4 July 2002
Lyrics.com -- Music for your head
Yay! The lyrics to all those songs you want to sing along to.
Yankee soldier
He wanna shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia
But now he can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word
I'm so bored with the U...S...A...
But what can I do?
Yay! The lyrics to all those songs you want to sing along to.
Yankee soldier
He wanna shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia
But now he can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word
I'm so bored with the U...S...A...
But what can I do?
Today I got a letter from the hospital announcing the date for my op -- 20 August. There was a bit of confusion in that it said I was to present myself at the new hospital at 8am, when I know that the procedure will be carried out at the old hospital. But I cleared that up with a couple of phone calls, and it is the old hospital I'll be going to. Still 8am, ugh, but at least it won't take two buses to get there. After the procedure I'll be shipped out to the new hospital by ambulance.
It's good news, because I'd been expecting to have to wait until September.
It's good news, because I'd been expecting to have to wait until September.
2 July 2002
It rained on my day off so I spent most of it in Ikea. I thought it would be empty, but I'd forgotten that it was a bank holiday plus they have a sale on, so it was in fact very busy.
Main purchases were a new desk for my computer and a little trolley thing for the CPU. The desk is very cute, it's just a white melamine table basically, but with bendy white legs that have big castors on the bottom. I also got a white CD shelf, but I'll need another one too I think. It all looks very spiffy. Yes, I set to and built everything and put up the shelf when I got home. Most satisfying.
The slight drawback is that most of the junk I had squirrelled away in and around my old "desk" (a couple of home-built shelf boxes with a plank on top) is now stacked up on the other side of the room. So one side is all space-age minimal, the other is rat's nest maximal. I have to do some serious pruning and stowing. Sigh.
Main purchases were a new desk for my computer and a little trolley thing for the CPU. The desk is very cute, it's just a white melamine table basically, but with bendy white legs that have big castors on the bottom. I also got a white CD shelf, but I'll need another one too I think. It all looks very spiffy. Yes, I set to and built everything and put up the shelf when I got home. Most satisfying.
The slight drawback is that most of the junk I had squirrelled away in and around my old "desk" (a couple of home-built shelf boxes with a plank on top) is now stacked up on the other side of the room. So one side is all space-age minimal, the other is rat's nest maximal. I have to do some serious pruning and stowing. Sigh.
The perfect holiday for Bertie! I may just volunteer his services as hedgehog exterminator supreme.
ISLAND HEDGEHOGS MAY FACE CULLING
Thousands of hedgehogs in the Scottish islands may face a cull, it was confirmed today.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirmed it was considering carrying out a cull of hedgehogs, which have destroyed nests of native wild birds in the Western Isles.
Environmental experts claim that North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist support important populations of breeding wader birds including dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, snipe, lapwing and oystercatcher.
However, the population of birds is at risk from the growing number of hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs were introduced to the Uists when a homeowner brought four in 1974 and a further three a year later to control garden pests.
There are now thought to be more than 5,000 hedgehogs on the islands.
In a report, SNH disclosed that surveys in 1995 and 2000 found ‘significant decreases by all species except oystercatcher’ and that six years of research has proved that declines in dunlin, redshank, snipe and lapwing were ‘due to high levels of egg predation by hedgehogs’.
Between 1995 and 2002 on South Uist and Benbecula, snipe, dunlin and ringed plover numbers declined by almost 60%, redshank by 40% and lapwing by 30%.
An SNH spokesman said: “It’s not something we would choose to do – it is something of a last resort.
“People who are fundamentalist animal rights people are going to find this horrific – and we understand that.
“But we are already controlling mink in the Western Isles and I would say that we have not had a response about them.
“These are animals that were written about by Beatrix Potter – people superficially might find that it is difficult to comprehend.
“It’s the cuteness factor, there will be people out there who will object to a hedgehog cull purely because they are cute, and not about the mink or crows which are controlled.
“We are quite keen to do something to stop the bird numbers declining as they are – we like hedgehogs too, but on the mainland, where they belong.”
The SNH spokesman said that a decision would be taken by the SNH board at its next meeting near Perth on Tuesday.
Other options include sterilisation or contraception to control hedgehog numbers, and removing them to the mainland.
