Alternatives to hanging your baubles on a tree.,.,

First time in 33 years - no Christmas tree. 

Years ago we used to tramp around the local Forestry Commission, kids in tow, wellied up, selecting a tree.

Until we discovered they were all imported.

Then we discovered we could buy a locally grown tree, indeed, so local we could see the thing growing from our window.

So from then on thats where our tree came from.

Okay - wrong time of year, but sadly, no pic of the farm in Winter.  Auchtydonald is just outside Mintlaw and in the Summer grows strawberries and raspberries.  If you shop in Tescos in Scotland the strawberries will have most probably have come from there. (tho as natives we get a different kind, which tastes a lot better, maybe not as 'perfect' to look at of course.)

This year I had to be a bit more inventive.

  
Christmas lights on shelves rather than branches.

 Spread out the impact.

Filled every vase, glass, cake stand with baubles.
 

  
Hung from flying birds.

 Who needs a Christmas Tree.

Perhaps next year we will get there before they have all sold.

Temperance Marches.

Each year the North East of Scotland Aberdeenshire villagers of Inverallochy, Cairnbulg and St Combs take part in a temperance walk to shake off the winter cobwebs. Each village in the Buchan Rathen Coast takes turns to host the walk which has been happening for over 160 years. 

The history of these walks dates back to an evangelical time in the villages when they were regenerated after a bad period during the 19th Century when there was much village fighting and drunkenness which only ended after an outbreak of cholera in 1847. After this epidemic the communities grew and turned to religion. The tradition of the temperance walks started at this time. 

Inverallochy and Cairnbulg are two fishing villages, only separated by a road, that once was a ditch.  

Inverallochy has first go and has their Temperance March on Christmas Day.  

Today, New Year's Day, they cross the road and Cairnbulg has their Temperance March.  Which was joined by the Dawn Patroller, and his camera.

Now I, for one, was deeply moved to see that this is not just for the oldies.  Young children, and teenagers, carrying on the traditions of this part of Scotland.

Before they set off a man with a loud voice asked, "Did any o ye hae a drink last night?"

And all the kids shouted, "Yes!"

As they moved around the village various stops were made for local worthies to come out and bash the drum.  One of which, from the DP's description was Count Dracula (not far from Slains Castle) but was probably the local vicar.

Tomorrow the Temperance March is at St.Combs.

None of the three villages had a pub.  Nor did they have 'offies'   Though now there is the local shoppies which have a very good selection of cans, bottles, wines, spirits, oh dear.  And also we have The Tufted Duck, a hotel with a bar situated some hundred yards from the South edge of St Combs.  It is the only restaurant in our corner which has a view of the sea from its windows.

Wee bit further than a march for us, but then we are not Temperance......

Lonmay Public Hall.

This photograph was taken last year.  Some may remember we came third in a quiz there, which was the start of raising money to keep the hall going.  Since then the windows have been replaced, and a lot of work done to the place.  All thanks to various organisations, including Shell, Aberdeenshire Council, etc.(And the quiz night).

 Work continues.

Last night was the first concert to be held there in fifty years!  The Scottish Accordion Music Group no less.

The place was packed, we were on the back row. 

As you can see, everyone enjoyed the evening.  Not just music but stories, very funny ones, if you could understand the Doric, which they were related in.  (I just laughed when everyone else did).  

Also unaccompanied singing in Gaelic.  Or as I have now been told its pronounced Garlic.

Now, as you have gazed on these photographs, you may well have come to the realisation that this lot are not in their first youth.

Please now look at this chap in the middle, the drummer no less, 91 years old and never missed a beat.

Now I am not very good at this video lark, so, put your head on one side, ok.  Then press play.

 When the interval came and the 91 year old drummer had to be lifted bodily by four people as he had siezed in the sitting at the drums position, carried off the stage, and out of the hall, the Dawn Patroller had to sit on me, stuff my mouth with my scarf, as I  commenced my hysterical laughing.  This does not happen very often, thank goodness, but when it does, I just cannot stop.  (Think of the noise a donkey makes.)

I had been watching him closely throughout the first half and I have never ever seen anything like it.  Just fantastic, unbelievable.

When he was brought back in for the second session I turned my eyes to other performers in case I set off again and was thrown out.

Unfortunately I was past the sensible stage and when this fantastic voice came out, from a lady way past Susan Boyle's age I was gone.  Singing about her Grandmother, sadly there is no hope for me, as all I could think about was years ago in Yates's Wine Bar.  Now you have to have been there in the 60s to know what I am on about.  

