Our sitting room.

For how much longer?

We find out tomorrow whether it carries on being or whether it's action stations.

It is very difficult to get on and do anything! The house is so clean and tidy I dont recognise it. I have nothing to do....

We have a guest in tonight and I have prepared her room.

We also have Mike's sister staying with us for a few days. Mike and she have gone out today, leaving me to twitch about.

It is a beautiful sunny day. But bitterly cold.

So - heres me, in the warm, just twitching.

January sunset.

The spinney, gilded tree trunks, courtesy of the sunset.

The sunset is now at 5 p.m. as opposed to 3.30p.m. which it was a few weeks ago.

Just after the sky gets to this stage is when I put the ducks to bed.

SIX TIMES I rounded them up, only for them to glide off into the pond.

Today they have had their pond cleaned out and their sleeping hut has fresh straw.

If that were me and I were to come across a lovely clean bed I would dive in - to bed - not the pond.
I swear they were chuckling away to each other as I slithered and slipped in the mud, ducking under the pine tree. Perhaps they were wanting me to join them in the pond. Very nearly did.

Then, they both just trooped in to their hut, "Oh, you want us in bed do you? Why didnt you say so?" This after I had shouted, "Go to bloody bed will yer."

This morning I drove to the next village for petrol for the car. I just needed a blast of Il Divo and to get out of the house. As I was coming out of the shop I realised it was snowing and like an idiot asked this woman, "Is that snow?" She must have thought I was a tourist, "Didnt expect that did you, " she replied.

I also didnt expect every house that had been for sale for months on end to now be displaying, "Under Offer." And despite Il Divo my spirits plummeted.

Ho hum. Tomorrow is our second viewing of the house from the family who have not as yet even got their house on the market, unless they have since the first viewing. Slight bit of hope dredged from the depths of my soul.

On the b&b front bookings are flooding in. By the end of February we might just be solvent again.

May all our sunsets be golden.

The day after...

Our Rotary Burns Supper.

Here is Tam o Shanter. Riding across the wall of the Bancar Hotel Dining Room. Cool.

So - the day after, today, was our Best of Banffshire and Buchan Bed and Breakfasts meeting at Monicas in Macduff.

Our first task was to collect Lucy and Sandy. Sandy had decided not to go as their Schnauzer had given birth two days ago and was not at all interested in the results. So he was having to feed the two pups that had survived. Lucy was making up the feed and ensuring Sandy let the milk cool, "Don't burn them, will ye."

So all the way to Macduff we had the troubles and traumas, (and loss of income), from this birth.

The other bitch who had produced pups - all still born - was already being advertised in the local paper, (due to loss of income) so we also had Lucy's mobile going off every five minutes with people wanting to buy her.

"Ye should get a dog, Jill, yed make some money." Hmmm.

This was then followed by the tale of Lucy having obtained a cat. She had said she would never have another cat, as the last one sat in the middle of the road, the main road, and joined the angel cats up above.

But having visited her daughter in Auchterless and there sat this cat on the windowsill, which her daughter said had been sitting there for three days, and no way was she going to feed it. Within seconds Lucy had it in her car boot and away home. This cat has now been to the vets, been castrated and micro chipped and is currently living in what was a bird aviary. (She has also contacted the Cat Protection League, who have no record of anyone saying they had lost a cat. I doubt they would have realised they had lost the cat before Lucy had it to the vet. And the Cat Protection League paid for the castration etc. so no loss of income.)

Our meeting went very well. We all exchanged stories of being snowed in, state of business, scams, frauds, and what was going on aroond and aboot. And had a good laugh. Also some very nice home bakes.

Monica has a beautiful house. She is also an accomplished seamstress. Not sure that is the right word. She produces the most amazing embroidery and cross stitch, pictures. Huge framed beautiful pictures. One is of a ploughed field, sheep in the next field, lovely autumnal colours. Another is of different plants and trees and these are not just flat stitched pictures but the threads used make it 3D . You want to touch. Amazing. Monica runs her three bedroomed b&b on her own, and I was put to shame as it is a lovely home, and immaculately presented, and she still manages to produce these wonderful works of art. Her garden is equally lovely. And she is older than me and looks younger in fact I hate her.

On our return to Lucy's to drop her off I went in to the aviary to visit the 'rescued' cat which was looking, understandably, confused. He is a really beautiful cat, ginger, which I do have a soft spot for. And very affectionate.

Its a long way to get back to Auchterless. In fact I am not sure I know where it is. I was sorely tempted to put him in my car boot. If only to save him from the 'main road'.

