Today is Jay and Vicki's Civil Partnership ...cant believe its here already ...yes I can ... I am mentally and physically exhausted ... I will be chopping, roasting and stirring in my sleep ...still more to do in the morning ...not sure how it will all pan out ... with enough time for me to actually get dressed ...and put makeup on... but some how it will all fit together.
Will let you know how things work out in a couple of days ... please think happy thoughts for at least a dry day ...with no mishaps. lol ...and that I don't forget something
Take Care xx
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Day 2 ... Callender House ... Falkirk
If you survived, and dare I say enjoyed, Day 1, then here is the second of my days out.
I was staying in this Bed and Breakfast on the outskirts of Falkirk.
The house was over 100 years old and still sported the original tiled hall....the view from the steps seemed to change depending on the weather
...on a clear day the distant hills glimmered in the sun light. 
The garden surrounded the house and was divided into little nooks with seats to enjoy the view .... so tranquil ... and the rose hips were the biggest I had ever seen.
Callender House was in fact close by ...a short bus ride ...and unlike the first day out, no hill to climb at the end of the day. lol.
I could not see it from the road as it was hidden by trees but I followed the signs ... my breath was taken away as I came face to face with the imposing structure.
In the 14th century the original wooden structure, that had stood on the land for about 400 years, was abandoned and the first stone structure, with walls 8 feet thick and a single room on each floor, appeared. Over the following centuries it was extended but in1651, Cromwell lay siege, killing the 62 defenders and destroying the building. It was the Earl of Callender who on his return in 1660, restored the tower and extended a new mansion eastward. The new owner, William Forbes, in the late 1700's extended it again but it was his son and grandson who, by 1878, created the final appearance that we see now.
It is an amazing building packed with history... the exhibition is so interesting to follow. As you wind your way around the parts open to the public, on three of the floors, you learn the history of the house and the area, the social and industrial changes and a great deal more. It is set up like a museum but there are some furnished rooms to see too.
THE MORNING ROOM
A GEORGIAN KITCHEN with a roaring fire and a lingering smell of Ginger and Cinnamon.
This kitchen was built in 1824 to accommodate the spit which needed a high ceiling and it was so interesting to see the implements used nearly 200 years ago... some things had only changed in my lifetime.
The cook in the photo was there to answer questions and I learnt that around that time there was a tax on male servants to do with the wars and the need for soldiers. French chefs returned to their homeland and so the Head Cook's position would be now given to a woman ... and this kitchen was run by her and with only four female kitchen assistants under her.
THE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE
The vast grounds looked beautiful but I left a walk around them for another visit ...mainly because I could not see any seats and my back was reminding me that I had already been standing and strolling, for quite some time ... including a small art exhibition. It was of Alan Davie's works ...he is 90 and apparently still painting. His abstract work caught my imagination ... not something that normally happens but I felt the tribal origins in some of the work and saw how his patterns and forms had evolved ....well I'm no expert but I did get enjoyment from standing and absorbing what I saw.
I finished my trip with a visit to the tea rooms that were in the old stable block .... everything was home made ...and a fair price too lol
Hope you managed to get to the end lol
Take Care xx
I was staying in this Bed and Breakfast on the outskirts of Falkirk.
The house was over 100 years old and still sported the original tiled hall....the view from the steps seemed to change depending on the weather
...on a clear day the distant hills glimmered in the sun light. 
The garden surrounded the house and was divided into little nooks with seats to enjoy the view .... so tranquil ... and the rose hips were the biggest I had ever seen.
Callender House was in fact close by ...a short bus ride ...and unlike the first day out, no hill to climb at the end of the day. lol.
I could not see it from the road as it was hidden by trees but I followed the signs ... my breath was taken away as I came face to face with the imposing structure.
In the 14th century the original wooden structure, that had stood on the land for about 400 years, was abandoned and the first stone structure, with walls 8 feet thick and a single room on each floor, appeared. Over the following centuries it was extended but in1651, Cromwell lay siege, killing the 62 defenders and destroying the building. It was the Earl of Callender who on his return in 1660, restored the tower and extended a new mansion eastward. The new owner, William Forbes, in the late 1700's extended it again but it was his son and grandson who, by 1878, created the final appearance that we see now.
It is an amazing building packed with history... the exhibition is so interesting to follow. As you wind your way around the parts open to the public, on three of the floors, you learn the history of the house and the area, the social and industrial changes and a great deal more. It is set up like a museum but there are some furnished rooms to see too.THE MORNING ROOM
A GEORGIAN KITCHEN with a roaring fire and a lingering smell of Ginger and Cinnamon.
