Trip

Wednesday up early to catch the 0852h train to Preston as Layla, Bella and moi are going to visit the Memsahib for a couple of days. Uneventful journey we had our lunch veggie bacon rolls around 1100h!
Arrived at mums, Bella had her bacon role we had a coffee and cake then we ventured out to the prom and nearly got blown away--Bella and moi spent some time on the play park, freezing!
Thursday went to the shops then over to the playpark, Bella had a great time. Evening rain, taxi to the movies to watch 'Arthur Christmas' brilliant--then out for a pizza!
Friday Layla had 'special things' to do so Bella and I went to the playpark had a great time playing 'What's the Time Mr Wolf'. Had a lovely time at mum's left Friday afternoon to get the train home. Difficulties with the train North -- problems with overhead wires around Wolverhampton--eventually rattled the cage of Virgin rail and a train scheduled to terminate at Lancaster was re routed to Edinburgh. Good to see Graham and the Wonder Dog again.
Saturday after a long lie we set off to have a day with Bella while her mum and dad weny to Glasgow to see Plastikman ??
So we picked her up from a chums birthday party, home for a wee break then up town for dinner and finally a night out at the Winter Fair - and a splendid time was had by all.
Moi even had a shot on the carousel horses with Bella and a mouthful of candy floss.
Busy, fun, day. Bella fast asleep and dreaming, what a lovely time we have had.
I was disappointed that Candy Floss is now in a bag!--can't have it on a wooden stick!
Guess why --Health and Safety--doesn't taste the same:)
Monday spent at home seeing to business things, made tattie scones not up to much!!
Tuesday over to Newhaven in the pissing down rain and a blustery wind, lovely walk along the shore with Ruaridh both being buffeted about. Shop at Asda then home.
Listened to the afternoon play on BBC Radio 4 which featured Brian Cox as James McLevy it was very good!
There have been two or three series of plays based on the writings of James McLevy. They are described as "a detective adventure based on the real-life memoirs of a Victorian Inspector of Crime" Well worth listening too:)
Sunday up with the larks-- fry up tattie scones crap so Bella enjoyed fried bread with beans and her veggie bacon.
Bella and I took Ruaridh to the woods, a light covering of snow had fallen! Lovely time in the woods and the playpark--back home and Joe and Layla arrived, they had a great night. Bella delighted to see them.
Once they had left quiet day and evening!

Allotment Time! Christmas Pudding Made.

Wednesday morning saw Ruaridh and moi at the allotment with Layla, before heading over to theirs I took the car to the car wash what an experience that was, poor Ruaridh hated it the minute the water whooshed out he jumped on my knee!
Lovely time at the allotment got quite a bit of tidying done, then Layla went for Bella, Ruaridh and I walked back to theirs. Had lunch then Bella and I made the Christmas Pudding we all had a wish! Met up with my chum Jane in the evening for the last Art Class, I have really enjoyed the seven weeks.
On Monday the washing machine and the gas boiler were fixed, still having a problem with the gas oven!! However it stayed on long enough tonight to let the Christmas Cake bake!
Tuesday Ruaridh and I had a lovely walk on the beach, took some lovely photo's--however joined in 'Scotland the World O'er' on blipfoto.com and took a photo of Derek!
Thursday Had a visit to the optician today everything fine no new lenses required, no need to go back for two years unless any problems. I was there for well over an hour--the optician was great.
Had a different examination where one eye is covered, with the other you gaze at a yellow light in the machine.
They set the machine going and random pinpoints of light are shown, when you see these you press a buzzer! hmmm some trip---fascinating. Still have the feel good factor:)
Friday meadowland for Ruaridh's constitutional this morning--the rain lashed down and the wind blew causing ripples on the pond.
LLP and Miss B for lunch--a visit to the supermarket, an evening watching film noir:)
Bogart and Bacall in 'The Big Sleep' excellent!
Saturday visited Garvald Christmas Market today. Great atmosphere as usual, loved listening to the singing of Carols.
Sunday walk along the shore--wind very cold--a kind of do nothing day!

