Comfort Cooking, Dancing & A Good Read : My LIfe:11th -17th Dec. 2017:

11th December 2017  
Very, very cold, with heavy frost, but no actual snow unlike in the Highlands and into much of England and Wales - we are in the middle and  seem to have escaped it.  

Ice on the Leader Water at Earlston, Scottish Borders  

Mainly a domestic day - I even cleared the oven!  The weather for comfort cooking, so we had cottage pie for tea and to follow Mincemeat Cake - an old recipe for my kind of simple baking.  You can serve small pieces as a teatime treat or as a dessert - delicious served with either custard, cream, vanilla yoghurt or stewed apple - take your pick! 

6 oz self raising flour.   4oz margarine.  4oz caster sugar.  2 large eggs. 
quarter teaspoon vanilla essence.  4 generous tablespoons of mincemeat. 

Set oven to 350F/180C/Gas Mark 4.  (will be lower for fan ovens) Grease and line a swiss roll tin. Cream margerine & sugar, beat in eggs,  add vanilla essence.  Fold in flour and mincemeat.  Spread in tin.  Bake for 30  minutes until firm.  Freeze for up to 3 months.  Enjoy!    

This evening, I was all set to watch University Challenge on TV, to discover  it was axed in  favour of an extended Nigella Cooks Christmas special!   We turned to escapism and the film "Mamma Mia", enjoying the sight of summer sun, sea and sand. 

Tuesday 12th December 2017 
Tried a new soup recipe, that I saw demonstrated at the Women''s Group in the village - very different from my usual version of lentil & vegetables.  

Two medium size sweet potatoes, and one carrot peeled & diced;  diced onion;   Sachet of Patak's Creamed Coconut;  desertspoonful of red Thai curry paste;  one stock pot/cube;  salt & pepper. 
 
Sweat the vegetables in a little olive oil.  Add the coconut cream, paste and stock cube.   Season  to taste.  Ready in 20 min.  Hot,  spicy and warming.  

Wednesday 13th December 2017

Wrote a blog post for the latest Sepia Saturday prompt on the theme Snowy Pleasures. 

Finished a very good library book - "The Sugar  Camp Quilt"  by Jennifer Chiaverini  
The novel is set in Creek’s Crossing, Pennsylvania in the years prior to the American Civil War and focuses on young Dorothea Granger. She discovers, after the death of her cranky Uncle Jacob, that a quilt she had stitched to his exacting design, hides clues for runaway slaves following the Underground Railroad to safety. 
 

I found it an engrossing and enjoyable read on an aspect of history I knew little about. Particularly well covered were the descriptions of the harsh farming life of the mid 19th century  for both men and women, the nature of small town gossip, and the desperation of the runaway slaves.  Dorothea’s character is beautifully developed, as she comes to revise her opinion of her seeming suitor Cyrus Pearson, the new distant schoolmaster Mr Nelson, her irascible uncle with whom her family lived under sufferance,  and the differing attitudes on the key issue of slavery in the southern states of America. 

I added a book review to goodreads.com 

Thursday 14th  December 2017

An ice rink  outside, so I abandoned the idea of joining the Walking Group today. I did venture out to get the newspapers and some odds and ends of shopping, but I dread falling on the icy pavements - I would have created a scrambled mess, given, coming slowly back, I was carrying a dozen eggs!

Friday15th December 2017

The way I was feeling today is typified in the  1950's jingle:

"Colds and sneezes spreads diseases, so trap your germs in your handkerchief".

Lazy morning - Niamh after school when we played card games.

Saturday 15th December 2017

Not too bad underfoot, though temperatures still around 1-2C.  People are getting in the Christmas spirit  - the staff in the chemist's  were sporting  lovely Christmas jumpers and even the bus driver had on a Santa hat and a cheery red jumper, instead of his usual uniform.   I took the bus the 14 mile round trip north to Lauder to get a post office open on a Saturday morning, as overseas cards needed to get weighed - to find a queue of 13!  Ridiculous the way the banks and the post office are abandoning rural communities. 