Strange mixture of attitudes towards animals I have experienced today. The deep rooted attitude in making money from animals. And then the wanting to provide a better life, equally deep rooted in another part of the psyche.

Finally home again. And the realisation that the animals here, who live with us, totally rule.

The ducks mess about when I put them to bed. The cats decide where they will sit even when it means I have to perch on the edge of a chair so they can be comfy. I get up let them in, I get up let them out. And theres no income at all.

Thats him done for another year.

Burns night. Okay, we are a day late, twas his birthday yesterday. But as he has been dead for some years I doubt he is going to complain.
Such rituals! Addressing the haggis, then stabbing it..... The excitement is just too much. Mike got to drink off the dram of whisky - so he was happy. One of our rotary members recited the whole of Tam o Shanter, without a script, which was some feat, with modern technology, pictures from a 'notebook' projected onto a screen.
We had a quiz on Burns, which we didnt win, despite my having watched a programme on tele on his life the night before......
But I did win the raffle, as I do a bit too often to be honest, only time I have any luck, but as it was a bottle of white wine, which I dont like, I said magnaminously draw it again! Before remembering I had Mike with me who does like white wine. Fortunately, the people who had got second prize in the quiz and dont drink were equally magnaminous and gave Mike their bottle.
What was particularly nice about this evening was that Mike and I were driven there and could both have a drink. Albert, my fellow rotarian, was taking a guest. She lives just up our road so he took us as well. A rare occasion when we can both have a drink, in fact so rare I dont think its ever happened before.
As rotarians we are encouraged to bring guests and hope they will enter the fold. But as some of us chatted at the end of the evening we were all in accord that we like our Rotary just as it is now.
And if I were really well up in Burns I would be ending this with a quote from one of his many poems.
Well, I can think of quite a few, but not very appropriate. "A mans a man for a that "- well some of our members can be pretty sexist, though they are shouted down. And not one of us is a "wee timourous, cowering beastie" but the females are all as lovely as a red, red rose. So Scots Wahey, which I believe is another of Mr Burns, to you all.

Bullers of Buchan.

Fantastic cliff formation, not far away from here. Smugglers tales abound, and puffins nest every year.
I find it quite amazing at the different shore scenarios within a few short miles. They go from swathes of golden beaches, to pebble beaches, to sand dunes, to cliffs. We have the lot. The steep sided cliffs with almost vertical roads down to small fishing villages, then the fishing villages perched atop cliffs like this. You could spend a life time visiting and discovering the history of each.
Greenbrae, being first built in 1860 something, has a lot of history of course. Most of which we know from being given some of the deeds, or copies I should say. I have them all in a folder to which we have added to, so as to be able to hand over to the future owners. With today's technology, there are also photographs in the folder. Some of before, during and after when it was a care home for Polish Men. Many pictures of what the house was like when we moved into it - and the changes we have made.
I dont think I have ever been so personally aware of history till I came to live here.
In our library is a book titled Longside, our village's name. This was produced by the Church of Scotland village members. A fascinating read. All the villages in this area have their own history. All of which are equally fascinating.
We also own a much older book, Pratt's Buchan. This is a first edition I came across in a National Trust second hand book shop. I bought it for Mike's birthday, some years back, and paid £85 for it. It is worth far more than that. Not only in money terms. I may leave the Longside book for future owners of Greenbrae, although it is much sought after. It had a limited run and all have gone, but we receive many requests from our ancestor hunters.
I will not be leaving Pratt's Buchan! We will still be living in Buchan after all.
We had another viewing of the house this afternoon. I doubt it will come to anything. But what a difference to have a couple who were appreciative, asked intelligent questions, and were here longer than twenty minutes!
I wouldn't mind, too much, handing Greenbrae with all it's history to them. There was no talk of, "Oh we can knock all these walls out." (You can feel the house cringe.) "Build another house at the front" (What about the views.)
Then the ones like we had on Saturday who are in awe of the house and it looks down its nose at.
I swear this house is alive. I well remember when we moved in and Iswear I heard a big sigh of relief.
I don't think I have ever mentioned our ghosts on this blog.
One, who we call the Admiral, is in the snug. (When the house was a care home, this room housed a retired Polish Admiral.) It is a lovely cosy room with the open fire. But sometimes the door will close of its own volition. (There is no subsidence here.) It can begin to close and you say, "Can you stop that," and it will! Forgot to mention it only does this door closing when you are inside the room. You can leave the door open and it will stay open if you are outside the room. And no the floors are not wonky!
Our other spiritual friends are outside. I have got used to it now. But in our early days here I would frequently see, when in the kitchen, out of the corner of my eye, someone coming past the window. I would go to the entrance door and there was no-one there. This was also experienced by others. " I could have sworn I saw someone come up the drive.".....
Some years after we came to live here we were informed that urns had been found at the top of our drive local gossip say they contained human hearts. Documentary evidence now in our Greenbrae archives.
Of course our drive way ghosts could just be the spirits of the workers coming to the cattle barns,which were at the rear of the house, so at the end of the drive way. Greenbrae was a dairy farm.
Note I said spiritual friends. I have been far more scared living in the depths of a built up area in the Midlands. If you hear a creak its possibly a burglar, mugger, or worse. Dawn chorus = car alarms. A crash means just that - your car windscreen gone. Or as once happened, a motor cyclist underneath your car.
Of course it isnt all Lark Rise to Candleford - not so many heaving breasts for a start. Or snakes under the wood pile, goodness how I laughed at this weeks episode. (Totally off subject here I note they arent going to make any more of LRTC as they are quitting while they are winning!)
Guess I had better stop all this meandering and will quit before I lose the plot. Cheers.

