My new bank card arrived in the post today. Over the last few years I have become increasingly embarrassed at the picture of me that was on the back. It was taken some twenty years or so ago. Thankfully, someone has had the sense to issue the new one minus the photo.
Today has been the kind of day when it would have been nice to curl up in front of a log fire.
Instead, we made do with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Well – the dog enjoyed it.
No…. I did not get up at six am to wash my face in the dew. Decided it is too late in life for all that guff. But I did think about my exploits in 1990/1 when I was at the University of St Andrews. Up at the crack of dawn to swim in the open-air former swimming pool, filled by each tide with sea-creatures and permanently decorated with limpets, crabs, weed and so forth. If you check out David Campbell’s blog, you’ll find another set of memories and a picture.
Have come to the conclusion I must have been mad. I was supposed to be a mature student. No wonder I am plagued with rheumatics now.
As someone who has made plenty of mistakes in life, the following snippet gives me hope.
A person becomes wise by observing what happens when they are not.
I am preaching at Crianlarich tomorrow. It is only 16 miles down the road, and I often used to drive through it thinking, Why would anyone want to live here? Now of course I know that people live and work in an area of outstanding beauty. There are the usual mix of occupations in our area including, healthworkers; teachers; hoteliers and other tourist workers; railway workers; foresters; water, electricity and telephone engineers. In addition, we are handy enough for people to commute to Oban. Add to that the mountains, lochs, glens…..and there is a lot going for it.
Today, even the weather is joining in. The cuckoo is giving it big licks and a couple of days ago I saw the first swallow. But the cherry tree is not yet in blossom – I have just been telling it not to be afraid. Spring really is here.
It is a while since the animals have featured in this blog. Just to remind you, Fox is a nine year old ginger tomcat and Misty is a five month old cairn terrier. Yesterday’s trip to the vet with them both was more than enough excitement for the rest of the year. First up, Misty piddles all over the examination table, then squeals and wriggles whilst the vet removes the tiniest of ticks with a special tick-hook. The elderpeople had been neither able to hold her still at home for the procedure, nor see the tick properly. Fox took things much more calmly: he was there for a routine vaccination and to have his yearly check up. It was as if he decided to show the little’un how to behave. The only problem was that he was purring so loudly that the vet couldn’t listen to his lungs properly. The injection over, we pointed out what we thought was a sore bit from an earlier tick, only to be told that it too was a small tick. Its removal served as a demonstration on how to use the handy little implement – much better than the wire hook we were struggling with before.
Duly provisioned with tick hooks, Frontal anti-flea/tick liquid, worming doses etc we made our way home. Everyone behaved wonderfully! East, west, hame’s best after all.
I was diverted from spring cleaning and onto instant gardening yesterday. The outside tubs have had a rearrangement and tidy up, all because we are having an extension being built on the back of the house. We don’t know exactly when the builders will start, but it would be typical if they simply turfed up one morning and started to dig foundations and spread earth around.
Guess who will probably end up helping with the digging……
Spring cleaning is going to happen – soon. It is too easy to prevaricate though – I baulk at the pile of things that need photographed for ebay, and the books which have somehow come into my life in the last year. I need to keep telling myself that it is healthy to have a regular clear out – of “things” as well as the more obvious biological function.
Enjoyed some shopping in the big town today. A lot of time is saved by there being many clothing shops that I walk into and straight out again; either because of noise or styling. I am getting much more interested in comfortable casual clothes, preferably large enough to hide my multitude of sins.
It was the Brazilian Bishop Helder Camara who used to say:
Watch how you live. Your lives may be the only gospel
your sisters and brothers will ever read.
Sound advice.
