Wow! Thanks Helen.
(Look how cold it is - even the curry paste don't melt the frost)
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Food parcels (2)
Wow! Thanks Helen.
(Look how cold it is - even the curry paste don't melt the frost)
Winter dawn
Contrary to Mike's comment on the previous post - the main reason I'm not posting is that I've got my balls stuffed into the coffee grinder.
Anyway - here is a little photo essay (how pretentious is that!!).
Jussi had been up with the goats, come back and gone back to sleep. Ailsa hadn't surfaced so I went for a wander. It was about 9ish - pre-sunrise (the sunrise sunset titles I use in the blog come from a widget, but the sunrise figures are early, - we're surrounded by hills so the sun doesn't rise for a good few minutes after the widgets quoted time).
Just as the sun rose the camera ran out of batteries. The photo of the new fence - how good a fence is that? - gives a better impression of the colours as the sun rose, photo's towards the sun are under-exposing the foreground.
All this is a good few days ago- since then it's not risen above freezing - and the hoar is getting very fuzzy and pretty. But I'm too busy to get out with my camera.
Friday, 26 December 2008
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Sunrise 09:07; Sunset 15:26
Those ancients must have been pretty clever to spot what is only a matter of a couple of minutes difference in the length of the day. For Jussi, far more significant than sunrise is the moonrise, and the phase of the moon. This morning was very dark.
But hey! It's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiismaaaaaaaaas. We run a sort of hybrid Anglo-Germanic (with Scottish influences) Christmas - stealing the best of the indulgent celebrations from all cultures. Normally the 23rd is the big day for decorating the tree (a German tradition) - and friends will know of our huge trees of christmasses past, decorated with real candles - something which often generated much consternation. This year the Christmas paraphenalia is in storage - so we've got a weeping fig and fairy lights. Not quite the same thing but it'll be fine.
The fun starts tonight, with a festive potato salad, the lighting of the tree and carolling - (German obviously, no self respecting Brit would conceive a festive potato salad). Tomorrow we'll stuff ourselves with excess food, alcohol and general consumerism - the English part. This all serves as evidence of the technological superiority of the Germans who manage to spot that the days are getting longer two days before the English. No wonder German washing machines are the best.
Meanwhile the Scots don't really get going until Hogmanay.
But hey! It's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiismaaaaaaaaas. We run a sort of hybrid Anglo-Germanic (with Scottish influences) Christmas - stealing the best of the indulgent celebrations from all cultures. Normally the 23rd is the big day for decorating the tree (a German tradition) - and friends will know of our huge trees of christmasses past, decorated with real candles - something which often generated much consternation. This year the Christmas paraphenalia is in storage - so we've got a weeping fig and fairy lights. Not quite the same thing but it'll be fine.
The fun starts tonight, with a festive potato salad, the lighting of the tree and carolling - (German obviously, no self respecting Brit would conceive a festive potato salad). Tomorrow we'll stuff ourselves with excess food, alcohol and general consumerism - the English part. This all serves as evidence of the technological superiority of the Germans who manage to spot that the days are getting longer two days before the English. No wonder German washing machines are the best.
Meanwhile the Scots don't really get going until Hogmanay.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Random acts of kindness
Darn foolish idea this, but really, our postcode is:
Kilo Whiskey (how appropriate is that!) 14 7 Sierra Romeo
House number: 119 (no idea how they arrive at this - there's not 19 houses round here, never mind 119.
You can then find the full address here.
If anything comes of this (and of course I don't really expect anything to, but it's fun to wonder) I think I should have a forfeit or dare or something. Ideas welcome.
Somehow I feel I'll either severely regret this, or it'll disappear into the ether.
Kilo Whiskey (how appropriate is that!) 14 7 Sierra Romeo
House number: 119 (no idea how they arrive at this - there's not 19 houses round here, never mind 119.
You can then find the full address here.
If anything comes of this (and of course I don't really expect anything to, but it's fun to wonder) I think I should have a forfeit or dare or something. Ideas welcome.
Somehow I feel I'll either severely regret this, or it'll disappear into the ether.
Food Parcels
A big thank you to everyone who has sent us food parcels. We are particularly looking forward to the one from Orkney via Auchtermuchty, and the great big one from London via Hull is fabulous. Getting things to eat up here is fairly easy - getting really nice things to eat isn't. THANK YOU
If you've not sent your food parcel to us yet you might like to know that we are happy to receive them at anytime - so don't worry about posting dates for Xmas etc.
Thanking you in advance....
If you've not sent your food parcel to us yet you might like to know that we are happy to receive them at anytime - so don't worry about posting dates for Xmas etc.
Thanking you in advance....
Sunrise 9:06, Sunset 15:25
Ooooh - what to do with the extra minute......