This kitchen was built in 1824 to accommodate the spit which needed a high ceiling and it was so interesting to see the implements used nearly 200 years ago... some things had only changed in my lifetime.
The cook in the photo was there to answer questions and I learnt that around that time there was a tax on male servants to do with the wars and the need for soldiers. French chefs returned to their homeland and so the Head Cook's position would be now given to a woman ... and this kitchen was run by her and with only four female kitchen assistants under her.
THE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE
The vast grounds looked beautiful but I left a walk around them for another visit ...mainly because I could not see any seats and my back was reminding me that I had already been standing and strolling, for quite some time ... including a small art exhibition. It was of Alan Davie's works ...he is 90 and apparently still painting. His abstract work caught my imagination ... not something that normally happens but I felt the tribal origins in some of the work and saw how his patterns and forms had evolved ....well I'm no expert but I did get enjoyment from standing and absorbing what I saw.I finished my trip with a visit to the tea rooms that were in the old stable block .... everything was home made ...and a fair price too lol
Hope you managed to get to the end lol
Take Care xx
Friday, September 24, 2010
Day One ...Linlithgow ...picture heavy ....sorry
I so admire the ladies who, on their blog, illustrate a visit to a beautiful garden or a wonderful Stately Home. This is why I thought I would have a go ...sharing the couple of days I spent 'chillin' after meeting my new grandson. I have to say that I am not a walker ... the thought of half a mile is plenty but when my son suggested a stroll along part of the Falkirk Canal ....a mile and a half stroll ...I shuddered but gave it a go. Having not smoked for over 2 years now ....and having now lost some of the excess weight that resulted from doing so ...I really coped quite well.
The ecoutics were such fun ....could not resist calling out to hear the echo. lol
This stroll gave me confidence to go exploring on the following two days.
Day 1
Linlithgow Palace ...the earliest surviving Scottish Royal Palace ... built between 1488 and 1513. James V was born there 1512 and Mary Queen of Scots also, in 1542.
A wonderful arch greets you as you stroll up to the palace ....the panels depicting the Orders of Knighthoods held by James V ...the painted embellishment to the carving was a later addition in 1845.
The Palace
The Loch below
St Micheal's Parish Church ....next to the palace ...the grandest Parish Church in Scotland, it is said by many.
It dates from the 12th century but after a fire, was reconstructed from 1425-1532. There have been many additions and alterations over the centuries that followed, with the new spire( seen in the earlier photo) being added in 1964.
As one walks back down to the Cross, one see the amazing Cross Well and Fountain ...carved by a one handed stone mason in 1807. The area know as The Cross is where the public hangings and other punishments, took place
When you reach the main road,the High Street stretches out to the right and the left of you. It is so full of history, like Annet House Museum whose deeds date back to 1610 and now, after so many changes of use since it stopped being a family home, houses 'The Linlithgow Story' ...a very interesting exhibition.
There is the original Oliphant Bakery and little gems like the amazing Purely Patchwork shop that, as you enter, the amazing kaleidoscope of colours suck you in and make you want to stroke everything that you behold ..... and entices you to give this craft a go.
Down a turning, further along the street, I found myself by the loch but this time on its edge. I took the opportunity for a slow wander ....so many swans ...apparently swans have nested on the banks for hundreds of years.
and this chair ... once a mighty tree .... not sure whether this was actually created by nature or man.
Well I think if you have got this far you are a true friend but will be thankful that Day 2 will not be following immediately .... but will be the next post ... in a couple of days.
Take Care xx
The ecoutics were such fun ....could not resist calling out to hear the echo. lol
This stroll gave me confidence to go exploring on the following two days.Day 1
Linlithgow Palace ...the earliest surviving Scottish Royal Palace ... built between 1488 and 1513. James V was born there 1512 and Mary Queen of Scots also, in 1542.
A wonderful arch greets you as you stroll up to the palace ....the panels depicting the Orders of Knighthoods held by James V ...the painted embellishment to the carving was a later addition in 1845.
The Palace
The Loch below
St Micheal's Parish Church ....next to the palace ...the grandest Parish Church in Scotland, it is said by many.
It dates from the 12th century but after a fire, was reconstructed from 1425-1532. There have been many additions and alterations over the centuries that followed, with the new spire( seen in the earlier photo) being added in 1964.As one walks back down to the Cross, one see the amazing Cross Well and Fountain ...carved by a one handed stone mason in 1807. The area know as The Cross is where the public hangings and other punishments, took place
When you reach the main road,the High Street stretches out to the right and the left of you. It is so full of history, like Annet House Museum whose deeds date back to 1610 and now, after so many changes of use since it stopped being a family home, houses 'The Linlithgow Story' ...a very interesting exhibition.
