Surfers at Peterhead!

I had a look on Peterhead Images on Google. How depressing. I would suggest to anyone interested that instead of that they look at Peterhead Photographers, of which I am one. The images on Google consisted of pages and pages of footballers and fishing boats and the power station. Fishing boats ok but really there is so much more to Peterhead that is photogenic.
As regards the surfers. Many will find it surprising but we do have them. Aberdeen beach is usually full of them and round the corner from here we have had the Surfing Championships, so there.
Weather is not conducive to going out with camera today. It is blowing a gale and very murky.
I am painting an old chair that I think is not Loyd Loom, but very like. It was a bronzey gold and is being transformed into a pale sage green. I had to pack in as it was too dark to see where I had been . This at 2.45p.m. I suppose I could have got on with recovering the seat, which is removeable, before everyone panics and thinks I am doing it in situ before the paint has dried! However, I have yet to decide which fabric to use. The chair is destined for one of the upstairs bedrooms, both unused, but to be 'dressed' for potential buyers...
Tonight I am braving the weather and driving across country to the Rotary meeting. Tomorrow our Best of Banffshire and Buchan Bed and Breakfast group are having our Christmas lunch at the Pennan Inn. (Made famous in the film Local Hero). Yes I know it's early. But Lucy is off to Australia at the beginning of December and so, just for her, its half way through November. And no we are not having turkey. Or crackers, but we are all to take a Secret Santa gift. And if I get anything like that pot sheepdog again I shall not be amused.

One of us is fit!

My daughter Polly. She plays football for Sleaford in Lincolnshire. Still remember when she was at primary school, last year of, and played rugby and being totally flattened in a tackle by an enormous chap. Both his father and me clutched each other waiting for her to stand up - she did.
Well lots of things happening here.
We have our two chaps in for another week, and booked in for next week also.
Christmas is back on the agenda!
It was such a gorgeous crisp and sunny day I decided to go to Tesco in Fraserburgh, this afternoon. I know, I know such days should be spent in the garden gathering leaves, no....Mike was doing that. I just always have enjoyed driving, my choice of music full blast, and the gorgeous Buchan countryside and so often here, the sight of the deep blue sea on the horizon. Heaven.
I bought loads of half price Christmas decorations, three Christmas presents for my grandson and a magazine and a bottle of wine - all for £20!!
House Front.
Friday our solicitor/estate agent (in Scotland estate agents are solicitors almost 100%) called round for a discussion. Apparently we have, as we know, had lots of interest in the house. But this has ceased. Well, I would have thought that was happening everywhere, its the time of year, and the state of the economy is not exactly encouraging is it? Anyway we were given quite a few options as to how to proceed which left us somewhat shell shocked. One of which was to divide the house into two properties. Now this is not that difficult as when the extensions were done many years ago each end was given its own electric supply, septic tank, central heating boiler etc. Reason for this suggestion ? Not many people want a seven bedroomed house, but do want a three bedroomed house.
Anyway, possibly all academic, over the weekend there were more 'hits' on the house details and it is nearly Christmas....................just need to find some artistic twigs to hang my decorations on, tree has to wait till December.

Time to hibernate methinks.

All the crops harvested. Our bird feeders emptying as one watches. Heating on most of the day. Four layers on the top half of body and changing from slippers to boots, sandals packed away. Christmas cake in the oven. Cats inside more than out.
Lots of wind, rain. My blue car is now brown from all the puddles on the road I have to go through to get anywhere.
We still have paying guests. Two working men, a room each and breakfast early, so I dont see them then! Mike does the breakfasts. Very neat and tidy chaps, a pleasure to do their rooms. And their company, a local one, paying promptly. So all well on the business side.
Have daughter number three staying for a few days, with her fiance Dan. He has done us a fair bit of clearing the veg patch and both of them have helped enormously in sorting out the middle room. This is a room off the sitting room that in its past was a bathroom . The house was a care home for Polish elderly. Our library, also off the sitting room was a bedroom, and the middle room was its bathroom. The bath and the toilet were removed, leaving a sink. We have used the room as a store room which was almost to the ceiling with stuff being stored. All has now been sorted. Lots gone to the tip, boxes of car boot stuff at one side, boxes with things we wish to keep when/if we move on another, and all Zach's toys near the door for easy access. Bliss.
Polly, our daughter, has also braved the loft. Not sure how much she has done up there, I havent been up there for years, suffice it to say that it still has quite a lot of zimmer frames and the old plastic Christmas tree used by the Polish care home residents.......

