Sunny in Carlisle

It was snowing this morning. The cats were so muddy when they came in that they left paw prints all over the floor; I can't help comparing them to their mostly very clean and tidy predecessors, Jack and Jill. When I held Tom up to the window to look at the snow he reached out with his paw to try to touch the snowflakes. 

I gave Chanel a lift to Carlisle because there are no train services on the West Coast line until the end of January. This is because of damage to a viaduct during Storm Frank at the end of December. There is a replacement bus service (which she used on her way here) but Davie was naturally keen to keep her company on the first leg of the journey so off we went.

About half an hour into the journey Chanel invited Davie to stay with her in Warrington for a few days. David was delighted but had nothing with him except the clothes he was wearing - not even his wallet or a waterproof. So we had to sort out some finances and a train ticket. Who am I to stand in the way of young love? Chanel is very sweet and I have never seen anyone laugh quite the way she does - her shoulders literally shake with laughter! South of Beattock the weather improved considerably; no more snow and by Carlisle it was even a bit sunny. The centre of town was quite attractive with historic buildings. After I deposited Davie and Chanel at Carlisle railway station I set off back home.

I stopped at Gretna retail park to have a break and buy a coffee, I haven't been there for years. As I proceeded north the weather deteriorated and the last half hour was through heavy rain, but James made me a nice cup of tea when I got home and we sat and chatted by the fire. Jamie and Ally had been hillwalking up a very snowy Earl's Seat in the Trossachs and we all had meatballs and pasta for tea with Grandma. 

Little paw

I feel the need to post about something which will only appeal to cat lovers, but which I found very amusing. When I got up this morning the cats were prancing around the bedroom in an ebullient mood, chasing each other around and underneath the bed. As I walked past the end of the bed a black paw with a white tip reached out to claw at my foot! I rushed over and stuck my hand under the bed, and I could hear the cats scrabbling around excitedly. And then as I walked past the end of the bed again, there was a little black, white tipped paw already sticking out from the end of the bed! Tom clearly wanted me to play a game by grabbing his paw - which of course I did! It was just so sweet, seeing that daft wee paw sticking out, waiting for me! The kitties are such fun. 

Ice and snow

Having become used to such a mild winter, it was quite a surprise to wake to an icy cold morning. I switched on the car's engine to de-ice its windows and ate my porridge at the front door so that I could keep an eye on it. By about 2 p.m. it had started snowing. By the time I went to collect Grandma from her eye appointment at Hairmyres at 4 o'clock it was like a winter wonderland, and the roads were quite slippy with snow. David had taken Grandma up to the hospital by taxi earlier and waited with her for her appointment, he is such a good grandson - all three boys are very nice to Grandma and she loves them making a fuss of her. When I arrived he set off into town to meet Chanel who is visiting for the weekend, and I drove Grandma home through whirling snow. Grandma's eye was sore after her injection but she is very brave and stoic. When I found out that she had slipped £10 to David, I told her that she shouldn't have given him anything, to which she spiritedly replied, "He's my grandson and I'll give him money if I want to!" which I thought was very sweet. 

River Pearl

Cat arrived home from Canada yesterday and she gave me a river pearl on a simple gold chain for my birthday. It is very beautiful and people commented on it all day at work. I love it. 

I went to the gym at the end of the day with two colleagues; I really enjoyed it and it felt good. Then this evening James and I did some more batch cooking. It was a slow cooked version of beef stroganoff. I did four times the quantity for four people so there was a lot of chopping and browning going on. It was a satisfying feeling.

Scone at New Lanark

The last couple of days of the holiday have been very pleasant. Sunday had to be quite quiet because I woke during the night with a crushing pain in my chest - I have had this before and I think it's a pulled muscle. I could hardly move but after some painkillers I managed to get up and about, and it is gradually getting better. We had a lovely Sunday dinner with Grandma - James had marinated a leg of lamb with garlic and juniper berries for three days and we served it with gratin dauphinois. It was melt in the mouth delicious.

James and I went for a nice wee walk at the Falls of Clyde today. Due to the recent heavy rain there was plenty of water crashing over the falls; it was spectacular. That's three out of the first four days of the year that we have gone for a walk and we agreed that we would like to continue this trend. We both have very busy jobs and it's difficult to make time for exercise. However, just as I place a very high importance on keeping my promises and commitments to my colleagues and pupils, I really should value my own health and not discard it so readily when I'm busy. Let's face it, my colleagues and pupils would all manage just fine if I finally break!

When we arrived back down into the village of New Lanark I had a very nice scone and a cup of coffee. James on the other hand chose an empire biscuit and a cup of tea. It has been a good and relaxing holiday. 

First curry of the year

We went over to Heather and Ewan's this afternoon to go for a walk, with a curry booked at Rasoi later. It was good to get fresh air and a bit of exercise, and we were lucky that even though it was muddy underfoot the weather stayed dry for us, and in fact it was so warm that I had to take off my jacket! Ally and Andrew joined us on our perambulations. I have no idea where Heather and Ewan took us; all I know is that it was over hill and down dale through lovely countryside for a couple of hours. Just the ticket for a New Year's walk. And a good way to work up an appetite for the enticing curry ahead. 

At Rasoi later on I chose something a bit different from my usual pasanda; I went for a muglai Punjabi which is chicken with red chillies, yoghurt and spinach. It was a bit hotter than I am used to but delicious. Time will tell whether this was a wise decision.

Traditional

It has been a quiet and pleasant start to 2016. A walk with James in the morning - our usual short 45 minute route around the neighbourhood. Then a meal at 3 p.m. at Piersland Lodge Hotel in Troon with Grandma, Marjory, Forrest and all the younger generation except Jamie, who is in France skiing. I'm not sure whether 3 p.m. is supposed to be lunch or dinner! It was all very sociable and many of the other tables were occupied by similar three-generation families. It was a very traditional Scottish family occasion. Ally and Davie were both tired after their revelries the night before but enjoyed chatting with their cousins. Then back to Grandma's for a cup of tea and shortbread. A good start to the year.