Like buses. I've got another interview tomorrow after one last Saturday, one the Monday before that and just found another coupla p/t jobs to apply for, so maybe another after that?
I know I haven't got the last two, maybe tomorrow will be better; if not there's always the next one! Wish me luck. I like my life at home but I have talents I should use (and not just on walking the dogs and keeping the laundry beautiful). And I do miss having people to talk to. The longer I stay here the smaller my world becomes. Plus although the pets are good they don't organise a Christmas Night Out!
24 November 2011
21 November 2011
Me umpteen weeks ago - "We're being asked to vote on whether to change the church service from 9 to 9.30am. I know it affects you as I wake you up when I get up, so what would you like me to vote? It would mean me getting up later but I'd be getting home later, probably about 11ish"
Him - "Definitely 9.30!"
[umpteen weeks later; Mass has now been 9.30am for 2 weeks]
Him - "You're getting later coming back... it's eating into the day!"
!!!!!
Him - "Definitely 9.30!"
[umpteen weeks later; Mass has now been 9.30am for 2 weeks]
Him - "You're getting later coming back... it's eating into the day!"
!!!!!
15 November 2011
Pictorial Evidence
I've just uploaded my photos of the holiday and here is the proof of what wonderful weather we had and what a beautiful country this is...
Bonus points if you can match each photo to the relevant post!
Bonus points if you can match each photo to the relevant post!
14 November 2011
Back to normal
Finding it hard to adjust to normal life again. I had a job interview today - first for 12 years! But didn't get it - think they decided I was over-qualified, they mentioned that. Oh well, another 2 or 3 in the pipeline plus my baking duties waiting.
So anyway, for the first time I came home and did NOTHING! Sat on the sofa and finished my book, watching the dark get even darker. Isn't it great when you get back from an unexpectedly sunny holiday and find your home place has been dark and wet and dreich the whole time you've been away?
Oh, by the way, I passed Alex Salmond on my way back to the car! Off duty from the looks of things, chatting animatedly with a bevy of women (don't know if he knew them or they were sycophants). Would've loved to go up and ask him if he genuinely thinks independence the best thing for Scotland, and how he proposes we would pay for it once the oil runs out in about 10-20 years. But I succumbed to British reticence and merely glanced as I walked by (he glanced too, I may say - understandably, I was looking good in my interview suit with my hair up!)
Still, it's not often you see the most recognised political face in Scotland outside Boots in the Bon Accord Centre!
So anyway, for the first time I came home and did NOTHING! Sat on the sofa and finished my book, watching the dark get even darker. Isn't it great when you get back from an unexpectedly sunny holiday and find your home place has been dark and wet and dreich the whole time you've been away?
Oh, by the way, I passed Alex Salmond on my way back to the car! Off duty from the looks of things, chatting animatedly with a bevy of women (don't know if he knew them or they were sycophants). Would've loved to go up and ask him if he genuinely thinks independence the best thing for Scotland, and how he proposes we would pay for it once the oil runs out in about 10-20 years. But I succumbed to British reticence and merely glanced as I walked by (he glanced too, I may say - understandably, I was looking good in my interview suit with my hair up!)
Still, it's not often you see the most recognised political face in Scotland outside Boots in the Bon Accord Centre!
Day 7
The day began with a flat tyre which R had to get a garage out to fix as he couldn't get the spare off the back. The rain finally began although as we headed east it cleared up. I was trying to film the day for the "A Day in the Life of Britain" thing - difficult when you're driving most of the day but I tried!
Other than that I'm afraid not much happened. Did anyone else film anything for that day? After all my efforts I can't upload anything to YouTube cos it hasn't downloaded to my laptop properly..sigh. The ups and downs of technology
Other than that I'm afraid not much happened. Did anyone else film anything for that day? After all my efforts I can't upload anything to YouTube cos it hasn't downloaded to my laptop properly..sigh. The ups and downs of technology
11 November 2011
Day 6
Forgot to say Maddie entertained us yesterday during lunch by taking great exception to what we could only think was a rock in the lochan we were sitting by, barking at it and running round the edge. She stopped short of actually jumping in and attacking it.
