Thursday 26th March 2026

It’s been a wild week. Very windy and really cold, with some heavy rain going on too.

Consequently I haven't done anything particularly interesting. The days ticked by, punctuated by cups of tea, constant tidying up and cooking of meals. We had a fire on every day. Very unusual for this time of year. As the days get longer, I tend to forget and then it's too late. This week we've been huddled round the stove fairly soon after lunch.

The clocks go forward in a couple of days, so who knows if it will get any more springlike.

I did manage outside in the weather gaps. I planted some sweet violets in various places around the front, and in the woodland garden. Hopefully I'll be able to see them from the kitchen - especially if they spread, as promised.

I sowed a few more tomatoes too - the local school will take my extras, so i won't need to feel bad about composting them. These were a variety called Green Coppa - they look very striking with their green and orange striping.

On Wednesday I watched the new Archbishop of Canterbury being installed. I found it very moving and inspiring. I have a lot of thoughts about it swirling around.

I'm all for women in leadership in the church. God consistently revealed himself first to women all the way through scripture. I wish people would actually read the bible.

Some of the comments I've seen on social media about it have been horrible- especially from those purporting to be Christians. We can only pray for them.

I got all my committee minutes and correspondence done early, sitting by those early afternoon fires. It's always good to get them out of the way early.

Not much else - still doing the gym on Tuesdays, trips to town twice a week, that sort of thing. Hopefully there will be milk in the shops tomorrow. The ferry situation has been pretty dire this week.

Friday 20th March 2026

It’s the Vernal Equinox today - the sun rising beautifully and full of promise. Its a false one, sadly, as, according to my favoured weather app, the gales are back next week. We shall see, but for now, we'll smile at each other and take advantage of the fine weather while it is here.

I posted a photo of said sunrise on Instagram if you want to see it. I’m taking a break from there for now. This blog will have all my social media attention, for a while, which might be exciting, but probably not that much.

The picture above was taken in the big polycrub earlier in the week. It’s a sunset, as I was facing the door at the time. This crub contains two plum trees and a cherry. The cherry has never produced fruit, so it is enjoying yet another year of grace. The plums are wonderfully abundant every two years, as is their habit. This is a fruiting year - and the fragrance of the blossom is intoxicating when you open the door in the morning. Hopefully my neighbour's honeybees will think the same.

The wallflowers in the foreground are a happy accident, growing from a few discarded plants that were in a pile destined for the compost bin, but forgotten about by the lazy gardener...

I have often thought about how Cathedral like the polycrub is. Its high, vaulting roof and the hoops - which are actually recycled fish farm feeding tubes - rise like Gothic arches, creating a sanctuary of sudden silence as the constant wind is kept at bay. The bright colours of the flowers are the stained glass of that space; they remind me why the great early cathedrals were so filled with carvings of the natural world.

To stand here is to truly consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil or spin.* Yet even in the midst of this cold Lenten season, they bloom with a grace that no architect or master craftsman could convey.

Well, that turned into a bit of a reflection, which is why I do enjoy the blog. I can run off on a tangent without a care - indulge in my penchant for an over the top alliteration, and resist the pull of the algorithm and the search for the perfect trending audio.

Now I have to run off into town for the food shop. I'll report back on that kind of stuff in a few days.

Happy Spring xx

*Matthew 6:28, but do read on.

Sunday 15th March 2026

It’s Mothering Sunday here in the UK. One of those movable feasts, which depends on the phase of the moon. It’s early this year - not quite spring, if you go by the equinoctial date. It is cold and blustery - hail is not far away. I ventured out earlier, in my pyjamas, Wellingtons, and a big coat, for a quick look around, opened up the polycrubs, and cut myself a couple of sprigs of hellebore. I have them now on the bookcase beside me, high enough that I can admire their bashful faces. They look beautiful in the green vase.

I’ve not gone to church, but given myself a day at home. Last week was so busy, and the emails were intense. I am involved in numerous community groups and boards; one particular project is at a critical stage right now, and we are all getting battle weary. “Courage, Brother, do not stumble…” as the good Rev Dr Macleod exhorted those Edinburgh workers, 150 years ago.

For dinner, I have a nice bit of rolled lamb to roast with potatoes, and I will make a bramble and apple crumble for dessert. Served with ice cream. Maybe a glass of wine - go on then.

So, I decided to come back to the blog. It’s a seasonal thing with me, as you will know if you have been around for any time. Bursts of activity when I witter on about whatever, then months and months of silence. Well, that’s just how it is, and today I thought - why not?

