Up the lane.

The road leading away from Greenbrae yesterday. The members of our family that were with us over Christmas went this way to Aberdeen to catch their train to Edinburgh.
There is still more snow to come. Today has been much warmer, and there has been a slight wind.
One of my favourite Christmas songs is 'In the bleak midwinter', as it just sums up how it was over this Christmas!
I had a knot in my stomach all Christmas (along with a few at trying to please everyone and failing miserably) as our oil supply was dwindling fast. This gives us heating and hot water. Just in the nick of time our delivery came yesterday and we are back to full on both tanks (one for each half of the house.) Sods law as we havent needed it on in the day today!
Our family came bearing gifts including germs. Mike is now suffering, dosing himself, alternating Beechams with a dram. If I get it I cannot take Beechams because of the blood pressure drugs I take and I dont like whisky - I will more likely end up in an oxygen tent due to my other health problems. But still positive! Soon be 2010 - serious marketing of house and the way Christmas went this year we will be looking for a ONE bedroomed house!!

Happy Christmas Snow.

Zach in my present of dinosaur raincoat and wellies!

Oh boy, did we have fun!

Suffering today though. Our Rotary group visited the home of one of our members for drinks and nibbles. The home is the furthest Eastward stately home in the UK. I may not look it, but I was way out of my comfort zone! If it wasn't bear skins I fell over it was a servant.

Here is me..

laughing at my own jokes - again. The Rotary Christmas Dinner last night. Morag, on my left, is the ace reporter on the Buchan Observer, locally known as the Buchanie. She despairs of my photographing skills (lack of). I occasionally send in to her pictures and news about the Rotary for publication. So far she has published just one with a picture. So last night I was getting photography lessons. Apparently I have to do more zooming. Tell me about it. Today I have zoomed round changing our bed and cleaning our bedroom and bathroom What a pleasure just doing one bedroom. Also my sewing machine foot arrived and it fitted so I have made a cot size duvet and two sheets. Just about to zoom off and prepare the evening meal, just the two of us. Again, no hardship. I could get used to this.

My Kitchen

Doesn't look anything like this! Not after making Poppy and Sesame seed crackers - freezer now full. Plus Celeriac and Apple soup, goodness knows where I am to put that, and Cottage chilli hot pot, also to be frozen... This despite the chest freezer in the store room and a good sized freezer on top of the fridge, as you can see in the photo. All this advice about being prepared ......Well yes I shouldn't have to do tons of prepping food on THE DAY -it will all have gone off!

Ever had one of those days?

First the weather report - started off at minus five - got up to 0 then back to minus 5. The picture shows the mist freezing in the valley over the river. You may have to enlarge the picture by clicking on it to see it properly. The camera I took the picture on refused to work when fastened to the computer. So I have had the recharger plugged in all day, fortunately that was the problem solved. But the camera playing up was just the beginning of my day.
I had planned a whole day sewing. Setting up the sewing machine I discovered the foot was missing. I am completely at a loss as to what has happened here. The fastenings were still tight, I dont think I have ever removed the foot, but it was gone. Torch out, under the bed, under the shelving, all the places I had parked the machine, nothing. So on to the internet. I know it is quicker than waiting for shops to open and then trying to find them and just thinking about the walking makes me breathless....But my machine is no longer made, some web sites claimed all fitting all dancing feet, after a multitude of trawls I decided to order a foot and half a foot, praying that one will fit. Then it was doing battle with the check out. Fill all your details in and there is always something you have missed. Three goes and I thought I had cracked it and it just sat there. So I entered everything again and it came up saying those details were already logged.... I know I had just done it. I finally managed to complete the process. Then it asked me to print out the order - thats when the printer got all stroppy.....
And guess what - its now 3p.m. getting dark and I have done NOTHING. I am of for a beer.

The Best of Banffshire and Buchan Bed and Breakfasts.

Merry Christmas!
My first Senior Citizen lunch! Its alright this pensioner lark. I have had my Winter Fuel Allowance, as has Mike, so a total of £250. My £10 Christmas Bonus and cheap(er) meals.
Its been a long time coming, but I am quite enjoying it!