House viewing.

About as house doctored as it gets. I only use this cover when the house is being viewed! Although my washing machine has a tub larger than average, I doubt I would get this in, and no way can I afford to have it dry cleaned every week. So for normal use, and cats, the throws are washable and a variety of colours and finishes and not that posh.
I dont think our viewers today would have noticed what was on the bed, as by the time they got to this room, their eyes were well glazed over, this being the seventh bedroom.
You know how they say the average family is a couple and 2.5 children? Well these two hadnt got beyond the point 5.
As soon as I heard, "Oh, isnt it big?" - my heart sank. According to Mike, who does the outside showing, the man was walking with stiff and rigid legs upon seeing the size of the garden.
Can't these people read?
What does their brain work out what seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, half an acre of garden, etc. look like in real life?
Apparently they have no family living locally and wanted somewhere for the family to visit.
I am still pondering that one.
Our intention is to get a three bedroomed house, hopefully with a summer house (if we get the one I want) and if there still isnt enough room the family can put up a tent, or go to a bed and breakfast! No way would anyone in their right mind have a house this size sitting empty most of the time - would they? Whoops, guess thats what we are doing. But not by choice.
Back to normality. Although with all the presentation, presentation, all done, I am struggling as to what to do!
I'll have a drink while I think about it. Good idea.

Brrrrr.

Peterhead lifeboat rescued a windsurfer the other day. Can you imagine wind surfing in the North Sea, at this time of year? Brrrr. Or indeed at any time of the year. We have lived here for nearly nine years now and I haven't even put a toe in!
It is beautiful to see though. When I go to the supermarket I always drive past the sea. The multitude of colours, its moods, sometimes a mediterranean blue and very calm, other times, great white horses and other times just heaving away, looking cold and grey, and mountainous swells. Awesome.
Another day, today, of cleaning, mopping and tidying. It doesnt do me any good being this clean and tidy. I just can't relax. And the cats think its Armegeddon.
"Look at yer PAWS, they are filthy. Get out."
"You'd better eat every bit of that mouse, I've just vacced."
"Not on THAT chair!"
Back to normal after the viewing tomorrow.
On another subject. Many of the fishermen are deeply religious. Probably to do with putting your life in the hands of God every time you set sail, or power up the engine. Peterhead has many religious churches as I have mentioned before. If they have a fall out, they just set up another.
There are more churches than pubs in Peterhead, which is quite something for me having had my early years in Wakefield, which I think had a pub for every day of the year.
On a lighter (?) note, the following picture of a church notice board made me smile.

No further comment.

Another cold day.

But with a beautiful ending.
This morning I couldnt get to the camera quick enough, hopefully I will tomorrow should I be presented with the same scene. A huge moon slowly going down over the horizon at 8a.m. Fantastic.
The other photographic disaster was a blob in the trees in the spinney. The blob was a pheasant, up a tree.... I have never, ever seen a pheasant up a tree. Unfortunately my camera would not believe it, well it wouldnt focus enough, plus there was a fair bit of shake as I was laughing..
The house is unrecognisable. Clean and tidy everywhere. Most times the guest areas are up to scratch, but today, every room - wow. Well, apart from mine own of course. That will get the treatment tomorrow and will make it most uncomfortable for this slob. Wont be able to find anything. (It will all be crammed in the wardrobe.)
I escaped this afternoon. Went to Peterhead and hit the charity shops. Did really well and came home with six books to read. Crime novels one and all.
So - a restful evening, up to me armpits in blood and gore - literary speaking.