The spokesman insisted that reintroduced hedgehogs would find it difficult to adapt to territories on the mainland.
He added: “The hedgehogs would be very stressed by that, they are very territorial animals and there are already local hedgehogs on the mainland.
”We feel that quite a lot of hedgehogs would end up dead, so we feel the least cruel thing would be a cull.
“The board will decide on Tuesday whether to go ahead with the cull or not.”
Ends
ISLAND HEDGEHOGS MAY FACE CULLING
Thousands of hedgehogs in the Scottish islands may face a cull, it was confirmed today.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) confirmed it was considering carrying out a cull of hedgehogs, which have destroyed nests of native wild birds in the Western Isles.
Environmental experts claim that North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist support important populations of breeding wader birds including dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, snipe, lapwing and oystercatcher.
However, the population of birds is at risk from the growing number of hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs were introduced to the Uists when a homeowner brought four in 1974 and a further three a year later to control garden pests.
There are now thought to be more than 5,000 hedgehogs on the islands.
In a report, SNH disclosed that surveys in 1995 and 2000 found ‘significant decreases by all species except oystercatcher’ and that six years of research has proved that declines in dunlin, redshank, snipe and lapwing were ‘due to high levels of egg predation by hedgehogs’.
Between 1995 and 2002 on South Uist and Benbecula, snipe, dunlin and ringed plover numbers declined by almost 60%, redshank by 40% and lapwing by 30%.
An SNH spokesman said: “It’s not something we would choose to do – it is something of a last resort.
“People who are fundamentalist animal rights people are going to find this horrific – and we understand that.
“But we are already controlling mink in the Western Isles and I would say that we have not had a response about them.
“These are animals that were written about by Beatrix Potter – people superficially might find that it is difficult to comprehend.
“It’s the cuteness factor, there will be people out there who will object to a hedgehog cull purely because they are cute, and not about the mink or crows which are controlled.
“We are quite keen to do something to stop the bird numbers declining as they are – we like hedgehogs too, but on the mainland, where they belong.”
The SNH spokesman said that a decision would be taken by the SNH board at its next meeting near Perth on Tuesday.
Other options include sterilisation or contraception to control hedgehog numbers, and removing them to the mainland.
The spokesman insisted that reintroduced hedgehogs would find it difficult to adapt to territories on the mainland.
He added: “The hedgehogs would be very stressed by that, they are very territorial animals and there are already local hedgehogs on the mainland.
”We feel that quite a lot of hedgehogs would end up dead, so we feel the least cruel thing would be a cull.
“The board will decide on Tuesday whether to go ahead with the cull or not.”
Ends
30 June 2002
All my technical problems are still live and kicking. I gave up nagging on Friday, just shifted my car out of the garage at the break (in case you missed the start of this saga, my access card to the garage at work has been misprogrammed, so I can get in ok but can't get out after midnight).
I'll start nagging again tomorrow in earnest about my website, I'm seriously annoyed about that. I had a plaintive email from some fans today asking what the problem was and whether it was something they needed to fix. (Hi Mum!)
Yesterday I weeded the garden, which is just as well because today it's been raining steadily all day. Last week I washed my parka, following the instructions on the label. I didn't have any pure soap flakes though, so I grated up some bath soap. That might have been a mistake, because today I discovered the parka's lost all its waterproofing. Yup, I got soaked through.
I'm feeling very tired for no apparent reason this weekend; yesterday I even had an afternoon nap, something I hardly ever do. It's a pain, because I have so many things to do.
Oh, Leslie Van Houten didn't get parole after all.
I'll start nagging again tomorrow in earnest about my website, I'm seriously annoyed about that. I had a plaintive email from some fans today asking what the problem was and whether it was something they needed to fix. (Hi Mum!)
Yesterday I weeded the garden, which is just as well because today it's been raining steadily all day. Last week I washed my parka, following the instructions on the label. I didn't have any pure soap flakes though, so I grated up some bath soap. That might have been a mistake, because today I discovered the parka's lost all its waterproofing. Yup, I got soaked through.
I'm feeling very tired for no apparent reason this weekend; yesterday I even had an afternoon nap, something I hardly ever do. It's a pain, because I have so many things to do.