Gave our legs a rest today and ran the car instead - all the way up to Durness on the north coast. Whoopee! I've always wanted to go to the north coast, and this is the furthest north I've ever been in the whole world (assuming Durness - on the 58th degree - is further north than Stavanger)
And what a day! Sun splitting the skies again and we walked up Balnakeil Bay - the most beautiful beach I've ever seen - and round Faraid Head. Then 2 hours' drive back home.
Today we stayed closer to home and went up Stac Pollaidh. It was really windy, we were afraid the dogs might get blown off the top but they actually did better than us. Murphy of course headed off as we hit the top and was heard some time later on the western slopes, barking in a panic (having realised he didn't know where we were) - luckily he found us as we came off the top.
We've noticed he has difficulty with perspective; twice this week we've been up and hill and he's headed off to chase something he's seen - both times a lorry on the road far below us!
Gave our legs a rest today and ran the car instead - all the way up to Durness on the north coast. Whoopee! I've always wanted to go to the north coast, and this is the furthest north I've ever been in the whole world (assuming Durness - on the 58th degree - is further north than Stavanger)
And what a day! Sun splitting the skies again and we walked up Balnakeil Bay - the most beautiful beach I've ever seen - and round Faraid Head. Then 2 hours' drive back home.
Today we stayed closer to home and went up Stac Pollaidh. It was really windy, we were afraid the dogs might get blown off the top but they actually did better than us. Murphy of course headed off as we hit the top and was heard some time later on the western slopes, barking in a panic (having realised he didn't know where we were) - luckily he found us as we came off the top.
We've noticed he has difficulty with perspective; twice this week we've been up and hill and he's headed off to chase something he's seen - both times a lorry on the road far below us!
09 November 2011
Day 5 continued.....
The first panic of the day subsided - the bag of sugar was found under the kitchen table. Clearly she's far fonder of butter and carrots (and flour) than pure sugar - what a girl!
So we had good weather again! How amazing. This time we did some trails at Little Assynt - and boy were we tired - Sore legs. They were maybe maintained trails but they were very up-and-downy. Ah - undulating is the word I believe. I bored R with telling him all about how fit the old Highlanders were as they had to go up and down such undulations without paths, before General Wade's roads.
He got his own back later as we headed off after lunch to another walk at Kylestrome and on the way caught sight of something that excited R very much - thrust planes! We screeched to a halt (well it was R driving so actually we found a layby and performed a smooth parking maneouvre) where he got out and explained all about these geological phenomenons and the importance of their discovery. So we duly took some photos of the Glencoul Thrust Plane and the Moine Thrust Plane across the glen - and it is quite interesting really.
Bad points today - the dogs (particularly Maddie) came back from a jaunt reeking of something bad - euch! And I've burnt the onions twice now and had to start again on my sauce, and now I've run out of garlic. Sigh.
So we had good weather again! How amazing. This time we did some trails at Little Assynt - and boy were we tired - Sore legs. They were maybe maintained trails but they were very up-and-downy. Ah - undulating is the word I believe. I bored R with telling him all about how fit the old Highlanders were as they had to go up and down such undulations without paths, before General Wade's roads.
He got his own back later as we headed off after lunch to another walk at Kylestrome and on the way caught sight of something that excited R very much - thrust planes! We screeched to a halt (well it was R driving so actually we found a layby and performed a smooth parking maneouvre) where he got out and explained all about these geological phenomenons and the importance of their discovery. So we duly took some photos of the Glencoul Thrust Plane and the Moine Thrust Plane across the glen - and it is quite interesting really.
Bad points today - the dogs (particularly Maddie) came back from a jaunt reeking of something bad - euch! And I've burnt the onions twice now and had to start again on my sauce, and now I've run out of garlic. Sigh.
Day 5
Up early to find Maddie has reverted to type and nicked the open tin of sugar off the counter in the kitchen. No sign so far of any sugar or the ziplock bag it was in. Will she be even more hyper today? Tune in later to find out...
