R and I were going for our walk this morning and got to the bottom of the drive when he spotted something in the middle of the road. It was a snake like creature around 20cm long and was lying very still. At first I thought it was a slow worm, but then I saw […]
My mum was sleeping in our new ‘snug’ while she was here. This is basically what used to be R’s office but done out with a new futon and a Japanese screen covering the servers and their associated mass of cables. At about 4am, Schrodi decided to complement my mother by bringing her a present […]
My parents have been visiting for a few days, and we went on a couple of trips. On Thursday we went out on the Waverley (for those that don’t know, the world’s last ocean going paddle steamer and somewhat of a Scottish institution). This time she was bound out from Greenock, round by Dunoon (where […]
I made some Strawberry Jam this afternoon, not with my own berries which are not ready yet, but with some cheap ones from the supermarket. Just at the moment there is a glut on and you can buy an enormous box for what one small punnet would cost during the winter. The jam smelled lovely […]
Even more so than last year – we are having a great time with our wildlife at the moment. I am wondering if the word has got about that we are a soft touch for loads of food and creatures are flocking from near and far for their share in it. Our pair of badgers […]
As though from nowhere, a giant clematis has appeared growing through the bush next to the bird feeder. It has one huge flower the size of a soup plate so far – but loads of buds… I’m pleased to see it because there are some fantastic clematis in the village but ours haven’t done much […]
Well it was four rodents really… c. 1:30am Heard muffled meow from hall. Knew this sign of old so dashed into hall. Small shrew is on floor apparently dead with Schrodi standing over it proudly. Touched it lightly and it shot off under the bureau obviously not even injured. Went back to bed. This was […]
I don’t know what it is with drinks manufacturers, but it doesn’t seem to be possible to buy a nice soft drink without it being packed with sugar. You can buy soft drinks of the ‘squash’ variety (much beloved of R) made with artificial sweeteners, you can buy ‘diet’ fizzy drinks like coke and lemonade […]
Interesting that this time last year I had been eating home grown strawberries for a week or so. Of course they were grown in the (now in the process of being recycled) polytunnel, and the spring was also warmer last year. Having said all that, they are coming on well outside, and look as though […]
After a pretty grim week last week, with some of the coldest days in June that I remember, the situation is much improved this week. At this time of year our walks are a bit restricted because the midgies are very bad on the high trail through the woods and up to the waterfalls, so […]