Oh, Leslie Van Houten didn't get parole after all.
28 June 2002
Court TV Watch real court cases, live on TV! In the US that is. For the rest of us there are only still images from the case du jour.
Tonight, I'm hanging out for the verdict on whether Leslie Van Houten gets parole. She's one of the Manson gang; she's 52 and she's been in prison since she was 19, for the LaBianca murders.
Tonight, I'm hanging out for the verdict on whether Leslie Van Houten gets parole. She's one of the Manson gang; she's 52 and she's been in prison since she was 19, for the LaBianca murders.
27 June 2002
How wrong can a quiz be?
How wrong can a quiz be? Which Pixies song are you?
"You're always the
one who stands out in a crowd. People look forward to seeing you. You're
well dressed, well-mannered, but spontaneous enough that it's very easy
for you to make friends. Your interests include the paranormal and
government conspiracies, but you also enjoy sitting back and eating a
good meal. You probably have a lot of pets that you take care of
obsessively."
Well, you know, apart from the UFO and pet things .... and the food ....
Update: the link is broken, obvs.
26 June 2002
NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think easynet has deleted my whole entire website. SIGH. This blogspot is housed elsewhere, thank goodness, but the pictures were with easynet.
I phoned the support folk this afternoon about yesterday's problems and was told I'd exceeded my space limit. But hang on, haven't I got unlimited space? Er well yes, but it's limited to 2Mb so they can check and see if you're abusing the privilege with a commercial enterprise of some kind. My space has at some point been increased to 5Mb, I've no idea when or how, but the helicopter pictures pushed it over the edge. And just how was I supposed to tell I'd exceeded my limit? Ummmm... I can't. I have to guess.
But anyway, the boys at easynet are lovely and helpful and kind and started work right away sorting things for me.
I tried again -- still the same problem. I phoned back and listened to a baroque version of Twinkle Twinkle while the boys conferred. Finally they told me the new files were corrupted and would have to be deleted. I'd already tried to delete them and failed, so I told them that was ok and to go ahead.
Then I went to work.
Just now I tried to call up my website and got a horrible nasty surprise: go and look for yourself. There's nothing there! It's all gone. Those bad boys! It's not a total disaster, I mean I do have everything backed up. But uploading it will take HOURS, literally. Grumble grumble grumble. I have better things to do, definitely.
I think easynet has deleted my whole entire website. SIGH. This blogspot is housed elsewhere, thank goodness, but the pictures were with easynet.
I phoned the support folk this afternoon about yesterday's problems and was told I'd exceeded my space limit. But hang on, haven't I got unlimited space? Er well yes, but it's limited to 2Mb so they can check and see if you're abusing the privilege with a commercial enterprise of some kind. My space has at some point been increased to 5Mb, I've no idea when or how, but the helicopter pictures pushed it over the edge. And just how was I supposed to tell I'd exceeded my limit? Ummmm... I can't. I have to guess.
But anyway, the boys at easynet are lovely and helpful and kind and started work right away sorting things for me.
I tried again -- still the same problem. I phoned back and listened to a baroque version of Twinkle Twinkle while the boys conferred. Finally they told me the new files were corrupted and would have to be deleted. I'd already tried to delete them and failed, so I told them that was ok and to go ahead.
Then I went to work.
Just now I tried to call up my website and got a horrible nasty surprise: go and look for yourself. There's nothing there! It's all gone. Those bad boys! It's not a total disaster, I mean I do have everything backed up. But uploading it will take HOURS, literally. Grumble grumble grumble. I have better things to do, definitely.
Major irritation of last 24 hours was sitting up really doing helicopter pics and thumbnails and webpage, and deciding to upload them rather than be sensible and go to bed. Uploading took forever and a day, and right at the end I got a message saying "Uh, by the way there's been a problem? With one or all of those files you just tried to transfer?"
Grrrrrrrr. There certainly was a problem ... I don't think any of the pictures got through. I can't tell because the damned webpage didn't go through either.
