pOnDeR tHiS

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it."
- James M. Barrie

"Everything in life changes you in some way. Even the smallest things. If you do not accept these changes you do not accept yourself. For through these changes brings new and greater things to you, making you wiser, as time progresses. To avoid these changes is a loss. You only live your life once. Do not waste a minute of it avoiding things. Let them come to you, and learn from them. There is always tomorrow."
- Adam R. Gwizdala

GaStRoNoMiC DeLiGhTs

Firstly l need to say that I am very fortunate to have a husband who loves to cook and is good at it!

Gordon Ramsey has been high on my admiration list this week, not just for being a fantastic Scottish chef but also for the fact that he is playing football in a charity fund raising match ~ ‘Soccer Aid’. Thirty-eight years old, muscle tear and still willing to go on pitch! I like him because he does not pretend to be anything other than himself and is willing to admit when he is wrong.
Another chef that l admire is Nick Nairn who promotes Scottish cooking and is enthusiastic for fresh local produce. He lives and works in Glasgow where he has a cooking school encouraging young emerging talent. On being asked what was the best thing about Glasgow, he answered,
“Definitely the people. You can have the most beautiful city, but it means nothing without friendly faces. Glaswegians certainly know how to enjoy themselves properly and have adopted a great cosmopolitan outlook.”
The pictures are of a ‘Nick Nairn cooking school’ student project that l did a few years back.

Gone are the days when the Scottish larder was something to be feared ~ when we seemed to emanate a reputation that the diet should consist of nothing more than haggis and black bun! Surely we are now more ‘cosmopolitan’ than that~ aren’t we?

Haggis: A small highland animal with one pair of legs shorter than the other to more easily circle the highland hills.
Black Bun: Black Bun is a rich and delicious fruit cake ~ also known as a 'flies graveyard'.
Scottish Cooking

Peace and plenty; and no killing;
Beef at a groat, and meat at a shilling.
Whisky for nothing, beer at the same.
A bonnie wee wife; and a cosy wee hame.

ThE mOsT nObLe AnD cHaLLeNgInG Of FrUiTs

Ok it’s the weekend and yes l am enjoying myself ~ a nice bottle of Shiraz and looking forward to an enjoyable evening. Probably not recommended to be writing but . . . what the heck!
Reminds me of an inebriated Mr. Churchill who was accosted by the ferociously sharp-tongued Lady Asquith in the House of Commons corridor.
“You are drunk Sir” she said acidly.
After a pause Winston turned and delivered the killer reposte.
“Indeed so Madam – and you are ugly. But in the morning - I will be sober.” You have to laugh. Enjoy your weekend.

I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn't know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret.
John Cleese (Basil Fawlty)
Fawlty Towers

PhOtOgRaPh Or PaInTiNg?

My husband trains people for employment. In his group at the moment is a young man who is deaf and needs a signer. His signer is the wife and model of Donald MacDonald, an artist from the Isle of Lewis. About his paintings he says, “I find it more important for the painting to look "alive" than "real" in the photographic sense of the word.”
I find it incredible how his paintings look so much like photographs ~ can you tell the difference?
Scottish Artist: Donald MacDonald

aN oLd CeLTiC pRaYeR

May those who
love us, love us
and those that
don’t love us,
may God turn
their hearts;
and if he doesn’t
turn their hearts
may he turn
their ankles
so we’ll know them
by their limping.

I read this today and had to smile. The painting is by Warren Dennis

FuNk Up zImMeR fRaMeS!

Feel quite upset tonight ~ just off the phone with my dad and found out that he had another bad fall. Not just any fall but quite a severe one, bashing his head etc. The doctor has given him a Zimmer Walking Frame and he refuses to use it. Says it’s ‘a nice piece of furniture’ and ‘no thanks’. Arghh! I told him that next time l was down his way we were going to do a bit of re-designing. So I’m bringing with me some bright coloured tape, a horn and two large wing mirrors ~ that’s right ~ were going to funk it up to a ‘Shimmer Frame’! We laughed.
What is it with old people and electric wheelchairs? We have one elderly man on our street who is practically doing wheelies around corners and this afternoon one old dear was going about 20mph in the middle of the road ~ a line of traffic fanning out behind her!
I have to think that she was probably doing it for sheer devilment ~ l would at her age ~ the power! I would imagine the mad boy racers behind me and grin.
These electric wheelchairs, while on the road should be lit up in some way ~ strobe lighting or coloured spinning windmills ~ you choose. There is no use in getting to a ripe old age only to be bumped off at the last~ how undignified.

