Saturday, December 7, 2024

Christmas music #5

 

The Met Office has issued a red storm warning for Wales and the south west of England. The media are working themselves into a frenzy. Here, it rained overnight and there were, and still are, some theatrical  gusts of wind. There again in these North of Moscow latitudes most winter days have rain and 'noisy' gusts.

For some reason the fields around us have become home to thousands and thousands of crows. When we set off on our morning walk they rise and circle round to form a huge crawing flock. I can't remember ever having seen this many crows in previous winters. Add the worm grubbing seagulls to the mix and the skies overhead our quiet little corner are as busy ( and noisy ) as an avian Piccadilly Circus.


The owner of the cottage at the crossroads is putting up his Christmas decorations. Every year a few more flourishes are added. This year he's expanded into the orchard where the apple trees have been wrapped in fairy lights. During the day you could pass by without noticing but come nightfall when all the lights are on it is a quite remarkable sight. Travellers heading north on the coast road stop and stare at this most un-Presbyterian display. Some people still believe in old fashioned Christmases.


Charging the hybrid battery is a lengthier process than we'd imagined. Everything- heater, lighting, radio - seem to drain it at a rapid pace . We've now taking to topping the wee car up at the charging unit by the golf course.


Students out running on the beach this morning. During exam time 'they' like to do things communally. This conviviality is presumably stress related. The runners make it 400 yards before they decide that the wind is too strong and reverse course.


Down to the fishmongers for the days catch. We opt for some Lemon sole, cod and on the fishmongers recommendation some  halibut .

So starts a quiet Saturday in a small university town hunkering down into exam season.


Christmas music #5. Chosen beacuse it's simply beautiful : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxTCKN8FBbo

The young lady in the background at the 0:38 and 1:12 marks seems to be enjoying this 'saucy' song :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4774ITb30w

North Sea changes :https://hakaimagazine.com/features/conjuring-the-lost-land-beneath-the-north-sea/


9 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Crikey, I bet that charger's not cheap... but then you pay for the view!

Music = sublime listen: Doggerland = mesmerising read... YAM xx (who is hunkered down relatively sheltered from 'Darragh' at Inveruglas.)

Lisa in France said...

Gorgeous Christmas music today, and the other one's a hoot. Your comments about the new car are interesting. I thought it was an electric - but maybe a plug-in hybrid? We are thinking about trading in our "essence" car for a plug-in, but there seems to be a lot of pros and cons. We also have a purely electric Peugeot, which holds it's charge for a long time - although we aren't in Scotland.

jabblog said...

Fascinating article on Doggerland and ongoing research.

Travel said...

The Scallops looks nice.

Sharon said...

The Christmas music was lovely and I saved for listening again. The other music was fun but hard to understand the words and the meaning of them. Canadian here.

Jim Davis said...

I find it quite interesting to hear your comments on battery life on a plug in hybrid. First time I have ever heard that the drain is so rapid. I always assumed that when the car's systems detected low battery reserves that it would engage the car's internal combustion engine to charge the battery. Is my assumption incorrect?

rottrover said...

Loved the Scottish folk song! And the visit to the fish monger's ;)

Angus said...

I'm guessing Scotland in winter isn't the best place for a hybrid vehicle - even less so for a pure EV. Braking action replenishes the battery but only by a tiny amount. I'd estimate the cold weather range is 50% of the 50 mile range advertised. The engine does not recharge the battery although we arent doing long runs where the braking might do more.

Jake of Florida said...

Fish monger's display of his fresh catch is art!!!