Apart from that, a lovely weekend. I went to the Royal Highland Show on Sunday, a tiring but enjoyable experience. Man, those country folk are bolshy though! Great banners everywhere demanding FREEDOM -- freedom to kill wild animals mainly it seems. There was a foxhunting display -- two haughty chaps on horseback surrounded by a mob of friendly, excited hounds. No foxes of course.
I loved the big parade of Clydesdales and ponies, and my total favourite was going round the stables patting them. I didn't pat any Shetland ponies, they're too freakishly low to reach over the doors. But most of the Highland ponies were lapping up the attention, licking and nibbling at everything in case it turned out to be food.
The exhibition hall was just a big sales exercise, but there were lots of free nibbles and I bought some wild pork and apple sausages. I love real sausages, they're a meaty treat. Also visited the flower show and bought a delphinium. And watched some chainsaw action but not the sheep shearing.
Time to go home -- more later.
Grrrrrrrr. There certainly was a problem ... I don't think any of the pictures got through. I can't tell because the damned webpage didn't go through either.
Apart from that, a lovely weekend. I went to the Royal Highland Show on Sunday, a tiring but enjoyable experience. Man, those country folk are bolshy though! Great banners everywhere demanding FREEDOM -- freedom to kill wild animals mainly it seems. There was a foxhunting display -- two haughty chaps on horseback surrounded by a mob of friendly, excited hounds. No foxes of course.
I loved the big parade of Clydesdales and ponies, and my total favourite was going round the stables patting them. I didn't pat any Shetland ponies, they're too freakishly low to reach over the doors. But most of the Highland ponies were lapping up the attention, licking and nibbling at everything in case it turned out to be food.
The exhibition hall was just a big sales exercise, but there were lots of free nibbles and I bought some wild pork and apple sausages. I love real sausages, they're a meaty treat. Also visited the flower show and bought a delphinium. And watched some chainsaw action but not the sheep shearing.
Time to go home -- more later.
20 June 2002
Today I finally fixed my printer, which has been malfunctioning for months. I had it on the USB connection, which should work fine but didn't. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the driver, I tried plugging it into the USB hub, directly into the USB port and with a boosted USB cable. I even reinstalled Windows. Nothing worked.
Today I finally gave up completely and installed the printer on the parallel connection. I got a new cable yesterday and connected it up this afternoon. It works! Hurrah!
I spent an hour printing out piles of pictures for various frames I have kicking around and then hung them. Very satisfying. I've got a long weekend coming up, and I might spend a few hours of it clearing out the study. It's a mess in there, needs a good sluicing. What tends to happen though is that I start out with good intentions and end up playing The Sims for hours.
Today I finally gave up completely and installed the printer on the parallel connection. I got a new cable yesterday and connected it up this afternoon. It works! Hurrah!
I spent an hour printing out piles of pictures for various frames I have kicking around and then hung them. Very satisfying. I've got a long weekend coming up, and I might spend a few hours of it clearing out the study. It's a mess in there, needs a good sluicing. What tends to happen though is that I start out with good intentions and end up playing The Sims for hours.
18 June 2002
New! Improved! and now with photos ...
At last, the secret can be told. I went back up to the farm at the weekend because it was Jenny's 60th birthday and Andrew organised a spectacular treat for her: a half-hour helicopter trip. There was one spare seat, and Andrew invited me to fill it. I said no at first, because I only had Saturday off. But then the second choice said no as well, so I changed my mind.
It was well worth the extreme effort -- it was wonderful.
I'd had to start out just after 7am in order to get there in time, which meant getting up at 6am -- this after finishing work after midnight. I was feeling reasonably perky, considering. Bertie was astounded to find himself back in "heaven", but less than delighted to be bundled into a bedroom and left on his own half an hour after arriving. Jenny was surprised to see me so soon after the last visit. "Have you come to get your flask?" she asked. She had to be hustled off to get dressed, and even then she got changed again after being told that although it wasn't a "smart dress" occasion, photos would be taken.
The helicopter was a Squirrel six-seater -- pilot and one passenger in the front, four in the back. John went in the front on account of his leg, and he took the map and acted as navigator. Jenny and I had window seats, and Andrew and cousin Grace took the middle seats. We all buckled in and put on our headsets, then had a surprise: the helicopter lifted off backwards!
