The continuing journal of my everyday life, which hopefully will be there for future generations.
After last week's rain, we had clear blue skies and wintry sunshine - ideal for walks and taking photographs. Christmas events are under way and two Prince Henry's were on TV.
After last week's rain, we had clear blue skies and wintry sunshine - ideal for walks and taking photographs. Christmas events are under way and two Prince Henry's were on TV.
Monday 27 November 2017
Big news of the day was Prince Harry announcing his engagement to Megan Markel - not exactly a surprise, but refreshing at least to have a happy news story with so much negative, depressing and disturbing tales in our troubled world - faltering Brexit negotiations (I fear the worst) terrorist threats, natural disasters, failing NHS and social care (we are at that age!), plus daily cases of sexual harassment in the media and politics.
It is a Monday holiday for St. Andrew's Day on the 30th, so G and family off to Edinburgh by train. You think ScotRail would get their act together and realise that a month before Christmas, people would be heading for the city - but NO. Only a two coach train was put on, so they had to stand all the way for the hour's journey.
Tuesday 28th November 2017
Domestics in the morning. Posted last weeks Journal Jottings. Another sunny day and not as cold, so I got out early after lunch for a walk to Cowdenknowes and took photographs of Earlston's two hills - White Hill and Black Hill. Longest walk I have done for sometime.
White Hill
Black Hill
Wednesday 29 November 2017
Mother and daughter morning as we went down to "Born in the Borders" to buy Borders produce as Christmas presents. Of course we also had to sample the cakes in the cafe. On the way back, stopped at Leaderfoot Viewpoint to take some photographs - a brilliant, sunny winter's day. It is only when you stand underneath the arches,you realise the scale of the structure - complete in 1865 to carry the Berwickshire Railway over the River Tweed. The line closed in 1965 and the viaduct is under the care of Historic Scotland. (I am very fond of putting in wee bits of historical trivia.)
Thursday 30 November 2017
Eye wateringly cold - 2C, so a short walk around Mill Meadow with the Walk It group. Published on my Family History blog, the final post in "Women on the Home Front" series.
Watched a BBC Scotland programme on "The Best King We Never Had" about Price Henry (1593-1612), first-born son of King James 1 and V1. He was portrayed as talented, skilled, well educated and a paragon prince, set to be a great monarch on the international stage. Interesting. But we were not impressed with the programme which was very short on sources - I wanted to know how we knew all this. Henry set up his own court at an early age, but one aspect we never heard about was any relationship with Parliament - his brother Charles 1's failure in this respect led to his downfall. The presenter followed the current popular trend in historical documentaries in dressing up - this time in a suit of armour, as worn by Prince Henry, and he had to be shown swimming in what looked like a very grey cold river. to illustrate Prince Henry's death from water-born typhoid fever at the young age of 19 - hence he never became king! Still I did learn something.
Friday 1 December 2017
Frightening how quickly time goes by and we are now in December. Into Galashiels for odds and ends shopping.
Frightening how quickly time goes by and we are now in December. Into Galashiels for odds and ends shopping.
Saturday 2 December 2017
Christmas Tree Festival at the Church. Each organization and group in the village was asked to decorate an artificial tree reflecting their activities. The ingenuity was impressive, such as the Cycle Club tree with a tyre as the basis and tinsel and fairy lights intertwined with bicycle chains. They were not easy to photograph because of the windows and the lighting, but here are three o.ut of the 33 trees on show. I first read about this idea last year on an American Facebook post and thought then it would make a good project for Border towns and congregations. So good to see in Earlston.
The Glass House all lit up.
Sunday 3 December 2017
Lazy morning - short walk. On TV "Coastal Railways of Britain", fronted by actress Julie Walters who I have always liked, because of her versatility. Tonight's rail route was Newcastle to Edinburgh, so of special interest - why do we like so much watching our own area on TV? There are so many of this type of TV programme on now, and although I liked Julie Walters wit and rapport with people, I missed the historic detail that Michael Portillo, the forerunner for the genre, brings to the screen. I have often thought I would love to be researcher on his programme unearthing the trivia and lesser know facts about a place.
And so to bed!
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Other Blogs I Write:
Family History Fun at https://scotsue-familyhistoryfun.blogspot.co.uk
Auld Earlston at https://auldearlston.blogspot.co.uk
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