and Jack Frost is upon us

Apropos of nothing, I was in the Borders this weekend, and the colour remaining in the trees was fantastic. Just imagine what it would have been like some 10 days ago, when more leaves were still on the trees. It was glorious, a real bonus to add to the training event I was attending - which was in itself very good (with one outstanding exception, which was dire - stand up the Scottish Government).

I like this time of year, when the air is crisp and not soggy, when there is a frost on the ground and you can see your breath in front of you. It is especially good on cloudless days, when it always seems to me that I can see further into the distance than I ever can on a balmy summer's day. The drop in temperature is fine too - rather this than the dank, damp weather which seems to set a film of mould over everything, and clothes never seem to be quite dry, even when it is clear that they are.

Sitting in the gallery, however, when there is little opportunity for movement, it can feel cold as the day progresses. Woolly socks are the answer, or at least they are a good part of the answer.

Elisabet is in Sweden at the moment, and phoned at some ungodly hour this moring to tell me that there was frost on the ground and that it looked quite beautiful. I am sure it did, but not so clear that I needed to hear about it at exactly that moment! She will be in Sweden for another 8 days, and come back in good time to set up our Christmas show - The waiting Angel - which will open with the usual mulled wine and celebration on Advent fair day, this year Saturday November 28th.

Hasty note - the Book Festival is back!

This is not the usual content of this blog section of the website, but, as you will guess, I am running late. The text for the brochure is at the printers and finished product will be with us all shortly. In the meanwhile do have a look at www.linlithgowbookfestival.org.uk to find more detail. We have tickets on sale at The Line, or also available from The Linlithgow Bookshop.

Linlithgow Book Festival
Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 2009

Fri. Oct. 30 6.45 opening by Michael Connarty MP free
7.30 Christopher Brookmyre and
Billy Franks £8.00
Sat. Oct. 31 11.00 poetry workshop with
Andrew Philip £8.00
11.00 Michael Fry £6.00
1.00 Robert Crawford £6.00
2.30 Janice Galloway £6.00
4.00 Angus Konstam £6.00
5.00 Open University debate
The representation of the
history of Scotland free
7.30 Iain Banks £6.00
8.45 Festival Open Mike free

Special Saturday Day Ticket £24.00 for all events

Sun. Nov. 1 1.00 Linlithgow in print
through the ages £4.00
2.15 Six local poets £4.00
3.30 Story telling for young
children free

It is as big as he is ...

Field trial time has come around again (and by the time I write this, it has gone again also, but no matter). Elisabet and the dogs have been traipsing the length and breadth of Scotland, standing out in knee high heather in all sorts of weather awaiting their turn. As I understand it, the dogs are run two at a time (as opposed to in pairs, which suggests to me that the dogs work together) and are supposed to 'quarter' the relevant bit of land looking (or rather sniffing out) for birds. When a grouse is found, the dog then stands still and 'points' to show the handler where the bird is. On command, the dog makes the bird fly up, whilst ducking down itself to lie still and avoid being shot. Are you with me?

Well, Cosimo won. He won a huge silver cup. No small matter when he has to keep it polished for the next year....

He really has done well and Elisabet is delighted. The bar will now be set higher for the Spring Trials.

It will probably rain then too.

Kind hearts - and waste pipes

Summer is icummin in - and, with it, weddings. No matter where one looks, or who one speaks to, there are weddings to be discussed, planned for, shopped for and to be analysed. In fact, weddings seem to fill the gap after Wimbledon and before the football starts - although quite why I should see it in those terms puzzles me, especially as I loathe both the beautiful game and the other. We have recently returned from a foray to Brighouse - just to the south of Leeds for those like me who knew only of the feted Brighouse and Rastrick Band, without ever having a clue where either might be - for the occasion of Anna and James' wedding. The trip down was a lark, It took some hours longer than imagined to finally leave Linlithgow, the car packed to the gunnels with all of the things we could not live without for a period of 3 days - and a wedding cake. If you ever take it into your head to think of a wedding cake as a gift, take some time to ponder before opening your mouth and uttering. Goodness knows how many miles, in a hot car with a humid ambient atmosphere, and a white chocolate confection to get from A to B unmangled .... We did it, I am delighted to say. Thanks are due to Paul, who no doubt armour plated the cake as never before! A jolly time was had by all.



And we came home to find that the waste pipe from the sink in the dark room has has some kind of quarrel with itself, and water has been pouring into the wall of the cellar. There has been a damp smell for a short time, but this was attributed to the odd odour which can happen when the rain comes from the north, and comes in under the external door. Not this time! Oh no, nothing quite so simple - here we have sodden walls and dank corners. Heigh ho - back to the plumber.