunday 21st morning

Margo came early and we went to see John. The geraniums and French Marigolds Bobby planted are lovely and we put in his fresh flowers.He would have been so proud of all the bairns and what they were doing.I just wish he was here to share everything with me.Still miss him so much.

Saturday, 21st June

At strawberry tea in afternoon in the garden at the hall. While we were there the African Children’s Choir arrived as they were being given a meal in the hall. Was at their concert at night in the church and it was terrific! Their harmonies and choreography were perfect and they looked as if they were enjoying every minute. I can’t help feeling a wee bit uncomfortable about their situation though, as it seems an unnatural life for children, travelling all over the place, but they do have a base at their orphanage receiving a good educstion there.

14th June

Robert looked so smart and sweet at the Gala in East Linton. wearing his wee kilt.I thought the wee girls were lovely too, wearing simple white dresses with coloured sashes and carrying posies of wild flowers. Sat and watched the magician with Robert, while Kay and Gavin went looking for Douglas. He was an Artful Dodger on one of the floats and enjoyed himself hugely singing all the songs from Oliver as they went along.Went round some stalls, bought books then backhome to rest before going to Arthur’s.

Had a great time at Arthur’s at night but ate far too much and stayed far too late. It was about midnight before I got home! Really good party though, with plenty of laughs. great food and music. The boys were in great form, singing all the old favourites with everyone joining in. Sunday morning I couldn’t get up for church, I was soooo tired!

Week beginning 9th June

A week of celebrations! Rae, Christine and Kathleen here on Monday and Christine had baked a cake for my birthday which was on Wednesday 11th. Bobby’s birthday was on Friday 13th, Arthur’s fiftieth on Saturday, 14th and Robert was a page at East Linton Gala on Saturday afternoon! Pretty hectic, but I enjoyed every moment! Had a really happy birthday, the girls coming straight from school with the five bairns, bringing a chocolate birthday cake, lots of goodies and lovely pressies, so had great fun. Later on the boys arrived with flowers, cds etc. Helen sent me a really funny card and gave me a lovely hanging basket. Louise came in later with plant and nice card.

Trying to catch up! More later.

Saturday, 17th May
Pageant excellent and very well attended. Slightly different from last year, but just as good. Kate and Jonathan enjoyed it too. Kate came in for cup of tea and she chatted to Jonathan about books. She was quite surprised at how well read he was for a fourteen year old.Took Jonathan to Band coffee morning in Town Hall. where he bought loads of books and a super telescope with stand etc. We had good fun trying it out, but not a very clear night.

Friday 16th May
Went to B&Q yesterday with Bobby to look at paint for the kitchen. Haven’t been there for ages and it seems enormous to me now. Glad to get home as feeling pretty sore. Bobby had a look at my Hoover/Dyson, which was on the blink, so took it home to have a look.However brought it back. It was fine. Should we say “Dysoning” now instead of “Hoovering” I wonder?
Friday

Gilbert arrived promptly at 9 a.m. but couldn’t finish as going away for weekend.Going to finish on Monday. After shopping and hairdressing phoned Jean to come round. Margo arrived with Jonathan. He’s going to the pageant, “Battle of Pots and Pans” with me tonight. Kate Charleston going too as I mentioned it when we met on Monday.Louise called in with Higher English papers for me.Like to keep my hand in and the brain alert