Brilliant!

 

Grumbling...

 

Saturday afternoons are baneful.  Last season I could enjoy watching the Heart of Midlothian via PPV TV, but not now.  UEFA ban Scottish football being shown this way in England, why?  Who wishes to watch meaningless English games?  Overpaid, over publicised, over important, they are not worth the huge wages on offer.  Anyway, I want to see my team!  If I was in Scotland or Ireland I could see it, but not in England, why?  This is a disgrace!

This means while football is on I see nothing.  No games from anywhere in the world.  Not even Japan!  Tsk!  

Now, with a full game being shown later, at 6 pm, on BBC ALBA, I cannot even look at Twitter in case the score of that game, St Johnstone v Livingston, is revealed.  This is all very annoying, especially as we saw all the games last season. Bah!

 

Nothing happening today.  News is quiet being the weekend with only the death of Amess yesterday filling space.  Even Boris gave up his holiday for that, this did surprise me.  The leaders laid flowers today in ceremony.  I would not lay flowers, this appears to me to be a catholic thing, certainly an English thing which now has spread into Scotland.  People lay flowers and tributes to a dead person, usually one they do not know, often one who they may dislike in real life!  I can understand the emotions of the moment but laying such tributes is not my way.  Of course with Diana this became nonsensical, the nation ran out of flowers and a huge pile 20 feet high rotted away in Kensington Gardens.  A nation without God seeks something to follow, even something as shallow as Diana.

I suspect Monday will see statements in the House and tributes brought.  I hope Boris and the rest behave themselves.  I doubt however, that this will bring an increase in cash for Police, though better protection for MPs might be found.

 

 

A Nothing Day but then a Murder.

For several days now an idleness has awoken in me.  To be honest this began not long after I was born, about five minutes after I would suggest, however, it keeps returning and now, just a few years on, I have been besieged by it.  For three days I have fought this, I have attempted exercise and found this did not relieve it, I walked to the shops and back, this did not relieve it, and wandered slowly around town breathing deeply of the late Autumn air and a great deal of stour from the building site round the corner.  This did not bring freshness to me.  They are building a council white elephant costing millions!  

Today I filled the washing machine again, just how many times do I use it, just to keep my world turning, however, that wore me out so I have avoided strain elsewhere by returning to stare out of the window.

There was no football two nights running!  Shocking!  This was so bad I almost went out to the Club and spent money.  However, when the time came I just could not be bothered... I just sat here and moped, this was cheaper.

 

 

Sir David Amess, not an MP who appeared much on TV or in the media, was stabbed to death while condcuting a surgery in his constituency today.  A 25 year old gentleman rushed in, stabbed him repeatedly and was caught by the police a short while later.  So far no motive has been mentioned.

Amess (69) was a Conservative, a Brexiteer, a Catholic, and an anti-hunt animal lover.  He opposed abortion and same-sex marriage but supported most Tory policies.  It does seem strange that he would be attacked at this time, he would not be an obvious target. There may be a personal motive, terrorism, or a far left loon, but so far we do not know who or why.

Five years ago Jo Cox, a female Labour MP was killed by a Right-Wing mental case, much hand wringing but little action.  To be fair spending on MPs security did rise, from £170,000 to £4.5 million, but one-off attacks do happen and little can be done, especially when MPs have to meet their people.  What could be the cause?

One cause is the deliberate encouragement of a 'Divide'a 'Them and Us' mentality, sponsored mostly by this PM and his media.  Encouraging cries of 'Unpatriotic' upon anyone who disagreed with them, encouraging Brexiteers lies, and lying about the EU, especially France.  And now the attack is on the overstretched NHS, overstretched as it has lost 125 A&E departments, 22,000 beds, 1500 GPs, and has 86,000 vacancies, since 2010 yet the media blame the GPs and the staff!  This has led to many atacks on staff and some serious injuries.  

The government is entirely to blame.  

Regarding Jo Cox's death, I just saw a clip of how Boris answered those female MPs at the time who informed him his attitudes were to blame for her death.  "Humbug," he called it, and went on to say the best answer was "To get Brexit done."  That reveals much about the man and his cabal's attitudes.

Maybe now his people are dying might bring it home to him, although I expect he will remain on holiday to avoid any stress...

 

Spam Aftermath

 

The theological discussions, the debates, the libations over and the money running out, I headed off home.  Considering there was only 5 of us we covered a lot of ground.  I confess the ground covered was mostly by walking back and forth to the bar as the barmaid somewhat rudley refused to run after us as we considered she ought to.