Sharing the back seat with me, from left: Jenny, Andrew and Grace.
Once we'd cleared the airport traffic we banked away south towards the farm. Collective squeals of excitement as the horizon dipped and swayed! Andrew fell silent after this -- later he said he was wondering whether to throw up on his mother or his cousin. Happily he managed not to throw up at all. Grace also felt queasy, but the rest of us enjoyed every minute.
Just north of the farm we spotted a car stopped by the side of the road and two tiny figures waving madly -- it was Anne, John's sister, and her husband Chris. We buzzed them and carried on, over the farm and up across the moorland to the trig point on Carn nan Tri-tighearnan, which marks the highest point in Nairnshire (2016m). It was very wild and bleak up there, dotted with peat hags and lochans.
Following the burn up the hill.
Whee! Swooping into a turn at the top of the hill. John is navigating.
We came back down the burn and hovered over the farm for photos, then headed across country to Nairn -- pausing briefly to wave at Jean and Bunty.
The farm from the air.
The new house at Rehiran Beag -- the old house and garage can be seen at the back.
Cawdor Castle and its formal gardens.
After circling Nairn we went back to the airport.
Aerial view of the town.
Group portrait taken by the pilot at the end of the trip.
We were all frothing with excitement (or nausea in some cases!). John was thrilled to have flown over the trig point -- he said he and Andrew climbed up to it ten years ago and he'd often wondered when he'd be up there again. To add to Jenny's day of thrills, we were home in time to watch England beat Denmark 3-0.
I had an hour's lie-down later in the afternoon, but otherwise the rest of the day was energetic. Lots of walks, including one on the beach at Nairn (bare feet on warm sand, bliss) with Grace and Andrew's old school friend Ally. And of course Bertie. We had takeaways for dinner, then watched a bit of TV before I dragged off to bed. Andrew kindly walked Bertie, and pushed him through the door later on.
The Mediterranean? Caribbean? No, it's Nairn, on the Costa del Moray. Bertie, Grace, Ally and Andrew.
Sunday was Jenny's actual birthday, with more surprises planned -- a new garden seat and TWO birthday cakes with candles. There was a minor kerfuffle when Aunt Di arrived and left again abruptly, but otherwise everything went as planned. The double seat is magnificent and perfectly suits the position Andrew chose. The cakes -- one baked by Grace in a secret expedition -- were delicious. I managed to drag myself away just after midday, and drove like a mad thing to get back to Queensferry in time to shower, walk the dog, and get to work. I was a bit late, and VERY tired. But happy.
Yesterday was busy too, though it was my day off -- I had a lunch date and a visit to the dentist to get a crown cemented back in after an in-car toffee incident -- and today I mowed both the lawns, in honour of the rain stopping for a day. Frances next door did hers too, we were both working flat out to get it all done as the first drops spattered down.
Tomorrow I'm going to loaf, really take it easy.
At last, the secret can be told. I went back up to the farm at the weekend because it was Jenny's 60th birthday and Andrew organised a spectacular treat for her: a half-hour helicopter trip. There was one spare seat, and Andrew invited me to fill it. I said no at first, because I only had Saturday off. But then the second choice said no as well, so I changed my mind.
It was well worth the extreme effort -- it was wonderful.
I'd had to start out just after 7am in order to get there in time, which meant getting up at 6am -- this after finishing work after midnight. I was feeling reasonably perky, considering. Bertie was astounded to find himself back in "heaven", but less than delighted to be bundled into a bedroom and left on his own half an hour after arriving. Jenny was surprised to see me so soon after the last visit. "Have you come to get your flask?" she asked. She had to be hustled off to get dressed, and even then she got changed again after being told that although it wasn't a "smart dress" occasion, photos would be taken.
The helicopter was a Squirrel six-seater -- pilot and one passenger in the front, four in the back. John went in the front on account of his leg, and he took the map and acted as navigator. Jenny and I had window seats, and Andrew and cousin Grace took the middle seats. We all buckled in and put on our headsets, then had a surprise: the helicopter lifted off backwards!
Sharing the back seat with me, from left: Jenny, Andrew and Grace.
