We continue on the annual round of making things beautiful. I have painted the bridge to Twisby Island (long overdue), supervised from a cautious distance by Miss Cat, who wanted to know what I was doing, but, fortunately, distrusted the smell of paint. It’s not an unpleasant job, but complicated, since to do the middle […]
We had to scrub up after yesterday’s intensive gardening, hence a rather hasty post, because we had been asked to a midsummer party by the castellans of the Castle Of Giant Despair. Black tie. We made ourselves look reasonably creditable, the Prof in his kilt, me in black and white floaty silk georgette, accessorised with […]
We have spent the day gardening. More to the point, Miss T’s mum and dad came down to lend a hand, and so we have got a tremendous amount done, weeding, strimming, tidying. Miss T’s mum sweet talked a farmer friend of hers into coming and topping off the back fields, which had got desperate, […]
We are back in the Deep North, contemplating the immense amount of GROWTH the garden has put on, and the number of hours with strimmers, mowers and so on which are going to be needed to push back the jungle. We have been keeping ourselves busy. I have been mostly in the British Library, and […]
Yesterday was fairly odd. I was in London Friday-Saturday-Sunday, and returned on the night train. This tips you off at Aberdeen station at about 7.30, that is, somewhat tiresomely, just missing the hourly bus. I sometimes sleep placidly in my little hutch, but on this particular night I couldn’t get it cool enough. Unfortunately, I […]
One significant marker of the year is rapidly approaching — the Finals exam board, the day after tomorrow. The whole hideous business of examining is declared over, results are posted, and much dodgy sparkling wine is drunk by the students, whether in commiseration or congratulation. As it happens, I will be missing the actual day […]
It’s been another mucky fingernails afternoon. I have extracted ever so many weeds from the lawn border, which is looking the better for it — I have some new plants coming and need to be prepared. As a result, I was contemplating upon Welsh poppies. I love almost all poppies. The Welsh variety are a […]
We’re just back from Glasgow. The occasion was a do to celebrate the national musical instrument, a major fuss-up due to the presence of the Duke of Rothesay, as he prefers to be known hereabouts; and innumerable grandees concerned with Art and Culture. My personal feelings about the Great Pipes could be politely described […]