Strictly Come Dancing Final  - and it was brilliant!  Loved the dances and the costumes and the "feel good" factor about the whole programme, especially as my favourite - Joe from Scotland - won.  I will suffer withdrawal symptoms with no longer that to look forward to on a Saturday night. 

Sunday 18th December 2017
Lazy day.  Grey. wet  and miserable outside, so no incentive to go out. Discovered a new Favebook page  Bonny Border Views for uploading photographs - G. and I have enthusiastically joined the group.  Had a session on the phone talking to friends I had not been in touch with for some time - something I like to make a point of doing around Christmas. 

Final of "The Apprentice" -  I find most of the contestants obnoxious and the challenges unrealistic and stupid, expecting the tasks to be done and dusted in 48 hours. Yet
somehow I do find it compulsive viewing,

More winter warmers for tea - casserole and crispy roast potatoes, followed by hot spiced peaches stuffed with mincemeat and flaked almonds - my style of a quick and easy dessert.

It is supposed to get milder next week!

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Life 4-11 Dec. 2017 - Early FestIve Food, Flowers and Fun

The continuing journal of my everyday life, which hopefully will be there for future generations to look back on.   

Monday 4th December 2017
9th birthday for Nh.  It seems so hard to believe - where has the time gone - or is that a  sign of our age?  She and G. called in after school for her presents - main one riding lesson vouchers - and to blow out candles on a cake. But she was then quickly off to gym club - her favourite activity. 

Making an early start on being a gymnast!

We went to Melrose in the morning for our usual activities - library, post office and the traditional  greengrocer’s, plus of course our favourite coffee shop.  A bright morning and the abbey looked lovely in the winter sunshine. 

The abbey was founded in 1136  and is reputed to hold the heart of Robert the Bruce.

Published the latest post on the Auld Earlston blog.  I was short of ideas; I had not had time to research and write a text based post - and wondered any way if many would bother to read it this time of year - so opted for vintage photographs on “Dances, Parties, Socials and Shows”.   So far it is getting good page views.

University Challenge on TV  - one of the best and closest competition in the current series, especially as Edinburgh won, after I thought they were going to be pipped at the post!  As usual I was pleased if I managed to answer 5-6 questions, dragging up history knowledge from years past.  I am OK on classical music, literature classics and some geography, but maths and science topis  are a no go area for me - I don't even understand the questions. 

Tuesday  5th December 2017 
A friend round in the morning for a coffee and chat.  A good afternoon at the computer  - wrote a blog post for the Sepia Saturday prompt, and then turned to the last installment of my Danson narrative  -  the story of my grandparents William and Alice.  That has been on my "to do" list for far longer than I care to admit, as so many other tasks seem to get in the way of completing it.    Made good progress today  and covered the family in World War 1.

           My grandfather - William Danson who was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.                  

My grandmother Alice with their children - my mother, the serious little girl back right.  

Wednesday 6th December 2017

Off with the Wednesday Club to Kingsknowes Hotel. Galashiels  for a delicious Christmas lunch - good food, lovely table decorations, friendly staff and cheerful  company - what more could you ask for?   Especially as outside  Storm Caroline was blowing a gale.

Thursday 7th December 2017
To the High School where  students warmly welcomed senior citizens in the village to  a  afternoon tea of cakes and mincepies  followed by entertainment - excerpts from their  forthcoming pantomime"Sleeping Beauty".  All a  great credit to the school.

Friday 7 December 2017

Nh. round after school by which time we had managed to get down from the loft the Christmas tree and the boxes of decorations;  Nh. unpacking the boxes and discovering past delights.  For N. and I many of the adornments  bring back memories of our holidays  in Bavaria and Austria

  
Saturday 8 December 2017

A freezing cold morning - 2C/35F - so I  was surprised to  discovered in the garden this beautiful climbing rose blooming on the back fence  - with added touches of colour from the winter flowering jasmine and  cheerful red berries.          

      

To the Black Bull, Lauder  with the Women's Group for our Christmas lunch - lovely surroundings with a log stove burning brightly and elegant decorations.  I had turkey with all the trimmings, followed by  chocolate fondant which was was spot on, oozing sauce - delicious with vanilla ice-cream.   And of course mince pies to finish off.    