There is the original Oliphant Bakery and little gems like the amazing Purely Patchwork shop that, as you enter, the amazing kaleidoscope of colours suck you in and make you want to stroke everything that you behold ..... and entices you to give this craft a go.
Down a turning, further along the street, I found myself by the loch but this time on its edge. I took the opportunity for a slow wander ....so many swans ...apparently swans have nested on the banks for hundreds of years.
and this chair ... once a mighty tree .... not sure whether this was actually created by nature or man.
Well I think if you have got this far you are a true friend but will be thankful that Day 2 will not be following immediately .... but will be the next post ... in a couple of days.
Take Care xx
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Oliver John ...aged 5 and 6 days
Here he is ......
Sorry I've not been around but I took a few days out to visit Oliver and have a few days out to myself .
The photos of my trip will appear later but I had to show off my new grand son .... and Ben and Jake too ...bless them they had a streaming cold.
I may add some more of Ben and Jake, on my next post, but I had to show you these, as I love the tops.
I really prommise I will catch up with everyone ....soon ...but I have been reading a lot of the blogs although not commenting.
Take Care xx
Sorry I've not been around but I took a few days out to visit Oliver and have a few days out to myself .
The photos of my trip will appear later but I had to show off my new grand son .... and Ben and Jake too ...bless them they had a streaming cold.
I may add some more of Ben and Jake, on my next post, but I had to show you these, as I love the tops.
I really prommise I will catch up with everyone ....soon ...but I have been reading a lot of the blogs although not commenting.
Take Care xx
Thursday, September 09, 2010
He is here .. at last ...Grandson No 3
Sorry I have not been around for a while but the final straw was when one of our weird cats, who seems to loose bladder control and sense when on heat, hung her derriere over the edge of my desk and pee'd on my keyboard ....yes I couldn't believe it either. She totally killed it ...and I had to get a new one.
Now the real purpose of this quick post ......
Oliver John arrived at 11.52 am ...weighing in at 7lbs4oz
.... not an easy birth for Emma and he had the cord around his neck. The name was finally decided by the twins, who kept patting her tummy and saying 'Olly'. I have not been needed yet as her Mum has been over ....I will let you know more when I manage to talk to DS again.
I hope my blog friends will forgive me for not commenting on their blogs over the past few days .... I enjoyed having a good read but I was just lacking the keyboard lol ....will catch up soon.
Take Care xx
Now the real purpose of this quick post ......
Oliver John arrived at 11.52 am ...weighing in at 7lbs4oz
.... not an easy birth for Emma and he had the cord around his neck. The name was finally decided by the twins, who kept patting her tummy and saying 'Olly'. I have not been needed yet as her Mum has been over ....I will let you know more when I manage to talk to DS again.
I hope my blog friends will forgive me for not commenting on their blogs over the past few days .... I enjoyed having a good read but I was just lacking the keyboard lol ....will catch up soon.
Take Care xx
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Happiness is a great cake
I love home baking but don't do as much as I would like because I end up eating most of it and at the moment I'm still trying to diet slowly.
I love chocolate but my weakness is cake .... so when some of you out there post yummy photos of your latest baking creation I have to stop my tongue gravitating toward the monitor at the moment.
To stave the cravings I decided to let myself have a treat when I was having a day out and so coffee and a cake was my thing. The problem is that the choice of one special cake makes one so fussy and things that I might have let enter my mouth a few months ago, now become not good enough to waste my calories/syns on.
Yesterday, I stood at a counter in a cafe for ages... weighing up which was to be my treat...Caramel cake ? ... Millionaire's Shortbread ? ... Rocky Road slice?....Danish pastry ( of which there were many) ...Muffins (such a variety) ... Cream slice ... Cream horn... Cream sponge....Strawberry Tart ... shall I go on lol... the choice was endless but nothing made me excited because I knew what they would taste like ... the same as those in the baker down the road and the Tea Rooms in the little village a mile away and dare I say... the Supermarket. They are all churned out to the same recipe with not a loving hand in sight. No room for the individuality of a master baker... we actually had a bakers like that locally but they shut down 6 months ago and my waist line actually sighed with relief.
I was about to walk away and not eat some thing for the sake of it, when I spied a large sponge under a cover ... it looked home made ...as if it had not long emerged from a friends oven ....gloriously tall and oozing a thick layer of raspberry jam and butter cream....I was not disappointed ... the flavour was magical and excited the taste buds beyond description ...I was happy and so contented.