I tried Substack for a while, but it wasn’t for me. I know this platform isn’t easy to leave a comment on or to “build community”, but I’m only really pleasing myself here. Delighted to have you along, if you find the ramblings of a housewife in her sixties interesting. I quite enjoy them.

Monday 14th July 2025

Just a quick book update, as I feel I'm in a reading phase right now, and I want to keep track of my thoughts before the finished list gets out of hand.

In my last post, I mentioned I was almost finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia. Well, I did face up to The Last Battle, and - I wasn't ready.

It was a Revelation...

Yes - C.S. Lewis really went there.

Such a different tone from the previous books in the series - much darker from the outset, with a real sense of foreboding and anxiety. Of course, the clue is in the title, but somehow I wasn't quite prepared for that ending.

I've had to read the last four chapters three times, as I was so caught up in the confusion of battle. And then - the realisation of what had actually happened.

I'm still reeling.

On Sunday I picked up Summer by Edith Wharton.

I enjoyed this quick read. It's a slow story, set in sleepy small-town Massatuchetts, just over a century ago. Lots of Wharton's usual subjects are there- class, status, sexuality, and the position of women at the time, but in a less affluent, rural setting than her more famous works.

The portrayal of Charity Royall, a young adopted girl, experiencing romance and passion for the first time, is beautifully written and heartbreaking. The atmosphere is hot and opressive, but also fresh and tender. There are wonderfully vivid descriptions of a 4th of July celebration in the larger town, and a homecoming event in the village.

This was a perfect summer read, with deep pools and shadows that I'm still thinking about. I hope she was OK.

I'm going to stick with a vague summer theme for my next read; The Summer Before the Dark, by Doris Lessing. I have no idea where or when I got this, and I haven't read any of her books before, so we'll see how it goes. I’ll let you know xx

Saturday 12th July 2025

It’s very warm today.

Yesterday was too, but I was involved in a community event, which involved spending most of the day in a hot, hot kitchen. We made it through, though, and it was a great success all round.

My feet are sore today, but I’m enjoying putting them up, relaxing a bit, then pottering about in between - one of my superpowers.

I made some raspberry and rose petal cordial last week - homegrown on both counts. I enjoyed a glass out on the patio this afternoon. It was so refreshing diluted with fizzy water, and not too strong a rose flavour, either.

I took a book out, but it was too hot to read. It's Summer, by Edith Wharton. I’m not very far into it and quite enjoying it so far, although it does feel a bit dark and opressive. Maybe one to read on a stormy summer afternoon.

I’ve just finished the Confessions by St Augustine. He was quite the wild child, and a very naughty young man, by his own account, but eventually he found the Lord and became Christian. It was a good translation (Chadwick), so a reasonably accessible read. Some paragraphs needed a couple of readings though - especially just before bed.

More enjoyably, I’m binging my way through The Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve never got past the second book before, and now I’m about to start the last in the series. This has been an interesting experience. On the surface, I thought they were children's stories, and typical of the times they were written. As I have gone through the series, however, I am seeing a much bigger picture, and it is a tale so deep and magnificent that I struggle to articulate it. The Last Battle awaits - am I ready to face it?

If you like the sound of the cordial and fancy giving it a go, it’s very easy.

Bring to a boil;

700g raspberries

300 g caster sugar

Zest and juice of 2 lemons

500ml water

1tsp citric acid.

Simmer for 15 minutes then let cool for 30.

Put 50g fragrant rose petals in a large bowl and pour the raspberry syrup over them. Cover with a tea towel and leave overnight.

[I don't spray my roses or anything like that, so just used my own petals. They were either Queen or Princess of Sweden or Denmark.]

Strain the syrup through muslin and pour into sterilised bottles. Keep in a cool dark place for 3 months or so.

You could make this with any fruit/flower combination you might have.

Strawberry and lavender, gooseberry and elderflower, blackcurrant and mint etc.

The possibilities are endless, really.

Hope you are enjoying the summer.

Sunday 12th January 2025

I’m thinking of moving my blogging to substack. It seems easier to post and - for now, at least, free.

There’s also more of a community feel, almost like back in the old blogger days before instagram took over. It’s just harder to engage here. I don’t know - I’m going to try it anyway. If you want to pop over it’s here. I’m not doing the paid stuff.