Preseeeeent arms.

Sunset tonight. Really uplifting. Yesterday the weather reminded us it was still winter and was bitterly cold, with a keen frost. But today we had a fine day and the water in the pond melted. This enabled Smoky Robinson to finally let loose.

Well - not just presenting arms, but wings. Jemima Puddleduck that is.
I am in the process of presenting, not arms or wings but the house. Here we go again. Another viewing on Saturday lunchtime.
Yesterday was what I call a doomy day. Where I did very little and was a tad depressed about not having any money, and having to struggle to get back to an even keel having lost all December's income. Thanks to Les Taylor Construction going bust.
Now, knowing there is a viewing, tho I doubt it will come to anything, as I have totally lost my trust in most of the human race, I must get on!
Fortunately quite a lot has been done as we have had this breathing space from guests. Like the library and the snug and the sun room. So not that much to do. In fact I scooted round this afternoon and tweaked the guest bedrooms, made a few beds, and did some ironing. So I do not have to do it all at a gallop, as in the past.
We have also had some bookings, albeit for May, July and August. May and July, something big is happening via the British Legion......Must find out!
And I should be at Rotary tonight, missed two weeks now, but no cash flow. Well, its flowing out, but not flowing in. I had a letter from the receivers. I do not think I am going to get any money at all. So - tighten the belt another few notches.
The fraudulent cheque from the Ukraine is now in the hands of the Grampian Fraud Squad.
I shall just regard that saga as a bit of light entertainment.
You have to laugh. Otherwise....?

A good sign!

I have energy! The library - cleaned, and the shelves I moved into the snug, now back where they belong.

The 'new' t.v. unit in the sun room.

The really good sign - a beautiful sunset at the end of a beautiful sunny, windless day.

And the ducks finally moved away from my patio window and enjoyed the pond.

Smoky Robinson in the pond, Jemima encouraging him. She goes in and goes berserk, there water everywhere, wings beating against the surface, whereas I think he is a bit of a wimp.




I also finished the office and cleaned it. All ready for Mike to carry on with my tax return.
Which he has finished and submitted. This was the financial year where we put the house on the market, so there was a lot of money spent on repairs here and there and we were turning away bookings for viewings, with fingers crossed for a sale, hence the loss of profit. So - I dont have to fork out a lot to the tax man. (But still a bit depressing to actually see the figures.)
And fingers crossed we havent missed something major.....

I should also mention - it being a good day - that we havent had the heating on. My little signalman thing says the oil tank is still at 9 which is one down from full. Despite the horrendous winter we have had our oil consumption is still not as bad as last year. Dont ask - I dont know the answer.

Most days I dont even understand the questions. So -a good day.

My chair!

Sometimes.
Today I set about the office. Why do we keep all these cables for computers long gone? Bits of printers, mobile phones, boy did I have fun. Having said that there is still a box with bits of cables in, someone, somewhere might be able to make use of them. I will put them on freecycle and see what happens. Bills from ten years ago now in a pile for shredding. Paper recycling box full to the brim and a dustbin bag quickly tied and put in the bin before I change my mind.
By the time I had finished (3p.m.) there was even room for a plant on top of the filing cabinet.
Just have to vacuum the floor now.
Well, the ducks 'found' the pond. Just as I was putting them to bed. They were having such fun I left them to it for a while. Mike had cleaned it out and re-filled it, so they could see the bottom, whether this made all the difference I know not. He had also cleaned out their house and put fresh straw in. Eventually they went in and I could shut them up for the night.
Then it was time for me to come back in the warm and relax.
If I could find somewhere to sit.

Rain sweeps over Buchan.

