Spring Fever

January was a month of illness in our home ~ glad to report we all survived!

Lots of book reading to pass the time- l am on my fourth book of the Outlander series- great adventure story with a dash of history and romance thrown in for good measure.

Thank you for the well wishes and kind e-mails sent. Thanks also to Tammy for recommending this set of books.

This past weekend we had good weather so set to work on the new front driveway. We have changed things about much and have purposefully raised our flowerbed edgings to accommodate the extra soil that is being dug out (by hand) for the drive itself. As well as the design changes for the front structure of driveway/garden l have started some seed trays to aid my feelings of restlessness and excitement brought on by the coming of Spring.

Bests all.

“You get spring fever being in this house. Every room has a view outside.”

~Bonney Todd

Top photo- Loch Striven- taken 2 weeks ago.

Photo below- Sam in snow- mid January

Weans and the weather

Many people have said to me,“What a pity you had such a big family to raise. Think of the novels and the short stories and the poems you never had time to write because of that.”And l looked at my children and l said,“These are my poems. These are my short stories.” ~ Olga Masters

My wee 'S' has been suffering from a virus since the weekend. He has a rash from head to toe and is quite uncomfortable. We saw the Doctor yesterday and there is not much we can do about it except for lots of tepid bathing, Paracetamol and Calamine lotion.

G. and l have also been helping 'M' out with her University statement tonight ~ her application for nursing :)

'D' went back to his dorm on Sunday and has been busy with examinations. I called him earlier today and he was doing his food shopping :)

There are more storms and strong winds forecast for Wednesday/Thursday but these will mostly affect down south ~ look out Bob, Marion, Val, Snappy and Clare. Keep safe!

Our forecast is snow!

Bests all.

The Longing ~ Sea Fever

'Sea-Fever' by John Masefield is one of Margaret's favourite poems as it is mine. It is a work of art, pulling together imagery, rhythm and complex figures of speech, that truly suggests an adventurous sail on the ocean.

l would love to go on this tall ship sailing holiday around Britain, Ireland and Norway!

Please link HERE to see the video/nice music too :)

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).

(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

~ read by Horizon HERE :)

Blown Away by this Weather

Painting by Scottish Artist: Jennifer Thomson

l wish you could hear and feel the strength of the wind that is blowing around my home right now folks. This is an old house, 2ft thick stone walls and yet l still feel uneasy. Last night G. and l kept a tentative eye on our Barometer in the hall- the pressure fell quite rapidly. Through the night we listened to the wind howling, scraping its way along the road under cars and over dykes- what a sound. No surprise then that 'S' ended up in bed with us. The gusts seemed to ease a bit towards early morning and then pick up again before noon with a thunderstorm thrown in for good measure. What a day ~ l have opted to stay in with wee 'S' and footer about. l am however worried for 'D' coming home tonight, whether the ferries will be running or not?

Link here to see me brave the wilds out back with my camera-lol.

News Below copied from AccuWeather.com BLOG

Check out how tight the Isobars are over the UK :)

Hurricane Force Winds Today!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

That's right, even though I don't have much time to post, I have to make mention of this. That storm that the computer models were showing moving a bit further to the north and without as much cold and snow with it, well, they ended up ditching much of the snow and cold, but now the winds with this storm will be the big issue. That's right, strong, some above hurricane force wind gusts over parts of Scotland into northern Wales and Ireland. This will be one of the strongest storms we've seen so far this year, and possibly the strongest all year. But, now to your brief forecast.

This is nothing I am trying to hype, this storm could be the worst of the year so far, even worse than the tropical storms that moved through the area late in the summer. This is actually the storm as it moves through early on Thursday morning. Note how the winds at around 1500 meters are upwards of 50 knots, which works out to be around 60 mph. Now, this is sustained winds, and with any rain or any sunshine around, this push in the atmosphere could bring even windier conditions for the area. So, wind gusts up to 70 mph are not out of the question for a long shot in parts of Scotland and Ireland, especially towards the coast. But, this does not mean there can;t be some very high gusts anywhere, especially in thye higher terrain more inland. Winds should start to die off on Thursday night, so Friday should be a much better day wind wise. After looking at things even closer on the image, you can also note the lines a few hundred kilometers off the Scottish coastline in the Northern Atlantic. Some of those winds are sustained at nearly 80 knots, which would make for some very, very strong winds. Not only will the winds be bad, but also the waves will be quite ferocious and the coastline could quickly get eaten up by the strong winds. So, again, I urge anyone around there to please keep an eye out for any warnings that are issued for the winds. They could gust up very quick and without warning.

The Met Office ha basically everyone out for these warnings, so keep an eye on them, as they could change anytime. This is nearly a 50 mb pressure change over the U.K., and with such a storn winding up, this is nothing to take lightly!