Women have their uses but when stubborn they are difficult to manoeuvre.

Monday night is the clubs lowest attendance, that is why we were allowed in.  A handful of regulars, mostly lonely old men with no-one at home, seeking company with those they know, even if they rarely speak to one another.  Every bar has them, at the same spot each day, rather like Norm from 'Cheers,' that once famous Boston Bar now sadly missed.  One woman, of unknown age, was in attendance, a regular, and as is always common in public houses, a gentleman with a beer barrel of Hogshead proportions also took his regular spot.  Quite how he has not died by now I cannot understand, surely if I am overweight and upsetting a nurse he must be.  Being in his 50's may help, but he is one who may be taller lying down than standing up.  He remained for a while, welcome among friends, occasionally wasting money on one of the brightly lit colouful machines that promise much and deliver little.  I wonder about the lonely men who are found in such places.  Did they once have families, were there wives, have they mental problems?  How one or two of them survived Lockdown I do not know, they were always propping up the bar, how did they survive without this place?  Indeed, why did they not find a life when they had a chance?  

 

I showed such men how to have a life today.  

I lay in bed, walked round Tesco (not at the same time), and sat staring into the abyss for the rest off the day.  I watched a bit of football, await the Scotland game tonight, and ate fish and a few chips, the first time in months.  I am also eating dark chocolate, 90% cocoa, as they say this is good for the brain.   I may need to eat several bars a day...

 

Monday Mope

An early morning visit from the air ambulance, an orange one instead of the usual red one, as someone somewhere was clearly in trouble.  Not the best thing to hear before 8 in the morning, especially as he hovered above me waiting for the dog owners to clear the way so he could land in the park.  Deperately nosey, I wanted to know what this was all about, however, being desperately lazy I finished breakfast instead of enquiring.

 

Nothing else happened.

I ventured out only to visit the surgery for the anti-cholesterol prescription where a busy woman with a short queue awaiting service aided me, and naturally had no note of my prescription.  Soon, she had remedied this and I was on emy way to the pharmacy across the way where a sour young thing served me efficiently though with all the joy of a depressive.   I reckon it's my bright shining personality that brings out the worst in women...

 

 

Tonight however, is SPAM night!

Soon, the men of the Kirk will gather to put the world to right, discuss matters women do not understand, enjoy one anothers company, and be bullied by the barmaid!
Theological subjects are never raised, as the vicar may feel left out.

 

 

CAUGHT ON VIRTUAL RAILFAN CAMERAS, SHOOTING AT THE TUCSON, AZ. AMTRAK.

A Wander in the Sunshine

In a vain effort to find life again I took off quite early for Tesco.  Saturday morning among the masses is often invigorating.  It was however, like the misty glinting sunshine, quite peaceful and the healthy ingredients sought were soon found.  Healthy, that is those rumoured to stimulate the brain, Bluberries and very dark chocolate for instance, were joined by Flax, Chia seeds and Hemp, the latter for one of my nieces husband's Christmas's, he will probably think it will get him high.  He is one of those convinced cannabis is the answer to all problems, from cancer to covid.  This, he attempts to prove but he so far has not been successful.

The rest is for my latest health trend, and having paid through the nose for these goods, along with my other calorie controlled foodstuffs, I should look like Charles Atlas by Christmas.

This may not however, be the case.

 

I had to look twice at these balls hanging on the trees.  These trees were only planted a few years ago, 10 maybe, and I do not remember any fruit on them last year, though I could be mistaken.  'Conkers,' all around, at least the outer shells, as it appears some kids have been having a go at them already.  The more mature trees all around have certainly passed their fruit onto the public as the mess around their feet reveals.  Many a child, and not a few adults, will now be enjoying themselves with such on pieces of string.  Entertainment is easy, computers or no.

 

 

Having walked home from Tesco carrying a heavy but healthy bag it is almost a delight to walk without any weight attached.  Having lost a stone and a half I rather hoped walking would ease, it looks like another stone must go.  At least once that stone has gone my old shirts may fit once again.  

A sun drenched public garden, with a bit of early haze, is a delightful thing.  All were happy apart from at least once screaming child, the fruit of the children's play area at the top end.   
 

The last of the roses blossomed happily in the sun.  A large bush, almost a tree, once full now with only this lot left in any decent condition.  The volunteers who help the gardners do a great job of keeping these plants going.  

