CHRISTMAS 2024 - PREPARATIONS

Tea with Angela:

Wedding china (1967 Wedgewood 'Belle Fleur')

Spoons from MacLeod family complete with (wedding gift?) tag "from the MacKinnons"

Leftover Norwegian Kransecake

Canadian Mac apples, only seen at this time of year.

2 Christmas cards from the same person...which me laugh as it seems I'm not the only one who gets forgetful.

(Later: Also....received one this year from person who didn't know Iain had died.)

* * * * * *  THE GRANDCHILDRENS' PRESCENCE IS FELT * * * * * * * 

AFTER OUR USUAL SUNDAY EVENING MEAL/GET-TOGETHER

Ishbel's violin

She's  away at uni now but home for holidays...lovely...and she's a real helper e.g.  splitting logs.

Harriet and Ellie: something to keep them occupied in front of the fire

Alastair: helping to tidy up after dinner...leaves his 'footprint' of ketchp (his staple condiment) in the fridge (as he would normally do at home).

* * * * * * * * * * AND WHILE WE'RE HERE * * * * * * * 

Ishbel was in the attic and found Kenny John's violin. He was Iain's father's youngest brother. Self-taught he played with friends in the Achiltibuie area often going to join folk with the instrument in its case strapped on to the back of his motorcycle.

CHRISTMAS SEASON IS UPON US - THE LIGHTS ARE ON

In the northern latitudes it is a joy to see people lighting up for the Christmas season.  In Scotland there is an increasing habit to put lights in your house window maybe in the form of (battery operated) candles or strings of small white lights.  I see the Scandinavian normal practice of doing this is now influencing this part of the world.

It seems more and more public places are being lit up too. And buildings get illuminated with images in the form of son et lumiere. 

1. 

I was in Edinburgh last weekend for afternoon tea with the Canadian Ladies.  My goodness has Princes Street ever improved!  No more jack-hammers,  barriers of fencing for holes being dug and rails being laid. Gone is the dust, the rubble and the noise!

View overlooking Princes Street and up to Edinburgh Castle

View out of the window of Level 1 of the National Gallery for Scotland (west side of Princes Street)