After all that talk of stormy winds yesterday I really felt I needed some pictorial representation of all that air flying about. So I went out yesterday with camera - and this is the result.
A very windy day (click on image for more detail).
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Sunrise 9:06, Sunset 15:24
The shortest day ever!
After Fridays storms, and yesterdays calm, it's stormy again today. It's not forecast to be as bad as Friday, but as I sit here watching sheep fly past the window (OK not quite), I am feeling a wee bitty nervous.
Ailsa was frightened on Friday night. We put her to bed and her bedroom was filled with the cacophony of tiles slapping the roof and rumbles and screams of unseen things bemoaning the gusts of 85 mph** (according to the forecast I'd seen earlier). We made light of it and tucked her up but both Jussi and I admitted we were nervous too. I've never felt fear like it to be honest - I mean it wasn't like scarey or terrifying - just a deep sense of foreboding, a nervous edginess.
Ailsa and I walked to the post office yesterday and, to her delight, we saw that all the fences had been decorated by the grass - ripped up by the wind and wound around the wire. "Even nature knows it's Christmas".
Today the forecast is maximum gusts 65mph. That's still very windy folks although the weather people don't seem to think it's anything of note. I have a window between 10 and 12 to go get a Sunday paper. The car is out of action - battery utterly dead - and Jussi thinks it's too windy to take the van. What, I have to walk?!!
**137 kilometers per hour, or 40 metres per second
After Fridays storms, and yesterdays calm, it's stormy again today. It's not forecast to be as bad as Friday, but as I sit here watching sheep fly past the window (OK not quite), I am feeling a wee bitty nervous.
Ailsa was frightened on Friday night. We put her to bed and her bedroom was filled with the cacophony of tiles slapping the roof and rumbles and screams of unseen things bemoaning the gusts of 85 mph** (according to the forecast I'd seen earlier). We made light of it and tucked her up but both Jussi and I admitted we were nervous too. I've never felt fear like it to be honest - I mean it wasn't like scarey or terrifying - just a deep sense of foreboding, a nervous edginess.
Ailsa and I walked to the post office yesterday and, to her delight, we saw that all the fences had been decorated by the grass - ripped up by the wind and wound around the wire. "Even nature knows it's Christmas".
Today the forecast is maximum gusts 65mph. That's still very windy folks although the weather people don't seem to think it's anything of note. I have a window between 10 and 12 to go get a Sunday paper. The car is out of action - battery utterly dead - and Jussi thinks it's too windy to take the van. What, I have to walk?!!
**137 kilometers per hour, or 40 metres per second
Things people know
Last week, I was chatting to someone and idly mentioned that it'd be the shortest day soon, so the light would be coming back. She said: "Yes, on Sunday!"
Growing up, my mum and dad would always observe such signs of the year passing and so have I. But I've never lived anywhere where other people know this kind of stuff and think it's important! I feel at home.
So - shortest day today, bring on the light!
Growing up, my mum and dad would always observe such signs of the year passing and so have I. But I've never lived anywhere where other people know this kind of stuff and think it's important! I feel at home.
So - shortest day today, bring on the light!
Saturday, 20 December 2008
19 hours 25 minutes
Our first one.
It was fun at first - you know quite exciting really, romantic, and thrilling for Ailsa. But as the day wore on and we started to feel that we wanted more than cups of tea and we were getting a wee bitty hungry, well, the novelty wore off.
They were OK down in the village. For them it had only been 1/2 an hour or so last night. Everyone was very sympathetic.
It was fun at first - you know quite exciting really, romantic, and thrilling for Ailsa. But as the day wore on and we started to feel that we wanted more than cups of tea and we were getting a wee bitty hungry, well, the novelty wore off.
They were OK down in the village. For them it had only been 1/2 an hour or so last night. Everyone was very sympathetic.
Friday, 19 December 2008
Sunrise 9:04, Sunset 15:23
This darkness thing doesn't seem so bad. Perhaps it's the joy of being here lighting my way. But then again it's the long slog through Jan and Feb that's the killer.
I'm balls in the coffee grinder trying to get this consultancy work done so not blogging much.
One of the wonderful octogenarian ladies I've talked of before has taken a fall. She's been kept in in hospital. It's difficult to get news of her (that you can trust) - but any fall at that age is bad news. We're worried.
I'm balls in the coffee grinder trying to get this consultancy work done so not blogging much.
One of the wonderful octogenarian ladies I've talked of before has taken a fall. She's been kept in in hospital. It's difficult to get news of her (that you can trust) - but any fall at that age is bad news. We're worried.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Balls to the wall?
Maybe I should stop complaining about the cold.
But balls to the wall? Do people really say that?
But balls to the wall? Do people really say that?
One shirt
Yesterday I was finishing off the MOARB* and actually stripped down to one shirt - and even considered going topless! When I realised that my only reason for doing this would have been to be able to mention it in the blog, and actually it was still quite cold, I saw sense. The one shirt in question was a thick cotton hoodie.
