Wednesday 7th October 2026

Sunset is around 6.30pm now, so the few street lights are on early. Its been a changeable day, weather wise. Heavy downpours, gusting winds and warm sunshine.

I went into town for a food shop this morning. No gym as my instructor is on holiday this week. Town was busy - there was a big cruise ship in, and the disembarked passengers were milling around happily, in and out of shops, holding up phones to take pictures of everything, looking keenly at the buildings and the boats. All the things we do when we go somewhere new. I passed one couple where the man was kneeling down, applying a sticking plaster to the woman's ankle, as she leaned on a fence.

I read later that this was the last cruise ship of the season. So now it will just be us, hurrying about our day, not noticing the interesting architecture and the street art, or browsing the quirky shops. I will miss the tourists, with their expectant faces - they always livened the place up.

Home to put the shopping away and a quick lunch of boiled egg mixed up in a cup.

I was planting bulbs yesterday, and this afternoon I went out to plant some trees down by the front fence. I brought on some willow cuttings last year and most of them have rooted, so I managed to get about a dozen planted. The ground was very wet though. Hopefully they'll take well enough since they have roots. I'll try and get some more in tomorrow if the weather works out.

Book Review: Friday 29th May 2026

A quick taster of summer followed by an immediate return to default grey skies - both outside my window and in this brief, under-100-page novella.

With a glowing introduction by Elizabeth Strout (whose writing I love), I opened this book with high hopes. Set in Turin, it’s a coming-of-age story about 16-year-old Ginia and her first experience of love. If you’re looking for romance, though, you won’t find it here; it’s a much seedier reality. Drawn into a world of struggling artists and dodgy cafes through an older friend who “models”, Ginia finds herself in situations she doesn't know how to navigate.

Pavese’s prose is incredibly spare. While I usually appreciate a minimalist style, I found myself waiting for the story to truly kick off. It felt like a very slow burn that ultimately ended with a whimper rather than a bang, leaving me frustrated when I closed the cover.

Yet, I haven't stopped thinking about it since.

The initial feeling of it "fizzling out" has given way to something deeper. Pavese doesn't offer a grand, cinematic climax because first love rarely has one. Instead, within his rather pedestrian writing, he poignantly captures the agonies, the yearning, and the sting of disappointment that so often accompanies our first brush with intimacy. It's all there - the shame, the heartbreak, and the painful maturity that follows. You think you’ve missed the spark while reading, but it stays with you, slowly warming up, well after you've closed the book.

An unsatisfactory ending on the first pass, perhaps, but a beautifully haunting reflection on youth in retrospect.

Not very summery, but then, neither is Lewis, so what else is new?

Tuesday 28th April 2026

Its been really sunny and quite warm over the last few days - set to continue, apparently.

I got out into the garden at the weekend, and tidied up the patio, ready for sitting out. It was very messy - lots of moss and those big daisies has seeded into the cracks of the paving stones. I scraped most of them out, but I am partial to a bit of soft moss underfoot, so I didn't blast it to oblivion.

I cleared out the planters and filled the two larger ones up with the sweet peas. I'll get some lavender for the smaller pots. There's a monarda already planted up. It is looking a bit wind scorched, but hopefully it will be alright. When the dahlias are in the garden centre, I’ll get some for the other pot. All sounds very colourful and fragrant for summer. I should have taken a picture.

What else? Gym and shopping today. I went into town instead of just the supermarket, which was a change. I used the click and collect service at Tesco for the first time. It worked well, although I had to reverse into the space, and I’m not keen on doing that. Its a very cramped car park. I managed although the man in the very nice white car opposite me did look quite concerned about my reversing skills. Anyway, I got there, clicked the button on the app that announced my arrival and a very pleasant man appeared with my shopping. Click and collect - just as it said.

I finished Villette last night. Another book where I had to read the ending several times to understand and process it. I really enjoyed the story and liked the characters, but found it extremely claustrophobic. I think she ran out of steam at the end. I thought the same about Jane Eyre too. But what do I know, critiquing the most celebrated canon of English Literature on my silly little blog.