Once we'd cleared the airport traffic we banked away south towards the farm. Collective squeals of excitement as the horizon dipped and swayed! Andrew fell silent after this -- later he said he was wondering whether to throw up on his mother or his cousin. Happily he managed not to throw up at all. Grace also felt queasy, but the rest of us enjoyed every minute.
Just north of the farm we spotted a car stopped by the side of the road and two tiny figures waving madly -- it was Anne, John's sister, and her husband Chris. We buzzed them and carried on, over the farm and up across the moorland to the trig point on Carn nan Tri-tighearnan, which marks the highest point in Nairnshire (2016m). It was very wild and bleak up there, dotted with peat hags and lochans.
Following the burn up the hill.
Whee! Swooping into a turn at the top of the hill. John is navigating.
We came back down the burn and hovered over the farm for photos, then headed across country to Nairn -- pausing briefly to wave at Jean and Bunty.
The farm from the air.
The new house at Rehiran Beag -- the old house and garage can be seen at the back.
Cawdor Castle and its formal gardens.
After circling Nairn we went back to the airport.
Aerial view of the town.
Group portrait taken by the pilot at the end of the trip.
We were all frothing with excitement (or nausea in some cases!). John was thrilled to have flown over the trig point -- he said he and Andrew climbed up to it ten years ago and he'd often wondered when he'd be up there again. To add to Jenny's day of thrills, we were home in time to watch England beat Denmark 3-0.
I had an hour's lie-down later in the afternoon, but otherwise the rest of the day was energetic. Lots of walks, including one on the beach at Nairn (bare feet on warm sand, bliss) with Grace and Andrew's old school friend Ally. And of course Bertie. We had takeaways for dinner, then watched a bit of TV before I dragged off to bed. Andrew kindly walked Bertie, and pushed him through the door later on.
The Mediterranean? Caribbean? No, it's Nairn, on the Costa del Moray. Bertie, Grace, Ally and Andrew.
Sunday was Jenny's actual birthday, with more surprises planned -- a new garden seat and TWO birthday cakes with candles. There was a minor kerfuffle when Aunt Di arrived and left again abruptly, but otherwise everything went as planned. The double seat is magnificent and perfectly suits the position Andrew chose. The cakes -- one baked by Grace in a secret expedition -- were delicious. I managed to drag myself away just after midday, and drove like a mad thing to get back to Queensferry in time to shower, walk the dog, and get to work. I was a bit late, and VERY tired. But happy.
Yesterday was busy too, though it was my day off -- I had a lunch date and a visit to the dentist to get a crown cemented back in after an in-car toffee incident -- and today I mowed both the lawns, in honour of the rain stopping for a day. Frances next door did hers too, we were both working flat out to get it all done as the first drops spattered down.
Tomorrow I'm going to loaf, really take it easy.
14 June 2002
I'll put the photos in next week.
Friday I drove up to the farm -- the weather was terrible on the way up, with some heavy rain. But further north it cleared, and then round about Aviemore, it suddenly became very warm. When I got to the farm it was sunny, a beautiful day. No-one was home -- though a neighbour was there picking dandelions for his peacocks. Bertie and I walked round to Ruallan, where John and Andrew were putting up a new fence.
There's a whole long saga about Ruallan, which I won't go into now. Suffice to say there are two houses on the property -- one owned by Andrew's aunty and the other by a couple who've just bought it. The husband was there with his two spaniels and Bertie had a run with them. I don't think we did anything that night, just had dinner and talked, went for walks, that kind of thing.
Next day we also went for walks -- after Andrew had finished his farm chores we went to the machair east of Nairn, a lovely stretch of salt flats sprinkled with flowers. Bertie spent a lot of time chasing oystercatchers; I guess they were decoying him away from their nests, because they flew low and just fast enough to stay a little ahead of him. He was so sure he could catch them he ran and ran and ran, poor thing.
Saturday night, what did we do? I can't remember. It stays light up there until 11pm or so. I think we goofed around in the garden -- was that the day Andrew mowed the lawn? I think we also went back to Ruallan, and Andrew's aunt was there this time. She took me off into her house and plied me with grapefruit squash and chocolate biscuits, showed me prints of some of her paintings, which are in hospitals all around the world.
