Bringing in some light

[Lidlfix]

It's hard for everyone right now, by varying degrees granted, and sometimes it's nice to blether. I'd like a thread that doesn't turn into political debate. A Chat if you like with a Scottish perspective that has a gentler vibe. I admire the posters with strong political views, knowledge, interests and thick skins - qualities I lack. But it's not for everyone.

My fig and blackberry candle is lit and my nice coloured gin bottles have wee LED lights in. I feel refreshed after my two week hols but worried about the term to come. Come share what you're doing to bring in some light, your wee treats, autumn booze concoctions or just blether.

Me and DD are meeting my friend and her DC for lunch out tomorrow, a wee treat for the end of the holidays. My Christmas shopping is mostly done and wrapped, so whatever the next school term brings at least I'm pretty organised. Another friend has invited us for a Halloween garden party at her house on Halloween weekend (2 households only, all outdoors), since the kids won't get guising this year at least they can get together and do their pumpkin carving and apple dooking outdoors and toast some sausages and marshmallows on her fire pit.

I've just been out for a lovely meal and a couple of old mout ciders and now cozied into the cabin for a chilled out evening before an early start in the morning to head home. We've not done much and the weather has been typically wet but I've enjoyed the change of scenery and a bit of family time. Your evening sounds lovely lidl, glad you managed to catch up with your lovely DDs.

Good idea to have a non politics thread - I've got some gin bottles with LED lights in them too. Pumpkin carving tomorrow just to put the pumpkin on the step early to see a splash of bright orange. Might dig out my fairy lights too and perhaps make some leaf pictures to put in the windows if the kids are up for it.

Lovely idea Lidl. I've been carving pumpkins with the (school)children for Glasglow. Going to get some ghosty tat and lights tomorrow from B and M.

Planning to toast some marshmallows in the forest (class) and garden (own kiddies) next week.

Toasting sausages on the fire pit sounds great. One of our indulgences this year ( took 2 months to arrive) was a pizza oven and I really think it will be a year round toy. DH has learned how to sear beef in it then slow roast in the normal oven, had a lovely woodfired taste. Dookin for apples is probably less messy outdoors.

Glad you finally escaped Wax, family time time and nice food especially if someone else cooked it is a tonic.

We've been enjoying our half term so far. Managed an outing at the beach and a trip to Dalkeith park which was nice.

I'm wavering about what to do for Halloween. Probably we'll decorate the house and hide sweets. The kids are young enough to be happy with that and dressing up. The youngest has just learned how to say chocolate! 😄

Good idea. Dd in garden with friend, both in sleeping bags in the rain - guess this is how to socialise now.

My dc feel they're a bit old for Halloween now, but I remember the days when they loved it more than Christmas - good to hear of ways people are finding to still celebrate.

I took a day off yesterday and went up to Elie and just sat and watched the waves and breathed the sea air. It was good.
We don’t do hallowe’en now the kids are older but we might have a wee bonfire on Nov 5th and sit in the summer house (sitooterie) and have some hot chocolate or mulled wine and snacks.

Was fab lidl, missing DS2 though :(

We had venison stew and it was glorious and as you say, all the better for being cooked by someone else.

Unfortunately we now need to finish off all the treats and alcohol we brought.... 😁

My Dsis in Oz has a sitooterie sign for her outdoor lounge. The locals think it's Very classy and Euro chic. If it's dry we'll light the chimnea on the 5th or jump in the hot tub and watch everyone's fireworks for free.

I'm from the East neuk @dementedma was sat on a freezing bus today just looking at fields and trees, wishing I was sitting/playing down the beach. A trip 'home' is definitely on my things to do first, it's been 7 years

We went shopping for Halloween stuff today, the dc have it all planned out already, apparently me and dh will be in different rooms and they'll come chap our doors for sweets

I'm liking that idea - I was going for a Halloween treasure hunt but them knocking on our doors works well!

Dh had suggested a treasure hunt but I think it'll end in chaos here with some whingeing about unfairness etc so taking the easy way out and making sure they get the same And I get a seat and wine

DDs are way past Halloween but now I thinking what I can do for my ickle firsties, they have been wee troopers . It is going to be a long trot to 23rd Dec and I can indulge my own "big wean" tendencies.

I'll join you....

Our treat today, after dinner I gave the kids what was going to be a 1December present, the Velvetisrr from Hotel chocolat.

Decided not to wait and it seemed a fitting end to the day. In fact dinner itself was great because we all ate at the same time the same meal, a rarity.

Good idea for a thread.
No great plans this weekend, so glad we made it away last weekend to the Lake District.
I was wondering for Halloween about leaving sweets outside the house, do we think that would be ok ? For once I am glad DS is a lumbering teen. Halloween used to be his second favourite day of the year, now he's unbothered.

Well Lizzie I had to Google and wow! That is a thing of beauty . My treat coffee is a mocha and I bet that would make the creamiest smoothest chocolate for the ultimate mocha. Drooling !

I bought an indoor marshmallow toasting kit. The kit was really cute with lots of little extras. The kids loved it, as did the adults! We had sparklers in the garden too. Trying to make the most of the Tattie Holidays with little treats since we haven’t been able to see family or friends.

I love the East Neuk and go there often to look for sea glass or just potter. I would love to have a house in Elie.

We managed a long weekend in the East Neuk in July when restrictions had eased. It was lovely we had beaches to ourself , drank wine and snoozed on our picnic blanket. We were supposed to be in Bordeaux. This week were in the Highlands instead of Prague.

But I paddled both times

This is a lovely thread.
I have spent the day with dd on a scarecrow hunt around our town.
We found 60 out of 100. She thinks we are going back out tomorrow to find the rest of them.
Stopped off at a local cafe for soup, sandwiches, and a large slice of Red velvet cake.
I've just poured myself a brandy and coke.

families with younger kids round our way are talking about doing a Halloween walk where they have sweets for their own kids with them and the kids get a sweetie for each decorated house they pass. Still need to work out what we can do - we won't actually be home that evening as will be celebrating a family birthday elsewhere.

I managed to fit in a proper walk without getting rained on yesterday, and I'm contemplating doing the cinema on Sunday - we've only been once since they reopened but as we head into rubbish weather it seems like a good option! I had a friend over last Saturday and we sat out until after 11pm with lots of layers and the chiminea keeping us warm.

This is a great thread thank you @Lidlfix
Our village is having a Halloween trail for the wee ones so spent the last few days collecting stones off the beach and painting them. It's been really relaxing.. hoping to do the shine a light idea in November too and try to bring a wee bit of cheer.

What a lovely thread. We are very lucky to live in St Andrews. Just me and DH now plus the dog as our two DDs work in London. Today DH has a day off so we are going for a day out. We will probably drive up to Perth and head towards Pitlochry then end up in the House of Bruar. I love going there and I need to get some Christmas shopping started. As the days get darker and with the world so strange at the moment we all really need to do more nice things to bring the light.

@ApolloandDaphne I love The House of Bruar and the waterfall walk at the back. Fond memories of going there after a night at Pitlochry with my friend as we'd chickened out of our break abroad.