A dreech couple of days. Although yesterday it did brighten up and Mike and Chloe, touring the Moray coast, had a good day. And remembered the packed lunch.
Chloe is off back to Edinburgh today. Mike has took her into Aberdeen for the train, and no doubt a snoop round a few shops.
I had to rescue Smoky Robinson from the drinking bucket. He decided to have a bath in it and got wedged. Ducks are thick. The pond is now full of water, not ice.... But he and Jemima still stick by my patio window, though I am now moving the food a few feet at a time to get them to get on with proper duck life. Beetle hunting in the grass. Pond to swim in. Snails and slugs everywhere. But no, they feel safer on the patio, which is now a muddy skating rink, and my patio window is so mucky with them wing flapping I can hardly see out. But if you move the food too far, they just don't see it, and would starve. I remember a tale from the chap who provided our hen hut. He had ducks and once moved their hut and come nightfall they were all stood where the duck hut used to be and he had a hell of a job to persuade them to get in the hut in its new situation. As I said, thick.
Well, its that time of year again. The tax man has sent us both a REMINDER. Mike has been ploughing through the receipts and stuff for the last financial year. Both of us praying that at the end of it I won't owe too much money, as I haven't got any, thanks to firms going bust and people sending fraudulent cheques. There have been enquiries about dates and prices but no firm bookings.
I have done my bit and sorted through all the receipts and put them into order. I should really spend an hour a week doing this then it doesnt take me the whole day.
And I get so fed up, Morrisons put the date on the top, Asda and Tesco and Lidl on the bottom. And B&Q and Focus, well.
I had to laugh at one receipt from B&Q which was for 'reinforced joints', followed by 'over 60s discount.'
So, now youngest daughter has departed, I have no excuse and must start attacking the lists I have been making. Decorating, cleaning, ironing, washing down patio, cleaning windows.
Probably first call at B&Q for some more reinforced joints.

A not doing very much day.

Fraserburgh Harbour. Fancy having a fishing boat called Ephraim. Lovely.
Very misty and murky today. Mike and Chloe went off bird watching to Loch of Strathbeg. Not sure they could see much. They had packed a picnic, but returned for lunch, having left it on the kitchen table. No hope for some people. They went off again in the afternoon.
I pottered about waiting for some free-cycled magazines to be uplifted. Six months of a variety of House magazines and probably six years worth of bird watching magazines. Now gone.
Sorted out the sitting room where I had been moving furniture around. I was intending to hit the sales and buy a new t.v. unit and coffee table. Ho hum. What we had/have was from IKEA and doesnt really go with the leather seating.
Some years ago I received, through Freecycle, a dark wooden t.v. unit, its like a cupboard with glass doors. I had been using it as a games cupboard in the library, but have now brought it into the sitting room and am using it for what it was intended. Still managed to get most of the games in as it is so deep. The other games are ones we havent played for years so may freecycle them, or car boot them. There are a couple of charity shops who do furniture so I will have a trawl to see if I can get a more suitable coffee table. I shall be taking the 'old' t.v. unit.
The bank phoned. The cheque was a forgery. (I still have it, I had to scan it and attach it to an email.) I await my next email instruction from the robbers with bated breath!
And we had an oil delivery. So I have the heating on everywhere! Just for today while the signalman effort shows a big F.
The ducks are still making do with buckets of water to perform their ablutions. Hilarious to watch. Heads in, out and shake it all about and do a jig while they are it.
But the pond is still frozen. Not sure that Smoky Robinson knows what it is for but no doubt he will once its back to liquid again.
Talking of liquid - has the sun gone down yet?

A brighter day?

Not many lighthouses atop a castle. But there is one at Fraserburgh, or in Doric, the Broch.
Also here is the Lighthouse Museum, open all year round, thank goodness we have some where to send our braver guests who come out of season.
It is a fascinating museum. Part of the tour is a trip up this lighthouse where it is laid out as if the keepers had just gone outside. Beds made, old radio at the ready, very 1950s. I cant manage the steps any more. The tour I took, some years back, the guide was a retired lighthouse keeper. Today, Mike and Chloe were taken up by a young man who wasnt even born when the lighthouses went automatic. But, apparently, still entertaining and informative. He said his uncle was a fisherman and used all the latest technological aids and didnt know how to use lighthouses (!). I said, "Even I know how to use lighthouses, if in a boat, avoid them."
While they were being tourists I went to Tescos. For a browse. Having no money, it was quite annoying as all the Christmas stuff was reduced to almost giveaway prices. However I did succumb to a box of chocolates as Chloe is with us and what the hell. There was also a lovely wrap around cardi in the sale reduced from £20 to £6. My excuse - wear when cannot afford to put heating on......Bottle of wine? No excuse.
I then went and parked up overlooking the vast swathe of golden sands where they have the Kite surfing championships. Then more down to earth I drove to the harbour past fish factory after fish factory. Then up into the town.
Fraserburgh is generally thought of as more run down than Peterhead. But there is still something about it. Quite different to Peterhead. I got the feeling it thinks of itself as more genteel?
Then back to the Lighthouse Museum for lunch. The cafe there looks out over the sea. Spectacular views. Lovely fresh cooked food. And an added bonus today - a long chat, (well if I am honest a full public relations lecture ), from Rachel who is the Manager/Curator/leading light (forgive the pun) and had recognised Mike from his days as the leading light of the local tourism industry. It is actually really refreshing to hear someone who is still as passionate about her job and tourism.
Back home. Opened the post.
Remember the booking from the Ukraine? And the oh dear I have sent you a cheque for too much money, just pay in to your account and then send the difference back? Well today I received the cheque! £6k plus. Wouldnt I just love to have cashed it! Currently waiting for my bank's fraud squad to advise..........
I just wish the criminal fraternity would leave me alone. Or should I ask for lessons?

