What's the Story in Dalamory » birthdays http://www.freda.org.uk Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 April again http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/04/01/april-again/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/04/01/april-again/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:19:16 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=4515 Continue reading →]]> Aha! So the Birthday Month is over; and what has been the non-treat of the day? - Going to the dentist. This was only my fourth or fifth visit to this new dentist since the trusted and faithful practitioner retired.  At least my jaw did not shake, nor my knees; I even managed to admire the new super-reclining surgical chair. The good news was that I only have one small filling to be replaced – the old one had simply worn out.

Later in the day I discovered that Son #3 had trouble with his tumble-dryer. Much to my surprise we found an advert in the local magazine, made one phone call and 2hrs later the machine was repaired. And no, it wasn’t expensive by modern standards. Another advantage of living in rural Scotland, it seems.

The day was going from worse to better – what could happen next?

Here I have to go back several weeks to explain that HBTW likes to be able to see the level of the water in the electric kettle. The old kettle was looking rather dowdy and a bit dodgy, so Himself decided to search out a new one. He duly arrived home and unpacked the new one, whilst making noises of appreciation and satisfaction. (For sake of clarification, the noises were made by HBTW and not the said kettle. ) As the kettle came to its triumphant boil and switched itself off, the most horrendous whistling noise ensued causing everyone, including the dog, to take evasive action. You know the kind of thing: hands over the ears, paws wouldn’t reach so high-pitched barking was the dog’s response. Mine was hands over ears and various expletives – mild ones of course.

Over the weeks I have been heard to mutter – That kettle must die – and of course when we discovered that the whistle was not even coming from the kettle itself, but from the separate base……. well, I leave it to your imagination.

Today – joy of all joys – HBTW discovered that the whistle can be switched off. Peace is restored at Dalamory and many happy cups of tea and coffee will follow.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/04/01/april-again/feed/ 10 Busy doing nothing http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/26/busy-doing-nothing/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/26/busy-doing-nothing/#comments Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:03:16 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=4490 Continue reading →]]> I really have been busy doing nothing and very nice it has been too. I am making the most of the last few days of my Birthday Month. When it rains or I feel like drifting away into the post-Edwardian Age, I look at some of my Upstairs Downstairs series on the computer. I am also reading a Kate Morton book, The Distant Hours. It was chosen for me by the Librarian from the Library Van. (I have to confess to being still in bed when he called the other week at 9am.) It is an interesting book – some 650 pages – and typical of Morton’s style. Some paragraphs are so elegant that I want to write them down. However, the author has the habit of writing about different characters in different periods or years, using multiple flashbacks. The secrets that give rise to the plot are deeply buried in the narrative, inducing in me the tendency to drop off and have a wee snooze. Then I wake up not knowing where I am, either in the book or in real life. Not a book for the faint-hearted, though that is more to do with style than scary action. In other words, it is quite a difficult read.

In between I have done the odd bit of light dusting, imagining I am wearing the uniform of an Edwardian Housemaid – nothing kinky there, by the way, merely a device to encourage myself into getting on with something useful for a change. It’s amazing how much dust has accumulated since I had the ‘flu. And it has been taking ages to get fully back to rights.

Today’s BMT is a meal out at our local hotel. The local church building is 200 years old this year and there are a number of special events throughout the year. The meal this evening is to be with a menu from the 1800′s. Sounds interesting. I just hope it will be easy on the digestion.

Who else has been as lazy and indolent as me?

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/26/busy-doing-nothing/feed/ 3 Cairn terrier puppies http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/22/cairn-terrier-puppies/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/22/cairn-terrier-puppies/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:47:54 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=4488 No – they are not mine – but watching them on youtube is my BMT today!

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/22/cairn-terrier-puppies/feed/ 4 Growing older http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/21/growing-older-2/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/21/growing-older-2/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:52:34 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=4482 Continue reading →]]> Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith “A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
Trust God: see all, nor be afraid.

Robert Browning

Today is the Birthday Month Treat.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2011/03/21/growing-older-2/feed/ 4 Birthdays http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/03/05/birthdays-4/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/03/05/birthdays-4/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:16:02 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2899 This is my birthday month. Now what treats can be scheduled?  Detailed planning is required.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/03/05/birthdays-4/feed/ 2 A very merry unbirthday http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/03/a-very-merry-unbirthday/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/03/a-very-merry-unbirthday/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:12:36 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2864 Continue reading →]]> Perhaps the anticipation of a month of treats is enough, rather than a pre-birthday month. It is a bit the same as that strange phenomenon of being retired and still having a Day Off. One can declare any day a holiday. But it is still good to have special treats. They needn’t involve a lot of expense. Re-reading an enjoyable novel is the ideal place to start.

Ttfn

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/03/a-very-merry-unbirthday/feed/ 0 The news in Dalamory http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/01/the-news-in-dalamory/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/01/the-news-in-dalamory/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:49:37 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2856 Continue reading →]]> Today is the start of the pre-birthday month. Haven’t quite decided whether to designate this a month of pre-birthday treats or of planning what the treats will be in the actual birthday month.

Misty has now lost a total of 0.4kgs. Well done Misty.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/01/the-news-in-dalamory/feed/ 0 Happy Birthday http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/07/18/happy-birthday-5/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/07/18/happy-birthday-5/#comments Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:20:25 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2434 Continue reading →]]> Talking to Son #2 the other day, we mentioned his birthday. “How old will you be?” I asked. MOTHER…… was the response,  You birthed me.

Happy Birthday #2  (In case of doubt, I do know which son, by the way. I am not that dithery quite yet.)

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/07/18/happy-birthday-5/feed/ 0 Falkland Palace http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/20/falkland-palace/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/20/falkland-palace/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 06:44:04 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2254 Continue reading →]]> web-falkland

Visited Falkland Palace a few days ago.
It is the building with the turrets in case you were wondering.
Actually the website gives a better view.

One of the treats of the post-post-birthday month.
(Though I am thinking of changing it to a 65th birthday year!)
After all, my GP has told me to live outrageously.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/20/falkland-palace/feed/ 7 Birthdays http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/13/birthdays-3/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/13/birthdays-3/#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 21:30:28 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2244 Continue reading →]]> I am considering having a “post-post-birthday-month”

It is needed as an antidote to bureacratic wranglings I am trying to sort out. (Don’t ask it is both too complicated and too boring.)

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