 

The idea was to walk round and energise the bulk, instead I felt my knees objecting.  Naturally, this park is on a slope, and to go homewards meant going uphill.  I await my lottery win so I can employ a servant to drive me uphill when my knees tire.  This however, may be an unfulfilled dream.

I wandered about, as always getting strange looks from women with kids, clearly women who read 'those stories' and listen to 'old women's tales,' and most of them appear neurotic as a result.  Even young dad's look sheepish, though that might be because they are not used to doing such work as watching kids.  

 

As I headed towards the gate I saw this man stiing low down and apparently unaware I was approaching.  Moving slowly along the path I got two decent shots of him before he felt he had posed enough and disappeared under the bush.   Usually Robins are very wary, quickly flitting out of distance and hiding in the tree.  This one may have been asking himself what life was all about, or where has the wife gone, or wondering what football was on today.  He appeared preoccupied but once he moved he did not show up again to ponder.

I don't think much of this fountain myself, it's all a bit weird I say.  There is a rumour it represents a kid who drowned in the river.  I don't blame him if he thought they would do this to him!

I kept going when common snense told me to return home, eat and sleep.  Common sense is as you know in short supply these days and it failed to appear with me also.  Instead I continued up the slope, across the town, passed all the workers still attempting to finish refurbishing the High Street, and noticed the old church had a door open.  I peeked in, something was going on, so I entered and enquired off the two young ladies on guard what was amiss?  "It's a Ladies Day," they said grinning.

I made my excuses and left!

I wandered into 'Clintons' Card shop and glanced at the horrendous Christmas stock on display, almost none of which was suitable for my needs.  However, I purchased three £25 Amazon cards towards the Christmas present stock and was picked up off the floor by the helpful young woman working the till after I fainted when I realised just how much I was paying for this.  She grinned as I explained the vast number of women I had to serve in the family and how I was failing to remember the pin number I have used for almost 30 years.  A very helpful young woman, not unsual around here I must say.

Heading home I met a young man from the Kirk and we put the church world to rights, OK I mean we grumbled a lot, and then were joined in our grumbling by one of his old workmates, so our grumbling widened to include much of the local world.  In all, this was a very enjoyable imitation of a group of gossipping old women.  I then headed home much to my knees relief and now await the Scotland football team playing Israel for the (I think) ninth time in 3 years!  The draw for competitions must be changed I say.  

Brain Dead

This picture sums up my week.

Nothing is going right, I have not got out, been forced to do two washings and live among the damp results.  Knees ache, too little football to watch, and the gas man has put £7 on the bill.  

The brain dead feeling means I have no energy to write, research, read or do anything worth while.

Tomorrow morning I must away to Tesco for sme brain food....

 

Boris Johnson Speaks to the People

 

Lying Conference

 

The Tory lying conference is well under way.  I am avoiding watching this as I can only take so many lies at a time.  There is little expectation that Boris and his cabal will offer anything but lies, half truths, and deception once again.  

 

Nothing has changed except the Tories are working harder at lying.  Indeed bare-faced lies are the thing today.  They all do it, no-one appears able to stop them, and they know now nobody can stop them.  The press is on their side, keeping the Tories in power is what matters as Labour might stand up to the press, any Tory will do, even these 'UKIP in suits Tories.'  

The problem is that many are happy to accept them lying and vote willingly for this.  Not just in the 'Blue areas' such as this one but in the 'Red Wall,' the areas who vote Tory for racist reasons and care not that they are suffering because of this.  

The desire to consider others has long since left this nation. Those that endured poor housing, poor schools, no NHS were keen after the Great War to see improvements.  Many were offered but none came under a Tory Chancellor.  

The depression that saw many suffer and use soup kitchens led to a determination to ensure a better society was created.  After the war the Labour government of 1945 set about doing just that.  Many Tories/Liberals agreed and a consensus to improve things for all remained in the UK until Thatcher the milk snatcher came along and worshipped money.  

Since then considering others has ended.  Those on benefits are all 'living of the state,' or 'my taxes,' and the sick have 'nothing wrong with them.'  That attitude fills the right-wing press, owned by Billionaires, and read by those desparate to believe the lie.  

 

Boris has made a career out of lying, it is in his blood, and now he happily divides the nation just to ensure he keeps his job.  'Divide and rule' has always been the way, the Tories today excel in this lie.  They encourage hate against asylum seekers, unemployed, sick, and the hungry.  They tax the poorest to prevent the rich suffering, they encourage race hate and walk away with none able to stand up to them.   Yet, if Boris goes for a 'snap election' he could be here for another ten years.

