It's hot

It’s hot. I’m sitting at the dining table using the laptop at eight at night. It’s now dark outside and all I have on are my shorts. Not a pretty sight - but it is hot! Yesterday was 29th September, Michaelmas Day – often regarded as the beginning of autumn. Ironically, the temperature was higher than any Michaelmas since 1895. Today was hotter and tomorrow could be the hottest October day on record. We’re having a summer at last. I’m glad I didn’t put the fans away in the loft for the winter.

And talking of the loft. After doing some gardening in the beautiful weather I then spent a few hours yesterday and today starting to tidy up the loft and get rid of some of the stuff we have stored there. Some trips to the tip and the charity shop will definitely be called for.

This is the point where I access the loft – after having cleared three sacks, a duvet and seven boxes…. You’ll have to imagine how difficult it was to crawl into it before I did that.

This is the rest of the loft. It’s the whole width of the house – about 35 feet - and two boxes deep on either side and one cannot stand up in it – only kneel. It’s a really fun job I’ve taken on. Oh, and in case I didn’t mention it – it’s hot. At the moment you could roast a chicken in the loft without any difficulty.

After complaining about all the rain I’m never satisfied, am I?

A Fabulous Morning

GB's latest e-mail said it was a fabulous morning in the Hebrides yesterday. If fabulous means that which is found in fables it is a fabulous morning here now... horrendous gales and rain enough to sink the Argo !

Went to the doctor’s yesterday. He is not impressed with my body. So no Mr Universe title for me and this morning it is an ECG, blood tests, etc. It looks like another hospital visit soon.

I haven’t been on the computer since Tuesday ‘cos I only just managed to drag myself out to the doctor yesterday. Fortunately the surgery is next door to us! I came back and crawled into bed. I feel a lot better this morning – so far at least. I'm fasting for my blood tests. I wonder why one feels like food when one has to fast and yet when one is free to eat the thought of doing so this early in the day - it's only 4 a.m. - would hardly ever enter one’s head.

I've just checked and there are 13 comments to moderate on this blog alone. Proper comments are always welcome but those that simply advertise products or an author's own books will not make it past comment moderation. Unfortunately someone is constantly placing stupid comments on my Book blog so I've had to put word verification back on and restrict comments to Google account holders.

I'd better get on with it...

 

Not Rambling Far

In response to Adrian's comment yesterday - "Yes, it does rain here sometimes". But the weather changes so quickly that even on bad days there is the chance of some lovely skyscapes. And Tuesday began once more with the shine of promise. Red sky in the morning is supposed to presage a bad day but the sight as the red turned to gold at 4.35 a.m. would have made it worth while for me.



Prior to the sun coming over the horizon the sky was red in every direction. The clouds didn't have silver linings they had pink ones. Then during the minute or so that the sun topped the hill behind Upper Bayble everything turned instead to gold and silver.


Then the clouds thickened and I could see rain showers working their way down the Minch. (The Minch is the channel of the Atlantic that separates the Outer Hebrides from mainland Scotland.)


As the clouds thinned again parches of sunlight shimmered on the surface of the water.


The mountains of the mainland are 60 kilometres and more from GB’s. But they were as crisp and clear this morning as I have ever seen them.

Sadly, Tuesday was the day that Brother-who-blogs left for the mainland for hospital treatment leaving me to enjoy the Island on my own. I have plenty to keep me amused but shall miss him on weekdays while he's away. I can draw consolation from the fact that the treatment will be successful - that's an order!! - and that he'll be home at the weekends.


After the cloudy start to the day the sky cleared and it developed into another scorcher. I spent an hour and a half on the phone to Partner-who-loves-tea, putting the world to rights; though, sadly, not putting her computer issues right. I then did some weeding in the garden. The midges drove me in for a while and I made some cornflake crunch. I had intended to try making Florentines but thought I'd better find my way round GB's kitchen before experimenting and I can make cornflake crunch with my eyes closed (well almost).


A book, some nibbles, a seat in the sunshine, a midge free hour, and a view to die for - what more could one want?