Hogmanay Garden

Hogmany, 2010

This is the first time that the green has been seen since 24 November. Today is cold and a bit raw. The garden looks bleak.

Fourth Day of Christmas - Book 6

Trollope, J. (2010). The Other Family. London: Transworld Publishers.

This was a good wet Sunday Afternoon read. The story of change was thought provoking as we all approach Auld Year's night. What does 2011 hold in store for us? Much will depend on ourselves, our physical and mental state and our attitude to the issues, the events and the people that cross our paths. Will we move on or stick in our present mindsets? Who knows?

Dr Anne awards this book 7/10 as it has aroused an awareness of her present position.

Attention Please

Dr Anne and George joined other orphans for Christmas Lunch at the Broomfields. A great afternoon and evening were spent eating, drinking and making merry. Below is a measure of the concentration required for the quizes and the games.

Moya and Hazel pay due heed to Sinclair as he describes what must be done.Jack, George and Paul also give their full attention to Sinclair.

Book 5

Leith, P. (2010). A Serving of Scandal. London: Quercus.

Dr Anne had seen Prue Leith on TV as a judge in the programme which chose the Best British Dish. The book was an easy read, easy to pick up, easy to lay down. It is what Dr Anne would call a nice gentle read.

She awarded it 6/10.

Delivering Christmas Cards

The sun was shining although it was -9c. Dr Anne put on her waterproof trousers and walking shoes to go deliver her Christmas cards around the town. She had been out yesterday with the wellies on and fallen twice so today more thought went into the footwear. It was quite an amazing day because in addition to the cups of coffee and chat on the way the scenery was beautiful around the Durn Road. Durn Burn
Durn Road

Around the Durn Road

Sunday's Read

Boyd, W. (2009). Ordinary Thunderstorms. London, Berlin and New York: Bloomsbury Publishing

This book held one's full and focused attention. It was a storyline that could happen to anyone in a city such as London. A chance encounter when alone in a city, what would we do? As the characters were introduced stories developed around them while the main story
moved on at a pace.

Dr Anne awards 8/10.

Dr Anne's Contemporary Side

Grey Granite, this might be the key to 2011.

Snow, snow, snow

Snow, snow, snow... More snow last night. All footsteps have disappeared. It looks like a winter wonderland just sitting there. The roads are still not clear. Computer says -6c today. Dr Anne says that it will be another book day.

Saturday, still snow

The sun has come out this afternoon brightening up yesterday's view. It is very cold -9c this morning and -6c at lunch time. The roads are a bit rutted. It is very slippery underfoot.

Around the Salmon Bothy

The Old Harbour @ Portsoy on Friday 17 December after the Storm.
Main Street, Portsoy from the Bothy Steps.

The Salmon Bothy

The Salmon Bothy looking to the East Braes

Christmas Reads

Dr Anne has decided to remain at home this Christmas and have a good read. She has had difficulty with concentration these last few months. So... she has bought 8 books some from Tescos and 3 for 2 @ Waterstones and Freedom recommended by the Saga Magazine and the Guardian as a good Christmas read. She still has one book belonging to Grey Granite unread and Tony Blair half read.

So...

Archer, J. (2010). And Thereby Hangs a Tale. London: Macmillan.

Dr Anne enjoyed the short stories as her initial read. Jeffrey's twist at the end is always unexpected.

She awards 8/10

Boyne, J (2006). The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. London: Black Swan Books

Dr Anne had heard of a film about the boy in the striped pyjamas. This is a beautifully written book giving one the opportunity to develop a relationship with Bruno and his friend. The ending is totally stunning.

She awards 9/10

Cox, J. (2010). Blood Brothers. London: HarperCollins

This is the first of Cox's books Dr Anne has read. It is powerful and fast moving holding one's attention right to the final page.

She awards 7/10

It is still snowing so off to read book number 4.

Snow Again

A second snow storm came yesterday. This time, there was not the huge 'dump' of snow compared to the last time but the wind came this time. Today there is not much traffic passing the front of the house. The roads around are blocked. The snow keeps coming.

Visit to Junior

Dr Anne made a special visit to Reading back in October. Here she is when she met Abraham for the first time.

Fearghal Watt

Fearghal paid Dr Anne a visit today at East Neuk.

My Special Babies in 2010

Fearghal Wilson Watt was born on the 9th September, 2010. Here he is with his mum Leanne at East Neuk today.

Matilda Hillman was born in August, 2010. Here she is with mum Melinda and big sister Alice at home in Melbourne, Australia.

Abraham Jeffrey Edelsten was born at the end of May 2010. Here he is with his Auntie Lorna.

Menstrie, Clackmannanshire

Dr Anne's friend in Menstrie has sent these pictures after a day of heavy snow.

Edinburgh is now like the retreat from Moscow. The buses and taxis are suspended. People are trudging home in the snow. How far is it realistic to walk in this weather? -11c forecast tonight.