Saturday Laptop

My spare laptop, the only one with a CD/DVD bit on it is so sIow and driving me mad.  So, having more money than sense I bought a new, cheap, spare one with a DVD/CD bit.  

I have spent HOURS installing everything I can find, including the Microsoft downloads, and then searching vainly for passwords for things I have added.  

It was lunchtime when I started and it is now getting dark!

Going between two laptops and my phone while checking emails, passwords, or whatever, does not increase one's mental wellbeing.  

Also, Microsoft, in their wisdom, insist on sending a security number at one point in the proceedings, this however does not arrive as my phone number is a landline!  That is too outdated for them.  Too late and bothered to insert my mobile number now, another task for tomorrow.

All however appears well so far, and naturally the DVD/Rom/CD is the one thing I have not yet tried!

Too late now, BBC Alba football soon starting.

 

ps. It's raining, and I have just looked out my heavy pullover!  October is here.

 

 

James Bond & Brexit Petrol

 

There has been a great deal of fuss in recent days concerning the latest Bond film.  This has moved me none, films are things I rarely watch, 5 minutes and I am turning off and doing something useful like reading a book.  Most are just repeats in a different setting, many porn (how do I know?), many junk, and within a few minutes the unrealistic acting turns me off.  I have however, seen several 'Bond' films, especially the earlier ones with a proper James Bond, a tall, debonair, cultured Scotsman.  This I think was what was in Ian Flemings mind as he wrote the books in a Scottish outpost in the Caribbean.  

Today's 'woke' think Bond a rapist, a woman abuser, an altogether nasty man, and indeed in real life Sean could be a bit of a rogue.  It is clear such 'snowflakes' have not lived through a war situation, have never feared an attack on the nation, nor indeed seen real life!  

Some believe Bond to be an image of a real everyday British spy, however, I do not consider this to be the case.  Real spy work tends to be boring, secrative, and far from glamorous, though some do 'disapear.'  Spies are usually attached to embassy outbuildings.  The Soviet Delegation high up on Hampstead Hill was a nest of Russian spies, none found in the Embassy itself, apparently, and when we occasionaly sent spies back home they usually came from Highgate.  I suspect little has changed there under Putin, the 'Workers Friend.'

Now arguments are raging as to the next James Bond, always a demand he is a black, or that he is a she.  That might well be the case these days of course.  Bond has to be a man, and a Scots one at that, there can be no alternatives.  There are plenty of tales regarding women and blacks acting as spies, make up a new series if that is what you want to see I say.

Will I go and see the new film?  No...

 

I nipped downstairs to post a wrongly delivered letter this afternoon, once the torrential rain ceased.  As I looked down the road I could see the road blocked at Sainsburys garage.  They had a delivery this morning and being Friday the cars are already forming a long queue.  Friday of course is when people shop, the vast traffic from Sainsburys up the road meets the queues down the road.  I do hope they, and the people coming from the industrial estate do not run out of petrol in the traffic.  

Brexit, the success that never ceases to give!

 

Murder, Rain and Passports

Rain kept me in today while the need for Batteries for the radio in the bathroom and other things took unwillingly me out.  Naturally, as I left the building the weather changed and stopped raining.  It must be my personality.  All morning however, I was forced to exercise, read Twitter, laugh at Farage being hit by a van while looking (he said) for petrol and finding none in 7 garages.  I also took a delivery from Hermes which was not lost, then discovered the petrol situation was fine here, and now try to live on a diet of strawberries and yoghurt, tea and coffee.  I am still one pound above 15 stone!  

I also spent too much time looking into the rape and murder of the young lass by a London Police officer.  Usually these cases I just glance at but something in this one made me look deeper.  What was he thinking?  Such murders are nearly always solved, much easier and with more committment than the run of the mill burglary.  How did he think he could get away with this?  Another strange one is the Albanian who belted a woman on the head in a park for no known reason.  What was the point in that?  Some things are relatively easy to understand, anger, passion, resentment, theft, all can lead to violent outbursts but such callous murder does not make sense.  Human nature, which most of my readers share, is capable of the worst outrages, and the truth is we can all do such things if pushed.  We ought to be glad that we have been kept from actions this dangerous.  History reveals the human heart, it is not a nice thing to investigate.