Hebridean home and croft

Edited: I'm keeping this blog going in tandem for now. To be honest, I’m finding substack a bit annoying and pretentious. I think I like being the grumpy old woman in my own space. Hedging my bets for a bit xx

Thursday 26th December 2024

Happy Feast of Stephen. I’m feeling motivated to write here again after a few months. It’s been a year of contrasts in that circle of life thing - death, birth, grief, anxiety and joy - things that are difficult to share and not always mine to do so. But I'm still here - pottering about, drinking tea, sowing seeds, knitting rows and hanging out laundry. Sadder, happier, just as busy - keeping going.

We had a nice day yesterday—just me and the boy. We had a lovely Christmas dinner, which we ate in the living room on trays while watching the Strongman competition series. I still cooked too much food. I’m seemingly incapable of scaling back from the hordes I used to have around my table.

This morning, I nipped out to the potting shed and sowed a couple of trays of onion seeds - Ailsa Craig and Tropea Rossa Lunga. I also got some garlic planted in the polycrub. The sweet pea and broad bean seedlings I sowed in Autumn are looking strong, and the outside garlic is poking through the ground. That Circle of Life thing again.

I’m planning to read The Lord of the Rings over the holidays. I read The Hobbit last week in preparation. I had only ever got as far as the Goblins before, so it was nice to find out the rest of the story. I didn't watch the film version.

That’s about it for now. I'm heading back into Hobbiton with my chocolate orange. I'll try to report back sooner this time.

Thursday 18th July 2024

The summer has not actually showed up yet. I’m not sure if it will, but there's a few weeks to go, so I'll reserve judgement. I moaned about it already, on Instagram, but I'm still going to here.

The sweet peas have been extremely reticent to flower, and the roses have refused to turn out at all. Well, except for a couple of blooms on the Princess Anne, but you'd expect that from her.

It did turn out to be a pleasant enough evening in the end, but there's been an underlying chill that never quite goes away, even when the sun comes out. I don't know.

I have a few days to myself this weekend. The boy is away to a music festival and is staying in town.

Whatever will I get up to?

I’ll report back.

Tuesday 9th July 2024

Here I am, popping up again after a couple of months.

It has been a glorious day, sunny and warm. The first real summer day for weeks. I was busy this morning, out to the gym and shops, then meeting up with a couple of friends for lunch. All very pleasant. The town was busy - heaving, as they say. A large cruise ship was in from Germany and the passengers were all ashore, strolling about in the sunshine, going about on bikes, or boarding the tour buses for a day trip. I hope they had a nice day.

When I got home, I was going to bash on with the gardening, but I thought - no - I’ll actually sit outside in the sun and relax while I’ve got the chance. So, that’s just what I did. I re-read most of “A Month in the Country”, by J.L. Carr - losing myself in that hot summer of 100 odd years ago. It was just what I needed. I kept 20 pages to read in bed tonight.

I had brought the boy some takeaway pizza home in the afternoon, so I just had a slice of the leftovers for dinner, as it was quite a filling lunch. Later there was a board meeting on Teams, which I’m getting used to.

We’re watching the football - Spain is winning. I think they will win the whole thing. It would be nice for those young English boys, I do support them - it’s the commentators that alienate it for me.

I was offline during most of May - boy’s exams and then the anniversary of John’s passing. 9 years. I found it particularly difficult this year, for some reason. Every year is different, but there is always some kind of somatic response in the days around that date. I’ve learned to give in to it.

Then, just as that cloud was lifting, my Dad died at the beginning of June. It was very unexpected. Even though he was 88, he had kept in pretty good health, and certainly didn’t look his age. The day before he took ill, he and my stepmother had been at the theatre in Edinburgh. He felt ill the next day, went to the GP the following day, and was admitted to hospital the day after that. Pneumonia.

We flew down to visit, fully expecting him to recover, but sadly, the infection could not be controlled, and he passed away peacefully the next day. We were all there, and had time with him. It was a good death, which is all you can really take from the situation.

The funeral was nearer the end of the month, as these things take longer on the mainland. It gave us time to prepare and to gather everyone together. It was sad, but also fulfilling.

And now I’m home, with his swiss army knife and barbecue apron, among other mementos, getting used to this orphan status. I’m very thankful I had him as my Dad for so long.

Sunday 28th April 2024

I've been meaning to blog all week, but never seemed to get around to it.

Even now, I’m not sure I have the energy. That Sunday evening vibe - not quite ready for the weekend to be over.

My weekend was lovely. Lots of time in the garden. Potatoes and broccoli planted, some clearing of beds, loads for potting on and new seeds sown. The sun shone, we ate nice food and generally had a relaxed couple of days.

It had been a really busy week, so I was ready for some time out.