Edinburgh

Dr Anne's friend sent this picture of Edinburgh today. Much more snow than the one he sent last week.

After the thaw of Saturday night Sunday morning 2" fell last night in the north. The A98 to Fraserburgh, the A97 Huntly to Banff and the A98 Elgin to Fochabers are passable with care.

Here in Portsoy, there is ice under the snow making the pavements very slippery.

Snow is falling, snow on snow

The snow is falling thickly. The sky is pink.

Snow in Edinburgh Too

St Andrews Day. Plenty of snow all over Scotland. Today it is fresh and warm if you take out the shovel and get to work.

And More Snow

The snow keeps coming. It is fresh and there is no wind. Two workmen came from Aberchirder to Portsoy this morning taking two hours instead of 20 minutes. There are 19" of snow in Aberchirder.

Schools are all closed. Activities are cancelled. No dancing tonight. No pilates tonight.

More snow

Dr Anne woke to find at least 10" of snow today. Apparently it fell between 1230 and 1330. Most roads are passable only for 4x4s.

Snow in November

Dr Anne found the weather a bit of a disappointment this autumn. Word came that winter was due to come with a vengeance. All week there has been reports of ice and snow on the A96, the A947, the A95 etc. Portsoy had escaped but not today. It is 'dinging down' right now. Thank goodness for a nice warm house.

The Bothy teas and craft fair was cancelled.

Pilates

Dr Anne attended her first pilates class last night. The class was held in the Church Hall. Dr Anne had left her nice warm living room to lie on this cold floor with draughts blowing under the door. She felt that it would be much better to employ Wendy as a personal trainer. She will decide after this four week course.

Dr Anne found the breathing fairly dificult. When would she breathe out and when would she breathe in? She found herself holding her breath. The exercises were pretty secondary to the breathing this time around.

Other Talk

Dr Anne will consider other topics during the winter months as the garden goes to sleep.

* Winter walks
* Winter visits
* Bothy activities
* Church activities
* Pilates
* Dancing.

Dr Anne is working on an exercise programme for her friend George. Walk one was along Cullen Beach. It was a beautiful day and there were dozens of people, most with dogs, walking along the sand. From the beach they walked up the brae and along the old railway line back into Cullen. A second visit to the beach was cut short by a heavy shower of rain.

Walk two took them to the Crannoch Wood. It was a new experience for George. They walked up to the loch, round it and back down to the car park. Again it was a beautiful day but there was a lot of fallen leaves underfoot which made the walk slippery.

Dr Anne used to attend a pilates class on her way home from work. Now that there is a class in Portsoy she has been for an assessment and tonight starts a four week course.

Dr Anne was a keen dancer throughout the years. At the beginning of November she attended the AGM of the RSCDS in Perth. There was a ball, a dance, forums, dance classes and a PR workshop. Dr Anne's main role these days is the organisation of the decoration of the Sports Hall with RSCDS tartan. Colin Dewar's band on the Saturday night is worth a mention. The lift was brilliant. Last week was the annual dance of the Banffshire Branch of the RSCDS. The band was James Coutts from Fife. There was a good attendance (circa 120). Food was good and the programme a little bit different from the norm.

The gym is now calling... will it happen? Watch this space.

It has been a long time

It has three months since a posting came from Dr Anne. Why you may ask? 'Stuff ' says Dr Anne.

There was a big storm at the beginning of September, 2010. The flowers were battered and the beautiful birch was bent double in the gale force winds. After that Dr Anne lost heart. The second flowering of roses were slow to come and poor weather did not show them to best effect. Now mid November the roses are still in bloom giving Dr Anne some pleasure.

However, David Austin's Princess Anne arrived this week so Dr Anne had to pull herself out of the slough of despond and take action. Pots were purchased at Christies and arrived with farmyard manure, John Innes number 3 and multipurpose compost late yesterday. Today Dr Anne sat down over lunch to read the instructions for planting and now all three are in their new pots. They must now receive tender loving care.

The Eco Village near Inverness

Modular House by Tulloch Homes
Corrugated Iron with very thick insulation and finished with a wooden interior.

Houses around the Community Green
The Rubber Houses - affordable houses to rent

Yesterday Dr Anne visited the Expo on Eco Friendly Housing in Inverness. The houses were all one and a half storeys. The technology is there and no longer experimental. There are savings to be made.

Roses in August

The Fairy Roses

View from Conservatory

The Patio Roses

Peace

The Dell in August

The rhodies, azaleas and the heathers have been fed. It is all very green and beautiful.

Late Roses

The Fairy Rose

The bed of Fairy Roses has at last come into bloom. They should be in bloom until October.

Maigold
Maigold is the last rose to come into bloom this summer. It is worth the waiting.

Bridal Blossom

A variety of views of the Bridal Blossom. This year the petals fell quickly because of the wind and rain. However, their beauty is a wonderful memory.