 

I looked into obtaining the vaccine passport, not that I am going anywhere, and got confused by the words!  I think I was a bit tired at the time!  I have to get tested first, even though I have been jabbed twice?  Do home tests suffice?  I need to study the paperwork again as I may have to visit Edinburgh soon.  Much better to go before Christmas and avoid the crowds.  However, lots of talk of passports and all this tech stuff on phones (how does a 'code reader. work?) confuses me.  I was not born to think without a 13 year old I could enquire from near at hand.  (I bet Prince Andrew has no 13 year olds near him!)

 

The Labour of Hermes

 

 Sky News

 

Today Keir Starmer delivered his first speech to the Labour Party conference.  I didn't bother to notice it. I expected little and it appears that is what we have been offered.  He did not say anything revolutionary, offering some leadership, or suggestions to take the nation out of the mess into which it has sunk.  My reading of the far from enthusiastic responses to his speech indicates no changes from Labour regarding opposing the Tories.  The nation will continue under this inept government for some time, another, possibly 'snap' election is possible soon, and after that Boris victory the Tories will reign supreme for some time because Labour have failed to oppose him or offer solutions.

What a mess.

What should he have said?

Had Keir made clear Labour would return to the EU, nationalise the main society supports, the buses, railways, NHS, gas, electric and water, for a start, he would have found a strong support from millions fed up with private profit while their fares and costs soar under any excuse that fits.  This however, is not something he would ever contemplate.  I understand there were no references to Clement Attlee in his speech.

Clearly supported by Lord Mandleson of disrepute, he instead just wishes to continue as a 'Red Tory,' teaching the youth to learn 'how to live with it,' and 'make the best of it.'  Super!  Nothing planned to change the way things work or find a better way for the future?  Get used to Boris, he will be around for ever if Keir remains in charge of Labour.

 

Nothing to Say Again

Nothing to say again.

This does not imply I have done nothing.  Although, to be fair, I have done nothing.  Not quite true, I exercised, though no gym would actually charge me for what I was doing.  Then, to 'warm down,' as they say, not that I was even warm, I hoovered the floor.  I say 'hoovered,' but I actually mean 'vaccuumed,' but I canny spell that.  Then I had a poor, skimpy, lunch.

 

There will now be a pause as I contemplate staring out the window in a manner similar to what I was doing after lunch.

 

For some reason I appeared to be running ahead of myself.  By noon I was free from the 'to do' list and wondering what to ignore for the rest off the day.  To avoid mistakes I drank tea and watched the YouTube videos of Championship football from the weekend.  

Then I searched Twitter for excitement.

None came.

 

There will now be another pause.

 

I then became adventurous.

So I dressed in the high quality charity shop clobber and moved out and went through Sainsburys.  This to avoid an early start in the morning to avoid the market day crowds.

Sainsburys was busy, and it was striking that so many people there were not wearing a mask as I was.  I half expected some half-wit to reproach me for wearing a mask as happens to so many people these days.  The vast number of people educated by social media on the covid virus astounds me, especially as they oppose wearing masks, taking a life saving vaccine, and being sensible with people.  Indeed some oppose the vaccine violently, and go as far as abusing hospital staff.  I am yet unaware of this governments attempts to end this.  Possibly a quick law banning opposition and a government that leads from the front would be good.  However, the childish manner in which Tory MPs, on Boris's orders, refuse to wear masks, and the opposition making it clear they do wear them in the House, sends a very dangerous message.  Maybe one or two cabinet members could die and allow sense to return?

 

Paws.

 

One good thing about being outside was I could meet some of my women.  One was looking, not too eagerly, for her lost husband, she had not found him by the time we parted, and the other heading for a flu jab.  I have not yet been offered one, why not doctor?  How nice to meet good people, this is something I do not do much these days.  Usually this is satisfactory but occasionally it is welcome.  The trouble with wandering about in a small town is that you are always likely to meet someone, often the wrong someone!

I returned home to my instant dinner.  Too lazy to cook and glad something in the fridge needed no help.   

Then I glanced at the budget.  'British Gas' moved me onto what they call 'British Gas Evolve.'  This to my mind is another money grab by the company.  I note they have increased my direct debit by £7 and yet I am unable to turn this down.  When I clicked the 'contact' button nothing happened.  The price increase means I am using the boiler as little as possible, but of course winter is coming.  The crooks know this and are lining their pockets.  Where is the government?  Lining their own pockets!  I will be spending much time in the dark this year.

