Scottish Folk.

Jimmy Buchan on the left, and the others are also the 'stars' of Trawlermen'. A BBC series which became a hit. Sailing out of Peterhead for days, weeks at sea, all to provide us with fish to eat. A dangerous, scary job. Jimmy Buchan has now gone into politics, although I do not agree with his political choice of party, he is a very nice man. A staunch supporter of this corner of North East Scotland - and its tourism industry.
We have a couple staying with us from Australia. They visited Peterhead Harbour and called in at the Harbour Masters Office to enquire where the boats could be seen, or where they anchored in the harbour. In Australia the series is a big hit.
Unfortunately the boats are all out at sea.
So then they get a guided tour of the building, then the staff get on the phone to Jimmy. He is collecting a new boat and will be back in port around 5 p.m. would they like to come back then? Doesn't that warm the cockles of your heart?
And now for something completely different..
Some years ago Mike and I stayed in a b&b in Edinburgh so as to be at one of our eldest daughters, now multiple, graduations.
I emailed them to ask if they had a room for us for the latest graduation.
Email back said they were to be away on holiday - but - we were welcome to stay the night, they would arrange for someone to let us in. Can you imagine anywhere else making that sort of offer?! Oh and yes the charge for the night would be well discounted.
Mike muttered about that being a busman's holiday, making our own breakfast, but he had a big smile on his face, same as mine, aren't Scottish Folk just wonderful.

Autumn 2010

The straight ridges of the cut oat straw.

Gathered up and baled.

Probably our last cut of the lawn grass, which goes to compost. The robins are back, where do they go in the Summer? And the geese, back in their thousands, filling the air with their calls.

Our guests last night were from Iceland. Never had anyone from there before. There are not many countries in the world now that we havent had a representative put their heads on our beds. Tomorrow night we have Australians. Checking the diary earlier I noted we seem to be busier in October than we were in August. And still getting enquiries.

Today was spent nursing my hangover from the wine in the barn session! But still managed to do the washing, ironing, making beds etc,etc.

Now having hair of dog.

Ducks away!

And off they go - the duck race. Each duck has a big black number on its back. So you know who's won.

Although it was a beautiful afternoon, sunshine, no wind. I preferred to remain in the barn, wood fire, wine and plenty of good crack, or is it craich, ah well good chat anyway. Actually it wasnt so much a preference as that I kept being cornered and talked at. By young and old. Take it as a compliment.

Unfortunately we had to leave before the barbecue, guests arriving - still havent (7p.m.)

More culture!

New Pitsligo Visual Arts Exhibition. Two days of it, Saturday and Sunday. Lots more pictures than the Buchan Art Competition. Quite a lot that were in the Buchan Art Competition! Lots of visitors, more than the BAC. But this exhibition has been going for some more years.
We also enjoyed the coffee and cakes at the villages community run cafe, The Four Cs. Which I cant for the life of me remember what the 4 Cs stands for. New Pitsligo was one of the planned villages following the Highland Clearance, there are many in this are, including our own village of Longside. New Pitsligo was and still is famous for its lace making. And indeed there were lace makers on the stage in the village hall, tatting away, whilst we viewed the pictures and photographs. There is also an art club which I am thinking of joining...watch this space.
I came home, got out my sketch books, dashed off a drawing of an orchid, then put it all away again. Ho hum.
Tomorrow we have a full house of guests. I spent the morning cleaning, did the bedmaking yesterday, tomorrow morning just to set up the courtesy trays and fill the jars with my home made biscuits. Pecan and maple syrup ones this time round, made yesterday. Hoping they arrive at a convenient time for us as we have a duck race to attend in the afternoon. Hoping the river has not burst its banks like last time it was planned, and goes ahead. Or abill?
What is certain it will be wellies, hats and gloves as we have a strong wind a blowing. And our guests tomorrow are golfers!

I'd rather be beachcombing.

Me and my grandson, Zach, on New Aberdour beach, collecting stones and looking at rock pools. Now back to ironing, cleaning, yawn, yawn. With the added 'excitement' of our entrance hall roof leaking. High winds and rain making things worse. We are midway through an insurance claim as the damage was caused by winds coming from an unusual direction and with great strength. Took us some while to get a roofer in to even quote. Meanwhile buckets catch the rain pouring in and the decor worsens. How long the plaster will last I know not. Not a happy bunny.

In amongst all this I have recovered six of the eight dining chairs. Two will have to be a different colour/fabric, but we mainly only have six out at a time anyway. Also made some new cushion covers for the seating area. All now a cheering rich red , warming to the eye. All downhill to Christmas now.

Buchan's Larder - from sea to shore.

Did you know lobsters were blue? I didn't.

Give us a kiss?

Harvesting the oats. Combine Harvesters are amazing machines. Somehow they cut the stalks and extract the seed (oats in this case), the straw bits are coming out of the back, later to be gathered up by a baling machine, and at a given moment as the tractor and trailer drive alongside the oats are dispensed into the trailer which takes them off to be stored, bagged or whatever. Wow.

It's hard work being a Grandma.

I did say, "What are you going to do when he gets to the top?"

Panic all round as there Zach is at the top and no way for anyone else to get up there to rescue him, so there they are having a conference......

But all was well - he was eventually lifted down. The picture that follows was before we got to the play park. We went to Macduff Marine Aquarium. Where some very large, strange looking fish came up to say hello. This one was some kind of shark.

The best ones, for me, were the wolf fish, unfortunately no picture.

The first day of the visit of my grandson, they all went off to St.Combs beach. I nursed my hangover from the night with the Hairy Bikers. Yesterday, another beach and I went too, to my friend Marina's favourite beach at New Aberdour. Again no pictures, batteries flat. But we all had a whale of a time there, lovely pebbles, lovely shells, spooky caves, rock pools, Zach could hardly walk after I showed him how to pick up pebbles - and put them in his pockets.

The hard work comes in as poor Zach's car seat and his small size disables him from seeing anything outside the car. How many times can you sing "The Wheels on the Bus" just to keep him entertained? Too many.