HOLIDAY SNAPS

Recent photo of Ellie (11), Harriet (13) and Alastair (18) taken in Norwich on holiday.... And below is a similar photo which includes Ishbel (19).

2026 BIRTHDAY

Another year has passed; that's me 82 years old now.  Life rolls along much the same really.

A recent photograph:

(taken in the garden today when out at the washing line...)

I like to spend time in the garden... lovely at this time of year. I even make an effort to sit and read a book or the newspaper but I always find that somehow 2 hours passes and the book is left untouched!  Yes, I do spend many hours pottering about outside or possibly in the garage where I have things I can get on with if the weather is poor.

It is wonderful to be able to pay the occasional trip to Edinburgh to see Inger.  I am at that time of life when too many of my social events are attending funerals. A train trip for some much needed 'social stimulation' definitely offsets the 'duty' stuff!

Such a lovely city... walkable with lots to see looking up!  (Glasgow can be like that too but it is currently digging up roads to put in cycle lanes, fibre optic cables and the place is a mess!)

These 4 photos are on my route to my destination.  Picture postcard perfect!

And finally I still keep busy with desk-top publishing activities. My main project is producing the 20 pages brochure for Milngavie Music Cub.  Here it is, hot off the press.

I really enjoy this computer work and it keeps me in touch with both the technology which is always changing plus the people involved who work in the printing and advertising sectors. (I deal with artwork for various aspects relating to putting on these concerts.). It's a case of 'If you don't use it, you lose it.'   Sometimes I have to have to spend many hours 'trouble-shooting' when I can't get the software to work.  However I am getting better at it! And I have learned, like using the banks these days, the problem doesn't necessarily lie at my end!

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The birthday cake which ended up being a pile of Nigella brownies stacked in a dish with masses of Mary Berry ganache slathered all over it... candles finished it off... a sort of mini-volcano.  As long as there is lots of chocolate the kids don't mind in what form it comes!  That's Harriet (L) nearly 13 years and Ellie (11).

  

FAMILY UPDATE

It was Mairi's birthday recently.  Time for bringing out the usual 'Spiderman Cake' to keep the wee ones happy.

Ellie in the living room (allocated as my 'Quiet Zone') in front of the fire with my recent Wentworth jigsaw.  It is of Alastair and gang in the Sequoias of California.

This is the photo which I sent off for making into a jigsaw.   I think that will be the last however as the children are too big for that stuff now. 

That is Inday in the light blue shirt standing behind Luna, the dog.

MID-FEBRUARY CATCH-UP

It's been a pleasantly busy couple of weeks.  Here are some photos by way of a round up.

Alastair, Indy, Melanie, her sister and son plus Luna in the foreground.  I like this photo.  It turned out to be a useable size for a jigsaw.  I have now order one and look forward to putting it out on the coffee table in front of the fire and enjoying some post-dinner time in the 'Quiet Zone'.

I bought myself a waffle make about Christmastime.  Last week I had a friend with me for the day (to give his wife a break) and I have discovered a really good way of spinning out the time we have together by making and eating waffles together.  Upon explaining this joyous experience to his wife at the end of the day I found myself saying "Well it comes from years of trying to amuse children on the boat ... (think: 101 way to do things with bread dough!)... when we still had hours to go before arriving in port!

Another Spiderman cake.  This time for Ellie whose birthday was in January and Alastiar whose birthday is early February.  Secret: one Marks and Spencer cake mix with loads of Mary Berry ganache (1:1 melted chocolate and cream).  Oh, and loads of Smarties!

Alastair blowing out his candles; a Rembrant moment.

February concert in Milngavie: the Dudok Quartet from Amsterdam.

January concert in Milngavie: Tom Poster, piano and Elena Urioste, violin.

Good feedback on recent concerts.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

August 14th, last week, was the first day of school for Harriet (12) and Ellie (10.5).  Harriet started secondary school at Bearsden Academy and Ellie goes into her last year of Primary School at Mosshead Adademy in Bearsden.

Mairi took this photo outside the back door just before they headed off.  Note the 'L' plate on Mairi's car. Ishbel is going to sit her driving test in October so she is out practicing now.

A missed opportunity this morning.... sitting at my computer I enjoy seeing the youngsters (and possibly their mums/dads) walk to school past my house.  Craighton Primary School is where they are headed.  With their white blouses and blue uniforms the march by either in groups or maybe on their own.

