December … ing

I only just posted but I like to finish the year with a December …ing post. Because it is good to remember. Firstly, thank you all for your kind words on my various teenage troubles, and how we try to make the best of it. I am pleased to report that the past two weeks have been quiet on that front. Being away from harmful “friends” during the break probably helps. 

:: Enjoying the company of my children and assorted friends and partners over the Christmas break. 

:: Listening to “Sandwich” by Catherine Newman. A solid three star listen, not great but not terrible. I recognised myself in the narrator, a mother wrestling with menopause and all that this brings. I also listened to “Stardust Trail” by Yume Kitasei. Also a solid three star listen but very different. It is desribed as a “thrilling anti colonial space heist”. I like a space adventure anytime. Escape literature I call it. On the podcast front, I enjoyed the BBC Radio 4 Reith lectures, delivered this year by the historian Rutger Bredman. Food for thought, for sure.

:: Buying a new phone, an iPhone17 Pro, because I wanted the best possible phone camera on an Apple platform. I am unapologetic about this even though it cost me an arm and leg and it was not a necessary purchase from a purely phone perspective. My “old” iPhone 13 became Annie’s phone, and she gave me her flawed iPhone 12 to repurpose as a work WhatsApp and email phone only.

:: Also purchasing a new ironing board because one of our teens thought our old one would make a useful bouncy seat sometime ago. The folding mechanism was damaged beyond even Richard’s repair skills. I could still use it but never tidy it away. Richard forced it into a folded position to make space for an airbed in my study over Christmas and it refused to be unfolded again after. 

:: Rediscovering Argos (the shop without shop front). Quick and painless shopping (see above, ironing board).

:: Keeping an eye on the water level in the canal between locks 26 and 27. This is the section with the Kelvin Aqueduct, which carries the Forth & Clyde Canal over the river Kelvin. I noticed a steady flow of water coming out of the aqueduct about three weeks ago. A couple of weeks later, I noticed that the water level in the canal was lower than usual and wondered if the two are connected. We had already reported the leak to Scottish Canals. The path under the aqueduct is now blocked off so hopefully the leak will be repaired soon.

:: Knitting a swatch for a jumper I want to make. Well, trying and finding it tedious. I always have a pair of socks on the go because it is a portable project and portable projects are good for my sanity. 

:: Volunteering twice in December. It still gives me joy (and a good strength workout). I like volunteering in winter because it is a time to create meadows and plant trees and hedges. 

:: Watching nature wake up, slowly. We have a few snowdrops popping up in the garden and the gorse is starting the flower. Also an early rhododendron or two.

:: Eating nothing exciting, just standard easy family meals. 

:: Cooking - see above

:: Cleaning after the puppy and everybody else (the puppy is the worst offender)

:: Averaging 13,771 steps in December. My left hip is complaining but the rest of my body enjoys being fit and healthy. 

:: Hillwalking twice. Once up the Whangie, once around Loch Humphreys in the Kilpatrick Hills. I do love hillwalking (preferring short sharp walks over day long hikes). 

Thank you for visiting regularly, and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you. Wishing you and yours a good start into the new year!