But MOARB is done and limed and ready for the eight fruit trees we are planning to get in January (after the lime has settled).
Today it's sheeting rain and cold winded again. And out of the mists have appeared some fencers - clearly hoping for a christmas bonus. By all accounts the fence they are erecting is top notch - we've had quite a few complimentary comments about it. But given the fence has progressed at an average of around 1 metre per day it bloody should be.
*Mother of all raised beds
But MOARB is done and limed and ready for the eight fruit trees we are planning to get in January (after the lime has settled).
Today it's sheeting rain and cold winded again. And out of the mists have appeared some fencers - clearly hoping for a christmas bonus. By all accounts the fence they are erecting is top notch - we've had quite a few complimentary comments about it. But given the fence has progressed at an average of around 1 metre per day it bloody should be.
*Mother of all raised beds
Monday, 15 December 2008
Good news: Bad news
GOOD NEWS: We've submitted the planning application for the house. Yeeee Haaa.
GOOD NEWS: I've just got another pretty sizeable consultancy contract.
BAD NEWS: The work starts in a couple of days and will be pretty solid across Xmas. Boo hoo. But like many self employeds its impossible to turn down an offer of work no matter how inconvenient.
BAD NEWS: We spent £200 in Tesco in Wick on Thursday. Xmas treats and things - ridiculous. Still, we got some nice lentils for Xmas dinner. (Joke?)
GOOD NEWS: I've just got another pretty sizeable consultancy contract.
BAD NEWS: The work starts in a couple of days and will be pretty solid across Xmas. Boo hoo. But like many self employeds its impossible to turn down an offer of work no matter how inconvenient.
BAD NEWS: We spent £200 in Tesco in Wick on Thursday. Xmas treats and things - ridiculous. Still, we got some nice lentils for Xmas dinner. (Joke?)
Sunrise 9:01, Sunset 15:23
Aye - it's getting fair dark of a night.
But the moon has been at it's nearest perigee so we've able to negotiate cattle grids without a torch. The sunsets and sunrises have been stunning - and one day soon it might be warm enough to pick up a camera on the way to ooohing and aaaahing. On Saturday the temperature in the bedroom when I awoke was 9.4C. Pretty warm compared to what it's been - but it's a false hope - there's plenty of winter waiting for us.
But the moon has been at it's nearest perigee so we've able to negotiate cattle grids without a torch. The sunsets and sunrises have been stunning - and one day soon it might be warm enough to pick up a camera on the way to ooohing and aaaahing. On Saturday the temperature in the bedroom when I awoke was 9.4C. Pretty warm compared to what it's been - but it's a false hope - there's plenty of winter waiting for us.
The art of cooking red cabbage
Maybe we are lacking cultural stimulation - but Jussi was particularly struck by the beauty of the aftermath of steaming red cabbage. We have a steamer - it doesn't fit a pan and leaks everywhere.
Visitors
The German tourists from last night came to see us and coo over the goats and dream about moving here to open a bed and breakfast. They are sustaining a long distance relationship - both in high pressure jobs and try their best to see each other at weekends, often failing. So many people living lives they don't like and dreaming of ways out. So few get up and go. Why?
In my youth I had a lot of friends fond of quoting "Supposing they held an election and no one turned up" - or something like that.
Well, suppose they invented a miserable capitalist system and no one took part?
Not a terribly intelligent comment but you know what I mean eh?
Hull City drew with Liverpool - 2:2. Fabulous. The result was greatly enhanced by my new homebrew - bottled this time. Excellent!
In my youth I had a lot of friends fond of quoting "Supposing they held an election and no one turned up" - or something like that.
Well, suppose they invented a miserable capitalist system and no one took part?
Not a terribly intelligent comment but you know what I mean eh?
Hull City drew with Liverpool - 2:2. Fabulous. The result was greatly enhanced by my new homebrew - bottled this time. Excellent!
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Friday night 14
When we arrived the clientele consisted of two German tourists and He Who Eats Song Birds. He Who Eats Song Birds had been there for some time and came over to us to complain about the pub quiz team he'd been the leader of last week. They came last and won the booby prize - a cabbage. Apparently his team were delighted on account of being vegetarians, but He Who Eats Song Birds was distinctly unpleased and suspected foul play.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Skoda manual
The battery on our car seems to have given up - it's not keeping it's charge and we have to push start the car if it's been standing for more than a day or two.
But yesterday trusty Skoda exhibited a warning light. It sort of looks like a clock at 8:20 with an exclamation mark. Can anyone tell us what this means?
But yesterday trusty Skoda exhibited a warning light. It sort of looks like a clock at 8:20 with an exclamation mark. Can anyone tell us what this means?
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