To Melrose in the evening to  the Eildon Singers concert and a chance to sing some carols.     Yes,  I gave up TV's Strictly Come Dancing semi final to go, but I hope I never put television first as an excuse for not meeting friends.  I will soon catch up with the dancing on IPlayer. 


Sunday 9th December 2017
-5C in our unheated sun room this morning.  Heavy frost, but no snow.  Short walk. 
Earlston Christmas Lights switched on this evening.

 

 Our neighbour's contribution

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Life 27 Nov-3 Dec 2017: Two Prince Henry’s, Walks & Christmas Events.

The continuing journal of my everyday life, which hopefully will be there for future generations. 

After last week's rain, we had clear blue skies and wintry sunshine - ideal for walks and taking photographs.   Christmas events are under way  and two Prince Henry's were on TV. 

Monday  27 November 2017 

Big news of the day was Prince Harry announcing his engagement to Megan Markel - not exactly a surprise, but refreshing at least to  have a happy  news story  with so much negative, depressing and disturbing  tales in  our  troubled world  - faltering Brexit negotiations (I fear the worst) terrorist threats, natural  disasters, failing NHS and social care (we are at that age!),   plus daily cases of sexual harassment in the media and politics.

Out  for a walk as the sun was streaming through the house, but of course it went behind the clouds once I was into Cowdenknowes Wood.  The local paths group  do a sterling job  maintaining the paths network around the village.  

It is a Monday holiday for St. Andrew's Day on the 30th, so G and family off to Edinburgh by train. You think ScotRail would get their act together  and realise that a month before  Christmas, people would be heading for the city - but NO.  Only a two coach train was put on, so they had to stand all the way for the hour's journey.   

Tuesday 28th November 2017
Domestics in the morning.  Posted last weeks Journal Jottings.  Another sunny day and not as cold, so I got out early after lunch for a walk to Cowdenknowes and took photographs of Earlston's two hills - White Hill and Black Hill.   Longest walk I have done for sometime.

White Hill

Black Hill

Wednesday  29 November 2017

Mother and daughter morning as we went down to "Born in the Borders" to buy Borders produce as Christmas presents.  Of course we also had to sample the cakes in the cafe.   On the way back, stopped at  Leaderfoot Viewpoint to take some photographs - a brilliant, sunny winter's day.  It is only when you stand underneath the arches,you  realise the scale of the structure - complete in 1865 to carry the Berwickshire Railway over the River Tweed.   The line closed  in 1965 and the viaduct is under the care of Historic Scotland.  (I am very fond of putting in wee bits of historical trivia.) 

 

 Amazingly I felt like baking (a rare occurrence for me) , so made an apple and cinnabar;n  cake for tea - delicious comfort food in this weather.

Thursday 30 November 2017
Eye wateringly cold - 2C, so a short walk around Mill Meadow with the Walk It group.  Published on my Family History blog, the final post in "Women on the Home Front"  series.  

Watched a BBC Scotland programme on  "The Best King We Never Had" about Price Henry (1593-1612), first-born son of King James 1 and V1.  He was portrayed as talented, skilled, well educated and a paragon prince, set to be a great monarch on the international stage.  Interesting.  But we were not impressed with the programme which was very short on sources - I wanted to know how we knew all this.   Henry set up his own court at an early age, but one aspect we never heard about was any relationship with Parliament - his  brother  Charles 1's failure in this respect led to his downfall.   The presenter followed the current popular trend in historical documentaries in dressing up - this time  in  a suit of armour, as worn by Prince Henry, and he had to be shown swimming in what looked like a very grey cold river.  to illustrate Prince Henry's death from water-born typhoid fever at the young age of 19 - hence he never became king!    Still I did learn something. 

Friday 1 December 2017
Frightening how quickly time goes by  and we are now in December.  Into Galashiels  for odds and ends shopping. 

Saturday  2 December 2017

Christmas Tree Festival at the Church.  Each organization and group in the village  was asked to decorate an artificial tree reflecting their activities.  The ingenuity was impressive, such as the Cycle Club tree with a tyre as the basis and tinsel and fairy lights intertwined with bicycle chains.   They were not easy to photograph because of the windows and the lighting, but here are three o.ut of the 33 trees on show.   I first read about this idea  last year on an American Facebook post and thought then it would make a good project  for Border towns and congregations. So good to see in Earlston.