Feeling a bit battered myself.

Yesterday I discovered that I am an unsecured creditor and the company I have been dealing with has indeed gone bust.
I have every sympathy with the hundred of workers now without a job.
But I too might be without a job, or a house, or anything.
Compared to some, like the millions that were owed to the banks (sob) my debt is very small. But to me it is not small.
What really angers me is that all through December I was constantly being told that payment would be made and so I continued housing their employees and feeding them and keeping them warm etc.etc. Mike digging out the drive, daily, so they could return here safely. Right up to Christmas I was told this and indeed the men were booked in for this week, so I turned other bookings away. Surely this is fraud? They must have known they were never going to pay me?
Yesterday, following the phone conversation with the receivers, I reeled around fighting a splitting head ache. Find me a hole to crawl into was all I asked.
Today I girded up me loins.
Youngest daughter is with us for a few days and I felt really sorry for her landing here when dear old Mum was truly in the depths. She went off with Mike for the day to bird watch, only to find the road they wanted to go up was closed. But they saw deer, kites, and a crossbill, so not a total waste of a day.
I never stopped all day. Cleaning, tidying, sorting. Even looked at the bank details. .... Although I did do that through half closed eyes and sat way back from the computer screen as if it was going to come out and hit me!
The sad thing is my trust in human nature is severely damaged. And no matter how much I do to try and make things around me be sorted, and clean, and tidy, I hurt.
But the one thing I am also is an optimist, havent quite lost that part of me yet, along with the failing eyesight and memory, ever an optimist.

Can't live without you anymore........

Oh, I do miss me hens. So, we have six point of lay pullets arriving in February. This merry little band, on the wall, have all gone now. There were six of them. One got mown down on the road, two killed by dogs, one showed us that hens get worms and can die from them, and the last two we assume a fox fed his family. As the last two hadn't laid any eggs for over a year, well nature can be harsh, they became part of the food chain. Not to say we weren't upset.
So the next wee flock will not be free range. Sad, but necessary. We do have a very large run, which can be moved to keep the ground 'fresh'. So be it. When we kept hens before, years ago in the countryside of Yorkshire our hens were only let loose in the winter, and always shut up at night. Our last two here refused to return to their hoosie at night and so paid the ultimate price.
My one consolation for keeping the next lot penned is that it is far, far better than what they would be getting elsewhere. They will still have fresh air, daylight, bugs a plenty and all the other stuffs hens love.
We were reluctant to supplement the flock previously due to not knowing if/when/where we would be moving. But you can't carry on hanging fire like that. And even if we moved to the smallest house imaginable I would insist there was room for our poultry.
Whether there would be room for the geese I would love to have and whether Mike would allow me - as he has always said no! Well, I am working on it.....There were some fine specimens at the New Arc Rescue Centre. He wouldn't have to mow the lawn! Now theres a good enough reason. I believe they eat grass - and according to him they wouldnt allow him to cut it anyway but would chase him off. Hmmmmm. Oh, he also maintains they would be noisy for the guests.....
no - the Americans would lurve it.
This is a man who is scared of cows, despite my telling him the cows were just curious bullocks (check - no udder) and you just have to stare back and wave your arms around. Cows with calves are a different matter and should be avoided.
I remember many years ago, when my eldest daughter was small and I was a childminder with another small person in tow. We came across a man lying on a footpath at the side of a field. Scared the kids to silence. He had been attacked by a cow with a calf at foot and was in a bad way. I had to run, with difficulty, with two in shock toddlers, to the nearest house and get them to call for an ambulance. Shows how long ago, no mobile phones then. He recovered, though it was a few weeks before the kids did. It took me quite a while of reassuring them that the man wasnt a mad scarecrow and it then suddenly struck me that we had been walking through that field daily with the cows and the calves. Perhaps they saw me as a cow with calves? Scary.
Well - down to business. Another couple in last night from Aberdeen for a family celebration, ceilidh in the church hall. (We have two churches and two church halls, no pub, but you can't have everything.)
The big bummer was in yesterdays Press and Journal, our daily local paper. The company who have been so dilatory in paying me over the last few weeks, and now owe me A LOT, have gone bust.
Tomorrow morning I will be trying to find out if I am to be paid or not. If not, well it really grieves me a lot, in that they phoned the week before Christmas to say their men would be with us tomorrow for the week, and when I said, and WHEN am I to be paid? I was assured this would be chased up. I cannot, in all honesty, think of a bad enough swear word.
Anyway, back to more positive things. Lucy, remember, I Love Lucy, is bringing us the new flock of hens. Lucy is an avid visitor, customer of car boot sales. One of her many bargains was a pair of beautiful green velvet curtains which she paid a pound for. With one of the curtains she has had eight dining chairs reupholstered. Professionally. Whoooo. The other curtain she has given to me. In return she wants a bag of carrots. This means I have to (sorry - Mike has to) creep out in the dead of night and get a bagful of carrots from underneath their covering of straw and black plastic. The curtain, I think, is big enough for me to make a bed spread, a very posh bed spread! Worth it. So I have told Mike "Get out there with your gite". I think this is doric for garden fork.
If nothing else I extend your education.

