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It hasn't been a very nice day today - cold, wet and windy. So these photos are to cheer me up - but I hope you like them too!
This little tree is in our front garden. I'm glad I took the photos on Monday when the blossom was at its best - it has been a bit battered by the wind and rain since then.
I love the way the flowers start off a deeper pink, then turn paler as they open out.
That's better!
After our lovely lunch yesterday, we decided to take the long way home and take in a bit of local history and scenery. Our first stop was here
to see the statue of William Wallace (we didn't walk on to see the Temple of the Muses - we're saving that for another day).
I would have run away very quickly if I had encountered him on the battlefield!
We were brought up on tales of William Wallace and his defeats of the auld enemy. You might not appreciate the scale of the statue from the first photo, so this one shows you just how big it is!
Our next stop was at Scott's View. I hope you can read at least some of the information on the 3 plaques (I think you will get an enlarged version if you click on them)
and now for the view!
Unfortunately it wasn't the clearest of days, but it is still a spectacular view across to the Eildon Hills
Looking down to the River Tweed gives you an idea of the drop down to the valley (did I mention I don't like heights?!)
I forgot to post this photo yesterday - yes - it's Malcolm's socks
Have a super weekend, love, Anne
This week, we have had a change to our usual routine, doing the housework today instead of tomorrow, and going out for lunch today instead of yesterday (oooh - we are just such little devils!!) So, it was off to St Boswells, to lunch at The Main Street Trading Company - a wonderful mix of coffee shop, books, gifts and antiques (and did I mention books?) We arrived a little early for lunch (we are always early!), so first we relaxed with a cuppa and the papers
After including a photo of wild garlic in Tuesday's post, it was one of those funny little coincedences to find that one of the soups on today's menu was chickpea and wild garlic! Of course I chose that, while Malcolm had the pea and ham ..... and we also shared a wonderful venison sausage sandwich
After lunch, we had a browse round the shop
a good selection of antiques
lots and lots of books
more books and gifts
and a wonderful selection of children's books.
Did I buy I book? Oops, I spent all of this month's pocket money and bought two!!
I read Mimi's column every Sunday in You magazine, so I'm looking forward to reading her book
I could have bought this book just for the beautiful baby on the cover!! The patterns are gorgeous and the whole layout is delightful - a book to pick up and browse through, as well as use!
We had a bit of a detour on the way home, to take in some history and some stunning scenery - come back tomorrow and I'll tell you the rest of the story!
..... but I am the proud possessor of O Level Spanish! When I was in 6th year at Airdrie Academy, I was allowed to compile my own timetable. This was easily done with the few subjects I was going to sit exams in, plus lots of 'free' periods - which we had to spend 'studying' in the school library supervised by a teacher. I was on the way to the office to hand my timetable in, when I met the Rector. Now, he probably wouldn't have spoken to any other 6th year pupil, but unfortunately, he knew me - he had taught my Dad (one of my Latin teachers had also taught my Dad), my sister has been at the Academy before me, and my brother was there, 4 years behind me. On finding out why I was wandering the corridors, he had a look at my timetable - and declared that I would have to take another subject. He suggested that I went to see one of the other Latin teachers and ask to join his O Level Spanish Class. Now, I was not at all pleased about this, mostly because I did not want to learn Spanish, but also because I had previously been taught by this teacher - he was best known throughout the school for putting his hand in his trouser pocket and scratching!!
However, I did study Spanish for a year and somehow managed to pass the exams. But I didn't actually learn to speak Spanish (apart from the minimal amount for the oral exam) - I merely learned to read and translate it.
I have long since forgotten it all, but that didn't prevent me from buying these two wonderful magazines on holiday
and this wonderful knitting book
but even if I could still remember any Spanish, it wouldn't help me with this magazine .....
...... which is Italian! I had only looked at the wonderful photos of the needlework projects - it was Malcolm who actually looked at the text, didn't think it looked like Spanish, then saw that the adverts were for Italian products and shops!
This morning I had a potter along Hawick High Street. First stop was the bank to pay a bill, but after that things improved! A quick trip into WH Smith to buy the papers and this month's Sew Hip magazine, then on to the Shelter charity shop, where something was calling to me as I went in the door - buy me, buy me
nineteen balls at 50p each - how could I resist!
lovely colours and textures, with a little glint of silver - I think this could be a throw.
After a quick stop for a cuppa (I resisted the scones - with difficulty!) the last stop was at Morrisons for a bit of shopping. Hooray, the first British strawberries have arrived
They look, smell and, most importantly, taste absolutely fabulous, with a lovely texture. Compare them with these ones at the Sunday market in Pollensa
these ones might win a prize for the biggest strawberries ever, but they don't have a lot of flavour and even when they appear very ripe, they are still quite hard. Home grown is definitely best!
After an enjoyable lunch of homemade leek and potato soup and toast, we headed off to Harestanes for a walk. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good as our last walk there on Easter Sunday, but it was nice to get out in the fresh air (instead of doing the ironing!). Last time, the bluebells were just starting to flower, but now they are starting to go over. However, the carpet of blue under the trees is lovely
The smell from the wild garlic was quite strong in the rain, and the flower shone white against the wet leaves
Malcolm had to keep stopping for me to catch up, as I was sidetracked by another photo opportunity - like this tiny purple flower (it's about the size of a shirt button!)
suddenly, we came to the end of the woods and came out on to the road, to see this wonderful view
as we turned round to retrace our steps, I had to take this photo - there is just something appealing about old fence posts and walls (or am I just weird?)
on the way back, we had a slight detour to the Woodside garden centre for a cuppa
it was raining when we came out, so Malcolm kindly held the umbrella over me as I took photos of the wisteria
and the tree peonie
If you are thinking about coming to the glorious Scottish Borders for a holiday, then I can recommend this cottage owned by local artists Hugh and Lindsay (you've met Lindsay already - the organiser of the Woolgatherings). Do have a look - the cottage is well-situated not only for exploring the Borders, but also for crossing the border into Northumberland, which has numerous wonderful castles to visit, including Alnwick Castle, with its wonderful gardens.
This has turned out to be a marathon post - especially as I keep pausing to watch a fascinating programme about the 'six degrees of separation'!
If you go on holiday and eat this
and this
when you come home, you might find yourself eating a lot of this!
Of course you can eat lovely healthy food like sushi
but perhaps you shouldn't eat these as well!
So - did I do any knitting ....... yes I did!!
One sock finished and I'm ready to start the heel on the second one
I like how the pattern has formed. It's the first time I've used this sock wool (Superba Print) and I am pleased with how it has knitted up.
Progress has been slower on the shawl, as it requires a lot of concentration, but I have started the next section of the pattern
You can see it taking shape (with the help of a few pins!)
The white thread is my Lifeline - a wonderfully simple idea that could save a lot of tears!!
...... because I missed you - especially when I discovered that the cafe in the local supermarket had a wi-fi zone.... But don't worry, this isn't going to be the equivalent of the friends who invite you round for the evening and bore the pants off you with holiday photos!! I am only going to show you two photos today - the first one I took and the last one that Malcolm took - all the others in between can wait!
This is one of the stalls in the Sunday market in the old town in Pollensa. It's amazing the way the stallholder cuts wafer thin slices from the ham.
Malcolm took this photo of me when we were out for dinner on our last night ( it might have been hot through the day, but I needed my cardi on for sitting outside for dinner!)
Of course, the big question is .... did I do much knitting? I'll tell you tomorrow .....