All this was after a week I would rather forget about, so yesterday evening was the best antidote ever I could have wished for.

Getting out of the car park, and manoeuvring  round fifty four by fours was yet another hysterical experience, the hall is in the middle of nowhere, narrow country lanes and the cemetery, a church that is now a house, a school that is now a house, all in complete darkness, no street lights out here, it was total mayhem.

So finally  I went to bed, only to be told by my friend Lesley,this morning  that five minutes later, this happened.

Nae so bad having nae lichts after all.

I'm back!

Amazing what one does when no longer connected to the internet.  The Dawn Patroller and I cleared and cleaned the kitchen cupboards.

We moved in here in April 2011.  We moved lock stock and barrel and just shoved everything in.  Then along the way I began to realise that we were no longer doing bed and breakfast and catering for the masses.  So - I suggested we did a clear out and make things work more logistically.  The picture above is all the different flours for all the different dietary requirements of b&b guests.  Gluten free, lactose free, the Americans were the worse with all their intoooolerances.

We have clear shelves!

Items grouped together in a sensible way.

And a lot of stuff to recycle.  Though we still have three toast racks.

I also painted the dull downstairs bathroom with sunshine yellow paint.

Whilst we have been off line the DP has amassed a huge amount of pictures.  I have still yet to wade through them.  However, these are the ones he took last weekend.

Cruden Bay, versus the Vikings, the 1000 year anniversary.

A thousand years ago they came from the sea - this year they came from the pub.

They are back!

Acrylic Master Class.

Was today.  I think I should take up sculpture.  

One of the tasks set to me was to stare at a red pepper for 30 seconds, then close my eyes, then open them and stare at a white piece of paper and then describe the colours I could see.  Do try it, as it actually works.  Instead of seeing a darker shadow of said pepper, I could see purple, pink, orange, green and blue.  It didnt half make a difference when I painted that below.  No - you are not going to see my finished result, because a) it isnt finished and b) its still crap.

Watching a real artist paint was just awesome.  Two strawberries (yawn - boring)  suddenly come to life on a piece of paper.  I thanked the Lord for her allowing me to still be learning in my 60s.

Also today my three water colour paintings were put into an exhibition.  Still don't know if any or all have been accepted.

Common Tern was one.

The Pheasants, titled, "Handbags at Dawn" was number two.

Number three was the Oyster Catcher in ' a bit of a breeze'.

Meanwhile...........

Whilst I was heavily involved in trying to master acrylic paints  (now dont be silly),  the DP was away to Peterheed and photographed 'real life' in a fishing village/edge of town where they dont just hang up their troosers for drying but they do hang up the fishing nets to dry.    Now I am not really sure why you should need to hang up fishing nets to dry, after all, next bit is to fling them into the sea, but, fear not, I shall find out why.


Possibly another Master Class ?

Mondays Meanderings.

Just look at this amazing poster, advertising See Scotland by Train.  The silhouettes of the buildings and the beach are still there, and I think the building, on the left, could be the Beach Cafe, which is also still there.

My second daughter works at the newly refurbished Museum in Edinburgh and sent me this.


Right, more history.



During the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, a large number of, usually circular, burial mounds were erected in prominent locations to intern important members of the community. The rites of inhumation (in short, stone-lined cist graves), and cremation (in large pottery urns), were practised.  Aberdeenshire Council.

This one is huge, and is the remaining one of three, at Memsie, not far from here.

The picture below gives a better idea of the size as you can see the house behind it.

Nice view!

This morning's deer via the DP.

And as lambing continues apace some more aww pictures (and dreams of mint sauce Penny.)

I'll just meander along to the bottle of wine.

Monday Mixture.

Cairnbulg Castle.  I have mentioned this one before.  It is privately owned and is a couple of miles from us, towards Fraserburgh.

 Privately owned and lived in.  I may well have stood next to them in the checkout at Tescos.

 Cruden Bay's take on Up Helly Ha.  Well, that is the intention.  Bit of a way to go yet though.

Our next task at Art Class is reflections.

 I first thought these were lovely beach huts.  Oh no, they are containers, metal, rusty containers.  Yeugh.  We just do not do pretty harbours here do we.

Still not sure what to do.


I have done a drawing of a poor bedraggled fox who appears to be stuck in a pond.  Probably not able to move as some silly idiot was taking a photo of him.  Hmm.


So there you are, a real mixture.  Just to add to the pot Puzzle cat has gone back a couple of steps. If he's not careful I'll have him stuffed.  Now you know I dont mean that!