                 

TV's Strictly Come Dancing great entertainment tonight  with the theme musicals - one of the best in this year's series.  G. up to Edinburgh with Nh. and her friend  for a visit to Pizza Hut for tea and then down to the  Royal Botanical Gardens  for their Christmas Festival of Light.   The verdict - brilliant!  

 The Glass House all lit up.

 Sunday 3 December  2017
Lazy morning - short walk.   On TV  "Coastal Railways of Britain", fronted by actress Julie Walters who I have always liked, because of her versatility.  Tonight's rail route was Newcastle  to Edinburgh, so of special interest - why do we like so much watching our own area on TV?   There are so many of this  type of TV programme on   now, and although I liked Julie Walters wit and rapport with people,  I missed the historic detail that Michael Portillo, the forerunner for the genre,   brings  to the screen. I have often thought I would love to be researcher on his programme unearthing the trivia and lesser know facts about a place. 

And so to bed!

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Other Blogs I Write:

 Family History Fun  at https://scotsue-familyhistoryfun.blogspot.co.uk 

Auld Earlston at https://auldearlston.blogspot.co.uk

  

  

    
     


 

Life - 21-27 Nov. 2017: Rain, Arctic Blasts, & Feeling Stupid!

The continuing journal of my everyday life  - a record for future generations.

A quiet time  compared with last week's activities, but a brilliant one for blogging. 

Monday 20 November 2017 

Amazing what you get done,  when the main computer is down. Caught up on the domestics,  and tidied out drawers and cupboards. At least I have the I-pad for emails and the Internet.   At last  got round to sorting out on the kitchen table the 160+ photographs back into their folders,  after the Auld Earlston exhibition three weeks ago. 

 No incentive to go out as  dreicht, damp and dark most of the day. 

Tuesday 21 November 2017
We felt so stupid!  D. came and in 30 seconds had sorted our computer problem!!   N. must have caught this little switch on the underside of the screen (which we never even knew was there) - and inadvertently switched it off.   N. felt so embarrassed at calling D. out,  but it could easily have been me causing the fault!

I had three blog posts in draft form, but I finished and published last week’s Journal Jottings and made good progress on Auld Earlston’s “Wheel Women of Earlston” looking at the early women cyclists - and motor cyclists. I enjoyed researching the social history. 

Baked for the Wednesday Club - I have to admit baking is not my natural forte.  When I agreed  to join the catering team for the tea, I thought it would encourage me to widen my very narrow repertoire - Wrong!   I still cannot be bothered spending time on baking, and I would certainly want to eat my fair share of any of it - and that is not recommended for my waistline. 

Nh. round after school and we had an hilarious time playing "Articulate" - a bit like Trivial Pursuits, but  you have to describe or act out the clue for others to guess the answer.  Nh. loves doing the Action option.  I had to act out "Buckingham Palace"   and "Blackpool" which was challenging!! Great fun for us all - I highly recommend it.  

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Lazy morning,  once I had packed my baking for this the afternoon.  Posted the latest Auld Earlston blog. Got my delivery of the wool I had ordered online for the KAS (Knit a Square) African Project - very impressed as it  came in a lovely muslin style bag - took me back to what I picked up working at the Tourist Board about marketing, adding value to a product and wowing the cusotmers - I was wowed!    I love knitting with the variegated/self-patterning wool as you never know quite how it is going to turn out. 

The Speaker at the Wednesday Club was from Stable Life, a very well worthwhile local charity that helps vulnerable youngsters by involving them in  working on the land and with horses. Plenty  of goodies on the cake stands afterwards.  Walked there and back in pouring rain  - it has never stopped all day.  A good night for me on TV  for a change. 

Thursday 23 November 2017

Woke up  to find it was dry with glimmer of sunshine. Our "Walk It" group went across to Tweedbank and enjoyed a walk around the loch and down to the high, fast-flowing river - still plenty of colours in the foliage.

