Shopping Dalamory style

Posted on December 7, 2013 by freda

B2013 GreenwellyToday was set aside for a shopping trip. Now that could have meant driving 70-odd miles to the big city, or 25 miles to the small town. Instead, we chose to drive 12 miles to the Green Welly Shop. Ostensibly an overgrown Service Station, it has developed into a mini-department store with all sorts of goodies; everything from liquorice and whisky to rugged walking boots and designer anoraks. It is usually very busy, with a car park that is more suited to an out of town retail outlet than a collection of buildings in the middle of the mountains. It has sort of grown like Topsy over the years until it is what can only be called an emporium.

Part of my mission was to choose myself a present from one of the sons and his family. Needless to say I overspent quite a bit – a new Jack Murphy 3/4 length coat, a new fur trimmed hat suitable for the Arctic weather we tend to get here in Jan/Feb, a new chaffinch mug and some of the aforesaid liquorice.  HBTW hasn’t got his pressie yet, it will probably have to be online shopping. (Trousers in case you are interested.)

I can’t tell you the other presents we found, just in case someone reads this post and makes a lucky guess. But it was great fun being amidst all the decorations, music and enticing gifts. Afterwards we descended on the Village Gift Shop for our bi-annual visit. More gifts and this year’s new decoration for the tree – an old fashioned bauble with a snowy village scene etched on it.

This week we still have to visit a couple of shops in the local town and that I hope will suffice. A very different shopping experience from most years –  lately I have tended to shop online to take some of the strain away. This year it has been made easy by shopping as locally as possible. It should be noted that for anything electronic or gadgety we would have had to either travel or order over the net.

All along the way we were met with smiles, gentle chatter, the offer to wrap presents – free(!) and in one case some complimentary chocolate. We refused the whisky-tasting because of the hour and having to drive home.

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Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

Posted on December 6, 2013 by freda

Today – I have to think of Nelson Mandela. He said so many memorable things, he lived his life in a courageous and effective way and he made a difference. Out of all the comments in the media the thing which I remember most is that in being imprisoned at Robben Island a whole university of change was formed at the feet of Mandela. People were sent there to rot, instead they grew and they learned, then they changed.

Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world.
 Nelson Mandela


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Enforced day of rest

Posted on December 5, 2013 by freda

Waking up around 4-00am HBTW discovers a storm raging round about. In another hour the power goes off. That means no lights, no heating – in other words disorientation.  By the time I had surfaced at  07-30am there were candles everywhere, gas fire on in our sun porch and a cup of tea at my elbow.  First job was to contact the electricity company – only to find that they were predicting more than 80,000 in our area without power and no update due till 6pm this evening. They promised they would try to phone everyone to let them know if the outage would last until tomorrow.  The most worrying thing was that for an hour or so we were unable to phone out as the lines were somehow blocked at the exchange.

Well – here I am now – Thursday evening, online and with the oil heating firing up (only just – it took the boiler four goes to start.)

It has been a strangely peaceful day. HBTW had to get a telephone consultation with one of our GPs – he was all off balance and dizzy, (it was not the doctor who was dizzy by the way.) The verdict was that it was likely to be labyrinthitis, an inner ear viral disorder.  Himself was instructed to have a quiet day so we both settled down with books, hot drinks, and alternating turns of dog on knee. The odd patches of snoring were heard.  Eventually the minimum of chores were seen to:  gate bolt re-fixed; (the wind had almost torn it asunder.) waste bins righted; dog walked round the village; food prepared on the gas hob.

And all is right with the world.
And all the better for being connected to the net again.

PS – the invalid is slowly improving.

Related articles across the web

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Fontanini from afar

Posted on December 4, 2013 by freda

B2013 DontaninibirdsThis year, the addition to the Fontanini set is to be Bethlehem Birds. They will shortly be winging their way across the Atlantic to Dalamory. I hummed and ahhed about whether to order this set of 5 or a larger one of 10.  In the end prudence won. That is if you can call collecting a whole village full of village people, angels, shepherds and animals prudent at all.

It is great fun and I like to think I am building up an heirloom for the future. Hopefully they will arrive in good time and I shall devise a game of Hunt the Bethlehem Bird on top of the piano.

Do you have any favourite Christmas/Holiday traditions?

