Douglas and Granny

Friday. 26th June.

Sun struggling to come out today but still quite warm. Arthur had to get car fixed, so Dick took me for shopping, hairdresser etc. Joyce asked me to come for lunch, so said OK, though Chris coming about three.Good blether with Sharon then chatted with an old friend in store. Said how much she'd enjoyed Arthur singing at the senior citizen's concert during Gala week.He's playing at the Labour club tonight, then a wedding on Saturday with the band.Margo on the phone saying she'll pop in when she's down, but can't stay as the bairns have parties on.

Dick and Joyce took me to Thornton's coffee shop for lunch. It was lovely. Had a cheese and ham toastie - delicious. Back in plenty time for Chris.

Printed photos from Kay of Douglas in Gala, then watched Telly. Usual rubbishy soaps, but switched to BBC4 for programme about Mendelssohn and the Nazis which was excellent. Enjoyed The Pre-Raphaelites on Wednesday,followed by The Book Quiz which was all about poets and poetry. Good for me to use my brain a bit!

Varied week

24th June, 2009.

At Jean Whitelaw's funeral on 19th and it was just as she had wished, a celebration of her long and happy life.

On Saturday, Jean and I went to the Aroma late afternoon and then to Alison's new shop, Carousel.It's lovely so I bought a couple of pressies for new babies I know.Arthur came to pick us up, then we watched a DVD of "Slumdog Millionaire" which Helen gave me for my birthday. At first we found it a bit disturbing with all the violence, but later found it fascinating and so cleverly done.The ending was lovely.

A mixed day on Sunday. At church. Lovely to see the wee ones from Sunday Club being presented with prizes. Afternoon, Bobby took me to cemetery to plant the summer bedding. Blue pansies and Pink begonias with cineraria for John and geraniums and cineraria for Geordie. Felt a bit down but cheered up when Kay arrived to take me the Town House in Haddington for the boys' music concert.Really enjoyed it-From the pre school tots to the seniors they were all excellent.The wee girls were all wearing pretty dresses and the boys were very smart with their colourful shirts. Very proud of Robert playing xylophone and recorder and Douglas playing his exam pieces on piano.I could see their teachers were very encouraging.

Monday, weather really warm. When I went to open back gate in the morning the air was heavy with the smell of honeysuckle -lovely! Helen phoned to to say that Kirsten was coming from town to pick me up and bring me down for lunch.Enjoyed that, then she was telling us all about the "Take That"concert she had been to the night before. Sounded fantastic! Later went to shops. Ended up staying for tea.

Wednesday, another scorcher, Rita phoned to say she was coming along on her scooter so that I can try it out, as I'm thinking of buying one. I'm never stuck for a lift, but it would make me more independent, though I don't think I would go very far. Anyway, got on fine, so going to look at them next week. Douglas phoned, very excited, to tell me he had passed his piano exam, with merit. So proud of him.

Thursday, 25th. Helen planted some pots for me before we went to "The Mallard" in Gullane to meet Nan and Jerry for lunch. They're great company and the lunch was delicious. Took them home to North Berwick, then had a wander up Gullane main street. Some beautiful shops but very expensive but went into Bethany shop where I bought four books (that's all I need!) On way home at Shona's shop in Port Seton to buy cards for silver wedding and golden wedding.

Watched telly while doing my knitting, then phoned Margo, who was away swimming. so enjoyed a long chat with Jonathan. It's great to be able to talk to him about what he's doing at school now that he's in S5 and doing HIghers. He's going to Paris with the school orchestra, so he's looking forward to that.

East Linton Gala

Thursday, 18th June.

Celebrated another birthday last weekend. Lots of cards and presents.Kay, Gavin and the boys arrived on Friday afternoon bringing flowers, books and goodies, including birthday cake! Robert was so excited, setting out the table in the garden. I really enjoyed all the fun, yet after they'd gone home I really felt very weepy, thinking about John. Maybe it was because I know how much he would have enjoyed all the fun too.

On Saturday was at East Linton gala to see Douglas in his role as consort. Just before we left the house, Helen picked up a towel in case it rained and we had to dry our seats. A good job too, as I think everyone on the platform had to borrow it! just as they were ready to have the ceremony, the heavens opened and the rain poured down. However, everyone went into the tea tent and it turned out to be a really happy day. The Queen was lovely, all the maids looked very sweet and Douglas looked really handsome in his kilt.

On Sunday Margo and Jonathan arrived, then Arthur. Jonathan enjoyed blethering to him about records etc. Later he was telling me all about being in 5th Year. I really enjoyed talking to him about about the texts he's going to be studying in English which include "The Crucible" and "The Great Gatsby" Went to the cemetery with flowers and tidied up the spring flowers.

Bobby took me to Strawberry Corner to buy new plants for Summer. He's going to put them in at the weekend. Still hasn't found another job yet, so doing the taxis in the meantime. At Afternoon Tea today and going to Jean Whitelaw's funeral tomorrow.

Busy weekend

!7th May, 2009

Beautiful sunny morning. Started reading all the details of the furore at Westminster, but got fed up with it, so was glad when Margo, Jonathan and Aiie arrived. Ailie had brought her History project to show me and it was excellent. Jonathan had a look at my computer, which has been going a bit wonky, so it seems to be OK now.
Had a cup of tea, then we went to visit John.Margo had brought lovely cream roses, The pansies and sweet williams are still blooming so we'll wait a week or two before putting in summer bedding.

Text from Helen with a photo of the bride and groom.