 

 

Home to a good blogging session.  Posted "Women on the Home Front - Service in the Face of Sorrow" with the WW1 tale of Maggie Laidlaw of Hawick.

Friday 24 November 2017

We needed to go into Galashiels for the bank and a cobbler, so we took the opportunity to have lunch out at our favourite place -  Quins.    

Home to another good blogging session - posted "The Gift of a Family Bible"  about my great grandfather,  in response to  the November Blog Party Thanksgiving Challenge.   

Saturday 25 November 2017

Bitterly cold again - 4C. A day off the main computer.  A good news story for Scotland for once - we actually beat Australia convincingly at rugby!!

My favourite Saturday night entertainment - Strictly Come Dancing - I will have withdrawal symptoms when this finishes in a few weeks' time. 

Image courtesy of Pixabay.

Sunday 26 November 2017

Lazy morning.  Fired off a quick  blog on Family History Fun to try and boost figures for this new blog.  We decided to get some fresh air after lunch, but even though we were well wrapped  in hat, scarf and gloves, we soon turned back it was such a chill raw wind - where was the sun we were promsied for today?  Papers are sayng that Scotland is in for some Arctic blasts!   

My favourite Susan is out of Strictly come Dancing - yesm  she was the worst dancer left in, but she was so full of the joy of dancing, a delight to watch and with witty one-liners 

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Other Blogs I Write:

 Family History Fun  at https://scotsue-familyhistoryfun.blogspot.co.uk 

Auld Earlston at https://auldearlston.blogspot.co.uk

Life 13th-19th Nov 2017: Yoga, An Italian Experience & Visiting the "Boys".

A week of exercise, sampling Italian food, visiting Chocolate and Marshmallow (you will have to read on to find out more) and ending  with a frustrating computer breakdown.

Monday 13th November 2017.

Bitterly cold day.  Went to Melrose for the post office (we lost ours in the village earlier this year); also visited the library (in the square and so much more convenient than in Earlston where it is a good 20mim walk away in the High School.  

Of course to kill time before the bus back, we had to go to our current favourite offee shop/restaurant - Marmions - N. had coffee and walnut cake, whilst I opted for a delicious scone with wee pots of butter and jam - none of those fiddly little catering pats that are tricky to open!

Home and made vegetable soup for lunch.  Busy afternoon blogging.

Tuesday 14th November 2017
As one of the Wednesday Club catering team, I was invited to a committee meeting to discuss our afternoon tea policy.  Bit of a waste of time and I am still confused as to how many pieces I should be making - the club has 52 members, so a lot to cater for with sandwiches or sausage rolls, scones, cakes and tray bakes

Allowed myself to be persuaded to keep C. company at a new yoga class in the primary school.  I have never had the slightest bit of interest in yoga, so why on earth did I say “yes”?

I did manage this pose - for a short time until my knees told me otherwise -

 not me in the image I hasten to add.   Courtesy Pixabay 

I was glad I went as a taster, but I haven't changed my mind - yoga is not for me.  I feel  much healthier, fitter and invigorated after going to Aquafit.   

Wednesday 15th  November 2017.

Woke  at 4.25am and could not get back to sleep, so a dozy start to the day.  My equivalent to “counting sheep” strategy did not work e,g. counting 50 states of the USA, 32 old counties of Scotland, composers A.to Z.  Good session on computer on draft of “Women on the Home Front” based in Gd. research work in Hawick.

I have had such a good reaction on my Family History Facebook page  to my  post on "7 Days of My Life", I have decided to create  this separate blog - though it tested my basic IT skills, as it is such a  long time since I last set up a blog.    

Thursday 16th November 2017
Mill Meadow  walk down to the Haughhead Bridge.

Leader Water

 I like photographing trees throughout the different seasons - here I was struck by the lovely shape of the branches. 

WRI  (Womens' Rural Institute) meeting with  the speaker recounting her  experiences of living in Italy for 25 years.  It was in a village about the size of Earlston, 30 miles north of Rome and very much a rural lifestyle in a rented farm cottage, with an erratic water supply, and surrounded by vines and olive trees.   The contrast with here in terms of the fresh food shops available locally - bread, pasta, vegetables etc. - was striking.  J. had brought with her recipes and two of her favourite Italian dishes for us to sample - antipasti savories (courgettes, mushrooms, peppers, aubergines, salami, mozzarella, olives, salami), followed by a delicious raspberry & amaretti crunch cake, which I must try.

