Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Christmas music #1.

Is there any sight more Scottish than that of a tractor being followed by seagulls ? There are three tractors busy ploughing this morning and there must be all of five hundred gulls looking for worms  ... with more birds on the way. News travels quickly on the gullvine. The crows that are wintering in the barley field are not at all happy about this influx of immigrants.

The bookstore setting up its stocking filler table by the front door. A few students are already in looking for something suitable for families back at home. It's the time of year when 'browsers' are offered a cup of tea or coffee. The students make good use of this facility. This book , based on the two copies we see being bought this morning, seems to be a best seller. It is the perfect ' Hey Mom. I saw this and thought of you ' present. It is also easy to fit in a suitcase.  I'm guessing overseas buyers have problems with the authors name and just ask for 'The Scottish Cookbook'. 


Quite a collection of candles in the farm shop. There is a Christmas market here tonight. We shall steer well clear. People go into manic locust mode at Christmas markets and sweep the shelves clean of anything that isn't nailed down.


The bakers has thrown itself wholeheartedly into the seasonal spirit. We buy a couple of St Andrews day cakes.


The bakers lad is busy stacking the central display stand with chocolate Santas. These come in all sorts of varying sizes and prices. They are perfectly positioned where toddlers can see them.


Back at home we taste the St Andrews day cakes. 'The Font' takes one mouthful, says 'delicious' and passes the remainder over to be finished off. I can report that they are indeed 'delicious' although the Saltire blue colouring is quite a shock to the system


Radio 4 has moved into Christmas mode with music from the North of England :https://youtu.be/dWFR1Fa0qqo  Guess this makes it Christmas music #1.

Some sweaters are more equal than others. Whoever thought Guernseys would be so fashionable ? :https://x.com/dieworkwear/status/1862998004640403798

Liminal Christmas decorations at the Holiday Inn at London Heathrow. 10 out of 10 for trying ?  :https://x.com/liminalspacess_/status/1863417814490522078


10 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Oh goody, Chrissy music time! And I acutally managed a LOL at those mini trees... YAM xx

jabblog said...

The blue icing would put me off - it's rather startling.
Holiday Inn has embraced minimalism.

Lisa in France said...

Or maybe "Recipes of the Scotch Folk"? Happy that the Christmas music is here. Last year, we were still in our post-move fog in December, but this year I'm better organized. Also, my husband is in New York for a week, so I won't have any "helpful" commentary if I finish my decorating quickly. In any event, Christmas music will be a great help. I was also happy to see the link to the menswear guy. I have no particular interest in men's clothing but still can't stop reading him.

Diaday said...

Morning coffee, reading your blog, and listening to Christmas Music #1. The day is off to a good start!

Travel said...

Another pretty season in St Andrews. Should I buy the cookbook?

Angus said...

I shall go back in tomorrow and look at the recipes. You don't find many restaurants serving Hebridean cuisine so it may be an acquired taste.

Diaday said...

Hello again...I love cookbooks. You can learn a lot about a country/region through its foods.

Fay said...

Travel asked the question on my mind! Every year, I look forward to your Christmas music choices.

Anonymous said...

I don’t know the author but will buy it for the endorsement by Gabaldon. Have the whole Outlander series in hardback. One more to go soon I hope. She and Angus (and the Font and the pups) have contributed so much Scottish joy over the years.
Happy holidays! MS Nell

Coppa's girl said...

Not sure about the blue icing, but the cakes are patriotic so bound to sell. Knowing you love of chocolate I suspect some of those Santas are actually Angus height too!