Wednesday 22nd April 2026

Spring is here!

I heard the snipe drumming on Monday evening and the cuckoo calling this morning. The wind is in the east, and I got the bed sheets washed, dried and back on the bed by the afternoon.

I've vaguely started spring cleaning, with a view to some serious decluttering. I'm also getting some work done on the kitchen in the next few weeks. A new sink and worktops, as well as some repairs. I will redecorate later in the year - I'm even tentatively considering painting the kitchen units in a bold colour. Stick around for that episode…

Dinner tonight was macaroni and cheese - hot, cheesy with a crispy top - exactly what I fancied.

Two meetings this week, one last night and one tonight. This one had the potential to be a wee bit contentious, but all was well in the end.

I’m glad it’s over though. Just all the minutes and admin to deal with now, but that can wait till tomorrow.

I’ve got two books on the go at the moment, aside from my bible reading and devotionals.

During the day, I'm dipping into William Hazlitt's essays - selection by Ronald Blythe when he worked at Penguin.

I’m very much appreciating Hazlitt - he's so engaging and thought provoking. I’ve started jotting down references as I go along, so I can look them up later. His essay on attending a boxing match was so good - I really felt I was there.

My nighttime read is Villette, by Charlotte Brontë. I bought this last year - started it and was really enjoying it, then I went through a phase of being too tired to read in bed, so it fell by the wayside.

Back to it now, and still liking it very much - possibly better than Jane Eyre. I'll report back on that.

That's it, then. I'm about to head off to my nice fresh bedlinen, with a cup of nocaff, and a few more chapters.

I put the blackout screen on the window, so hopefully I won't be wide awake at 4.30 am, now its spring…

Sunday 12th April 2026

It was a busy week, as I predicted, but a good and worthwhile one.

There were a lot of people at the funeral. This was a man who had made a massive impact on so many people, and community groups throughout the islands over the years. The loss was deeply felt. It was a privilege to serve hot soup and food to the mourners as they came in from the cold cemetery. A small comfort, in the grand scheme of things, but it was appreciated.

We had our community hall deep clean at the weekend, which went off very well. Plenty volunteers came along and gave some time, and we worked through the whole list in good time. We definitely felt we deserved our takeaway meal at the end of the day.

As for the rest of the week - well - meetings and admin happened, did my workouts, and the housework is always ongoing. Mostly on autopilot, it has to be said. A combination of not sleeping, the persistent bad weather, and the world situation, I think.

I made a leek and mushroom risotto for dinner today. It was nice, but I didn't salt it enough. There's loads of leftover baking that I brought home, so I had a couple of bits of traybake for dessert.

I finished watching Pilgrimage. It was very moving. I loved all the participants this year. So genuine and kind. I think that was my favourite one. A perfect end to Easter week.

A few things happening in the coming days. More meetings, trips to town, possibly a day out to Harris, weather permitting, and a Ladies prayer breakfast. It's all go as usual.

Monday 6th April 2026

Into the joy of the Easter season now. Hopefully the spring weather will follow soon.

We had a nice weekend. Church service in the morning, good food, nice bottle of wine, chocolate, TV. Pretty much unchanged since I was a small child. Well, except for the wine - growing older does have its advantages.

I planted the Charlotte potatoes on Saturday and got all the tomato seedlings potted on, so I was very pleased about that.

I still have the King Edwards and Valour to go in, hopefully at some point this week.

It's shaping up to be a busier week than I thought. A few meetings, one to clerk, a community event on Saturday, and, sadly, a funeral to cater for in the hall.

It’s always a privilege to serve the mourners when they come back from the cemetery. I remember how comforting I found it when I was in that position.

Mostly housework today, laundry, floors, vacuuming. I actually got bed linen almost dried on the line. It just needed a quick fifteen minute burst in the tumble dryer.