Friday 17th November 2017
Into Galashiels for shopping.  The last thing N. said was "Don''t overload yourself" - but of course I did, but so nice to get something different in the food line. So  tea was courtesyy of M & S. (Marks and Spencers) - quiche and salads.  Crocheted in the evening, making decorations for the Church Christmas Tree project - more of that later.


Saturday 18th November 2017

A fine day with glimmers of sunshine,  so I went out with my camera into Mill Bank Woods.  Called into G. on the way to see the latest members of the family -"the boys"  - Chocolate and Marshmallow - two guinea pigs. who are being royally looked after by Nh.

            Peek-a-Boo

On with my walk

Craisgsford Bridge, built c.1737 and once the main road to Edinburgh.

                             Looking down on Leader Water from Mill Bank Woods

TV - Strictly Come Dancing live from the Tower Ballroom. Blackpool, where my parents met in 1936!  Great Saturday  entertainment at home, accompanied by a drink and chocolates!

              
Sunday 19th November 2017.

Lazy morning, sunny outside so we walked up to Speedy’s Wood and came back for bacon and mushroom sandwiches - our favourite Sundsy brunch.  

N. was on the computer when it crashed.  We got a light on the hard drive   But nothing in the screen which we have not had all that long.  I was on such a roll with my blogs and need the main computer to attach photographs.   Just hope D. our computer advisor can come round soon.  At times,  computers call for great patience!!

Life 6th-12th Nov.2017: Chats, Scones & A Fire Engine Visit

A  week typical of my lifestyle, though more TV than usual and fewer grandparent duties;  plus a fire engine visit!

Monday 6th November 2017

We were woken in the early hours of the morning i.e. 1am  by the  continuing bleeping of our smoke alarm - a sign that the batteries are running down, aggravated by cold weather.  I switched the heating on, hoping it would cease and tried to bury my head in the downie to drown out the irritating sound.  First phone call of the day must be to the Fire and Rescue Service to come and sort it. Woke up to a bitterly cold morning with heavy frost (the end of my nasturtiums and geraniums in the garden)  plus signs of sun -  but at least the house was nice and warm.  


Took the bus for the quick 3 mile journey into Melrose to meet a former work colleague for coffee and scones.   As ever we never stopped talking! I never tire of the journey to and from Melrose with the view of the Eildon Hills and the Leaderfoot Viaduct over the Tweed - the Borders at its best. 

Leaderfoot Viaduct

Back home to find N. had a homemade vegetable soup on the go  - just the ticket for lunch.  

Spent the afternoon  on the computer, preparing items for an  Auld Earlston meeting   and then finishing some crochet squares for the KAS (Knit a Square) Project, photographed  the squares and posted the images on the KAS Square Circle Forum page for November. 

             

  

Tea - salad (because I needed to use up items in the fridge) with home made oven chips, followed by a hot dessert - Eve’s Pudding.  

On TV watched It Takes Two - Strictly Come Dancing and  the quizzes Pointless and University Challenge whre I enjoy testing myself against the questions.  Then read my library book - realised that I  am into "comfort reading" and that a psychological thriller with lots of strange,suspicious happenings, is not conducive  to sleep.

Tuesday 7th November 2017
Our friendly Fire and Rescue team made an impressive arrival on their fire engine (after all they were on call) and they quickly fitted  a new smoke alarm.  A day of computer hassles, writing a post for the Auld Earlson blog featuring WW1 memorabilia from the group's archive collection. Spent far too long on it, so I am also going to feature it my own family history blog as well,  where  I always choose the theme of War and Remembrance  for November postings and have exhausted my own family stories.

Lunch - more of the soup.  Tea - mushroom pasta  and  roast peach halves, filled with biscuit crumble.

Auld Earlston Committee Meeting in the evening where we reviewed our recent very successful exhibition and slide show.  Home in time to catch on TV  the second half of Masterchef the Professionals.