I’m fantasising about having a farm stand. Just need a farm..

Thursday 18th April 2024

Cold northerly wind today, with a lot of rain. Yesterday was glorious - warm even, and I was able to bring all the plants outside and leave them happily sunning themselves.

It's amazing how quickly we forget the months of rain and gales after one single day of sunshine and are utterly shocked when it goes back to normal the next day.

The central heating broke down. I had been suspecting it for some time from intermittent unusual noises coming from the boiler. And so it came to pass that on Tuesday morning, it did not fire up.

I did wonder if I had let the oil level go down too far, and had actually ordered a delivery on Monday. This was partially because I knew I was running low, but also because world events at the weekend spooked me enough to think of these things.

The oil arrived, safely, on Wednesday but made no impression on the boiler. I phoned the heating engineers who sent a man round in the afternoon.

He diagnosed a faulty pump and capacitor and fitted new ones. Job done fairly quickly. But the heating failed to come on…

More investigation made him think it was the central heating pump as well as the boiler one -as the pipes leading away from the boiler were now hot.

It was news I was dreading, because I knew the central heating pump was in a very difficult to access position which could mean dismantling the built in unit in the living room, and a huge upheaval involving laminate flooring and plywood underlay.

But there is a reason I am not a heating engineer. Our man paced around, pondering and looking at the floors before deciding that the best thing was to cut a hatch under the tumble dryer and knock through to access the pump. Job done!

Well not exactly, because he had to get the timber and come back today, but it is fixed now, and no upheaval.

And now we realise just how bad the heating was, because its honestly like a sauna in here and everything is turned way down. We kept saying to each other how warm it was - how the bathroom radiator was hot all the way up! The boy's room, which is normally like an ice box is roasting. We enjoyed this heatwave for a couple of hours until we turned it off.

It just shows how we become accustomed to mediocrity.

I made butter chicken for dinner, as if we hadn't had enough heat. It was a special request and was much appreciated - by me too.

So there you are. Bet you didn't expect such a steamy episode.

Monday 15th April 2024

Monday already. Back to school today, so silly o'clock alarms set. Only for a week, though, before the exam leave starts. That time again.

Weather is still awful - rain, wind and so cold.

We had our monthly prayer fellowship on Saturday morning. It’s always exciting to see everyone and this time we had visitors from a bible college who were visiting the island. It was a fantastic morning, and I drove home feeling completely refreshed by the Holy Spirit.

After lunch, I lit the fire, because it was so miserable outside, and I got on with my knitting, while we watched the football.

Church on Sunday morning - it was good to be back after a couple of weeks. I missed starting the week off properly.

I had finished my book on Friday night, and the one I started on Saturday just didn't gel with me. It was an Alexander McCall Smith Philosophy Club story, that was languishing on the shelf. Not my cup of tea at all. I had forgotten how annoying middle class New Town Edinburgh was, so that was that.

I spent a lot of time scrolling book accounts on Instagram for some inspiration, and there were quite a few interesting ideas. I resurrected my old bookstagram account @leftontheshelf because I really feel my reading mojo is back.

Anyway, I'm now reading Trollope, who always makes me happy. Dr. Thorne.

Still cold and blustery today, but I worked away in the big polycrub. The strawberry runners are finally in. Some even had flowers. I also got the dwarf beans planted and a tray of purple podded peas.

In the potting shed, I sowed Chioggia beetroot, various lettuce and Spring onions and some nasturtiums. All in all, a nice afternoons work.

Town tomorrow - just gym and a couple of bits from the supermarket, so I should be home well before lunch. I’ve got a few admin jobs to do and some homework for my theology course.

Hoping for more gardening later in the week, but it looks like I’ll be dodging the showers. It is April, I suppose.

Thursday 11th April 2024

Just me, moaning about how busy I am again. Work type things seem relentless right now and there always seems to be something else popping up that takes me away from my garden plans. And, of course, there is the weather…

Anyway, I got through a couple of meetings that I wasn’t looking forward to, and they were fine. The Apostle Paul has some very good advice about anxiety.

Not really a lot to report that is bloggable this week. Had a nice visit from a Board colleague today to discuss a photographic project we are planning. It involves drones, which is exciting, but also means we have to wait weeks until this infernal wind dies down.

I’ve planted a few herbs and flower seeds, but I want to do a lot more. I lost a few of my delphinium plants which I thought I had put in a sheltered spot, but I turned out to be mistaken. I still haven’t got the strawberry plants in yet - blah, blah, blah… April is the cruellest month, as the man said.