But...my eye caught a red shape moving along the pavement [or sidewalk if USA or Canada]. I stood up and there was a juvenile fox trotting along behind a dad and little boy quite unaware of him as they walked on towards the school.  And there was I...with no camera!

My attempt to generate an AI image using Chatgpt.... time take = 15 minutes!

80th BIRTHDAY PARTY: AULD AQUAINTANCES AND NEW FACES

If you can't beat'em, join'em. On Sunday we had a party in the garden.  The weather held which was a real bonus as so many friends attending had been unable to get out much since the pandemic or, in some cases, unwilling to go out because they were self-isolating for medical reasons.

It's been awhile since we've gathered; some made it to Iain's funeral, some did not. So it was a good opportunity for all of us to catch up; meeting and greeting was the order of the day.  

As I explain to the grandchildren "We're under new management' which means the guest list is different: old friends (from baby-sitting and playgroup days) along with people I spend time with now that I am on my own.... all good stuff!

Mairi's Meringues

My preference: carrot cake and plenty of candles (Bridget Bird's recipe and the cake tin must be 1960's!)

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Before ...

Harriet putting up the bunting

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Afterwards ...

Family photo round-up ...

Ellie aged 9

Ellie in her 'beauty salon' mode

Mairi

Alastair (16) wild swimming (a break from exams)

Ishbel (17) at the opera having a break from exams.  She is now finished school and will be heading off to uni this autumn.

John and Ish at 'La Traviata'

Alastair and Melanie taken this week. (No recent photo of Indy.)

THE BIG 80 BIRTHDAY and A YEAR OF CATCH-UP

Another milestone this year.  A year has elapsed; it's time to resume this blog and get back to the habit of posting the occasional story of life in this part of the world.

Yes, I am alive and well and, as so many of my generation report, "I'm still above the ground".  Yes, the hills get steeper and the ground is harder but, on the whole I enjoy good health and am surrounded by very good friends and family. C'est tout!

I still live in the same house in Milngavie, Glasgow. The  hall table hasn't changed much. I still enjoy Narcissus flowers and this is the time of year when they are out along with the Bluebells, the small blue Omphalodes cappodocica and the green Euphorbia.

Wonderful cards arrived in the post.  Ken was over to coffee this morning so we lit one large candle and toasted our health (especially in his case as he is recently out of hospital).

Maggie and I attended the opera 'LaTraviata' on Wednesday as Ken's guests (as he was unable to go).  I dropped in to the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society Clubroom  on 5 Bath Street (members only) restaurant/bar/tasting room. I use it from time to time when I am in town for a quick meal before heading off to the evening's event (usually a concert). I absolutely love it: quiet, subdued conversation, and I know the staff ... "Would you like your usual place (at the end of the bar!)?"!!!

We were delighted to find we had the best seats in the house. As is my habit I got chatting to the man beside me and found there were people we both knew.  I guess when you have lived anywhere long enough this is bound to happen.  Glaswegian audiences are always a delight and this audience was no different. Always enthusiastically enjoying and applauding at the end of the evening.

Scottish Opera mounted a fabulous production; I counted 40 in the main chorus. The stage was sumptuous; the orchestra on top form and I was able to recognise a few people (stage and orchestra) who I recall from being students in their 20s are now salt-and-pepper haired 40 year olds! (It has just occurred to me that there must be others in the audience who know someone in cast, production side or orchestra. There are a large number of people in involved in putting this on and I notice there is also a 'stability' i.e. they're still there from years ago.)

Last week was a trip to Cumbrae just to have a walk around the upper part of the island.  The gorse was glorious yellow and the Clyde was all the shaded of blue.

Two recent photos of the grandchildren:  Alastair (16), Harriet (nearly 11), Ellie (9) and Ishbel on the window ledge (17).

Mairi

John and Alastair recently.

Alastair and Indy (12) in area north of Los Angeles (their home).

ANOTHER YEAR; ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

79 years young....

Narcisuss for the hall table

After school Ellie (8) and I shared a candle-lit cupcake. 

She and I took this selfie to send to Don who sent a text with birthday wishes (which I read out to everyone at dinnertime).

Iain getting dinner ready and Ellie showing us her gym bag which she sewed herself on my sewing machine

Ellie modelling her sewing project

A last look at the flag before it comes down.