Leftovers for dinner tonight, roast chicken and hot cross bun bread pudding. Very nice. I'm going to put my feet up tonight, and get a few rows of knitting done. Im working on a sweater for myself. Also watching Pilgrimage on BBC. Lovely group of people this time.

Into town tomorrow - gym, quick food shop and home to read meeting papers.

Friday 3rd April 2026

Hope you have had a blessed Good Friday. I made Hot Cross Buns for breakfast. I like to make them myself, and we never have any before the appointed day. None of this week after Christmas nonsense that you see in the supermarkets.

I made 12 and we've eaten 6, so we'll have them toasted at various points over the weekend.

I didn't have a great start to the week. Insomnia. I can go for ages with decent sleep, then along comes a string of nights where I am padding about the house during the third and fourth watches.

I felt really drained on Monday and Tuesday and was really quite down about it. That 3 a.m. anxiety spiral is horrible. Thankfully I remembered about prayer, and gave it all to God (Phillipians 4: 6-7). It's always the best plan.

I cancelled all my arrangements on Tuesday and just had a slow day. Sometimes I push on through, but not that day. I pottered around slowly here and there, and waited for bedtime. It came.

I also remembered that I hadn't taken any vitamins for months. Nothing startling - the usual D3. B12, C, magnesium and general old woman supplement - who knows if that had anything to do with it? Anyway, I remedied that and actually slept much better the next night.

On Wednesday I woke up and was feeling so much brighter. I tidied up and headed outside, and planted the early potatoes. They are a variety called Foremost, which I've never tried before. They promise to have that “new potato” flavour, which is all I really want from my new potatoes. l'll get the Charlottes in next week, then I need to sort out space for the King Edward and Valour.

We had a short midweek window of decent weather, before the next storm system arrived, so on Thursday I was back outside, this time with the trusty garden shredder. I lost a lot of big branches from the willow trees over the last year, so had a few piles to shred as well as all the cut down raspberry canes. It was a satisfying job, and I have two sacks of woodchip to use on paths or as mulch later on. I did strike a lot of cuttings from the willow, in case you are wondering, and sawed up the logs to burn. I’ts always a useful wood if you want to get a fire going quickly.

Town today for the food shop. How busy it was! There was a big cruise ship in, so lots of groups and couples wandering around looking at shops and buildings. There was a heron down on the river, so people were excited about that.

Easter weekend already. Its going to be a stormy one, which feels apt. After the storm of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, comes the washing away of the old and the sudden dawning of new light with the resurrection. World altering stuff.

Sunday 29th March 2026

The weather has not improved. It is so windy. Relentlessly windy, with occasional bursts of sunshine, which tempt us outside, then batters us violently with hailstones.

I have withdrawn further from social media so I do not see all the happy people with their pots of tulips and cups of tea in their sunny gardens. “Sowing these seeds this weekend!” they beam happily from my phone screen. “Bah humbug” I mutter resentfully, as I build up the fire and pull my shawl round my shoulders.

And aside from that we have just been living quietly. Went to town on Friday for a few bits and pieces. I thought I should stock up on a couple of things in case our ferry was cancelled. Surprisingly it wasn’t, but every other ferry on the Calmac routes appear to have broken down. Arran has had no ferry since Thursday. It's a complete shambles. We've warned them consistently over many years about the fragility of the fleet, and of course they are aware of that, but nothing changes. It's very frustrating. I won't go on. I talk enough about it at meetings. I feel bad for the staff - they must be so desperate trying to sort this out.

I think I’m just feeling a bit in need of some fine weather. I mean a good stretch where I can make decent progress outside. There has been some landscaping work done - its almost finished, and I’m itching to get out and do my bit.

I woke up in the night and lay for ages fretting about potato planting. I’ve just not been able to get the beds ready because of the wet, cold, windy start to the year. The earlies will have to go in the polycrub. It's easy to get discouraged while waiting for spring.

My son informed me that I’m the same every year at this time. I, too, am seasonal. There's a comfort in that.

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.