Friday, 25 January 2013

January 2013 (The next bit)

Tuesday 15th.  Key-line truck arrives at 0815 and drops off a bulk bag of 20mm Spey chips and a couple of slabs to replace ones I'd managed to break.  Time to crack on before the freezing weather forecast for this area actually arrives.  Well it shouldn't get here before I finish my coffee!
Overalls on and spade out of the garden locker, I was soon hacking away at the turf to strip away the area to be chipped.  Without a wheel barrow the biggest job was shifting the slabs of turf but by early afternoon it was all cleared, the two broken slabs replaced, sheets of 'weed stopper' put down and then it was just a matter of spreading bucket loads of the stone chips and raking them out.  It was starting to get dark and I'd not quite finished but enough was enough so that was it for the day.
16th.  Spinning, lunch with eldest daughter, Macmillan 'Oaks' Centre for appointment with Kenny, Specialist Oedema Nurse, back home (One or two coffees had been fitted in through the proceedings), Curry.
17th.  Doc's to confirm blood results, PSA <0.1 Yes!!!  Back to the overalls and crack on with the gravel.  Lunch time and I get a text from young Mr Fair, "What're you up to today?"  "Not a lot" says I.  About an hour later Mark and Nic arrive clutching cake!  Overalls back off (Any excuse!!), kettle on.  Coffee, cake, chocolate brownie and convivial company, what more can you ask for!?  It was sunset and the fading daylight that brought the cake and coffee to an end as Mark and Nic had to get back to Inverness, get a meal and into Eden Court in time for the evening showing of Les Mis (Not Mark's cup of tea, too many French in it and all causing trouble!).  18th.  MF's birthday!  An overnight frost had hardened up the ground and caused a bit of a problem getting the last of the turf up from the front of the green locker, however, a bit of graft and jumpin' up 'n' doon on the spade eventually got it cleared; then weed stopper put down and lastly the chips.  That's the parking spot done and dusted!  Now to stow the last of the chips for another wee project to be tackled in the next few weeks.

Saturday, 19 January 2013

January 2013 (The first bit)

Welcome to 2013, I wonder what it's going to bring? Good things to all would be nice but politicians generally screw up things like that.  Ah well, here we go again!

I was due for my sixth hormone implant on January 1st (Every 12 weeks, supposed to be to the day) but I guess they figure New Year's Day is more important than getting medication when you're supposed to get it! Anyway, 3rd January and implant is implanted and blood taken to check PSA with enough extra taken to do a full blood count (They're still checking the anaemia thing).

Friday 11th, sat in the Bothy having just called at the doc's, blood seems to be behaving at the moment, PSA remains low and stable and the check for anaemia gave the same result as last month; within the 'normal' range but on the low side.  I see the doc again on Thursday just to go through the blood test results to see whether I need to do anything other than eat more liver, I certainly don't want to have to take any more pills!
January 11th is a significant night in Burghead; it's the 'Old' New Year and is celebrated with the burning of the Clavie.  The Clavie is a barrel filled with flammable stuff which is ignited by The Clavie King and is then carried on a set route around the village ending at the Dourie Hill where the Clavie is set up, frequently doused with paraffin and is allowed to burn until it collapses.  At this point the crowd disperses to one of three bars or to the community hall for the ceilidh, festivities continuing into the early hours.

Sunset and Clavie time approaches, time to dig out an old jacket and hat, lots of sparks tend to fly about!














The Clavie is lit on top of the wall of the old manse.














The Clavie King (In the hat) about to get off the wall to start the walk to the Dourie Hill.














The Clavie on the move.














Dodging the crowd as the Clavie comes up from the harbour.














Going up the Dourie Hill.
















Who's got the marshmallows?















The Clavie King watching over events  takes water before his dram.



















Still going well!














The last blast, a big bucket of paraffin helps light up the sky!

Time for the pub or ceilidh (or both)!