Scottish High Tea.

Well first they bring on the toast. And the butter and the jams. Then they bring along a menu for a main course. We all upgraded to the steak. Which came with onion rings, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, tomato. Bowl of chips, perfectly cooked chips. Anything from the bar? Yes, a bucket of red wine. Or white and a pint of 80 shillings (go google it). But basically it's beer.

This followed by scones, scottish pancakes and a mass of fancies. Mini meringues, shortbread, chocolate cakes, melt in your mouth and die for mmmm. Coffee and Tea - or in our case, well some of us, more wine. All this for less than £20 per person and I think you should seriously consider moving to Scotland. Well I guess it might have been a bit more with the wine and the tip we left.
So there you have it. Scottish High Tea. I wont be having supper.

Computers!!!!!

First of all I should say that without them I would not be able to see my grandson so often, him being in Edinburgh and me in the wilds of north east Scotland. This is a picture I took of him while on Skype, and him showing me how he could put hats on and off!
After reading all the help bits on google it could well be that installing Skype onto my lap top could have caused my problem with blogging.
I have been unable to get in to my blog for ages, although I can on the main computer..... In the end I got so frustrated I ended up with a new blog, but then discovered no-one else could find it! So, on the main computer I changed my password, back up on the lap top - and here I am again! Quite proud of myself for sorting it, just hope it stays sorted.
Also with computers - we are trying to update our web site. So needed new photographs as over the years there's been quite a lot of money thrown at guest rooms, decorating, new lighting and expensive throws and so forth.

A guest room, note to Hotel Inspector, no visible seams in my wallpapering.....

Another guest room, due when money allows, for a rewallpapering.

And our sitting room, new cushion covers for the Winter, and a runner, and the footstool re-covered.
Anyone interested in what our guests think to it all visit Tripadvisor!

Eye ball to eye ball - well nearly.

Living here whenever you pass a window you look out, there is always something to see. Tonight its the firework display at the football club in the village.
Looking to the rear of the house, from my bathroom window earlier in the day, I saw this blur of whiteness about six inches above the ground and had to really peer to see what it was. Then I got the binoculars to be sure of what I was seeing. I have never seen a sparrow hawk so near to the ground, unless it was finishing off a kill. But that is what it was. I watched it and it seemed to watch me. I was just beginning to think it was injured and what on earth I would do about it, when it just took flight, effortlessly and gracefully, and soared upwards and away, despite being surrounded by shrubs and trees.
Makes the morning of ironing pass smoothly (sorry - a pun). Two guest rooms ready for guests who I hope this time will turn up. We have two couples and a 22 month old child, booked in for tomorrow.
Tis a lovely night for bonfires and fireworks, clear, dry and very cold. So glad I dont have to go outside and stand with feet getting frozen and go Whoooooooooooooooo.

Guess its now Winter!

Sith on the bed, Puzzle on the floor by my chair. And Min on another chair.

This is my boudoir. More like a bed sit! Piles of magazines all around, my table of orchids, some flowering, some resting, one about to flower again which I am very proud of as I have never managed that before. The grey packages are Christmas presents for the extended family, waiting to be rewrapped and posted. This is where I come in the evening to read said magazines and to watch the t.v. when there is anything worth watching. Read a book. And work on my laptop. Oh, and have a sip of wine.

One after the other there is a faint scratch on the door and in they come. The cats. We have this enormous house, plenty warm spots to curl up in, but no, want to be where I am. Aw isnt that nice.

Today I have mopped floors like a woman possessed. It has taken me two days now but every floor has been deep cleaned. So why does it rain today and now I have cat paw prints everywhere?????????????

But at least I know that for five minutes today evey floor was clean.