Red Rose County.

Last week commencing 28th January was a topsy turvey but good one to say the least. Monday started that way in the morning -- no hot water! Good walk with Ruaridh, did some cleaning then the gas engineer arrived!! He worked on the boiler for three hours still hit and miss -- more work on Friday ! Yep we are juggling between the central heating and hot water:) The smoked haddock quiche with roast potatoes and peas turned out quite well for dinner! Tues 29 Jan.Black and White was the order of the day in the film documentary McCuillen. Took you from his work in the sixties right through to the eighties. I always thought his photographs revealed the soul/spirit of the person whether they were dead, injured or alive. His respect for their humanity and to show dignity in extremely difficult circumstance is very much in evidence. A must for anyone interested in photo journalism. Thurs 31 Jan.Kitchen Sink Drama'-- --'A Taste of Honey' we saw this evening at The Lyceum. Difficult at times to forget the film of the early sixties (from a novel/play) by an eighteen years old Shelagh Delaney, to me this performance was a kind of homage to the film. Delaney tackled in an unsentimental way "working-class life - complete with single motherhood, teenage pregnancy, interracial relationships and unapologetic homosexuality - shocked and excited in equal measure" On the surface many of these issuses don't arise in todays world, deep down some may still rankle. Friday 1 Feb. Up early waiting for the gas engineer to arrive betwween 0830/0900h no joy. Phoned Scottish Gas at 0930h yes engineer booked where the hell was he? Got a phone call from him at 1000h to say he would be there in half and hour. He arrived at 1145h lots of problems but about 1630h he got the boier fixed and we have central heating and hot water--hot shower bliss:) Allotment time on Saturday got lots done. Sunday This afternoon Layla invited me to the 'Azadi Dance Performance' (which fuses contemporary dance and traditional Iranian music). The choreography for the dancers drew on the geometrical patterns of ancient Iranian Islamic tile and metal works, from the National Museum of Scotland's vast collection. Bella joined us and enjoyed the music. This young man played this instrument known as a Daf which sounds amazing! Mon 4 Feb Tonight we helped Jo celebrate a special Birthday! Great company, wine and food as always. Further celebrations include for definite a ' Segway Experience' on a day when the sun shines-- venue to be determined. As the banter gathered momentum tonight other goodies could also be on the agenda:) Happy Birthday Jo! Tues 5 Feb Graham worked from home,with Ruaridh in tow we met Bella and had a lovely afternoon evening with her. Thursday 7 February headed south by train to visit mum. Due to adverse weather conditions we were unable to get down by car to help celebrate her 93rd Birthday on the 26 January so this was me popping down to see her. Spent a lovely two days with mum, she even managed a'small' G&T before dinner each evening! walked her down to the building society--first time out walking since the big fall! She managed! Enjoyed the afternoon plays on BBC Radio 4 did some knitting. Slept well headed back up North on Saturday--always good to see Graham and Ruaridh. Saturday night-Sunday morning slept like a log:)

Happy Birthday!

Saturday 26 January was the day the memsahib celebrated her ninety-third Birthday! Happy Birthday Mum:) This photograph was taken when the memsahib (mum) was about one years old, in the arms of her not favorite aunt! whom she was also named after much to her chagrin. Sadly for the first time in many years we could not make it to The Red Rose county to celebrate with her, due to quite severe weather conditions. She has had a lovely day with many friends visiting her, two birthday cakes and lots of flowers. Needless to say she is going to bed early tonight.

Different Week

Monday 14 January The morning sun was beaming down on the Wonder Dog and me today as we strolled through the woods. New life is appearing as the bulbs push up new green shoots , through the thick mud that has been on the ground for about 6 months now ! Went for a massage this afternoon -- lovely making me feel dozy :) On the evening walk today I saw the children from the after school club playing and shouting in the woods--a joy to hear their voices filled with laughter. Ruaridh just ignores them! Their torches made a lovely pattern as they descended down the path to the park. The white stuff fell from the sky as we set off on our constitutional Tuesday morning. Ruaridh loved it and was full of vim and vigour, started to dawdle on the way home but heh that's a dogs life. Afternoon play on Radio 4 excellent 'Art and Gadg' about Arthur Miller and Elia Kasan re their friendship. Wednesday decided to clean the freezer--water, water everywhere! Old chum Tony came for dinner this evening -- good times:) Cleaning out my paper drawer as one does/should came across some sayings I found in a politicians pub in Wellington New Zealand -- 'Committees--a group that takes minutes and wastes hours !!' Saturday the snow came--at last woofed The Wonder Dog, and ran about in the woods sniffing the white stuff and rolling in it Our dear chum Chris came for dinner -- loved the chat, G made a delicious paella and we drank champagne to the safe arrival of Chris' s grandson Archie :)