A cat for a change -

though he does have snow on him, most of it melted before I could get the camera! So though he looks as if he is infested with something you will have to take my word for it that it is snow.
Our guests are now esconced. The funeral was today. Village streets impassable. They do go for funerals, round here, in a big way.
Continuing my/your education on the language round here, a grave is called a lair. Now dont you find that spooky? Wolves have lairs. Hmm.
I was once told a tale about an English woman who was in hospital with something wrong with one of her feet. One of the nurses was asked by the sister to put something on to the foot. So the patient was asked, "Fit foot d'ye want me to fit this on?"
On a more personal note, I remember when I attended the sessions to help one to stop smoking and the leader of the group was from Fraserburgh, a bit further north than Peterhead. I could not understand half of what she said. It got so bad that the rest of the group thought I was monopolising the sessions as I had to keep asking her to repeat what she said. In the end I gave up - smoking as well. "Can ye just give a wee puffy down this tuby?" Was about all I could understand. When the red lights flashed I knew I was doomed.

I guess its boring here

either snow pictures or ducks. Tough.
Some people like ducks. I do. Jemima and Smoky Robinson are doing fine. Today they did the duck dance. A good sign! Although to watch - hysterical. She runs round bobbing her head, he sticks his head in the water bucket and repeats and repeats. This is probably some age old duck dance. And one shouldnt laugh...
Last night was our first Rotary meeting of 2011. Whatever else happens we always have a good laugh. Sometimes thats the only reason I go.
Driving over the countryside in the black, black night is often a most reluctant journey. I have often met deer, owls and the odd escaped sheep on the journey, and how I havent ended up in a field after such meetings is a credit to my driving skills, well thats my opinion.
But once there - well - last night being the first after Ne'er Day(New Year's Day) there was lots of kissing. Kissing is like laughter, makes you feel good, well, yes, depends on who you are kissing. But generally its good.
Driving home last night was a bit deja vu. Snow, heavy snow, lying snow. Hands gripped on steering wheel.
More snow this morning. Only a bitty.
This afternoon I had my hair done. What bliss to have your head massaged. My toes uncurled. But then there is the conversation. Now what is a minty? I now know it is a minute. "Just a minty" = "Just a minute." If you remember that every word has a y on the end of it then its finey. Cardy = credit/debitcard. Other words are Quine = young woman, Loon = young man, wify is an older woman, there isnt, significantly a word for an older man. It is just, "Your man." Although sometimes it can be wify, or manny. I am getting there.
It's back to proper work tomorrow, paying guests, coming to a funeral. Like parcels there has been a back log.
On an interesting (?) aside we have one crematorium in Aberdeen and another in Buckie. Both a long way from round here. So there are currently two planning applications in
for new crematoriums. One of them is just up the road from us and the planning application includes a restaurant. Now my mind boggles at this. "Will ye be coming up the road for a fly cuppie in the morn? Dont forget your cardy."