Whoops, it's time to go home. No time to tell you about going to see Spider-man, or the grand tour of the new house at Rehiran Beag, which will have to be renamed because it's anything but beag; or about Ed and Lou and the baby and their pictures of canoeing on Lewis; or going out to dinner at the Cawdor Tavern with cousin Grace and Ed's parents; driving up to Drynachan to gawp at the fancy-pants summer cottages where the famous stay; or driving madly back south in time for work.
I'll update again next week.
Friday I drove up to the farm -- the weather was terrible on the way up, with some heavy rain. But further north it cleared, and then round about Aviemore, it suddenly became very warm. When I got to the farm it was sunny, a beautiful day. No-one was home -- though a neighbour was there picking dandelions for his peacocks. Bertie and I walked round to Ruallan, where John and Andrew were putting up a new fence.
There's a whole long saga about Ruallan, which I won't go into now. Suffice to say there are two houses on the property -- one owned by Andrew's aunty and the other by a couple who've just bought it. The husband was there with his two spaniels and Bertie had a run with them. I don't think we did anything that night, just had dinner and talked, went for walks, that kind of thing.
Next day we also went for walks -- after Andrew had finished his farm chores we went to the machair east of Nairn, a lovely stretch of salt flats sprinkled with flowers. Bertie spent a lot of time chasing oystercatchers; I guess they were decoying him away from their nests, because they flew low and just fast enough to stay a little ahead of him. He was so sure he could catch them he ran and ran and ran, poor thing.
Saturday night, what did we do? I can't remember. It stays light up there until 11pm or so. I think we goofed around in the garden -- was that the day Andrew mowed the lawn? I think we also went back to Ruallan, and Andrew's aunt was there this time. She took me off into her house and plied me with grapefruit squash and chocolate biscuits, showed me prints of some of her paintings, which are in hospitals all around the world.
Whoops, it's time to go home. No time to tell you about going to see Spider-man, or the grand tour of the new house at Rehiran Beag, which will have to be renamed because it's anything but beag; or about Ed and Lou and the baby and their pictures of canoeing on Lewis; or going out to dinner at the Cawdor Tavern with cousin Grace and Ed's parents; driving up to Drynachan to gawp at the fancy-pants summer cottages where the famous stay; or driving madly back south in time for work.
I'll update again next week.
7 June 2002
Another energetic sailing session this morning, complicated by a delay at the marina office. It turned out that the city council leisure card I'd been gaily claiming discounts on has been expired since July last year. No-one had actually ever swiped it through. The old cards used to have the expiry date on them but the new ones just have a bar code. Hee hee!
The marina staff know me so well they hadn't bothered checking -- even this morning they just gave me the discount and told me to come back later and update the card. "I know where you live, I'll come and bang on your door if you don't pay up," one said. It's gone up to £37.50 a year -- the first one I got back in 91 or whenever was about £12 I think. Still a good deal though. Especially if you let it lapse for a year.
So yes, the sailing was good -- Colin wanted to practise gybing, so we bombed up and down the river in gusty winds. I crewed, which is a fair amount of work when tacking but hardly any when gybing.
Bertie on the other hand has had a rubbish day. Very short, unexciting walks, plus an interminable wait at the marina office this afternoon while I got a new discount card. I fully expect to find something has been destroyed when I get home. He usually rips up a magazine or newspaper when he's feeling hard done by.
Some interesting websites:
True Crimes -- The Ultimate Crime Resource. Subheadings include organised crime and missing persons as well as homicide. It's addictive.
Dead or Alive? -- Updated daily! It's very useful and endlessly interesting. Who knew that Chiang Kai-shek's widow was still alive? I didn't. She's 105. Astounding.
All Music -- Facts, factoids, music clips, reviews ... it's all there and more.
Anyday -- This one's plain weird. But at least now I know that today (June 7) is Tom Jones's birthday. And the anniversary of the United Colonies changing its name to United States (1775).
I'm off to the farm tomorrow! Hurrah! I haven't packed or anything yet, so I won't be making an early start. I also need to stop off and get some nice thank-you-for-having-us gifts. Maybe I'll get them a puppy...
