Thursday night. Strange primeval sounds drift across the air. The 8 year old tike and his 10 year old brother have been given trombones. They are not yet proficient. In fact they are still getting to terms with the basics - enthusiastically. The PONs are intrigued. Angus wonders who in their right mind would give pre-teen boys trombones.
This morning the mercury hovering close to zero as we head out of the gate. Bob and Sophie think it's wonderful weather. The Old Farmer is up early working on the venerable Ford Transit motor home. The cold weather is causing his bad leg to ache. He's decided to get up and keep himself busy in the hope the pain will go away.
Lots of deer everywhere this morning. The angelic duo are put on their leads. Sophie would be keen to give chase. With her metal legs that's just too much of a risk.
Loading the PONs into the back of the car for our journey to the market goes smoothly. Bob remembers to sit on the right hand side and Sophie is able to clamber up into her spot on the left. Sophie , although smaller, somehow manages to take up 60% of the space in the back.
Some pasta from the Italian lady ..
... and some lamb from the butchers. Bob and Sophie do their angel dog routine but to no avail. There are no tit bits of raw meat for them this morning.
A book that I haven't been able to put down. Written for an American audience it explores the changes that have taken place in Britain over the last 70 years. In 1939 there were chauffeurs and nanny's and maids. In 2017 there are cleaning ladies. The % of houses having outside help is the same today as it was then. Plus ca change.
A wonderful programme on television with Rory Stewart exploring the border country. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0404r3t/border-country-the-story-of-britains-lost-middleland-episode-1
It's a reminder that the Scots and the Irish seers have always had a special way of communing with animals : https://caelumetterra.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/st-cuthbert-and-the-otters/ St.Cuthbert the presenter informs us was warmed by otters and fed, so it's claimed, by sea eagles. Nature and man in balance.
9 comments:
I wonder if the Old Farmer is having an allergic reaction to whatever the docs put in his leg/hip. It does happen, and his symptoms sound familiar.
Thank you for those interesting links.
Lovely early morning photos again today.
I too enjoyed the Rory Stewart programme, having also recently read his book 'The Marches' which covers similar territory (and is also very touching about his relationship with his remarkable father).
Regarding changes in the UK over that past 70 year, I was most struck by a statistic contained in the recent Attlee biography, that the 1945 Westminster intake of MPs included 39 mine workers.
Cheers, Gail.
Were the relatively egalitarian '50s to '70s the aberration and we're just returning to "normal"?
Interesting ......
Top left in the lamb photo, double chops!
Rarely seen in the UK - http://keens.com/AboutKeens/Mutton/ worth the trip.............
I don't live in the UK, so unfortunately I can't view your first recommendation on iplayer.
No treats at the butchers - that's terrible and a bad start to a best day ever !
The first picture is amazing. Such a beautiful place.
Hari OM
Yes, I too enjoyed the Borders series. I must say, that spinach tortellini looks rather yum.... YAM xx
Perhaps the trombone phase will be mercifully short.
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