I will update later on Thursday with more on the winds and any reports of damage I get from them. If your power stays on in those areas, or you can even get to your computer and use a modem or whatever to get to the outside world, email me at alaneurope@accuweather.com with any questions at all. It's an off day, so I will try and get through all the emails I have.

Look global,

Forecast local(without getting blown away!)

Updated: 1/11/2007 11:10 PM

A blast from the past

nos·tal·gia 1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for the books we read as children.

Blogging sister, Tammy has been churning out a little nostalgia over at her site for some of our childhood reads. There has been some reminiscing over the much loved and ever enduring Nancy Drew Mysteries . Around the age of ten, like many girls l couldn't get enough of Nancy Drew. Deep routed inside was that endless longing to be just like her- clever, investigative and ever ready- the enduring heroine. l used to peer at my neighbours with great suspicion, watching for them to slip up, hoping desperately that there would be a mystery to solve - a deception somewhere! Perhaps somewhere inside all of us is the drive to take on challenges and solve problems – to be the heroine who saves the world.

In the end we mostly settle for saving the peace around us but the dream doesn’t go away and we search for it in many of the books we read. My husband, G. returns often to a book read to him as a child by an old Headteacher and which started off his love of literature and reading. It is ‘Moonfleet’ - a tale of smuggling with heroic stuff abounding. You can read it for free online- link HERE

At present l am reading Edward Rutherford again- wonderful writer- more about him and his books HERE.

Anyway after having talked with Tammy about favourite past books she suggested that l might enjoy the ‘Outlander’ series by Diana Gabaldon. So l went to Amazon.co.uk looking for this book and found it! In Britain it is known as ‘Cross Stitch’ ; why they would call it under a different name l do not know.Suddenly the realisation that G. had said just a few weeks back, "you must read this book called Cross Stitch" – occurred to me. l went upstairs and looked through the bedroom bookshelf and there it was!!! Wonderful! A little detective work and result! :)

Being constant readers G. and l often frequent the ‘charity shop book quarter’. This book, 'Cross Stitch' still had the price label on ~ only 49p!

What a bargain.

“What's a girl sleuth to do without her trademark sleuthing tools? Never leave home without a trusty flashlight or a handy magnifying glass. A bag of clothes and a bathing suit kept close at hand in the trunk for those sudden overnight sleuthing adventures is essential. Always on the trail of clues through musty old attics, castle dungeons, secret passageways with hidden staircases, spooky moss-covered mansions and dark alleys, Nancy leaves no stone unturned.”

~from 'Sleuthing class 101'

Happy Birthday Matey!

Headed across the water on Saturday for 'S's birthday. G. and l had planned to take 'S' to Amazonia World just south of Glasgow which boasts an impressive display of crawly, slithery, twitchy and assorted multi-legged creatures ‘some of which can be handled under supervision’ we read in the brochure. Hmm- spiders. Personally anything with an excess of four legs is to be viewed with suspicion but the wee man has announced his ambition to be a BUG DOCTOR so off we go.

However on the ferry crossing we had a knock at the car window and it was 'S’s' wee friend from nursery with his Dad. They had planned a day out at Funworld which is a huge emporium of slides, ball pools, frames and industrial screaming and so we decided to join them. Bugs can wait. The boys were ecstatic with two hours of running madly around, up climbing frames down bumpy and twisty slides. ‘Groanups’ sit at tables sipping tea except for the odd few who revert to infancy and hurl themselves down the bum battering slidey thing. Yes – I did! We ate a healthy lunch of chips, chicken nuggets and chemicals and decided to take the boys to Showcase Cinemas. G. made me laugh when he told me this is a far cry from the old flea-pit picture houses of his youth when the screen had a rip in it and there was always the faint smell of urine (not his he added). Showcase Cinemas is 12 cinemas in one building all showing all the time and having lived in the USA for a while I am used to such. We opted for Cinema 3 showing ‘Night at the Museum’ which is about a night at a museum. Oh yes - and all the exhibits come alive. Anyway it was a good movie and we all enjoyed it and laughed a lot. After the film we took Sam shopping and let him pick some pirate toys. As well as aiming to be a BUG DOCTOR he is in serious training to be a professional PIRATE and no mistake me hearties. He has all the kit and can sing 15 Men on a dead man’s chest (Which as `G. said is probably why he’s dead!). Wanting to work with lowlife crawly creatures and being a professional robber sounds like he will do well in the future - maybe politics??

By the time we were back on the ferry we watched him fall asleep. There he is – five years old. It’s a tick of the clock we thought. They say that by five we have learned most of what we will be and know so we hope we have done ok by him. Time passes so quickly and every day needs to be cherished. Happy Birthday matey!

