Scallowawife

Yesterday I was shocked to see diesel has gone up to £1.38 per litre, with petrol at 12p less. Today however its £1.40. I can't beleve how much its going up and so fast. It was about Feb or March I commented on the price being £1.26. it seems to go up almost every day - we can't keep up.

What's the price in everyone else's area?

SUN
Hi there, I'm sitting in the front room. with sun - yes SUN streaming in the window. What a joy. This always happens at folk festival weekend - we get fab weather. Its brilliant for the visitors, as well as us locals.

FOLK FESTIVAL
I wasn't looking forward to it at all - so many problems seemed to be around, and taking up my energy, I was beginning to regret having booked 3 nights and agreeing to go to the club after the gigs. BUT IT WAS GREAT and I'm so glad we went, the music was brilliant and the whole weekend was a success. I bought 3 CD's The Orkney boys band 'The Chair' they are amazing. They played with tremendous vigour and later on at the club they played for another session wearing fa'as faces (masks) and fancy dress - they were soaked in sweat. The things these musicians put themselves through....I just hoped it was water in their pint glassses...There was another group who did salsa and Latin American stuff - and I loved the Mongolians - when they started I kinda thought I wouldn't like it - but it was excellent. (just like Gaelic if you shut your eyes) (but nice)

THOSE EARRINGS
I had heard that FC had allowed mpu and fpu to attend the shows, but although I met them briefly last year, I couldn't be sure... at the Legion on Friday I spotted a likely couple... hmmm not sure, I smiled but got no response.. decided not to risk it. (thank god, as it wasn't them...) at the Clickimin, I saw another likey couple - hmmm...mpu a little toooo clean shaven I thought, woman a bit too - well not how I remembered fpu - this one wasn't trendy or stylish or sophisticated, - was fpu? gosh I was beginning to wonder. Then, as I hung around wondering how to start the converstation - well let's just say I'm glad I didn't cos on the Sunday I saw them in the quese and I SAW THE EARRINGS . nice to see them again. the folk, not the earings.

SORE BACK
as usual I've been plagued by a sore back - had miserable time in Easter holdiays - missed another trip, this time to Edinburgh, but BA have allowed us to re book and we're going this weekend! BUT my back is sore from all that sitting at the weekend and late nights, and my IBS has hit the roof with all the late night eating and dirinking. Oh dear, fingers crossed as we're still fighting Norwich Union to get our travel insurance after having to cancel our hogmanay trip abroad when a relative died.
I went to see a chiropracter - £40 for 20 mins 'ker ching' and he manipulated me. I screamed. he went to check if his next patient had run away....but all was well. I then went to see a rolfing practicioner who explained what was wrong and where I was inflamed. £50 for 2 hours - 'ker ching' but much better value for money. on the third day I went to see a physio - I have an appointment for a months time (with the same person) with the NHS but decided to go private to get advice sooner. £55 ifor 1 hour including a back roll thingy to go on my chair. ker....ching...but she was very nice and again explained what to do.

off to walk and do exercise...

Have been ill recently with flu, so have been watching TV more than usual. I saw some really interesting programmes last night - and on Channel 4, not Sky, which is full of rubbish as far as I can see.

I watched a little Indian girl with 8 limbs and the struggle to operate to save her. She had a conjoined twin attatched to her - bottom to bottom - and it had no head. (hope you've had yer tea) People came from far and wide to stare at her, and I have to say I too was glued to the screen. The op was a success, by the way.

However, a chance comment from TWS about my mother's age prompted this blog - the other programme I watched was about age and how different people age.

I of course am ageless, all my friend gaze at me in wonder at my youthfulness, and ask me for my secret.

On the programme, the Japanese woman we saw was about 107, but looked about 77, if that. She was old but extrememely fit, and was makin a meal for her son. Her secret - the saying in her province was to eat only 80% of what you need. Her diet amounted to about 1250 calories, slightly over half what is recommended.

The Sardinian town in the study (or was it Sicilian) had a very large proportion of centenarians. It seemed to be down to genes, there had been a small genetic pool way back in history, and the town was all closely related, fortunately they had shared a lack of an ageing gene, and so they were geneticaly predisposed to old age. it could have so easily been the other way round.

