BroonHoose.co.uk

The ferries booked as is the final nights hotel but the earlier 2-3 night have yet to be booked but the place we want to stay is free in Late rooms. Really looking forward to it. Scapa Flow from the bedroom window, near the Italian Chapel. Must visit Mae Howe, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, see some unconformities, and so many things. It would be great if the weather held.
Last weekend I did a stupid thing and left my car open and someone pinched some things including 2 pairs of bins and my waxed Jacket, ( they must have been very disappointed there a xxl Barbour with xxs length arms not very handy for many folk.) The bins were found, 1 pair by Rachael’s car and another pair were handed in to the post office ( they were cheap ones anyway). Later on on Sunday R’s friend Pete mentioned that someone may have been camping in his gran’s garden as a bag with a jacket was there. (his gran’s house is being renovated) Jacket found as it had been dumped over the wall. It would have been a serious pain to go to Orkney without my waxy. I will also have to take some trainers or boots with me.

We had a great time at the Big Tent festival. Some good music there..The Hidden Orchestra,( sort of new age) Captain Slackship’s Mezzanine Allstars (Ska) were both spectacuar, Duncan enjoyed the Chipolatas (music with circus act) although I couldn’t see the act as I was at the back and there were a dozen plus 6 footer in front. Tunng were good as well, Session A9 ( a compilation of people from various folk groups playing good folk). Jim went to an excellent poetry reading with music in the Mausoleum but was a bit disquietened about people dancing on the graves especially of someone we knew. There was the cookie new age therapies which don’t go well with me. A spectacular book of Falkland with a huge wooden cover and a fascinating history of the Barony of Bamblae (a few houses at the foot of the hill by the playpark. Once it contained as many as 50 or more houses and I only recognised one family still in Falkland. There was a huge food zone and in particular stressing the Fife Diet ( buy local eat local, though tea, coffee and OJ are big problems)
The whole family were home and also one of Anna’s friends (they camped in the garden.) On Friday Rachael used her new training to feed everybody cocktails I think eventually she was making some cocktails without alcohol because the recipient had obviously had enough. She did go through a wheen of Rum and cane sugar and a fair amount of gin. That doesn’t include pear and elderflower cider. But a good time was had by all. Duncan enjoyed himself, especially the treats from No2 ice cream van and the pillars strawberry ice cream, but he could only take the crowds and noise in small doses ( of a few hours at a time )
Now they are all gone I have to tidy up to get back to normal. Rachael did offer to come back on Friday to help but I hope to be normal by that time.

Young Duncan arrive today after a marathon journey up here (they stopped off to see an old friend). As D reached 2 roundabouts before our house he said to K “almost there”. She was gobsmacked. Rachael was 17 and driving before she had that sense of direction. It was only because she was driving she learned to see landmarks.
First of all he walked in and got his shoes off then emptied out the toybox squealing in delight at remembered toys. He had a late night in bed.
This morning he got up about 9am, late for him, and used the potty and emptied it himself. Then we came downstairs and had breakfast. Then watched chuggington…multiple episodes. Then it was back to the cars. He seems so happy and laughing and joking all the time.

Spent the day at the wee man’s again but still failed to get the cupboards up due to duff plaster and duff rawl plugs. Have to have another try in 2 weeks time.
The wee man made a mountain of sushi, both nigiri ad maki as I got a nigiri mould and a new silicone sushi mat.We made so much that there was too much for 4 of us but it was good.
It does mean that we got home late and I had to press his trousers and put a button on and he had to spray the roses (black spot and greenfly) and water the pot plants. We have a peachy pink rose that has lots of flower heads and a white one with a few as it is nearly at it’s end of flowering but it might have a second show and a yellow one which flowers till christmas, frost permitting, but at the moment has only a few flowers and 4 buds on it.

Jim just fixed his laptop screen. It is not easy and would have been easier if he had Rachael’s size of fingers. But it is fixed. Unfortunately that is more than could be said for the wee man’s computer as she spilled a wee drop of water on hers and has cause £650 worth of damage. The screen, the charger and something else. It is not much more to buy a new one but we have a warrenty, accidental damage not included, and also some extras in R’s computer such as windows. As we are against the throw away culture, we will pay to get it fixed with a contribution from R. When she gets a new computer from her disabled students thingy, Jim can get her old one. She can’t complain as he is paying for the bulk of this repair. I think we should get contents insurance for the flat as well.

Did anyone see the article about the Catholic church’s list of serious sins…. they put ordaining women priests at the same level as child molesters. `Does that show how little they regard the sin of child abuse or how little they regard women. Both! Unfortunately they regard the position of priests overall and disrespect both women and children.

I see a chink of blue sky. It is short lived and the forecast is once again poor. It doesn’t seem to be harming the golf though… 9 under par, there must be favourable winds.
Yesterday was spent doing paperwork in the morning but in the afternoon through to Glasgow to put a couple of kitchen wall cabinets up. Unfortunately the baton we had to put them on the wall was too thin so we will go back on Sunday. A good day as Jim may get help from a kindly future son in law. If not it will be Rachy and myself to give Jim a hand. I insisted on high cupboards because the room is high and I didn’t see the point of all that wasted space but it does make them more awkward to handle.

Another day of golf open weather. Tomorrow and Saturday will challenge them more as the wind gets up a bit. Miserably shitey weather make a miserable crabby person! Bring on the sunshine.
The shitey bit was true to form as the people next door were shovelling the stuff as the drains overflowed last night and it threatened to go over their doorstep.

More weather? well not as good as yesterday.. in fact it is pissing down, all day, but that was to be expected as the Open is at St Andrew’s. I do hope the weather in good for the weekend after next (23rd) as we have the local festival on up the road and it will be muddy if it rains. Duncan bring your wet suit thing and wellies.

The weather forecast for here has been really shite,.. rain every day. So for the second day running we are basking in sunshine and am out in the garden having a pleasant cup of coffee. It is a wee bit windy but I am not complaining.