GoOd oLd-fAsHiOnEd VaLuEs

The Codfathers: “Devoted to providing fresh produce direct to your door”.
This business has been started recently by two nice young lads, Kyle & Scott ~ they went to school with my son and daughter. I’ve been ordering with them now for a couple of weeks and their stuff is really good. I especially like the return to old-fashioned values ~ customer satisfaction, neatly dressed appearance, polite manners, detailed hand written receipts and honest sales. The other day for the first time the boys had forgotten something on the list ~ l gave them a call and they said that they would bring it over on the ferry the next day. Sure enough Kyle showed up with 3lb of fresh Scottish tomatoes and extra carrots ~ he would not take any payment for them either! You never hear of this type of service anymore and so l am glad to support the lads in their endeavour.
Support local shops instead of the large supermarkets who exploit and dominate. Don't be fooled by the tactics - the buy one now get one free scam. All they do is tell the suppliers that is what they have to give them if they want to keep the contract. Look at how they put Fair Trade products on the shelf and their own Fair Trade brand at a lower price next to them.
Next time you buy a cheap t-shirt at Asda thank the poverty stricken Asian who earned virtually nothing for making it! I'd better stop now or l'll blow.

eNd Of An ErA & nEw BeGiNnInGs

Very proud of my oldest son, Daniel who is starting at University this year ~ Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering! He has worked very hard with advanced highers and had his final day at school last week. This years s6 Leavers Dance is a Ceilidh with live band and formal highland dress. The boys have already gone up to Glasgow to rent their kilts ~ wish l had been a fly on the wall for that! My son has a great bunch of pals and they have all booked a holiday to Spain the week before the Ceilidh, with hopes of not only having a great time (without parents) but of gaining awesome suntans for the leavers do ~ so l have been told.
From my heart: I am so happy for Daniel but at the same time a little sad. Was that it ~ where have all the years gone? Good Luck son.

gEnEaLoGy MaD

Top 10 Indicators That You Have
Become A Gene-Aholic:
10. You introduce your daughter
as your descendent.
9. You've never met any of the
people you send e-mail to,
even though you're related.
8. You can recite your lineage
back eight generations,
but can't remember
your nephew's name.
7. You have more photographs of
dead people than living ones.
6. You've taken a tape recorder
and/or notebook to a family reunion.
5. You've not only read the
latest GEDCOM standard,
but you also understand it.
4. The local genealogy society
borrows books from you.
3. The only film you've seen
in the last year
was the 1880 census index.
2. More than 1/2 of your book
collection is made up of marriage
records or pedigrees.
1. Your elusive ancestor has been
spotted in more different places
than Elvis!

Being keen to learn more about my family history, in terms of who they were, where they lived and what they did, I embarked on my ‘genealogy’ quest a few years ago. From a very typical starting point, knowing the names of my grandparents, some of their siblings etc., l have now pieced together a family tree that goes back ten generations.
It is worth noting that there are huge genealogical riches to be explored on the internet and without these l would not have done so well.
Latest news: Scotland's People have now got the 1841 Census! www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

jUsT sMiLe

Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized,
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile just like mine,
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

LoNdOn UnDeRgRoUnd & MoRe...

Dad went down to London around the time of the Coronation (1953) ~ one year later he was training to become a male nurse. He was working at the General Hospital located in Homerton High Street, Whitechaple, East London.
While there he accidentally became recruited to stand in as a male model for a hospital advertisement. The man originally picked had become too shy and on scanning around the room dad had been offered to stand in. Dad was not paid any more for this but was well pleased as it took him away from his work and study for the day.
This poster was eventually sent all over the country in an effort to recruit male nurses. It was posted up in the London underground, in job centres, etc.
The man holding dad’s foot was called, ‘Atwood’ ~ he was a friend of dad’s, another male nurse who eventually went on to become a fireman.
The photo-shoot was actually set up in the lecture room at the hospital where there were some empty beds. The photographs were coloured red, white and blue.
Dad’s secret worry when he was picked was that he had holes in his socks but as you can see that did not matter anyway.

I'm NoBoDy! WhO aRe YoU?

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you a nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us you know.

How dreary to be a somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
..Emily Dickinson.

SaM's DaD

Daddy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me, too.




G you are no ordinary dad to Sam ~ turned with love into an adventure Pirate through story and song.
Sam believes that you can do anything. He loves to sit in your corner with your Parrot (Love Bird) while you are at work, surounded by your many old books and gadgets (gadgets that he thinks you brought back from the Pirate ship indeed!)
You fill his imagination with wonder at the world. You lift him high and l think perhaps that Sam gives you something too ~ a world you'd half forgotton....and a small hand in yours..always.

HoLidAy SnApShOtS

Exhausting drive home- 600 miles in 11 hours! Not bad when you have a four year old with chicken pox.
Wonderful to see Mum and Dad as always ~ weather was terrific too. Cornwall or Caledonia ? hmm..
Dad’s garden is full of unexpected corners and beautiful surprises- the lilac scent is intoxicating. Wish there were scratch and sniff blog sites.

CoRnWaLL

We’re off again to Cornwall to visit family ~a wondrous place with a distinct history, culture and people. Perhaps we will be in Helston for 'Furry Day' – a traditional Celtic folk day with much street dancing and entertainment.
Cornwall is another Celtic nation just like Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany and the Isle of Man. I feel very welcome and at home there.
When visiting Cornwall l am very aware of a sense of pride and independence. This identity can be noted through the widespread use of the Cornish flag and in the use of the Cornish language(Kernewek). Just like Gaelic this is a minority language that should be nurtured and encouraged, especially in schools for future generations.
Secretly however l am really looking forward to a Cornish pasty and some clotted cream!

MaY dAy CeLeBrAtIoNs

May and June. Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months
in the garden year: cool, misty mornings gently burned away with a
warming spring sun, followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights.
The discussion of philosophy is over; it's time for work to begin.
- Peter Loewer