I’m reading The Illyrian Spring, by Ann Bridge, a lyrical, gentle and romantic story, set in what is now Croatia, I think. I am really enjoying it - especially the descriptions of the countryside and architecture.

It is, however, making me long for some spring warmth, especially when the gales and rain are lashing my windows as I read. A wee trip to the Adriatic coast would be perfect right now.

Almost finished the hoodie for my grandson - possibly by next weekend, as I don’t think I have any meetings. Mind you, I feel that there may be something on the 16th, but can’t see what. It will emerge, I am sure.

Sunday 7th April 2024

What can I say? It’s still windy. I feel as if it has been blowing for months without a break. Its still whirling about out there, veering from east to south. I’m getting annoyed now, and there's no real sign of an end this coming week either.

I’m really keen to get on with tree planting and sorting out the cleared space at the shed, but that's not going to happen yet. I do have plenty to do in the polycrubs, mind you. Things to plant, sow, pot on, clear - all that stuff. Hopefully I can focus on that instead of this “old woman rants at cloud” stuff.

We had a lovely week with family home, but they have gone back now. The house is so quiet as we return to our routines.

I spent yesterday afternoon down at the community hall helping with the deep clean, as we gear up for this year's weddings. I spent a pleasant few hours, washing and drying the silverware, and arranging it tidily back in the containers. Various people stopped by to help, on and off, so I had some lovely conversations. I think I got the best job.

I didn't go to church this morning because of the gale and the storm surge that was forecast for that time. I had a nice lazy lie-in, reading We Made A Garden, by Margery Fish and drinking coffee.

Dinner was a fabulous ribeye from a local butcher. I used a rub with wild garlic salt I made last week, and some dried herbs. It was delicious. We had it with potato salad. Greek yogurt, raspberries and honey for dessert.

We've spent the afternoon and evening watching football on TV, although the boy has been popping in and out of the shed gym, and I have been knitting on the hoodie. Second sleeve underway now, so the end is in sight.

Bedtime read is The Illyrian Spring by Ann Bridge - very enjoyable so far.

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

Easter came - full of the joy of the Resurrection. Also full of excited children, an excess of chocolate and a rather fine orange and vanilla cheesecake, decorated with primroses.

There was an egg hunt in the woodland garden, vases of tulips and a table full of family.

We're still in the thick of it here for another few days, but I thought I'd pop in anyway. I’m going to the gym shortly, then meeting up with everyone in town later.

We're all missing that lost hour - or was it an extra one?

Thursday 28th March 2024

Obviously all the tomato seeds germinated, so I’ll see what happens as they settle in.

All the tulips have flowered too - and, all at the same time. I suppose that’s what happens when they are grown in the polycrub where its nice and warm, but its been far too windy to put them outside. I don’t know what I was thinking, because its always the same every year. Gales and strong easterlies for weeks. I’ll need to re-evaluate my strategy for next year. Or move to Suffolk.

I’ve been giving away bunches to friends, which have been very appreciated, and cutting them for the house, which is nice for me.

I have family home for the Easter holiday - arriving tonight, in fact. I’m very much looking forward to that, but it will keep me busy. If I can I’ll pop in with the odd snap

Saturday 23rd March 2024

The wind has been crazy here the last few days. Its not so much the strength, although it has been a constant gale since Thursday night. It’s the direction - NNW. Such an unusual direction - everything is geared up to be sheltered from the South West, so by the time I realised, the blue recycling bin had blown over and disgorged its contents all over the croft.

That was quite annoying, because i’m usually very good at securing everything.

Yesterday was town and gym in the morning, and helping out with one of my community projects in the afternoon. I was so tired when I got home, I was in bed and lights out by 8, and didn't even read.

Felt better today, and had a nice relaxed morning. It’s been too windy and cold to do much outside, but I sowed the smaller tomatoes and a tray of beetroot. If all the tomato seedlings come up I will have about 50 plants. I’m definitely going to select the strongest to grow on. You see if I don't..

Wednesday 20th March 2024

It’s been a beautiful day here today. Very much the calm before the storm though. Another gale coming in overnight, and looking very dodgy on Friday too. I heard that the ferry has been cancelled. Of course its the Equinox today. We always get gales at this time.

I have some pots of tulips flowering beautifully in the polycrub, but I really was hoping to display them outside. Maybe by the end of next week they can go out, when the wind has died down a bit. If not I’ll just pick them and enjoy them in the house.

