About
The life and thoughts of Freda Marshall, a retired Church of Scotland minister living amongst the mountains and glens of Argyll.Pages
Politics
So far, I have been rather avoiding politics – I know, it’s hard to do at the moment, but I am an expert. However, I was tempted into watching the first fifteen minutes of last night’s debate between the three leaders. It felt really engineered and over-managed, and from what I heard of comments afterwards, that was a general comment that people made. My main problem is in being able to believe the claims that the political parties make. It has seemed to me over the years, that all sorts of altruistic aims prevail, and then when a party gets into power, everything is much more difficult than they had thought.
So for now, I shall keep watching with scepticism from afar.
A quiet house
First the stories, then the constant bizz, now the photo
……
Energy
The amazing thing about the relation between young children and energy is all to do with food. One minute you think they have totally run out of puff and are all ready to go to sleep, then – Zing! – pour in some spag-bol and garlic bread and they are ready for another couple of hours. All is now quiet in the house, (long may it stay that way) – and I am off for an early night and a bit of a collapse.
Summer 2
Let’s hope that summer is not merely going to be these past two glorious days. Enjoyed going to church this morning – a good turnout and a lovely service. However, my little burst of weeding yesterday meant that I have had to have a rest day. Not that there is any harm in that. Have finished My Better Half – and Me by Joss and Rosemary Ackland. It is an extremely moving memoire of a 51yr love affair. Sadly, Rosemary dies of motor neurone disease; her voice is by way of diary extracts which she had kept from the age of 15. Joss Ackland, has never endeared himself to me, partly because of the grumpy, evil roles he is so good at, but his postscript is a moving testament to the love of his life.
Worth a read if you have the disposition for it.
Summer arrives
Summer burst into Dalamory today with a temperature of up to 20C in the back garden. It tempted me out, first to sit, then to watch Him Behind the Wheel assemble the garden tools, then to join in with some weeding. It entailed weeding for ten minutes, standing up stretching and groaning, then weeding for five minutes, more groaning and a collapse onto a garden lounger. Perfect bliss.
It is sad to see how many plants have succumbed to the extreme winter; their demise helped by the hungry deer. However, in the front garden, a goodly number of bushes have hung on by their root-tips and things look like growing. Hoping for some sunshine when the Tinies come to stay at the beginning of the week.
Spotify
It really is the week for technology and trying out new things. There was a vague memory lurking in the deep recesses of my brain whispering that I had already signed up for Spotify. The situation now is that the site is “full up” for the free online streaming version, which allows you to try out almost all available recorded music. (I hesitate to tell you who I am listening to at the moment, but he wasn’t born yesterday.) Anyway, I had forgotten parts of my login, but once that was sorted out it was all systems go. Nearly…..I cannot pretend (clue to the music) to have sorted out the finer points of the site, but I am enjoying learning nevertheless.
Busy Day
Another busy day. Mostly concerned with learning new tricks to enjoy with the iMac. I know – the mind boggles. However, the most significant thing has been to join an online slimming club, though I prefer to think of it as healthy lifestyle/living longer kind of thing. I was taking a photo, on the computer, like you do……. and decided to puff out cheeks, belly etc so that I, hopefully, would be able to show progress in a month. The aim is to be fit enough to climb the hill with the cross opposite the house. That is something I have long wanted to do.
Mount Brandon
Took the dog for a walk and then enjoyed diet coke and a biscuit overlooking the river at Glenstrae. I was feeling a bit achey and looked longingly at the hills opposite, thinking I would likely never to be able to get up them. Nonetheless, I was happily imagining the route to take to get to the top of the mountain behind. Came back home and looked through my photos for a Study Trip I took to Ireland in September 2002. Way back then, I really did climb Mount Brandon – 952m – as part of a pilgrimage. It was something I shall never forget and it quite cheered me up today remembering the thrill of achievement. Of course the fact that it was part of a spiritual exercise – which needed to be written up and analysed – gave a much needed incentive. In flights of fancy, I could do it still.
A wet day at Dalamory
What do you do with a wet day at Dalamory? (60mm of rain in 24 hrs) 1)finish a library book; 2) feel depressed; 3)bath the dog:(that takes care of the depression – who can be depressed when bathing a very hairy cairn terrier?) 4) wash all the covers the dog has been laying on whilst smelly; 5) start trying to take movies off the old Pc: 6) Give up before the depression comes back; 7) Help put boxes and bits and pieces of computer into the loft; 8) Start planning a holiday……
No time to be depressed or notice the weather. Oh yes – and ignore the election.