They also studied a Californian town called Linda with a lot of very happy clean living old folks - an they put their longevity down to being 7th day Adventists. And they were certainly youthful and happy.

Interestingly, in Hawaii, there were some Japanese who had moved and were now third generation Hawaiians. The original very old grandad of them all was over 100, but had outlived some of his decendants. They were also much less healthy. This was put down to diet - once out of Japan the benefits were lost. (or so I think)


And then we came to Glasgow - where the Scottish folks are not healthy, we have the worst rate of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay, - and we age so very quickly. However there was a reason given , because in other towns with similar backgrounds the life expectancy is not as low.
Glasgow folk have a short life expectancy because - not diet - its a hereditary thing. We Scots had to live in very crowded conditions in the early years of last century. because there was so much over crowding and poverty, people were living in one room, a family sharing a bed, that in order to survive the body developed a particular immune response. The body had an over active immune system which helped us to fight disease. The people most likely to live out of this passed on the immune response, and so it became widespread. BUT in later life this has a negative effect on our health, we are at much greater risk of developing disease, or conditions, as our immune system starts to attack itself. Hence we are at risk from all the above diseases and we age much much faster.


so what can we do about it? not alot, but we can eat less exercise more and stop smokng drinking etc etc - hmmm let's just enjoy life while we can!

no photos - did not take my camera to the hall. For the first time in years I did not take a handbag, no purse, no mobile, on our night out. we took several pairs of spare shoes, and a spare warm top, but none of the usual stuff. We had a brilliant night. we were entertained till the last dance at 8am.

we had supper with two special polis men, armed to the teeth and dangerous. we considered strip searchin them for hancuffs, but stopped in the nick of time...

and the transvestites were out in force, stockings, false boobs, the lot. such fun!

I had the last dance with a cat, he had very dangerous whiskers, I and any folk birlin nearly were in danger of being stabbed by them. FC: how does one manage ones whiskers?

my mum says Up Helly Aa is all about equality (never refuse a guiser a dance and all that) so she was quite taken aback when I told her about us being ousted from our seats by an English couple (soothmoothers). We had been standing for ages wathching the acts when we decided to dip ourselves in some vacant seats. Up comes the couple who had been away having supper. "those are our seats" I thought for a moment about pretending to be deaf, or foreign, but we slowly rose and left. my friend was very indignant - "do they expect us to stand?" she asked "did they pay more for their tickets than us?" and we wished we had had courage to say "we didn't realise you had your names on these seats". what a cheek to be told to leave our seats - after all the seats in the row behind were empty!!

when I told my mum, she was horrified, when I got to the bit about being english she said "Ah."

it just goes to show how different people are.

using your imagination......

photo of nice view...
its a beautiful day here in Shetland - the sea is calm and the sun is shining. the forecast is for high pressure all week and we are going to have a crisp cold week. At last, no wind and rain.

photo of garden....
the sun is weakly but determinedly glowing, giving everything a golden hue. the grass is a very dull sage green, slightly frosted. the trees and bushes are bare, and the stones are dry.

beautiful arty photo of car and sunrise...
morning and night the car is frosted, its kinda nice to see it.

photo of cake....
the cake has been iced, the pies are in the oven, one son is home and the other arrives tomorrow. the house is full, full of folk, decorations and noise. I'm not sendin cards again this year - but wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

photo of fingers crossed
good luck to a colleague who is having a tough time in hospital - fingers and toes crossed for her. She got the all clear from her tests - then discovered it wasn't all clear at all, it was very serious.its a thin line we tread.

best wishes to everyone on their own - its a seriously lonely time, Christmas, but we can make it better. I got a lovely letter and card from a good friend in Wales, and wished I had made more effort to write me cards!

and last a photo of me - smiling and happy...

Photo of the Tart wiv The Cart

(use your imagination)

the tart is sweet Molly Malone. she was a lady of the night - allegedly - and did not die of a 'fever' . poor woman. she did her best I'm sure.

