this is what I contend with

You would think, wouldn't you?

That with all this paraphernalia I would be able to sleep, wouldn't I?

But with this evil cat I cannot. I am thinking about a list of his kills. 2 mice in three nights. Thank god they were dead.

I was thinking, after Geoff disposed of the second poor one, of calling this post 'The Killing Feilds'- but that's no good, as anyone who has read/is aware of the history of the actual killing fields under Pol Pot in Cambodia, knows. Then I started thinking about the movie, and the book, of the same name. Then I had a quick thought about Napoleon Dynamite- a movie that I (alone, apparently) hate. And not just because it's worthy or some such crap, but because it it just good, this movie is SO MUCH BETTER, Bethanne. So get it. Or the book. But be prepared to get sad.

And because I don't want to end the night on a sad note. Here's three happy things:

I have now lost 10 pounds!! (I will send you the book, Toni)

&

I am knitting! - I know that is more hilarious that happy- it keeps me busy at night, when I would otherwise be stuffing my face. I reckon I am going to knit the longest damn scarf while I lose loads of weight. Stop laughing now. I mean it, stop laughing.

And here is a cute boot I embellished at work. See all the little butterflies? Mwaaaah.

Ghost shirts

Mae and I went to Glasgow to visit the Reid gals this week. It was a good day, and we got to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is spectacular.

I visited it in the early 90's, and was touched by one exhibit, a Ghost shirt, which was originally a sacred peice of clothing for North American Natives. I though that it should go back, (the plaque said there was a request, and the museum turned it down), and have thought about it a few times over the years.

Well, I went off on a hunt to see if it was still there, and there was a new ghost shirt in it's place, sent over by the Lakota Sioux representatives, following the return to them of the original one.

What a nice story. It really made my week. Check out the link.

Lake 'You know what I mean?'

This weekend we went to Loch Ken. In Scotland, some people (not all of them, my brother in law would kill me if I said that...) say ken the way North Americans say 'like'. Example:

We were on our way out to Liza's place, ye ken?, who lives in Troqueer, ken? And then we went to the farm, ye ken the one up at Mabie, ken?'

So, sometimes it is very difficult to understand. Because you are wondering who all these Kens are, and you can't concentrate on the picture behind the kens. Ye ken. But I guess the lake was maybe named after a real Ken. Who the hell kens. But it was lovely anyway.

Nothing else is new. Except Chinese New Year! Gung hai fat chow! Happy year of the pig! I am a year of the pig- so in honour of that I will eat loads of bacon this year. Poor wee Bob. Ye ken?

And spinach- I will eat spinach, which I have recently discovered. Mae likes it too (this is just a funny face- it wasn't like I tricked her by cutting it into star shapes- I was just having a Martha Stewart moment. That's two in the last 6 months. ooooh crap)

Happy Birthday Juin May!!! This one is for you!!!

This one is for you!!!




Hee hee just joking- here's your dreamboat fantasy.......

Baby's got no back

Hello! Yay! I have lost 6 pounds this week- I am on a new eating regime which is great and easy and I am so happy! I tried on one of my tops today that I usually don't iron because I stretch the wrinkles out of it and it was loose! Check out my link....

Today Mae and I went to Mabie Farm which is open this week as this is half term. There was a little pig there when we went in who chewed on our fingers- he was lovely, his name is Bob and I will get a picture.

When we got home tonight Mae got out her ukelele and sang:

Old MacDonald had a farm

E I E I O

And on that farm he had a pig

who ate me

Wait for more nightmares.....Bob was gorgeous, look out Rumpole (this blog is turning into an anti- Rumpole crusade, isn't it? Well, keep the damn birds oot me bed!!)

Trick question

The fiddle concert (I am confident) will be at the Reids this Thursday. And if it's really 25£ per ticket that will be my consumerist protest- the placards are just being painted.
And the Karate Studio take kids from 3 years old- so look out school bullies, Mae is going whup your ass.

Bing sur la ring!

There's no real meaning to that title besides the fact that Les Raftmen is Mae's new favourite song. It's weird, but so is Land of the Silver Birch, both of which are on our Oh Canada CD, the new after dinner dance music of choice.


My camera has not been with us very much so no pretty pics of the frosty mornings, the sunny days and snowdrops in the forest, no pictures of our recent visit to Caerlaverock Castle to have sword fights and poop hunts.

Just a wee pic of Mae's latest gift, which was chocolate haystacks that she made at her childminders (I didn't have the heart to tell her I was on a diet, however to my own amazement I didn't eat one....)

And some faces at breakfast time-

notice the nonnie face....

And Thelma, the boxer puppy who also goes to the childminders sometime and who we went to visit today. Mwaaaaah- what a cutie. Can't wait for the cat to kick the bucket.....

Next week we will be joining a Karate studio, going to a fiddle concert and protesting consumerism, so there will be more news then... (you tell me which one is not true and I will buy you whatever you so desire....!)

Happy Birthday Nathalie!

Have a great day, sis!