BBC Radio 4

Monday was quite a busy day, an old neighbour/colleague has returned to the area and she invited me to lunch. I was also waiting for the delivery of Layla's Birthday present a lovely red purse coming from London!
Took Ruaridh for his walk, then over for lunch--nice veggie food and a good chat catching up on the years. Layla's purse arrived beautifully wrapped! Listened to an article on BBC Radio 4 'Oscar and Al Pacino' Al recently discovered Oscar Wilde's 'Salome', and plays Herod in the play--interesting. Dark by the time the Wonder Dog and moi hit the park.
Tuesday down to the beach the Wonder Dog and I had an amazing walk almost out to Cramond Island on the beach. Back home cleaned our bedroom and the stairs!!
Wednesday met Layla and Bella off the bus they came for lunch, later on I took them home. Evening went to the pen-ultimate Art class which I have really enjoyed.
Thursday down to the beach with Ruaridh, what a fun time we had he found a bowl(used on the bowling green). These are weighted every time he touched it with his nose or paws it rolled away from him, oh how angry he got growled and barked at it. Otherwise he enjoyed going into the sea after shells.
Went over to help Layla and Bella bake for the Christmas Market, a busy time!
Friday the girls came over to collect the Apple Kuchen cake and stayed for lunch.
Saturday up early for the Christmas Market, shower, hairwash, Ruaridh for a short walk, breakfast and away!!
Weather warm and sunny led to a feel good factor. The food outlets did a roaring trade, masses of Gingerbread for sale all shapes and sizes, not forgetting the 'Dolly' and many other stalls.
King Winter (Joe) told his story to groups of enthralled children:)
Bumped into lots of old friends and aquaintences, with most shared joy one or two sadness.
Met up with a very dear chum haven't seen him in years, always good to see him he makes me laugh, good to see you T.
Took Ruaridh for a late evening walk in the woods!
Sunday At the moment three pieces of equipment in our house are not functioning !! All three are fifteen years + old and I'm told for one (the boiler) replacement parts start to become unavalable after ten years!!
Hopefully the washing machine and boiler can be fixed tomorrow, the oven is a different story!
Layla and Bella over lovely walk to Cramond.

Busy week--Happy Birthday Layla x

Sadly missed Blogging last week, so will attempt to catch up this week ?? Only two things to report from last week:-
1) Layla and moi went to see an amazing play '27' at the Lyceum.
2) we set off for the cottage at 1930h on Thursday 3rd November and arrived about about 2330h. Cottage was lovely but no telephone or broadband!!
Down to the shore to get mobile reception will take three working days to get it fixed! we leave on Monday!!
Spent three amazing days at the cottage even without the phone and broadband lovely warm sunny weather, lots of lovely walks on the beach where we could get mobile coverage!
Left on Monday great drive until The House of Bruar--then fog most of the way to Edinburgh!
Tuesday met Bella, family for dinner, lots of laughter. Wednesday the girls came for lunch, I had a dental hygienist appointment, in the evening my Art Class. Thursday was a very busy day I had my hair cut, trip to Asda then took Ruaridh to get his hair stripped--did some shopping then popped in to see my chum Jane C. Friday took Ruaridh to the beach bitterly cold East wind, then over to see bella to make the Birthday Cake for her mummy!
Lazy Saturday, took The Wonder Dog for a walk.
Sunday dawned Layla's Birthday can't believe she is thirty-seven years young. Another lazy day, then a meet up with family and Granny K at Wagamama's. A lovely curry then back to theirs for Cake and coffee. What a beautifully decorated cake Joe and Bella, we sang Happy Birthday, Layla and Bella blew out the candles--cake was delicious--home.
Fondest Love and Peace for your year Layla.:)