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