Dec232009
Yule spirits are high …
Filed under Life etcetera, et al, Navel-gazing, Newsie, Pets by The Soaplady at 11:06 pm on Dec 23 2009
I don’t think I’ve ever been as glad to spend christmas at home, here in Breasclete, as I am this year …
My absence at family celebrations on the mainland was the result of a decision taken way before the weather became cold and the snow started to fall - more due to extraneous factors, and a wish to just have a good long rest, coupled with Mindy’s relief at not having to go to the Boarding Kennels for more than a week (though she points out that she’s always well looked-after there, and the foods not half bad, it’s just that she prefers her mum, and her comfy sofa … :- ).
I went home (to the mainland) for two weeks earlier, in October, and had a lovely time with my mum and dad, and my sisters. I think Dad was a bit startled that I didn’t want to ‘Do’ anything, or go anywhere, while I was there, and despite my protestations, kept up an endless list of invitations of places that Dad’s Taxi Service could ferry me to, shopping and the like … But I was more than happy just keeping mum company, helping to do meals, and generally watching tv together … :- )
Now christmas seems finally to be here … and I confess that I listen to the traffic reports with a small measure of glee, knowing that I won’t have to venture farther than Stornoway as long as it continues …
Here, roads have been gritted, but ice re-forms overnight, and I’ve had to walk quite carefully and gingerly with Mindy (seeing her first snow this year!) just over our local roads … I’ve had one driving ‘fish-tail’ event, turning right at Leurbost, in a blinding snowstorm on Saturday - it was very frightening to feel the car going in a direction where it would’ve been impossible otherwise to steer it, and I have to admit to driving the whole way home at 30mph, without full-beam, which just seemed to make vision worse …
That was my Xmas food shopping trip, and I came away with the following adjuncts to my normal shopping: a tub of ice-cream, Pringles, ingredients for my christmas gooseberry fool (gooseberries donated from the friendly Workforce’s freezer :- ), plenty of dog and cat food, ingredients for my special coconut-fried basmati rice, seven packs of Tesco plain naan bread, some oven chips, gouda, halloumi, parmigiano reggiano and three bags of easy-peel clementines … (well no need to go mad, is there … I am cheap to run … :- )
I have also splashed out upon new vinyl on my kitchen floor, and each time I walk in there, it fondles my eyes anew …! Makes cooking a bit more enjoyable …
Monday the duck-food was delivered by Lewis Crofters, and Tuesday the coalman staggered under the weight of five unfeasibly-large bags of coal, and four bags of logs, now residing in my shed, for use on my roaring open fire which I tend to look forward to making up each evening …
I have never felt more like a squirrel perched upon an exceptionally large and comforting pile of nuts …! What more can one wish for, at christmas …!
Mindy and I are looking forward, starting Friday, to a couple of weeks of good long walks (usually our walks are constrained by time of some sort), with me double-gloved, scarved and hatted, pockets filled with mint imperials and a packet of ten proprietary menthol cigarettes for those outdoor moments when you just can’t make a roll-up, and my firebird outdoor lighter which jets a useable flame up every single time, gales, rain or storm …
We shall enjoy evenings on the sofa, in front of the fire, me with one of my treasure-trove of books (currently Stephen King ‘Under The Dome’), and her with one of her calcium chew-bones … We shall eat in the living-room, as our own little pack …
I shall have much more time for meditation, in order that I can join her in Living in the Moment … :- )
The very best Compliments of the Season to one and all, from myself, the (slightly) smug Soaplady, Mindy the maniac, Finn the black terror and Fauvey the queen of fluff …
1 Harryd(Canada)on 23 Dec 2009 at 11:43 pm
I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year. I hope your wee hoose stays warm and cosy and you can relax and recharge your batteries for what I hope is a terrific y ear next year. All the Best.
2 Greg USAon 24 Dec 2009 at 1:28 am
Sounds like a wonderfully cozy Christmas to me SL.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas from the USA.
3 Galeon 24 Dec 2009 at 2:38 am
Sounds like total contentment to me! Wishing you, Mindy, and the rest of the clan a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
I must say, I had an envious twinge of those menthol cigarettes! I gave them up 1 Jan 1996, but every now and then it hits me like a stone wall. Enjoy one for me!!
4 thelandladyon 24 Dec 2009 at 8:39 am
Ha ha just don’t get the menthol fags mixed up with the calcium chews on your snowy walks, SL- could give you and Mindy a bit of a surprise!!!
5 taddoeon 24 Dec 2009 at 9:05 am
merry cribbers to you SL—i’m on duty till 21h15 then i will go into hibernation till all is pastxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6 Miaon 24 Dec 2009 at 11:44 am
A Merry Purry Xmas, female staff has a stash of books she is looking for ward to being curled up with. Happiness is a still human with a fleecy blanket………
7 thejampoton 24 Dec 2009 at 12:37 pm
Sounds ideal, we also are just staying in and keeping warm and eating lots of lovely food. We will probably walk the children a bit as well. Have put the frankincense and orange spice soap in the bathroom and it smells very christmassey. Have a lovely time over the break!
8 Harryd(Canada)on 24 Dec 2009 at 3:04 pm
jampot, I’m a Jamtart we go well together
9 Kingdomcaton 24 Dec 2009 at 6:05 pm
If Jampot and Jamtart slip into the toaster, do they become a Poptart?
Festive Greetings from me’n'Marmers to you and Mindy.
I hope your lovely new vinyl is non-slip Soaplady…fishtailing on your own floor is not to be recommended
10 gravirlifeon 28 Dec 2009 at 1:54 pm
Season’s Greetings and best wishes for 2010…….RJG
11 Galeon 19 Mar 2010 at 1:30 am
Hope all is well. It’s been a while since you posted a note. I’ve missed the antics of Mindy and the ducks.
12 Soapladyon 20 Mar 2010 at 12:05 am
Hi Gale
I’ve just been ill for what seems to be a very long time with flu and the aftermath - am trying to bring myself up to fighting speed again before the season begins properly …
Mindy is fine thanks, (wuff slobber), however I’m upset to announce that I’ve lost all my black east indians, one Percy and one muscovy duck to predators over the winter … So only the other Percy left now, and he’s just sad and lonely - perhaps that’s why I haven’t blogged for such a while too … :-((
13 Taddoeon 20 Mar 2010 at 7:35 am
wishing you a speedy recovery SL,Very sad to hear about the loss of your pets,losing one is sad,but too lose so many over a short period is devastating: Its been a very long,cold,crazy winter here as well:Ath the nursing home,we have lost over fifteen residents and not ones that we suspected were going to pass away,just found them in the morning,and a lot of friends like you have lost their pets,some being run down etc but a lot have found them dead in their blankets,or on their beds: to some things up a lousy five months!still spring is on its way,or is it?xx
14 Galeon 20 Mar 2010 at 9:15 pm
Sorry to hear you have been sick with the flu. It can really knock the wind out of you sometimes. I hope that you are back to normal soon. I am sorry to hear about your poor ducks. That is such a shame. My brother lived next door to my Mother for a while and he had a duck named Simon. Simon would waddle over to my Mom’s every morning for biscuits, and any other time he heard her outside. He was spoiled to no end. His favorite thing was to take a ride in the car! I could not believe how smart that duck was. My sister-in-law’s father had a pond with ducks so it was decided that Simon would be happier there. Shortly after he was taken there someone put out poison and poisoned all the ducks. It broke my heart and I have never forgotten about it or Simon having to die such a cruel death. I can’t imagine someone being so cruel, but I hope they find their just rewards one day.
Hugs to Mindy, and I hope you feel better soon!