Day 4
Decided, in respect of R's toothache and general feeling of not-quite-well-ness, that we'd have an easy day. So we picked a gentle walk over paths and didn't take a picnic lunch or our hiking boots (or spare socks)
We headed off and found the carpark at the Lighthouse of Stoer. So far so good and the weather held up - another beautiful day, blue sky end to end; although it was blowing a gale when we stopped at Ardvreck Castle, but maybe that was the ghosts there.
So, off we went on our trail towards the Old Man of Stoer, discovering that in fact we should have brought our boots and spare socks as it was even muddier and wet through all that heather and bog than the day before. However we bravely carried on and were rewarded by some awesome views of Suilven and Canisp and other hills in the distance. It was one of those moments where you struggle over the brow of a hill and are stopped in yountracks, awed by the view that spreads out before you. So we stood there, the wind whipping our hair, the water seeping into our boots, heathery, boggy moorland surrounding us on all sides for miles and not a soul to be seen anywhere. No sign of mankind (except the obligatory mobile phone mast in the middle of course), just us and the hills. Balm to the soul.....
Later we remembered that it is November and thus not the tourist season plus it is an isolated spot and there aren't going to be any pubs open for lunch (there weren't any pubs full stop!) We headed for Lochinver where we struck lucky at 3.25pm and found the "Lochinver Larder" stopped serving at 3.30 - so we piled in and had a pie and a cup of tea each. Yum! And not just any pies, I can tell you - these people actually make and send their pies out into the world - see www.piesbypost.co.uk - and pies to die for! R had a chicken and mushroom one, I had a califlower, broccoli & cheese one. They do a very varied range including fruit ones. We're definitely going to order some when we get home.
Amazing the things you find when you least expect it.
We headed off and found the carpark at the Lighthouse of Stoer. So far so good and the weather held up - another beautiful day, blue sky end to end; although it was blowing a gale when we stopped at Ardvreck Castle, but maybe that was the ghosts there.
So, off we went on our trail towards the Old Man of Stoer, discovering that in fact we should have brought our boots and spare socks as it was even muddier and wet through all that heather and bog than the day before. However we bravely carried on and were rewarded by some awesome views of Suilven and Canisp and other hills in the distance. It was one of those moments where you struggle over the brow of a hill and are stopped in yountracks, awed by the view that spreads out before you. So we stood there, the wind whipping our hair, the water seeping into our boots, heathery, boggy moorland surrounding us on all sides for miles and not a soul to be seen anywhere. No sign of mankind (except the obligatory mobile phone mast in the middle of course), just us and the hills. Balm to the soul.....
Later we remembered that it is November and thus not the tourist season plus it is an isolated spot and there aren't going to be any pubs open for lunch (there weren't any pubs full stop!) We headed for Lochinver where we struck lucky at 3.25pm and found the "Lochinver Larder" stopped serving at 3.30 - so we piled in and had a pie and a cup of tea each. Yum! And not just any pies, I can tell you - these people actually make and send their pies out into the world - see www.piesbypost.co.uk - and pies to die for! R had a chicken and mushroom one, I had a califlower, broccoli & cheese one. They do a very varied range including fruit ones. We're definitely going to order some when we get home.
Amazing the things you find when you least expect it.
Day 3
I wrote a lovely long post (it was a winner - scintillating, funny, witty etc etc) then accidentally deleted it. So I put the computer down in the huff and the world was denied.
Anyway, so I'm over my mood and back again. Day 3 we had a shorter walk; at least it was suppposed to be shorter but took the same amount of time due to being extremely muddy. We had another of my amazing picnic lunches, this time seated on an Iron Age hill fort and watching a seal watching us from the sea. The dogs were very interested but we managed to prevent them leaping to their deaths over a cliff to get to it. Then we found an alternative way back along tracks which was much more pleasant (& less muddy)
In the evening I had to do an emergency dash out of Tesco (where I was in buying yet more stuff - every day so far!) In an situation extremely reminiscent of our holiday in Biarritz some years ago, one of R's teeth has, he thinks, become infected due to all the poking and prodding and general dental work on the next door tooth. He managed to get an appointment at the local doctors, who very kindly gave him the antibiotics he wanted/needed.
