Monday Meander.

It works!  Now it is becoming much cooler, and the day becomes shorter, it is wonderful to set up the stove.  It takes minutes to get going, and from then on radiates heat throughout the downstairs of the house.  The picture above shows the wood 'catching', but once that has happened everything gets turned down and one, two, maximum three lumps of wood have us feeling cosy, all evening.

Minerva McGonagall is comfortable in the bedroom.  So all is well with the world.

Soon it will be time to pack away the garden furniture.  Once the strong winds come I do not want to see the odd chair heading for the North Sea, or the neighbours.

Whoops, naughty birds.  Fear not, they never flower, which as I understand the cultivation  is such that it needs to before you can start making money.  Its a shame to be illegal to grow it, as it is quite bonny, but to be on the safe side, best pull it up.  But then again....

East Rathen Church.  This church is up the road from us and to the right a bit, its a few miles from actual Rathen.  But the way churches were built way back is fascinating.  Or should I say why and where they were built.

Gothic church of 1842 with subsequent alterations and extensions. T-plan with later octagonal spirelet. Squared rubble with pinnings typical of the area. Fixed pews in the gallery and moveable seating in the nave.

The parish of Rathen is said to be one of the most ancient in the county of Aberdeen, and at one time contained within its limits the greater part of the parish of Strichen, and a part of the parish of Fraserburgh. The church and teinds, it is said, were at an early period appropriated to the Cathedral of the diocese, the incumbent of the benefice becoming the stipendiary of that establishment, till its dissolution at the Reformation.

' there was about the tyme of morneing prayer for diverse dayes togithir, hard in the church a queire of musicke, both of woces, organes, and other instruementes, and with such a ravisheing sweetnes that they ware transported which, in numbers, resorted to heire it with unspeakable pleasure and never wiried delight. The preacher on day being much takin with the harmonie, went with diverse of his parisheners in to the church, to try if there eyes could beare witnes to what there eares had hard, but they ware no sooner entred when, lo, the musicke ceassed with a long not, or stroke of a wioll de gambo; and the sound came from ane upper lofte where the people used to heare service, but they could see nothing.' 

This report is from the church prior to it being re-built in 1842.  Spooky! 

And here is a close encounter with a couple of deer.

Meandering on a Monday.

A Farewell and a new Start.

Yesterday the Geriatric Gang met for coffee at the Mission.

Facing onto the harbour it is not exactly an enticing looking building.  

The Mission to Seafarers (formerly, The Missions to Seamen) is an international not-for-profit charity serving professional merchant sailors across the oceans. MtS main purpose is to provide Anglican chaplains to deliver Bibles and other Christian literature to ships and to offer spiritual and pastoral care to seafarers.

Wikepedia.

Inside all is warm and friendly. (and some of the customers are phwoar.) (Some are not.)
  
The food and drink (non alcoholic of course) is ridiculously cheap.  I paid 95p for a milky coffee.  Milky coffee is a very Scottish drink.  A spoonful of instant coffee and poured over with hot milk.  It is okay but not exactly a cappuccino.  No chocolate on top for a start.


My main reason for going to the mission was to bid a fond farewell to a person that has become very dear to me.

Murray Campbell is Senior Superintendent of the Fishermen's Mission based at Fraserburgh, and is just entering his 24th year of service to the Mission. His area extends from Fraserburgh to Dornoch and has has also oversight for Mallaig in the west coast.  He has seved in Mallaig (2), Lochinver, Aberdeen, Scrabster & Fraserburgh.  Prior to joining the Mission, Murray was European Buyer for Scottish Seafoods based at Annan.  Lossiemouth born, Murray has been President of the Moray Battalion of the Boys' Brigade, Session Clerk of his church, Football Referee and Referee Supervisor with the SFA and Member of the Central Buchan Rotary Club (Past President of Thurso Rotary Club) In 2010, Murray was elected Chairman of the North & East Scotland Port Welfare Committee. With a passion for helping others, he is an accredited professional Member of the IWO.

Way overdue he is now about to retire and move back to Lossiemouth.  I cannot really see him retiring as such.  I really can't.  But he wont be just up the road any more.


There are certain people who stand out in your life - Murray is one in mine.

Murray on the right.  Courtesy of the Fraserburgh Herald.


  I have no religion, I dont fish, or sail in boats, or play golf, or football.  None of that mattered to him.  A delightful person who made me laugh and who laughed with me.


I wish I could say I had packed so much into my life.


But, as with Murray, there is still loads of time left!

Saturday Searching and Sighting.

This morning's deer.  Roe Buck.

Yet another ruin.

I really think I am going to have to gird up my loins and walk and then sit and draw some of these ruins.  I would so love to know more about why they are ruins.  I know roofs were taken off so no taxes were then due, but what was wrong with this house.  Its huge, has barns, another mystery.

And made from solid granite.  Beautifully cut granite.

The white house you can see in the distance is ours, so this ruin is not too far away.


I forgot to ask the DP if there were any Silver Birch trees around there.  


He has been out and about today trying to find some to buy to no avail.  Our friend who owns and runs a plant/tree centre with the help of adults with special needs is only open Monday to Friday, but on visiting, he thought he saw some.  So its back there on Monday.
On his travels however, this is what he saw.  Not far from here.

An Osprey!   Back from the West coast of Africa.

It caught a fish.

And then ate it on the top of a telegraph pole.


So not a wasted journey.  He will be entering it on the birding web site.  It will probably be   next viewed at the Loch of Strathbeg.  But he saw it first!


The wild cat sighting has been recorded with http://scottishwildcats.co.uk who do seem to think it a positive sighting.  No, Penny, not a wolf, well not yet anyway, who knows!


Just keep yer eyes open search and sight.


Off out for a meal tonight.  Apparently its the First Day of Passover.  When the Jews were liberated from Egypt.


Shalom.

He who would valiant be....

Let him come hither.


I was brought up in the Methodist Church.  Tried a few more along the way. Catholic, Church of England, Bahai, etc.  My experiences will remain unprinted as I do not want to upset anyone.  As a Methodist I signed the pledge when I was seven, not to drink.  Forgot completely by the time I was 17.  (or quite possibly earlier).


Suffice it to say what I do miss from visiting a church is that awesome sound from the organ and then the voices belting out such hymns as the above.  One of my favourites, but surprisingly not in my Dad's Methodist hymn book.  Possibly Church of England then?

My Dad's Hymn Book has on the flyleaf, 


Providence Methodist Church, Mapplewell.
Presented to
Sydney Robinson
at a Welcome Home Celebration, in thanksgiving for his safe return from H.M. Forces


March 1948.


(March 1949 I was born. )


Every year there was a performance of the Messiah at Providence Methodist Church (I didnt know it was a Church as everyone called it Chapel).  And my Dad was one of the leading tenors.  Every Christmas Day my family is inflicted with the full performance of the Huddersfield Choral Society cd.  (And me singing along to it.)


I do think that song is a very powerful part of our whole being.


I am fortunate that I can hear songs, can join in the singing, my lungs are shot, so sometimes its a whisper, but singing can be so moving, and despite my religious hang ups I still think that some of the old hymns are just fantastic.


Indeed, my lovely keyboard, pretend piano whatever has an organ button!  As soon as the Dawn Patroller goes off to be the hunter gatherer at Tescos I plan to be in there.


Because my Dad's Methodist Hymn Book has the music as well as the words!


He who would valiant be , well She actually, is about to shake the rafters.