January 2026
Firsrt Visitors of 2026
12/01/26 07:12
Sunday saw Cousins Duncan and Trisha drive down from Campsie Glen with Luna their Boxer dog. The initial plan was to show them the new house but of course I had the new opportunity of cooking for them for the first time. Up in Killiecrankie our visits had been cake-based and brief, so this was a departure! Since I am getting better at meal planning, I made the soup the day before, and marinated the chicken overnight to kicl start the day of cooking on Sunday. I was up early to go to get some cauliflowers and mill for tea and set the table. What a lovely visit we had with the usual abundance to topics under discussion and much laughter. Luna was not her usual kissing self so I had to make do with the odd cuddle!
What a lovely visit it was!
What a lovely visit it was!
Out for an adventure
08/01/26 13:13
We have not crossed the front door much this year so far, and today we have decided that on Anthony's Not Working Thursday (the first of many I hope) we will go hunting for a new microwave and to stock up for the weekend as Duncan and Tricia are coming over with Kissy Luna the Boxer on Sunday afternoon. I am looking forward to seeing them again as the last time was a quick visit during the Nomadic Times when we were resident in the Kirkhouse Inn, quite near where they live in Campsie Glen. As usual I expect the conversations will resolve around our common ancestors and high school gossip, much laughter and gallons of tea. I am so glad to have picked up the threads of friendship with them both in recent years! It minimises the time slip since we were all at school in the 1970s and very early 1980s - times when music was fantastic!
One of the lovely things that has happened recently, in my retirement from senior position in OSMTH, was the ability to be useful to the Grand Priory here, and this has meant I had the opportunity to interview a new potential member, resident in London. I hope she completes her discovery postulancy and asks lots of questions as I was vert impressed with her enthusiasm.
Anthony is off to GP Ireland in March, GP Italy in May and I still have not booked my week in South East Turkey yet but I have at least noticed how cold it is there at the moment, so I am glad I have not made a winter departure!
+++UPDATE+++ We bought a new microwave
One of the lovely things that has happened recently, in my retirement from senior position in OSMTH, was the ability to be useful to the Grand Priory here, and this has meant I had the opportunity to interview a new potential member, resident in London. I hope she completes her discovery postulancy and asks lots of questions as I was vert impressed with her enthusiasm.
Anthony is off to GP Ireland in March, GP Italy in May and I still have not booked my week in South East Turkey yet but I have at least noticed how cold it is there at the moment, so I am glad I have not made a winter departure!
+++UPDATE+++ We bought a new microwave
Old Christmas Eve
05/01/26 16:31
In a timely fashion I have taken the decorations down and packed the tree away for another year. It never ceases to amaze how bear the house looks after the removal of only a few decorations for midwinter. Tomorrow is Old Christmas, and the former neighours up in Highland Perthshire will be marking the day as usual, whilst down here we will keep warm as it is lovely during the day but bitterly cold at nighttime and I can confirm that as I drove to get good milk at the Co-Op in Muirhead last night once the sun had gone down! The low shining sun is a real pain at this time of year as I have found almost all the roads are on an east-west axis so shines right in the back of the retina!
Balmy Days
04/01/26 14:08
This is a very strange image for us as for the first time in 10 years we are not in the amber bad weather warning area. Indeed looking very closely w note that the yellow area is north of the Campsie Fells which are off in the distance from us and covering up to Stirling and beyond. However here in the balmy calm of the Clyde Valley the sun is shining and although it is cold, the extremes are missing us!
Happy New Year 2026
01/01/26 00:01
For the first time in a decade I was not out at the dancing - officially old now I guess. I turned down invitations to house parties as I decided to welcome 2026 in the new house, even though it is just Alfie and I here as Anthony is in Poole with the lovely cousins. He is back late on Ne'erday so I will drive down to the airport to meet him and bring him home, no doubt full of stories and adventures.