My big tomatoes germinated this morning. I was really pleased, as they were quite old seed. The Beefsteak were from 2019, and the Black Russian were even older, and saved from a previous crop. I had bought a packet of Marmande just to be safe, so I sowed 4 for insurance. I'll find a spot for them somewhere.

Really had a day of gardening today. I started forking over the third raised bed, and it was relatively easy going. I planted up a tray of broad beans into the big polycrub and gave everything a watering. I have some new strawberry runners to put in, but i’m letting them soak for a day or two.

Then a young lad from the next village arrived in his tractor to do some work for me. I had asked him to pull up some palletts and fencing that had become seriously embedded in long grass behind the potting shed. It was very easy for him with the tractor, so that’s a good job done. I’m not exactly sure what to do with that space now. I’ll strim it back and see what evolves.

We had moussaka for dinner tonight, with a tomato and onion salad. It was delicious, and the boy had seconds. I have a chicken cooking now to make a pie tomorrow. I’m definitley feeling more inspired this week, but it’s a lot more effort.

I don't think I'll be late in bed tonight. I was at the gym yesterday and did a lot of abs work. I’m feeling it today, along with the garden work, so an early night with hot water bottle and book is called for. Bliss.

I went back to Tristram Shandy. I think I've made the right decision - for now, anyway.

Sunday 17th March 2024

Sunday evening already. I haven’t lit the fire today as it hasn’t been cold, and it was light until after 6 pm. I tend to let it slip as the evenings get longer - mainly because I forget. I must be programmed by the length of day or something.

Yesterday was different - such a chill wind. I was outside most of the day - well, in the polycrub mostly. I was faffing around planting up pots and potting on some of the plants I had been keeping under cover over the winter. I sowed quite a few flowers and created a wee display of bulbs in pots on the table outside the potting shed. It is very pretty - I’ll take a picture.

I finished reading I Capture the Castle. I really enjoyed it, although I did get annoyed at them all near the end. It reminded me a lot of Cold Comfort Farm - in a good way, I think. I only finished it last night. (I was being a bit optimistic in my last post.)

Now I’m not sure what to pick up now. I have pulled out Brideshead Revisited, and also a vintage children’s book by Leon Garfield called The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris, but I can’t decide. I do feel Anna Karenina calling far off in the distance, but I’m not quite ready to commit to her yet. There’s also Tristram Shandy to get back to, and a couple of others that are waving to me from the shelves. So many choices, but thankfully I am in a reading groove again. I think I’ll go with the Leon Garfield and then see what appeals after that.

I’m still knitting away on my grandson’s hoodie and I started another sock to take to Edinburgh with me. I only got two rounds done while waiting in Stornoway airport for the flight down, then it sat, forgotten, in my bag.

I’m in a bit of a cooking slump just now. Nothing is quite hitting the mark. We had roast chicken today, which was really quite dry. The cardamom rice pudding was good though. Yesterday I made a lovely looking (and smelling) venison curry, but it turned out to be disappointingly tasteless. Spicy but bland, if that can be imagined. I’m definintely ready for some fresh spring and summer recipes now.

Not sure if there is much on next week. A couple of things I can think of, but nothing too onerous. Bet you can’t wait…

Thursday 14th March 2024

I've been away to the mainland for a few days. My Aunt, my Dad's younger sister, passed away a couple of weeks ago, so I travelled down for her funeral, which was at the beginning of the week.

It was a really lovely event - full of emotion and warmth. I enjoyed seeing my cousins and their families’. I hadn't seen them all together for such a long time. My daughter and son in law made it over too, and I stayed with my Dad and step-mum for a couple of nights. A good dose of family was exactly what we needed at that sad time.

I flew back yesterday and was straight into a Community Council meeting in the evening. It was fine- not a great deal to have to write up.

I spent today pottering around the garden. I had been on a bit of a roll with it, before I went away, but I found it hard to pick that up again. I just started pulling up weeds in one of the beds, and before I knew it, I was back into the rhythm.

I sowed some tomato seeds in the propagator - Beefsteak and Black Russian. I thought I would get them going first, as they take longer to grow. I’ll do the smaller ones in a week or so.

Dinner was steak, mushrooms and broccoli from the polycrub, and the best chips i’ve made for ages. I did them in the airfryer.

I’m feeling a bit stiff and sore after my travels, followed by a fairly strenuous day in the garden, so i’ll probably head to bed with a paracetamol and a hot water bottle.

I am reading I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith, which I saw in the airport bookshop and loved the cover. I’m loving the story too - funny, charming and absolutely perfect. I might finish it tonight.