The marina staff know me so well they hadn't bothered checking -- even this morning they just gave me the discount and told me to come back later and update the card. "I know where you live, I'll come and bang on your door if you don't pay up," one said. It's gone up to £37.50 a year -- the first one I got back in 91 or whenever was about £12 I think. Still a good deal though. Especially if you let it lapse for a year.
So yes, the sailing was good -- Colin wanted to practise gybing, so we bombed up and down the river in gusty winds. I crewed, which is a fair amount of work when tacking but hardly any when gybing.
Bertie on the other hand has had a rubbish day. Very short, unexciting walks, plus an interminable wait at the marina office this afternoon while I got a new discount card. I fully expect to find something has been destroyed when I get home. He usually rips up a magazine or newspaper when he's feeling hard done by.
Some interesting websites:
True Crimes -- The Ultimate Crime Resource. Subheadings include organised crime and missing persons as well as homicide. It's addictive.
Dead or Alive? -- Updated daily! It's very useful and endlessly interesting. Who knew that Chiang Kai-shek's widow was still alive? I didn't. She's 105. Astounding.
All Music -- Facts, factoids, music clips, reviews ... it's all there and more.
Anyday -- This one's plain weird. But at least now I know that today (June 7) is Tom Jones's birthday. And the anniversary of the United Colonies changing its name to United States (1775).
I'm off to the farm tomorrow! Hurrah! I haven't packed or anything yet, so I won't be making an early start. I also need to stop off and get some nice thank-you-for-having-us gifts. Maybe I'll get them a puppy...
5 June 2002
The Barcelona Review -- What a great find ... an "International Review of Contemporary Fiction", with short fiction, excerpts from novels, interviews with authors, and yes, reviews, in English, Spanish, Catalan and French.
It has the first chapter of a book I bought today, The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy.
It has the first chapter of a book I bought today, The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy.
4 June 2002
The weather finally cleared up enough on Saturday for me to get into the garden, and get into it I did -- all day. I weeded the whole front garden, mowed the lawn and planted out the lobelias I bought at the fair. Then I moved to the back, where I weeded and planted lobelias (it was a big tray). I broke only for dog-walking and lunch. It all looked good after I'd finished, and then as a bonus it rained, so I didn't have to worry about watering anything.
Last night I went out for dinner with Fiona, visiting from London, and a friend of hers who is over from the US. We went to Sweet Melindas, now firmly my favourite restaurant. It's mainly seafood but there was also venison and chicken on the menu, and their puddings are superb. I also like the ambience and the decor. I always enjoy catching up with Fiona and last night was no exception, great conversation. I must go and visit all my London friends some time soon.
Tomorrow morning I have to get up early, I have an appointment with my mortgage lender for a two-year review. Then Thursday Colin and I are going sailing in the morning, 10am-noon. And Friday I'm off to Cawdor, for a farm visit through until Tuesday morning. Bertie loves going to the farm, all those wide-open spaces and wonderful smells -- and the 12 cats lurking in the coalshed.
Last night I went out for dinner with Fiona, visiting from London, and a friend of hers who is over from the US. We went to Sweet Melindas, now firmly my favourite restaurant. It's mainly seafood but there was also venison and chicken on the menu, and their puddings are superb. I also like the ambience and the decor. I always enjoy catching up with Fiona and last night was no exception, great conversation. I must go and visit all my London friends some time soon.
Tomorrow morning I have to get up early, I have an appointment with my mortgage lender for a two-year review. Then Thursday Colin and I are going sailing in the morning, 10am-noon. And Friday I'm off to Cawdor, for a farm visit through until Tuesday morning. Bertie loves going to the farm, all those wide-open spaces and wonderful smells -- and the 12 cats lurking in the coalshed.
30 May 2002
As a defence mechanism I'm trying to take an interest in the FIFA World Cup, and the official website may well swing it for me.
It's interesting! Really, it is. Check out the archives -- you can watch entire classic matches on screen. You'd need a fast connection, but still ... amazing.
More sailing drama today, I'll write about it later.
It's interesting! Really, it is. Check out the archives -- you can watch entire classic matches on screen. You'd need a fast connection, but still ... amazing.
More sailing drama today, I'll write about it later.
29 May 2002
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