Meanwhile I was wandering round Tescos, trolley in hand, when I got a phone call - "Come get me! The chemist closes in 5 minutes and I need to get my prescription!"
"Only in a small, rural town, would this even be thinkable" I thought as I abandoned the trolley, ran out back to the car (still holding my phone in case anyone thought I was doing a runner) and screeched out the carpark, haring roound the streets and passing a man on the main road, waving me down. I presumed he was trying to tell me to slow down, but as I turned into the doctors' carpark, I thought - "hang on, was that...?"
Yes it was, so I did a U-y in the carpark and shot back out, screeching to a halt beside him and flinging the door open "Get in!" and off again, crossing the shore road in front of a lorry which was going very slowly (& despite his outrage and flashed lights, I genuinely did have enough time to do so safely) and kicking my passenger out in front of Boots.
And with satisfaction I saw that the wumman came and locked the door almost immediately after R entered.. job done!
Afterwards, we returned sedately to Tesco and I quietly continued my shopping.
Anyway, so I'm over my mood and back again. Day 3 we had a shorter walk; at least it was suppposed to be shorter but took the same amount of time due to being extremely muddy. We had another of my amazing picnic lunches, this time seated on an Iron Age hill fort and watching a seal watching us from the sea. The dogs were very interested but we managed to prevent them leaping to their deaths over a cliff to get to it. Then we found an alternative way back along tracks which was much more pleasant (& less muddy)
In the evening I had to do an emergency dash out of Tesco (where I was in buying yet more stuff - every day so far!) In an situation extremely reminiscent of our holiday in Biarritz some years ago, one of R's teeth has, he thinks, become infected due to all the poking and prodding and general dental work on the next door tooth. He managed to get an appointment at the local doctors, who very kindly gave him the antibiotics he wanted/needed.
Meanwhile I was wandering round Tescos, trolley in hand, when I got a phone call - "Come get me! The chemist closes in 5 minutes and I need to get my prescription!"
"Only in a small, rural town, would this even be thinkable" I thought as I abandoned the trolley, ran out back to the car (still holding my phone in case anyone thought I was doing a runner) and screeched out the carpark, haring roound the streets and passing a man on the main road, waving me down. I presumed he was trying to tell me to slow down, but as I turned into the doctors' carpark, I thought - "hang on, was that...?"
Yes it was, so I did a U-y in the carpark and shot back out, screeching to a halt beside him and flinging the door open "Get in!" and off again, crossing the shore road in front of a lorry which was going very slowly (& despite his outrage and flashed lights, I genuinely did have enough time to do so safely) and kicking my passenger out in front of Boots.
And with satisfaction I saw that the wumman came and locked the door almost immediately after R entered.. job done!
Afterwards, we returned sedately to Tesco and I quietly continued my shopping.
06 November 2011
Day 2
Yesterday we mainly spent the day travelling so Murphy only had time to disappear into the darkness after a quick walk once we arrived and reappear with a deer leg (I knew it!) Panic over what to do with it once he'd discarded it at the door (well, a leg's a leg but not to be compared with dinner), and we still haven't decided - though I noticed it seems to have ended up in the recycling bin at the moment so someone may get a nasty fright soon.
Today we headed off for a geology-based walk; unfortunately (?) the paths were shut for maintenance so we headed across the road and went for a different marathon instead. What a shame, I was looking forward to learning all about Moine Thrusts!! Luckily after 2 hours' walking, a lot of photos and an awesome picnic lunch (prepared by guess who?) R accepted my judgement that we shouldn't take the dogs up a particularly steep bit of mountain (I suspect they'd have got to the top way before us!) so we headed back down, and reached the road about 4pm, with R having only cricked his ankle about 3 times and slipped once - he has such delicate ankles! Luckily mine are much sturdier and get me up and down hills without mishap.