Photo of street art

I was lookin forward to reading this long epistle chalked beautifully on the pavement beside Molly, with lovely art work. Every corner had a busker, or a street artist on it

Photo of pub with hanging baskets

the pubs in Dublin were terrific, the music, the food, the atmosphere...

Photo of my new expensive boots

These were totally TOTALLY justified, as later on I slipped on a leaf whilst wearing my old boots - thus proving the point perfectly that new leather boots with sturdy non-slip soles and fashionable buckles were very necessary.

photo of me

This is me on Sunday, a bit glum, after sleeping in till lunchtime and trailing round the book of Kells for the SECOND time looking for camera and asking every secuity guard where it may have been found. We were sent to the Police station, although the lovely Irish security guards assured me that 'if it's any decent a camera, you'll not see it again.'
Did you know there is no Lost Property in the Garda (Police ) stations in Ireland? No. so when I got home and checked my insurance policy I need a written police statement, confirming the report of the loss within 24 hours. Hmmm. the large woman who I spoke to soooo needed Trinny and Susannah's help in the clothing and make up dept.....sorry that was nasty.

photo of me looking confused and tired

This is us wondering wheter to go to the Guinness factory - who was the one with the hangover? - we did not go. too much wine and dancing the previous night. I can't burn the candle at both ends any more....but I soooo wanted to go and see the 65 acre site and see how Guinness is made, taste the dishes inspired - or laced - with Guinness and get my free pint ....

Funny bits - when we arrived in Dublin there was no stairs for the plane - so we had to wait 10 mins for them to arrive so's we could get off the plane! As we left Ireland, I discovered we had bed bugs....huge ones ... in our bed, on me... they are doing a feature on The One Show on bugs this week ...

Dublin is a fantastic city - its large, sprawling, interesting, arty, creative, friendly - full of foreigners - only the taxi and bus drivers were Irish. Its got no airs and graces, no sense of time, its crowded day and night and there's something for everyone, Temple Bar - an area - wow - so many pubs and clubs, so many music venues, terrific food. we could wander for hours and hours and see so much. Pity some b****r stole me camera and me 50 euro note.....

(but I can hear the Irish taxi drivers sayin - well now the bugger who stole it woold a hadda good reason, an prawbably needid it more than yoo did...)

(I can still hear the taxi driver pullin up outside our hotel and sayin - will ya look at that door - will you tell them it needs a good lik o paint - will ya tell them now please?)


back home: this is a photo of the fantastic sunrise this morning - which I got up in time to see - wow, red sky or what. now where's me camera....

At last - holidays again. And guess what - its a beautiful day and no much wind, and the sun is shinin, and we're actually up and out of bed this Sunday! Ruthodanort has been for the night, and had to leave early for the dog - or was it Muness - or both - so we were up bright and early.

It's been a rotten summer - weatherwise - and its such a bonus to get a nice day - and we can enjoy it too.

Ruthodanort left one - or maybe two - children behind, not done a head count yet, nor have I attempted breakfast yet. maybe a roll call will establish if any are mine. I think world war three is going on downstairs - or is that fun?

I'm washing a massive backlog of clothes - who on earth has worn all these? and will get them on the line - am I sad or what - glad to get claes on the line?

I've lifted my tatties - a whole shoebox full! just the 6 carrots to go now.

Last weekend we scoured Shetland for flat stones to put in the garden. So will - back permitting - do some of that later. Its so nice to have a strong muscley willing man to help....mmm ... No, not there - there..THERE. no, turn it round... take it away.... try.... sorry. I didn't meant that, no you're really helping. don't walk away, please come back..... Men. hmmmpphh.

We're off to Dublin for the weekend - I'm so soooo excited. the weekend starts on Wednesday. Its been stressful trying to book over the internet - so many options. Ryanair and Aer Lingus offer fantastic deals - the flights vary from a penny to about 15 pounds - but the taxes and the baggage charges and all the other incidentals add up to a normal fare. And the fare to Glasgow from Shetland - extortionate. but never mind - its only money, its on the credit card and we're going. WE ARE GOING!

Now bloggers: - advice - what to do and see? We're going to get up for breakfast every morning even tho we've been out in the pubs and we intend to see Dublin - what do you recommend?