 

Wednesday 8th November 2017  
Domestics in the morning and a visit to the hairdressers to get my hair trimmed where I had a good chat with M. about local history.  . Wednesday Club meeting  in the afternoon  more good chats with friends and as usual a lovely afternoon tea of goodies.  Posted my WW1 post on my own blog - have various other titles in my draft folder to work on, after a lean month in October.  

Tea  - fish  and fruit salad.

TV - for once a good evening for me - Pointless,  ITT Strictly, Masterchef the Professionals  where we were routing for the chef from the Lake District -  we always go for participnts from the north of  England or from Scotland - would that now be termed racism in these political correct times!   Then The Apprentice - it is compulsive viewing, particularly the final part in the board room, but it is so false!  The contestants were on a cruise ship and had to plan, sell and present a walking tour of Bruges. My 22 years in tourism hackles rose!  How could they lead a tour when they had never visited the place to do a recce, work out timings  and practice their commentary?     The cruise passengers were conned into paying nearly £100 each - stupid them -  but  I have a strong belief the TV production company would pay that.  

Thursday 9th November 2017
Lovely sunny morning and not as cold - joined the Walking Group  when we took cars up to Lauder  and walked  along the old Lauder Light Railway line.  Easy walking with clear blue skies and beautiful open countryside - very invigorating.  Back to Rhymers Cafe for  coffee and scones, plus friendly chat.   

Afternoon spent on (hopefully) finishing off Anne’s Family History narrative which I began some time ago and I must finish  before Christmas. 

ASDA groceries delivery  - this is such a boon, especially as we no longer have a car,  20 min. ordering on the IPad,  no 18 mile round trip to Galashiels, loading trolley, unloading trolley, filling bags,  etc.    Tea  mini pizzas (home made) and fresh fruit salad.

Usual TV - ITT Strictly good  and not as silly as it can get - I always like the spot on costumes and a good interview with Susan and Kevin, one of my favourite couples. Plus an absorbing  BBC4 programme  on the four Romanov daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra - I have always been fascinated by this period of Russian history and remember a complex spider's web chart I drew at university for revising the causes of the Russian Revolution. 

Friday 10th November  2017
Woke up early so read  in bed and finished my library book.  Lazy morning with a quick visit  from G and Nh. - In Service Training Day so no school and they were going  to see the new Paddington Bear film. 

Short bus journey down to Milestone Garden Centre for lunch.  We enjoyed the visit - lovely first impression as we  entered with the colourful Christmas displays - needless to say we did buy some additions for the tree.;  plus some cyclamen and heathers for the tubs in the front garden which I planted this afternoon.  Another sunny day with clear blue skies, but still very cold - definitely hat, scarf and gloves weather - 5C/41F.  

 Berries in the garden still giving a lovely splash of colour

TV  - Pointless, News, Mastermid and Only Connect quizzes.  On my I-pad  writing book reviews on Good Reads.   I am dreadful at remembering titles and authors of books I read, so this web site is ideal.  I do it for myself, not to get comments and enjoy reading what others think of the books.

Saturday 11th November 2017. 
Domestics  and on the computer drafting blog posts and clearing my e-mails build up.    I have had a great week on my blog.

Tea - usual Saturday winter comfort meal  - eg, poached egg, bacon, hash browns, mushrooms - plus pears for afters.    

TV's Strictly Come Dancing brilliant - even N. is following it, rather than escaping onto the computer.    Followed by the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall - very moving - Britain and BBC at their very best.  

Sunday 12th November 2017 
Sunshine streamed through the house for much of the day.  Watched the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph - again very stirring and moving.  Britain does this ceremonial so well.   Walked up to the Square afterwards and took photographs of Earlston War Memorial with the poppy wreaths.

Earlston War Memorial in the Gardens in the Square - 

with the White Hill in the background.

Tea - casserole, roast potatoes,  ice-cream and fruit salad,  TV - Songs of Praise, Strictly Dance Off and  new serial  of  E.M Fosters "Howards End".  

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The post first published on my Family History Fun blog on November 12th

was  the impetus to me setting  up Journal Jottings