I wish -

I could have this lot every morning! Is it the Queen who has a piper every morning, playing them I hasten to add, she doesnt actually 'have' a piper, but then a man in a kilt does something to this girl. Mentally. I'd better stop this before I get into trouble. Perhaps if I play one of my piping cds it would get me going.
Its difficult to get back into the mode of doing things at this time of year.
The tree came down, all the decorations packed away in the loft. Everywhere looks terribly dingy (and dusty).
I gave the sideboard a good clean and polish. Elbow grease, use of, is supposed to be good for your stress levels. Physically I was whacked. Vacuumed up another chaffinch in the entrance hall. Culprit nowhere to be seen. Only two loads of washing today. Have caught up with bedding and towel washing. Ironing pile up to the roof. Perhaps tomorrow?
In the morning I went to the library in the next village. Decided to look for knitting books to inspire me. I have the wool, I have the needles. "Knitted Toys." was the only book on the shelf.
"We can order you some."
Well as I dont know what I am looking for that could be difficult.
On to the post office. Our nearest post office is also in the next village and is inside the Spar, which is also our nearest petrol station. It is most odd. You have two tills with people taking your money for petrol, stuff in the shop, papers, magazines, etc. Then two tills with post office staff alongside. Next to them is the hot food counter and you queue up for the post office next to bar stools and a hot drink machine. The only people I have seen at the bar stools slurping a hot drink is the post office counter staff.
I was chasing up a parcel that had not been received by my brother in law, had to be him.
Apparently it is more than likely to be in the back log I was informed. Well how come it was sent at the same time as one to Plymouth which did get there, and my brother in law lives in Sheffield. Hardly the place one expects a back log.
Still waiting for payment for two weeks before Christmas from the local company who are housing their workmen here, due to arrive back Monday. I know this is not in the back log as our postie says there isnt one and he is down to delivering the junk mail.
I phoned up to have a rant and was informed no-one is back till Monday.....by then they will owe me next week as well.
I think I will present the mens breakfast plates with a pile of i.o.u.s - but then, it isnt their fault.
I will never get over how wonderful it is to see the sun set over land and not roofs. Even if you havent seen the sun all day there is still a sun set. I did have a laugh as I watched today's sunset. As I pulled on my boots to put the ducks to bed, they saw me through the patio window and immediately trooped off and in to their hut. All I had to do was close the door!
Yesterday we had our first footers. I should have made them go out again and fetch a piece of coal, but it didnt click till they had gone. Lucy and Sandy (do you remember Round the Horn and Julian and Sandy?) (I think I am losing my marbles - before you even think it!) (Word association they call it.)
Anyway they have just returned from a trip to Australia. One of Lucy's daughters is living there, her partner works for the oil industry, obviously better paid than the oil industry round here, though that is nae bad.
Apparently they live in a glass house....so the poor girl spends her time cleaning. Now, to me, something is very wrong here. You go half way round the world for a better life and spend all your time polishing the staircase.
Quite pleased that I live here and all I had to do today was polish the sideboard.

I don't believe it!

Trawling through the internet, I came across this. Having watched ducks for some years, and how they love to preen, then do a great big whirring and flapping of wings, this is duck cruelty. This was on a web site devoted to the care of ducks! It also said that ducks were nocturnal. I dont think so.
We have now had Smoky Robinson for four days. Last night and tonight I went out, as it grew dark, and said, "Time for bed." And off they both went, straight into the hut!
I have been ironing, still more to do. Made up both guest rooms now.
Re-covered a seat on a chair, and sorted some fabrics ready for cushion making.
Really gloomy weather, hardly getting light during the day, and more snow, though just a light covering.
No plans to knit duck jumpers.
Time for bed.

Farewell 2010.

The last sunset of 2010.
I hope the rest of the year isnt going to be like its first.
Washing machine going non stop. Ironing, changing beds. Towelling up the guests' bathrooms. As I swept past Christmas displays I whisked them off to be packed away. The tree will be the last thing to come down on twelfth night but as I need to clean and only do that in odd bursts, where I have cleaned then that Santa and his reindeer went into the box. The cards have been packed away for label making next year, apart from the ones with nice messages in from guests, and peoples new addresses to be updated.
Mike was going to have a day off at the Loch of Strathbeg, our local bird reserve, but then the snow started. BLOODY SNOW AGAIN. I nearly went into orbit. Fortunately(?) it flurried a bit and then another bit, but nothing major.
The ducks continue to haunt the area outside my bedroom patio door, but are eating and drinking, preening and flapping their wings, so all seems well. Will not tell them what we are having for dinner tonight.....
And, yes, I have started on the wine. A new day, a new year and a new bottle of wine, cant be that bad then can it.