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| Bulbs and a sunset |
Monday, March 29, 2010
Things are growing
The miniature daffodils and irises that I planted in the green are coming up; and some of the daffodils even have buds. There are also meconopses (but not as many as I planted) and erythroniums. The daffodils I put in by the entrance are also coming up green, though I can't see any buds on them yet; and I am not sure that there are the full hundred. The rugosa rose slips that we weeded out of the front garden at St Andrews and planted across a deer path are sending out buds, where they haven't been trampled flat. The deer will get a nasty surprise when they really get going.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Water water everywhere...
I was at EPW for a long weekend with Andrew and some friends (let's call them Jonathan, Alison and their son Alexander) and we had an entertaining weekend.
On Friday when we arrived everything was fine - late supper, chat, bed. On Saturday morning I discovered that the control box for the pump was making a nasty clicking sound and showing no sign of giving the signal to pump water even when turned off and on again, or sworn at politely. So we then had to work out a strategy to get 5 people through a weekend without running water. There were several resources available to us:
- a boat full of rainwater near the front door - perfect for supplying loo-flushing water by the bucketload (and it kindly rained a couple of times over the weekend, to keep it topped up)
- two black buckets that we could carry water from the nearest burn, that could be boiled for drinking and washing
- a jam pan (see Mother Making Marmalade) for heating of quantities of water
- a small saucepan suitable for scooping of water into pans or over heads for washing.
- 4 people with up-beat and positive personalities and can-do attitudes (and one small person who was jumped on if he complained too much - but since the lack of water also meant a (slight) reduction in hygiene standards he wasn't too bothered except when being held down and forcibly bathed in cold water)
On Friday when we arrived everything was fine - late supper, chat, bed. On Saturday morning I discovered that the control box for the pump was making a nasty clicking sound and showing no sign of giving the signal to pump water even when turned off and on again, or sworn at politely. So we then had to work out a strategy to get 5 people through a weekend without running water. There were several resources available to us:
- a boat full of rainwater near the front door - perfect for supplying loo-flushing water by the bucketload (and it kindly rained a couple of times over the weekend, to keep it topped up)
- two black buckets that we could carry water from the nearest burn, that could be boiled for drinking and washing
- a jam pan (see Mother Making Marmalade) for heating of quantities of water
- a small saucepan suitable for scooping of water into pans or over heads for washing.
- 4 people with up-beat and positive personalities and can-do attitudes (and one small person who was jumped on if he complained too much - but since the lack of water also meant a (slight) reduction in hygiene standards he wasn't too bothered except when being held down and forcibly bathed in cold water)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The People Zoo - Nature Notes
We have become objects of interest to the indigenous life forms. A deer came by in the evening and spent some time looking in through the sitting room window watching us knit, read, dispute and listen to Mozart.
The greater somethinged woodpecker has been flaunting itself tearing bits off trees in full view.
And now Livy and Andrew, and their guests Alison, Jonathan and Alexander, have been ogled by the pine marten as they were at table.
The greater somethinged woodpecker has been flaunting itself tearing bits off trees in full view.
And now Livy and Andrew, and their guests Alison, Jonathan and Alexander, have been ogled by the pine marten as they were at table.
Meeting People is Nice
There are irritating things happening to the fabric of the house, and spring is slow in arriving; but there is still Human Interest, though I have been a bit slack writing it up.
The time before last when we were there, Peter Thomas, the free lance ghillie, fish and stalking expert, visited to ask if he could come to an arrangement with one of our boats, as he had just discovered from one of the other glen people (a Norwegian whom we have not yet met) that we had bought Ruurd and Meike's boat. We are delighted for him to use any of our boats; and as what he needs one for is taking people on to the inland lochs, as he already has a boat on Loch Hourn, he is going to use the red boat whenever he needs it. He is going to bring us some larch logs in return. It is very nice, being part of a barter economy.
Then last time we were there Ian Lothian came over the ford from Poulary to visit. I have never met him before, as his times there have not coincided with ours so far. He is a retired oil man, from Cupar originally but now living in Toddington. Very genial. He has had lots of pipe freezing problems and is thinking of replacing all of his with plastic.
We are still a little distrait as the pump system is still not mended and water has to be pumped up in 100 litre gulps; and there are still holes in the plasterboard where the pipes had to be replaced at New Year. The paint on the west wall has almost all become detached from the harl - most provoking; and a slate has come down. The track needs a hefty application of gravel in the upper parts; and the rhone on the north side looks as if the weight of snow may have slightly bent it. Still, no signs of moth or rutht yet.
I have plans for persecuting Alasdair the builder and his brother Donald, in the friendliest possible way, for the house works, and a fencer for fence works, when we are at the house for two weeks over Easter. Anyone wanting to come and visit then will be extremely welcome, particularly if he or she is prepared to dig, carry stones, destroy rushes and saw up trees.
The time before last when we were there, Peter Thomas, the free lance ghillie, fish and stalking expert, visited to ask if he could come to an arrangement with one of our boats, as he had just discovered from one of the other glen people (a Norwegian whom we have not yet met) that we had bought Ruurd and Meike's boat. We are delighted for him to use any of our boats; and as what he needs one for is taking people on to the inland lochs, as he already has a boat on Loch Hourn, he is going to use the red boat whenever he needs it. He is going to bring us some larch logs in return. It is very nice, being part of a barter economy.
Then last time we were there Ian Lothian came over the ford from Poulary to visit. I have never met him before, as his times there have not coincided with ours so far. He is a retired oil man, from Cupar originally but now living in Toddington. Very genial. He has had lots of pipe freezing problems and is thinking of replacing all of his with plastic.
We are still a little distrait as the pump system is still not mended and water has to be pumped up in 100 litre gulps; and there are still holes in the plasterboard where the pipes had to be replaced at New Year. The paint on the west wall has almost all become detached from the harl - most provoking; and a slate has come down. The track needs a hefty application of gravel in the upper parts; and the rhone on the north side looks as if the weight of snow may have slightly bent it. Still, no signs of moth or rutht yet.
I have plans for persecuting Alasdair the builder and his brother Donald, in the friendliest possible way, for the house works, and a fencer for fence works, when we are at the house for two weeks over Easter. Anyone wanting to come and visit then will be extremely welcome, particularly if he or she is prepared to dig, carry stones, destroy rushes and saw up trees.
Monday, March 15, 2010
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