January 2014

The end of January already.  Tick, tock goes the clock. Time and lives move forward, while for others it stands still. Tick, tock.

First update of 2014, nothing to update really, but I shall share my lacklustre news anyway.  Not a bad January in the B&B occupancy wise, and the weather has been generally grey and wet.  Glenshee ski centre has benefited from huge snow falls this week so fingers crossed the cold air stays in residence for February and the mid term holidays.
Blairgowrie had it's annual fun run on New Year's Day and had the best turnout to date, have challenged myself to run it next year.  There have been some interesting visitors to the bird feeders, long-tailed tits and blackcaps (bad photos).  Had one outing in January when I took the children through to Edinburgh to visit their beautiful new baby cousin.  'That's all Folks'....stay tuned for the next instalment.  Tick, tock.

Review of the Year 2013

Basically it was busy. Lots of lovely people met and I think the majority of people enjoyed their stay....always someone though.  I apologise to people who stayed in October who gave me very low marks for facilities, so sorry that the dancing girls were not available that evening....the clue is in the name 'Bed and Breakfast'.  I enjoyed my children, my dog, my walking and photography and was delighted to get through to the regional finals of the Thistle Awards, never quite make it to glittering glory though.  Not much more to say except I wish there was an ending in sight to my current situation.  I look forward to 2014 with dread and anticipation and I try to remain positive....not easy.  Shall just wait and see what happens.  I should like to thank the following pictures for their help this year. 

63 days and counting



Memories

The 19th of December, a date that will always be of great significance as it is the date my father died, 8 years ago now.  As is now 'the norm' I made my pilgrimage over to Comrie, with my son, to pay my respects.  The weather was a bit snowy and cold, but always seems to be on this day.  I also always stop off at the main graveyard where my grandfather, grandmother and Auntie are buried.  My father always disliked the headstone they have, saying it was ostentatious. I do like the intertwined JD though, my initials, or were and will be again. I never really paid much notice to the inscription before at the bottom, but it really hit me today.  It reads 'I to the hills will lift mine eyes'.  Rather strangely it was pretty much the same inscription that caught my eye at the top of Mount Blair in my post 8/10/13 which reads 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hill'.  How spooky! and when I put my usual random photo on Facebook from that walk I put that inscription against the photo I posted.

Journeyed along to the Woodland Cemetery and toasted my father with a malt, rather unattractively contained in a jam jar.  When I say toasted, I poured some on his headstone, I don't drink.  As always on cue the Red Kites appeared, what a delight, awesome birds.  I missed out on what potentially could have been a great photo, too slow, and generally staring in awe.  I turned around and one flew up from behind a mound, so close to me, probably about 30 feet away. Wow.

I miss my father very much and his advice.  He was a down to earth, hard working, clever and generous man who kept himself to himself.  I strongly believe he is still watching over, but if I told you how, you wouldn't believe me.  Some things are unexplained, but he came through when I was looking for some important paperwork a few months ago. My mother was witness to this, but maybe it was all just coincidental, like the Red Kites soaring.

71 days and counting.