Well done to Davie

Yesterday afternoon we got some fantastic news from Davie. He had an interview for a Research Technician post at Glasgow University Centre for Virus Research last week, and yesterday he found out that he got it! I am such a proud mama! He has been working so hard to get a research post in science even though it must have been discouraging for him because jobs have been few and far between over the last year. He did get a couple of short term lab jobs when he was in Manchester but now he has not only been offered a research job, it’s at the same fabulous centre of excellence where he did his Master’s. It’s exactly where he wants to be!

So today James and I went to Stirling to take Davie out for brunch in order to celebrate. We went to a very pleasant café (how does Stirling have so many lovely cafés?) and chatted, Davie told us about his interview and I could tell from what he said that he absolutely aced it. He is so happy. After our meal we went for a wander around the streets of Stirling and I got advent calendars for him and Chanel. We walked back to his flat via the winding path up around the city walls. Stirling is so historic and attractive.

Troon Beach and a Cosy Fire

Today we went to Troon for a walk on the beach. It was a grey day; silky grey sea, grey sky, grey rain clouds approaching slowly from the west. We couldn’t even see Arran because of the low cloud. We walked about 7 km, from the golf course up and down the beach, then along to the Venice Cafe and back. We had a tasty brunch in the café. It had started to rain, a thin, fine rain, by the time we got back to the car. 

Back at home James lit the fire in the lounge and made a Madeira cake which smelled gorgeous. We relaxed in front of the fire all afternoon. James started a new jigsaw and Tom amusingly stood on his hind legs at the coffee table and pulled a few jigsaw pieces on to the carpet. Perhaps he was trying to help James with the jigsaw? After dinner both cats joined us in the living room where we watched another couple of episodes of the watchable but not outstanding “Manifest” a series about a plane that disappears and then reappears to find that five years have passed, much to the consternation of the passengers and their families, who thought that they were dead. We are now on the fourth and final series and have committed so many of our evenings to it that we feel that we must finish it! 

Two walks

On Friday I went for two walks. The first, in the morning, was with Lil, who has recently had a hip replacement, a couple of weeks ago. We walked twice around the block from her house, and I was impressed by her speed and steady gait. She’s still using forearm crutches outdoors, and I think her hip is still uncomfortable sometimes, but she’s getting on really well. 
My second walk, in the afternoon, was with the irrepressible Vinnie. We had a fine old time bounding around Cambuslang Park (him), playing with other dogs (him) and chatting to their owners (me.) I’m glad to say that Ferne is home from the hospital after her six weeks of chemo, so I’m not sure whether any more dog walking will be required. She has more treatment to come, but will be based at home, which is so much better for her family. I saw her when I took Vinnie home, just awake after a nap, and she looked so cute. 
James and I then took the train in to town to meet Abigail and Graham at Chaophraya, a Thai restaurant which we haven’t been to before. We had a delicious (and surprisingly spicy) meal and a convivial evening. 

Embarrassing fall

I had lunch with Gran Jan today. At the age of eighty-nine she doesn’t even need to use a walking stick; she’s amazing and looks much younger than her age. All the same I’m always a little concerned in case she falls when we are walking along the pavement, I would hate for her to hurt herself. However as we walked along to Bothwell Church to the café it was in fact I who tripped and fell, grazing both knees lightly and bruising my left elbow rather painfully. Despite my embarrassment the irony of the situation was not lost on me; I should have been watching my step since Gran Jan is clearly steadier on her feet than me! Once she was sure that I was (mostly) unhurt we continued to the church and had an extremely pleasant lunch, chatting about family and friends and life. 

Art History and Book Club

Today was the last of our ten Art History classes on Northern Renaissance Art. It ended with Hans Holbein the Younger’s many secular portraits of the wealthy in the first half of the 16th century. I have enjoyed the course very much but it was very fast-paced so I will need to do lots of reading and looking at paintings. I would quite like to repeat the class so that I could take more in! We went to the delightful but very expensive Eusebi Deli before the class because it was the last day. 
This evening I went to EK book club at Fiona’s house. It was a rainy and windy evening so I didn’t feel very enthusiastic about going out, but I was very glad that I went. The book discussion on “How to Kill your Best Friend” was very interesting, and we had a good laugh about all sorts of subjects. What a nice bunch of girls they are. 

My first Sourdough Loaf

Jamie and Davie both make excellent sourdough bread, which I have tasted with admiration in New Zealand and in Manchester, so I thought that it was about time for me to have a go as well. Armed only with the online BBC Good Food recipe, I bought some strong bread flour and got started. The starter seemed rather thick to me, but Davie assured me that it can be like that, so I have pressed on, obeying the instructions to “feed” it every day. The instructions that the sourdough starter would start bubbling after 3 to 4 days, but mine became quite lively on the second day. Phone consultations with both Jamie and Davie encouraged me that the starter was progressing suitably. However I was not confident that the temperature of the utility room is right or that my quantities were accurate enough, so Jamie told me that he has decided to send me an early Christmas present - the same bread-making book that he uses. 
After seven days the time came to make my bread, and it was very successful to my surprise! It didn’t look very pretty and I think that the dough was just a bit too wet, but the taste was great. James bought a couple of avocados and we mashed them up and spread them on the sourdough bread for lunch, and it was delicious. 
The bread-making book has arrived and, while I continue to feed my starter, I have started reading it. There is much more information than in the BBC recipe and I’m looking forward to improving my method in my next attempt. 

Greta van Fleet

Our train journey from Manchester to Glasgow on Sunday started out on a very busy train due to an earlier cancellation; we had to struggle through the crowds to reach our reserved seats. Everyone was a bit grumpy and the guard kept making announcements over the tannoy about moving up and making space for people. Chanel was doing some word puzzles and people in nearby seats were joining in. At one point Chanel asked for help with the clue “What’s another name for a railway official?” and a voice shouted “wanker!” which I must admit was very funny given the circumstances! Everyone around us was laughing so it lightened the mood. Our train from Carlisle to Glasgow was cancelled and we had to wait an hour for the next one. That’s two significant delays in two days. When we got to Motherwell James met us and we gave Chanel a lift home to Stirling. 
On Monday James went to see the rock group Greta van Fleet at the Hydro; recommended to us by Kevin Appleton. I had offered my ticket to Ewan because I knew that the concert would not really be my cup of tea, and he kindly agreed to take my place. This turned out to be an excellent decision for all concerned; James and Ewan both enjoyed it very much and went for a lovely Italian meal in Joia beforehand. 
This morning we were on the train to Edinburgh to meet Janet and Peter for lunch, and we got chatting to a very pleasant American couple from Nantucket who were on holiday in Scotland with their teenage children. They mentioned that they had visited Glasgow in order to go to a concert of their daughter’s favourite rock band, which had been sold out when they had tried to get tickets in Boston - yes they had also been at Greta van Fleet! They had even been in the same section as James and Ewan!