Edinburgh

Libraries Gave Us Power

~ Bungalow Blogger ~ 3 Comments

You’ll get the link in a minute, it was my husband’s idea to include this song, I’m always up for a sing-a-long with the Manics.  Motorcycle Emptiness is the best for singing along to though, you feel that you can get it right, but it is actually impossible.  I digress.

Today I’m singing the praises of the libraries here in Edinburgh .  We are regular visitors and one of my favourite things to do if I’m needing inspiration is to open my Edinburgh Libraries account and make a huge list of books to reserve.  And, as if by magic, they are usually at my local library within a week , pretty efficient if you ask me.  The staff are super helpful too, my only gripe is that they’ve changed the opening hours so it’s harder to nip along in the evenings

The range of kids’ books is amazing for every age and stage not to mention free dvd hire for children and a nominal fee for the others.  Teenboy was introduced to Bill Forsyth’s film Gregory’s Girl last week when I spotted it in the racks, I’m not sure what he thought of it but I absolutely loved seeing it again, it is a classic. If you’ve never seen it then watch it, it’s hilarious. Let me know what you think is the best bit. As some of you know, I can recite copious lines from it if I’m in the mood. (skip to 24 seconds)

 

 

Next on my list for teenboy is Local Hero, another Bill Forsyth film

 

 

Here’s my most recent pile of reserved books, there are usually a couple of duff books but, hey, that’s ok because it’s free!

free books!
free books

That’s my public information work done for the day.

Wishing you all a great weekend, what’s your all time favourite film?  Recommendations welcome in the comments section. x

ps wouldn’t mind a bit of snow now

Hogmanay

~ Bungalow Blogger ~ 9 Comments
calendar from a great friend who knows me well
Rob Ryan’s words will be with me all year, thanks Jean

Well here we are, the last day of the year, a time of reflection and the end of the delicious lull between Christmas and the New Year.  Before Christmas I felt like a tightly wound spring, now I am calm and enjoying the rewards of all the hard work and angst that come with renovating a house combined with Christmas preparations.

Edinburgh is one of the places to go at New Year, there are bands, parties, ceilidhs and all sorts going on.  I won’t be up town tonight with the hoards of revellers (as the media would say) but here, at home, watching the telly, trying to stay awake and then rushing out across the road at midnight to see the legendary Edinburgh fireworks with my family and neighbours.

Lots has happened here this year, you’ve seen the regeneration and other bits too.  January will be a month off from house stuff – wonder how long I’ll last without getting the next thing done or at least organised!

My hall decorations have made me smile this year. I bought them before the hall was painted or the floors done, they kept me going to get the hall done by Christmas.  It was worth all the effort.  When they are gently moving about they really are stunning.

You have no idea how hard it is to get a decent photo of these hall decorations in this winter light, I am still not happy with this one but it does let you see how it looks, sort of. These snowflakes are magical and so simple. I'm tempted to leave them up but i think they are better kept as a Christmas delight
You have no idea how hard it is to get a decent photo of these hall decorations in this winter light, I am still not happy with this one but it does let you see how it looks, sort of. These snowflakes are magical and so simple. I’m tempted to leave them up but i think they are better kept as a Christmas delight

 

a collection of delicious hand made treats beautifully presented from a supercrafty friend
I had to share this collection of delicious hand-made treats, beautifully presented, from a supercrafty friend of mine. The cup on the right is from her wedding party and filled with truffles.  A perfect gift – lots to eat and something to keep,  thanks Sarah x

Have a wonderful Hogmanay, thanks for reading people, it makes me so happy to get  your comments or when you mention my blog when I see you. It matters so much that you take time to keep up with me and I appreciate your support hugely.

Wishing you a fabulous 2014 and let’s keep looking up, not down, no matter how hard it is. xxx

6 November 2013

~ Bungalow Blogger ~ 2 Comments

So, we’ve had Halloween and fireworks night so it is definitely time for  hunkering down and making the place cosy and warm for winter.  The clocks have changed, the temperature has dropped and we can look forward to the Festive season very soon.

These events in the rhythm of the year make my thoughts turn to my Dad.  It is three years today since he died, one Saturday morning, without any warning.  Before he died, I thought that people must have had some inclination that their loved one was not well or that they were at least ‘not themselves’ before they passed away.  Sadly, I now know that it does happen, out of nowhere.  Remember to enjoy the little things and moments when you are caught up in the whirl of life, they are so important and so easy to miss.  Enough of my wise words now, my Dad always let you know what he thought whether you invited his wisdom or not, I miss that so much now he has gone.

This made me stop, stare, and take pictures, yesterday.  The photo does not show the whole arch, it was too big to capture, what a shame, it was simply phenomenal.

there was a feint secondary rainbow there too, amazing and so vibrant
there was a faint secondary rainbow there too, above this one, look closely on the left of the picture.

 

Rainbows have symbolic meanings in lots of religions and cultures, here are some interpretations, there are plenty more out there in cyberspace to consider.  This rainbow helped me to remember that it is good to take a minute once in a while to appreciate the small things in life.