Shock

 

Every day for the better part of fifteen years one of the first people to comment on the blog has been Gail at https://nicenobbynaughtynobby.blogspot.com/ . She has seen generations of PONs come and go and through her blog we have met and laughed with her dogs Hamish, Bertie and now, most recently, Nobby. Her daily presence as a commentor  has been a welcome constant.

Sadly, a few weeks ago we received a calm, dignified letter informing us that she had received one of 'those' life changing doctors diagnoses. Subsequent events have moved more quickly and turbulently than anyone could have predicted. The enormity and rapidity of what has followed can scarcely be believed.

In the short time since the diagnosis she reached out to ensure Nobby her Wire Haired Terrier would be well looked after ( he is off to a farm where he will be much loved ) and dealt logically and sensibly with a world not so much in turmoil as over turned. A remarkably kind lady at  https://inimaynaelcammeno.blogspot.com/ has been an angel at a time like this. The latest blog post describes what has happened.

To be mourned by a world of people you've never met has to be a testament to a life of high integrity, well lived. It is also, perhaps a sign the 21st century social media world  of dog blogs retains a courtesy and humanity and intelligence  lacking elsewhere. If you get a chance do drop by her blog and say a little prayer for Gail and her family in the days ahead.

Scotch folk.

 

Over the weekend proud parents have been arriving for the winter graduation ceremonies. The black Volvos much favoured by prudent locals now heavily outnumbered by large shiny Range Rovers and Mercedes with Home Counties  registrations. Three bright red Ferraris are seen on our morning walk. These are perhaps not the most practical vehicle for rural Scotland. Wee boys on their way to school stop and peer excitedly into these expensively exotic machines. The cafe where William  ( reputedly ) met Kate is already open and doing a roaring business with mothers and fathers wondering what to do in a small windy seaside town in December.  A woman standing outside the cafe informs her husband that the 'Scotch folk' are always so cheerful. Give it 24 hours and she is likely to be disabused of that strange notion particularly if she keeps on referring to them as 'Scotch folk'. 

We detour into chapel to warm up and listen as someone practises an organ arrangement of this : https://youtu.be/LGHC5U6vTMk?t=40  The composer is unknown to us but the piece is magical. What better way to start a Monday morning ?

An enterprising Chinese couple have somehow managed to clamber over the railings around the cathedral and are happily taking photos amid the ruins. They have the place to themselves. I wonder what they make of it ?

Exuberant door displays appearing outside the local restaurants. 

Some of the displays are more tasteful than others. 

Hogmanay dinners are now being advertised. All the ones I've seen seem to keep just the right side of the £100 mark. By the time a few drinks have been consumed  the £100 threshold will have been decisively crossed.

A very clever lady at Oxford  ( with an untidy bookcase ) talking about the Middle East. Even she is finding it diffiuclt to keep up with the pace of events :https://youtu.be/rIfCEHjVtDk?t=150

December starts with a small victory.

 

A northern  December morning. Sunrise is at 8:19 and sunset a mere seven and a bit hours later. The positive way to look at this long winter darkness is to remember that in three weeks time the days will start getting longer.

Strange tracks in the sand down on the beach. A small white animal can just be seen moving slowly towards the sea.

It's a seal pup that's got separated from its mother and is dragging itself from the sand dunes down towards the water. It manages a couple of yards , stops to rest, then does a couple more. It does not move in a straight line which makes a 200 yard journey more of a 400 yard expedition. Progress is agonizingly slow. By the time it's got halfway to the waterline it's exhausted. 

We stand by the seal for a full half an hour protecting it against friendly but inquisitive dogs out for their morning run on the beach. Owners are happy when I politely ask them not to let their dogs stress the wee thing. There is genuine concern for the pups safety . Of course there's always one who shows another side of human nature. An exceedingly snooty forty something woman in a waxed Barbour jacket tells me it's most certainly not my right to stop her dog doing what it wants. I bite my tongue and position myself between her lively young Giant Schnauzer and the worried pup. She wanders off muttering ... but with her dog now safely on its lead. ' Thank you for being so understanding. What a well behaved dog you have  ' I say to her arrogantly turned back as she storms away. It's rarely dogs that cause problems. The same can't always be said for their owners.

Never has a half hour been so fraught with anxiety. Sunday mornings are a peak dog walking time. Finally a Hallelujah moment. With a flick of its tail the pup is into the water and off into the waves. This is its natural home.  So helpless on land so lithe in the water. We see it heading off to the sandbars at the mouth of the estuary where it will hopefully find its mother. December starts with a small Advent victory.

This : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBDdLgBO0Nw and this which puts it in perspective  :https://tracksontracks.substack.com/p/life-exploding-in-every-direction

A British take on music in restaurants :https://www.alexoconnor.com/p/please-stop-playing-music-everywhere

On the radio Sunday morning Scottish music for those in hospital :https://youtu.be/rqxVz1D6low?t=71