Update

New Years Day: Dinner with family - Mum bought the food and l did the cooking of the Roast Beef dinner with all the usual trimmings. I worry about my cooking sometimes though because so often, just when dinner is over, diners - especially teenage ones - are often afflicted with not feeling so good and need to lie down immediately. Curious for sure but some of you will also have encountered this I am sure.☺

2nd: 'D' left to go back to University, 'M' spent time with her Nan so the house was very quiet. Silence has its own music and quiet is a blessed symphony in a world polluted by noise.

3rd: To Glasgow today. The ferry crossing was very rough going over - walloping gales and boat at disturbing angle! The woman who does the pre-sailing safety announcment about life rafts and emergency abandon ship drill was worringly silent and nowhere to be seen. Biggest waves I have ever seen and I fully expected to see the crew huddled in the lifeboat singing 'Those in peril on the sea'! Dropped off food and clothes for son No.1. and went on to pick up my G, (husband) from Glasgow Central Station. He had spent New Year with his parents in Cornwall. They live in a small Cornish village where you can see the stars, hear the leaves whisper and a calling Robin is the loudest sound effect. The land of Kernow, King Arthur and the legendary Cornish Pasty - recipe and article about these soon. Husband home - I have missed him so much.

4th: Quiet day at home with G, catching up on the week and just enjoying being back together.!

5th: Shopping and planning for tomorrow - a BIG DAY OUT!!. It is 'S’s' 5th birthday this weekend! 'S' is the child of our second marriage - we both have older children too.He is the light in our morning, the cream in the coffee, the bacon in our bun and the laugh in the smile.

A Stormy Hogmanay!

I've been awfy busy cleaning oot ma hoose fir the New Year~ junk drawers, the lot! There are no ashes in my fireplace and well, the dept's nae too bad. Jist a real stormy night ootside but don't go worryin because ma candles are lit. Jist sittin here on ma ain waitin fir the bells.

A guid New Year to ane an a' And mony may ye see (A good New Year to one and all And many may you see) I looking forward to blogging with you in 2007!

Now, l wonder who will be oor 'first foot'?

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne."

A Few Scottish New Year Traditions HERE

NEWS:

"HOGMANAY celebrations across Scotland - including the capital's multi-million-pound street party - will be battered by one of this year's strongest storms, say forecasters."

"Met Office forecasters said on Sunday they expected stormy weather across much of the country, with gusts of wind up to 80 mph in the worst affected areas and bouts of heavy rain. The worst weather will hit northern Britain"

Now l'm signing of before my windows blow in.

Bests all x

Hogmanay Festivals

Edinburgh's Hogmanay

Glasgow's Hogmanay

And to those of you who are brave enough to go out in this weather, Gie it laldie!

Christmas Vibes and Jives

We have had a wonderful few days here at home- thanks all for the lovely comments left and well wishes too. I thought of you all just before heading to bed on Christmas Eve, presents laid out under the tree, the twinkle of the lights reflected in the window ~ standing there in the silence pregnant with suspense. I thought about the different times of day or night around the world and what you all might be doing ~ whatever it was and wherever you were l pinged out first-rate vibes across the horizon.

Christmas morning was magical, even with the usual haystack of wrapping, early tangerine peelings, etc.; the place was filled with warmth, love and the enticing aroma of roast turkey! It did my heart good to see the kids getting along so well and everyone chipping in to make it more special. I couldn’t wait to put in my new CD of ‘Boney M’ music gifted by G. This was music that l grew up with in the 1970’s – disco music wrapped up in bouncy reggae rhythm! You should have seen mouths drop open as l boogied around the room, singing out the lyrics- LOL.

Daddy Cool HERE & Rasputin HERE

Sam was over the moon with all of his presents but especially with the key that he found ~ the one that Santa dropped – a magical key! Last year Santa had left footprints in snow (talcum powder) that trailed from the chimney but this year he forgot his key ~ silly old boy.

Now Scotland is gearing up for the big one- Hogmanay. Unfortunately the weather outside is blowing a hooly, not a fantastic outlook especially for those who have purchased tickets for the bigger city events.

I’m away now to memorise all the verses to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – l don’t want to be left speechless when the bells chime and everyone crosses arms to sing in the new year. If you too need to practice then you can sing along with the Karaoke HERE.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2006

Photos below of some special Christmas moments. On Christmas Eve my mum came up with my brother, his wife and their wee baby Sorley.

Happy Christmas!

The photo above is of my home town taken a few years back. Unfortunately it does not look like we are going to get snow for this years big day which is a little sad. This past year has been the warmest year overall for Britain ever recorded! l wanted to check in here and wish you all the very best and apologise if l have not got around to commenting on your blog sites. This certainly has been a busy time.

So from my home to yours, have a lovely Christmas with your family and friends ~ take care and enjoy! l will be thinking of you all.