 

 

Queue For Fuel

Just after 10 this morning I passed this queue at the petrol station.  

As I returned near 12 noon this was the sight before me.  Whether the black car jumping the queue was allowed in I know not.  This has continued for some time, not helped by the Sainsburys petrol station offering a 'Sold Out' sign since morning.  Whether that is genuine I know not.  It has calmed down outside my window but unless this garage has a 'Sold Out' sign up, the long line of cars, most with engines rumbling, will continue. 

Another success for Brexit!

Of course this is not just Brexit, however that has caused a lack of drivers, trained petrol tanker drivers are in short supply, have some moved to large wages elsewhere I wonder?  The shortage cannot be made up, an HGV licence is required, but also a tanker driver licence, this takes more tests and costs more, so they will not be rushed to be introduced.  While EU may also have problems, they can work together to fix them, sovereignty means the UK requires forelock tugging and friends in appropriate places to get fuel.

In October things get worse!

 

Market Day Clouds

 

The morning being gray, cloud covering the land and dampness covering the pavements, it is no surprise to see Englishmen out early dressed in T-shirts and shorts.  One lass was making use of tinted sunglasses, not because of bad eyes I note.  What is the matter with these people?  This happens every year, the sun goes in, the temperature drops and the English dress as if on holiday in Majorca!  Had any of these individuals gone to the Arctic for a cruise I suspect they would dress in similar fashion simply because they see the sun shining.  All that fast melting white stuff would possibly not register with them.

The council have spent much time publicising the 'Saturday Market,' and the wide variety of stalls on show.  This happens several times a year in an effort, somewhat vainly, to re-establish the market in a market town.  The sheep and cattle no longer fill the Market space and instead we have on show today the usual fruit and veg, sweets as in picture, and dresses, among other regulars.  The new 'special' stalls sell overpriced cake, candles, smelly stuff and a wide variety of items aimed at women who have too much time and money to waste.  Even the Dinosaurs on show in the shopping centre did not endear me to them, too small for the phone camera to see.  The kids however, including one brain damaged man in a  wheelchair, enjoyed the Pterodactyl eating his hat.  

Interesting to note the many pizza, beer, and fast food stalls did not appear this time, have they gone bust I wonder?  Not that I care, I canny afford them!

Saturn Tonight, Far Off

While normal people were watching Arbroath playing Kilmarnock, and an excellent gave it was, some daft bloke took advantage of the half time break to attempt to catch Saturn, with all those rings, hurtling along at some many miles per hour.  I had to make use of my small hand held tripod to keep the planet from darting all over the place.  The Lumix made a grand effort but it is not possible to get closer, and the rings appear as just wee bright dots at the side.  The appearance of the stars round about made the picture better.  However, it took some manipulation on the laptop to make things clearer.  I was then able to go back and enjoy the game.

  

Christmas Moon?

This morning I began Xmas shopping in earnest.  That is, I trudged up to Sainsburys for a few bits, glanced at the area where toys, fripperies, and books are kept, noted that Christmas stock is beginning to appear and that empty shelves near the toys are now filled with wine and shampoo. Sainsburys continue to pretend Brexit is not hindering supplies.

I then trudged round to Tesco.  There I glanced upstairs at their toys, etc and managed to avoid buying anything for myself.  I did however buy the first of the gift cards (Embaressed somewhat I bought Amazon cards as it is easier, even though they still only pay £4 an hour as far as I can see) and made my way home rejoicing that I can still walk.

Then, being brave, I took my knees, now aching, up to B&M and browsed their several aisles of toys and stuff, Christmas is here all year as far as I can see, and bought one or two small things used as 'Thank you's,' to various peoples.  No miniature whisky this year as yet, I suspect they are sitting in a lorry at the Scottish border.  No paperwork hold ups there, just the driver having a kip.

So, now I am browsing the list of what came last year, who has died on the card list, who can be dropped, and beginning to work out how much will be required.  (Note, none have been added bar NIck, the new great nephew.  I'm good at making friends.)

 

 

Ha!  You thought there would be no more moon shots!  Wrong!  After 30 minutes of struggle I managed to gather this one, though it required a bit off work on the laptop afterwards.  The moon does not appear to have changed any since last year, though it was higher in the sky, or could I have been lower on the ground?  It is all so confusing.  What is really confusing is having a clear sky, no clouds and the chance to picture the moon, so unusual!