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A December Tale

Posted on December 3, 2013 by freda

B2013 MistycuriousPicture the scene ………  A dull December day with mist on the hilltops and smirry rain in the glen.  A house bright with the sounds of laughter and an inquisitive little dog.

What’s going on?

The Oldies have decided to resurrect the Wii-Fit kit and are hunting out batteries and dusters, moving back the furniture and re-learning how to balance on the Wii-Fit balance board.  There are sighs from Himself who has only managed to lose one pound in weight since the last time, and a happy smile from Herself who is pleased at having lost 12 lbs.  Mind you, last time was nearly 2yrs ago.

Back to the present: the day was getting glummer and dimmer outside but things were hotting up inside. A few tries at balance tests – Him better than Her, dog sort of sulking; then some Segway runs, a ski run and a few rounds of Easy Step Class. Was it me, or was the room suddenly getting warmer? Misty looked at her favourite ball longingly and decided that attention was not likely to come her way whilst all this noise was going on.

And after all that – number of calories used? Under 100.
But a good way to cheer up that dull day.

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Countdown to Christmas

Posted on December 2, 2013 by freda

I heard on the radio today, that this particular day is the busiest in the year for online shopping. I guess it made me realise that usually I am much more organised for the countdown to Christmas. Things still to do include:

  • Order a set of farmyard birds for my Fontanini Nativity Set
  • Work out how many Christmas Cards I am going to send this year
  • Order the cards from my favoured charities
  • Plan a present list
  • Order up presents or organise to buy locally
  • Make some ginger wine
  • File last year’s Christmas round-robin letters – Yes, really.

But first of all – get in the mood. It’s too early for decorations or Christmas songs/CDs but I could think about getting out some seasonal DVDs to set the scene. What’s your favourite? I fancy It’s a wonderful life. James Stewart, black and white, classic. Mind you, it is a good film to watch actually at Christmas time itself………. still, I can watch it again.

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Advent Hope

Posted on December 1, 2013 by freda

 

B2013 HopeLight shines out like Hope through the tangled mess of human lives.

For those caught up in tragedy this day –
The ongoing clearance work at the pub in Glasgow –
The train crash in New York –
And all those for whom helicopter and train accidents bring back bad memories.

For those whose faith has left them –
And those who are angry at organised religion
Hope shines through human helpers
And all who care and mourn and cry.

For all who are dealing with illness and disability –
Those who struggle to see any light –
Those with hearts full of sorrow and pain
Courage in each other and hope for tomorrow.

Light ……..  Advent Light in the darkness

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In the garden

Posted on November 30, 2013 by freda

This is a short video/pic of different aspects of our garden. A friend has been staying and this short film is his work for part of an assessment he is submitting for a course on digital culture.  It is of four different ways of seeing/looking and creating atmosphere. I cannot decide if it is spooky, scary or resolved in the aspect of being human

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5V9WqrB8D4

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Good News

Posted on November 29, 2013 by freda

Two bits of good news today.  Firstly, the doctor was pleased with my tests and my blood pressure – I have been told to go away and have a good Christmas.  This I intend to do. However, it does remind me of the years when I was working in a parish church. Christmas became a slightly mad time what with all the build up of Advent, schools services, personal gift shopping, cards – both business and personal – and all of the associated excitement. I had to keep reminding myself to slow down and to remember to be thankful. It really does help to remember some good news of the day, however small. Older old folk than me often have the trick of looking out for the best in life, and they end up with better lives because of that.

Second piece of good news is that I am feeling and looking better. It is official – my Dance Teacher says so. And when I passed this snippet of information on to HBTW he said…… that he hadn’t wanted to say so while I looked grim, and he was able to confirm that I do look better. It does wonders for the morale. For the record, tonight we concentrated on the Tango, the Rumba and the Waltz.  For the first time since my ankle fracture I was able to wear my sparkly dance shoes – magical. I felt like clicking my heels together and dreaming of rainbows.

 

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Hairdresser

Posted on November 29, 2013 by freda

What does a visit to the hairdresser give?

  • An insight into local politics
  • A discussion of international affairs
  • A who’s who of the Local Authority
  • Star of the week – and what they are wearing
  • Advice on dieting
  • Where to go for the best bargains in town
  • A modicum of pastoral counselling

Oh yes – and a pretty decent haircut and blow dry too.

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