Today we headed off for a geology-based walk; unfortunately (?) the paths were shut for maintenance so we headed across the road and went for a different marathon instead. What a shame, I was looking forward to learning all about Moine Thrusts!! Luckily after 2 hours' walking, a lot of photos and an awesome picnic lunch (prepared by guess who?) R accepted my judgement that we shouldn't take the dogs up a particularly steep bit of mountain (I suspect they'd have got to the top way before us!) so we headed back down, and reached the road about 4pm, with R having only cricked his ankle about 3 times and slipped once - he has such delicate ankles! Luckily mine are much sturdier and get me up and down hills without mishap.
05 November 2011
lost
Well, faithful readers, here I am in sunny Ullapool. Well, it was sunny all the way over and would've been sunny here too only the sun'd gone behind the hills when we arrived.
You may prepare yourselves for tales of derring-do in this western outpost! How do I know this? It's all based on experience, and my experience of the last three days has been somewhat lost. My experience wasn't lost, I was! Ever day - Thursday, Friday and now today. All in different places, too - the only similarity being that I was walking the dogs. God knows they're no use in a crisis, they just run around oblivious, thinking they're having a gemmy long walk today!
Thursday was in one of the parks, we went a different way through the woods and ended up somehow in the local crematorium remembrance garden. I realised this when I noticed Murphy sniffing at something that I'm pretty sure was sonebody's ashes, while there were lots of shop-bought bunches of flowers scattered round the place... and I could hear people arriving in cars, eek! A quick duck under a line of trees, across a ditch with a burn in it (thank the lord for wellies) and a scramble through various trees and we finally got back to the proper path.
Friday, I tried a different path, up a hill along what was supposed to be a "circular path" of 2 miles. After an hour of wandering round the hill following sheep tracks, my battery was dying (after 3 minutes of Google maps) and I had to text R to say that if I wasn't home when he got back from work I was lost on this hill somewhere! Luckily my sheep tracks (through wet bracken and gorse) turned out good and we made it out alive.
And today? You'd've thought I was safe, being with R this time. Bu-u-u-u-t. we were working from different pages. I navigated to the carpark but then R was navigating some walk on his phone. And assumed it was a completely different carpark we were aiming for on the way back. Not really a problem (although the dogs were getting a bit suspicious as we passed the same pond for the third time) except it added on an extra forty minutes walk, just when we were in a hurry to get to the pub for lunch before they stopped serving.
So ... tune in for more mishaps!
You may prepare yourselves for tales of derring-do in this western outpost! How do I know this? It's all based on experience, and my experience of the last three days has been somewhat lost. My experience wasn't lost, I was! Ever day - Thursday, Friday and now today. All in different places, too - the only similarity being that I was walking the dogs. God knows they're no use in a crisis, they just run around oblivious, thinking they're having a gemmy long walk today!
Thursday was in one of the parks, we went a different way through the woods and ended up somehow in the local crematorium remembrance garden. I realised this when I noticed Murphy sniffing at something that I'm pretty sure was sonebody's ashes, while there were lots of shop-bought bunches of flowers scattered round the place... and I could hear people arriving in cars, eek! A quick duck under a line of trees, across a ditch with a burn in it (thank the lord for wellies) and a scramble through various trees and we finally got back to the proper path.
Friday, I tried a different path, up a hill along what was supposed to be a "circular path" of 2 miles. After an hour of wandering round the hill following sheep tracks, my battery was dying (after 3 minutes of Google maps) and I had to text R to say that if I wasn't home when he got back from work I was lost on this hill somewhere! Luckily my sheep tracks (through wet bracken and gorse) turned out good and we made it out alive.
And today? You'd've thought I was safe, being with R this time. Bu-u-u-u-t. we were working from different pages. I navigated to the carpark but then R was navigating some walk on his phone. And assumed it was a completely different carpark we were aiming for on the way back. Not really a problem (although the dogs were getting a bit suspicious as we passed the same pond for the third time) except it added on an extra forty minutes walk, just when we were in a hurry to get to the pub for lunch before they stopped serving.
So ... tune in for more mishaps!
correction
just read the last post and realised I didn't mean a sandwich tin, I meant a swiss roll tin. What was I thinking?
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