16th May, 2009

At coffee morning in aid of Breast Cancer Moonwalk in Church Hall. Good to see so many young people there and lovely to see two new babies sound asleep in beautiful Silver Cross prams. I believe coach built prams are becoming popular again.
I remember how proud I was of mine.

Kay phoned to say she wouldn't manage to come up tomorrow . It was the school's summer fete today, so she was going back tomorrow to clear all the stuff away.Coming for lunch on Wednesday.

Rita invited me to a dinner in the Salvation Army hall at night, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the S.A. starting in the Pans. They had cooked all the meal themselves and decorated the hall etc. then there was a sing song.
All this gadding about enjoying myself is so exhausting!

Stephen's birthday

15th May 2009.

Last Saturday at Goth with Jean for our tea. Watched DVD of South Pacific when we came home, and we were so engrossed in it that we didn't realise it was nearly midnight! Sunday enjoyed being at Stephen's surprise 30th birthday party. One of the happiest days of our lives when he was born - our first grandchild. Saying that, we were happy at the birth of every one of them.

Monday 11th
"Ross High ladies" as we term ourselves, met at the Longniddry Inn for lunch, so had a good blether about everything under the sun, but what made it special was that Kate was able to come. She's been really ill with ovarian cancer but was full of fun as always. Sheila was telling us about her son Michael's "Schoolovision 2009" and I see there's a report on it in the EL NEWS today.

Tuesday,!2th.
Helen brought me some groceries.She's off to New York for Al's Nephew's wedding. It's in the conservatory in New York Central Park, so I'm looking forward to seeing the photos. I had a text from her today saying " At the Met" , so I sent one back saying 'watching Coronation Street!"

Wednesday, 13th
Lovely sunny day, though a bit cold.Gilbert was here first thing, to varnish the front door as it was very shabby, then he painted the hut, so everything is looking spick and span. He even varnished the butterflies.
Lovely to get a visit from Jan and Georgie, who had been at the park. They really cheered me up, as I had been feeling a bit down. Georgie is so cute and I enjoyed her singing. I'm looking forward to watching the sunflower they planted grow.
Rita came round in afternoon,. It was good hearing about her holiday at Dunblane Hydro. Reminded me of the happy times John and I spent at Crieff Hydro.

Thursday, 14th May.
Another sunny day. Jim, the gardener came,cut the grass etc and tidied up the edges. Going to come back another day to cut the hedge.

Friday, 15th May
What a contrast in the weather. Very wet and cold. Arthur took me to hairdresser,got some odds and ends. Had to hurry home as Catherine's mum having to go into hospital.

Friday, 15th May,

Celebrations

6th May, 2009.

This is getting really terrible.I'm just not managing to get into the habit of blogging again. Maybe it's because I don't have much to blog about!. Anyway here I go again. Was at my cousin, Agnes's 80th birthday party on 11th April at the Bruntsfield hotel (Very posh) and enjoyed it very much. She was a doctor and when we were both at Preston Lodge, I was always being told I should study hard like her and go to university, but I was too interested in other things then -boys mainly! Not John though, he came later and was worth waiting for.It was Helen's birthday too. Can't believe she's sixty five! We still call her "the bairn". Last week she was away with friends to Liverpool, doing the Beatles tour and had a great time. Next week she's off to New York for Al's nephew's wedding.The reception is in New York Central Park, so I'm dying to see the photos. I'll miss her when she's away, as she usually pops in two or three times a week. Dick and Joyce are London this week.Hope they got on all right as Dick's not been very well.
I'm feeling a bit better, now that I'm off the steroids thank goodness, but still not very great at walking. I'm very lucky, as I can always get lifts.
I was at Margo's on Easter Sunday and Ailie came to stay for two nights. It was great having her. We went to Sandra's on the Monday as she wanted to see Vincent, so we both enjoyed that too. Nice visit from Louise who had been at York and brought me a bag with" Betty's" on it from the cafe, a ceramic butterfly for the fridge and a Maggie o' Farell book "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox", which I thoroughly enjoyed.I was really taken by surprise with the ending!
Jonathan was here this weekend and It was great having him too. It was supposed to be a study weekend, as his Standard Grade exams start this week, but we only looked at a couple of English papers, but I could tell he will do well anyway. He did his Italian on Monday and has Music on Thursday and English on Friday. Bobby and Arthur here on Saturday sorting out stuff in the hut and Margo was looking for wood to make swords for Ailie for her Highland Dancing. Her Grandpa would have enjoyed making them,but her dad's going to have a bash.
Pleased to hear Carol Ann Duffy has been made made Poet Laureate. Very well deserved.
Monday night I watched a programme on BBC4 called "A poet's guide to Britain" which was mainly about Wordsworth's sonnet "Composed upon Wesrminster Bridge", which is one of my favourites. It was very well done. When I was at London last year, I wanted to stand on the bridge and say it but we couldn't get off the bus!
Yesterday, Kay and the boys came to take me out. We were going to go to Merryhatton, but decided to go to the cafe in Port Seton instead, where we had a lovely lunch,then went to Helen and Al's. She showed us her wedding outfit which is lovely and of course Al will be wearing his kilt.When we came up, Kay helped me to make soup and the boys watched a video of Laurel and Hardy. No matter how many times they watch it they fall about laughing every time! It's a treat to hear them.
Today, I pottered in the garden for a wee while, trimming clematis etc. but I can't do much.It was pleasant sitting in the fresh air though when the sun was out, so had my cup of tea alfresco.
Margo called in on her way to band practice. Gave me three lovely photos of Keir, which were taken by a specialist photographer at school.
Find Corrie quite intriguing at the moment. Wonder if Ken is going to be found out?