My Scottish Blogging friend, Claire tagged me to do this meme

5 Things you may not know about me

1. I always read at bedtime with a Horlicks hot drink and eat ‘old fashioned’ boilings & aromatics that l hide under the pillow. Last month l read, ‘The Nazi Officer’s Wife’ by Edith Hahn, ‘Labyrinth’ by Kate Moss, ‘Midnight is a Lonely Place’ by Barbara Erskine and at present am reading another Barbara Erskine called ‘House of Echoes’. My favourite was ‘Labyrinth’. Sometimes l even read using a torch- LOL.

2. I am actually a very shy person. The internet is a wonderful medium for people like myself to make friends and project themselves. In reality l keep myself to myself, can hold my own in social gatherings but am really very shy.

3. It is very important to me that my family do family things. I love camping, and this Christmas will drive my kids crazy with board games, home movies, and lots of silliness inside the house etc.

4. I cannot ignore good architecture and design when l see it- it truly inspires me and so l talk about buildings and interiors with my children all the time and drive them batty.

5. I can make a terrible mess when l am being creative- makes my poor hubby cringe ☺ Glue, paper, scraps, everywhere!!! Everything l do – l do with all my heart- no half measures. ☺ l work intently on each project whatever.

Another blogging friend, Connie did a post on what Christmas movie you just can't miss each year. For us it is tradition to watch a 'A Christmas Story'.

This is a wonderful story set in the 1940's America about a wee lad called Ralphie who is desperate for a BB gun at Christmas. So many funny scenes like when the father wins the 'leg' lamp and the Christmas dinner at the Chinese restaurant- wonderful. Ralphie as an adult narrates throughout the film.

[narrating] Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man.

The magic of Christmas for me is sharing it with the children, especially wee Sam. Below he is pictured painting his ceramic Santa.

Merry Christmas all !

Lego Santa for Christmas

This past week has been a real ‘run-around’ for me as l am sure it has been for many of my blogging buddies too. Every year, incidentally around this time, l promise myself that next December will be more organised, that l will buy through the months before, make good of the January sales and make my cards ahead of time- dream on Horizon!

Anyway, I managed to get all packages and cards posted in time for Christmas delivery- literally 5 minutes to spare in the post office but done nevertheless. I made lots of magnetic teapots like dear Pea’s- copied the wonderful idea for family and friends. Thank you Pea.

Shopping is mostly all done, pockets full of endless lists of ‘things to do’ that l can now empty- l am sure women the world over know how that works! Mad dashing around with folded paper and pencilled through lines-lol. What must we look like?

I have still not bought the turkey- am so tempted because of the prices to wait until the last minute when they are trying to give them away- l am still wrestling with this idea though.

Today is Sam’s Christmas party at nursery. Sam likes to be ‘stylish’ so we have picked out something suitable, t-shirt with matching shirt over but not buttoned-lol. He is very fussy about these things for a lad :)

Melissa built this Lego Santa (pictured) – l think it is great. What you do not see is the inside where she has built in ALL the organs-lol. Being the biology genius that she is Mel has fixed this wee guy up so good that if the Christmas fairy decided; he could become a ‘real boy’!

Finally, my exercise ball arrived!! It is great fun however on my first full swivel l heard/felt in succession three clicks in my lower back. Lets hope all is now where it should be! LOL

I am in a funny mood today- am honestly quite relieved that l can now relax a bit. It does seem to me that all this ‘mad dashing’ around seems to be done by the one person each year while others relax and enjoy.

Bests all.

The gift that just keeps on giving.

Firstly l would like to note that l am having a bad time with Blogger- buttons are not working properly and l am very frustrated. l have been trying to leave comments on your blogs but can't. I am checking in with you all and wanted you to know.

We have several old newspapers at home. This advertisment (below) came from 'The Daily Telegraph' dated December 11th, 1936. The headline was about the abdication of King Edward VIII.

The recommended gift for Christmas was a pack of cigarettes. Certainly before the days of health warnings, it wasn't only socially acceptable - it was the 'thing to do'.

Double click on the image for easier reading :)

This next advertisment is from the same newspaper. It just goes to show you that although people smoked they were still genuinely concerned about 'healthy air'. "The healthiest heat on tap" it reads. I guess their carbon monoxide detectors were little yellow Canaries?

Read about Carbon Monoxide Awareness HERE.

A life saving device for your family- carbon monoxide detectors should be a MUST HAVE, especially if you have a gas boiler, gas appliances or gas fire. It is a silent killer, you can't smell or see it. Most people have fire detectors so please do yourself and your family a favour this December and go buy one- they are inexpensive and having one is just common sense.

I don't mean to sound like a Miss Jean Brody but l thing especially at this time of the year when we are heating up our homes for the winter it should be noted.