I would love to know whether it is just my 'watching what I eat' that makes me feel like this or whether there are many of you out there who are actually disappointed or bored by mass produced bakery. What is your favourite indulgence when it comes to cakes....what is your favourite homemade offering ....would love to hear your thoughts.... just because I'm nosey lol
Take Care xx
I love chocolate but my weakness is cake .... so when some of you out there post yummy photos of your latest baking creation I have to stop my tongue gravitating toward the monitor at the moment.
To stave the cravings I decided to let myself have a treat when I was having a day out and so coffee and a cake was my thing. The problem is that the choice of one special cake makes one so fussy and things that I might have let enter my mouth a few months ago, now become not good enough to waste my calories/syns on.
Yesterday, I stood at a counter in a cafe for ages... weighing up which was to be my treat...Caramel cake ? ... Millionaire's Shortbread ? ... Rocky Road slice?....Danish pastry ( of which there were many) ...Muffins (such a variety) ... Cream slice ... Cream horn... Cream sponge....Strawberry Tart ... shall I go on lol... the choice was endless but nothing made me excited because I knew what they would taste like ... the same as those in the baker down the road and the Tea Rooms in the little village a mile away and dare I say... the Supermarket. They are all churned out to the same recipe with not a loving hand in sight. No room for the individuality of a master baker... we actually had a bakers like that locally but they shut down 6 months ago and my waist line actually sighed with relief.
I was about to walk away and not eat some thing for the sake of it, when I spied a large sponge under a cover ... it looked home made ...as if it had not long emerged from a friends oven ....gloriously tall and oozing a thick layer of raspberry jam and butter cream....I was not disappointed ... the flavour was magical and excited the taste buds beyond description ...I was happy and so contented.
I would love to know whether it is just my 'watching what I eat' that makes me feel like this or whether there are many of you out there who are actually disappointed or bored by mass produced bakery. What is your favourite indulgence when it comes to cakes....what is your favourite homemade offering ....would love to hear your thoughts.... just because I'm nosey lol
Take Care xx
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sorry ...no WOYWW photos this week ...but at least I've blogged
Where does time go? ... can't believe it is over a week since we went out to this amazing BBQ ... what a happy day it was ...thought I'd share this collage with you... and its 11 days since I last blogged. ( oops ... sounds like a confessional lol)
It rained all the day before ...and the day after ... but it was perfect on the Sunday.
The two men on the stage were a folk duo Maureen had loved since a child and her hubby booked them for her.
The five ladies at the bottom are her and her sisters ...and they all sing well. The one in the jacket was jet lagged lol
Kids and adults alike had real fun ...and I ate and drank loads.
I have not got back to crafting again yet ...so many things seem to be going round in my head, that the crafty part has been pushed to the back. I have started to plan the wedding meal/buffet and am beginning to ask myself why I don't learn to keep my mouth shut. It will be simple but enough that it feels like a meal. It will all have to be prepared at home and transported to the venue in cool boxes and will be for around 80 or so .... I think I will be having a very busy first week in October ... not to mention the fact that my 3rd grandson could appear any time soon and I am on call incase they need a babysitter for the twins while Emma gives birth.
For these reasons I hope I am forgiven for not displaying my desk or anything crafty again this week ... to be honest I can't actually find my desk at the moment as its under a pile of clothes that I will be throwing in a case, if I am summoned by Steve and Emma.
Take Care xx
It rained all the day before ...and the day after ... but it was perfect on the Sunday.The two men on the stage were a folk duo Maureen had loved since a child and her hubby booked them for her.
The five ladies at the bottom are her and her sisters ...and they all sing well. The one in the jacket was jet lagged lol
Kids and adults alike had real fun ...and I ate and drank loads.
I have not got back to crafting again yet ...so many things seem to be going round in my head, that the crafty part has been pushed to the back. I have started to plan the wedding meal/buffet and am beginning to ask myself why I don't learn to keep my mouth shut. It will be simple but enough that it feels like a meal. It will all have to be prepared at home and transported to the venue in cool boxes and will be for around 80 or so .... I think I will be having a very busy first week in October ... not to mention the fact that my 3rd grandson could appear any time soon and I am on call incase they need a babysitter for the twins while Emma gives birth.
For these reasons I hope I am forgiven for not displaying my desk or anything crafty again this week ... to be honest I can't actually find my desk at the moment as its under a pile of clothes that I will be throwing in a case, if I am summoned by Steve and Emma.
Take Care xx
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