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.

Great idea for a thread!

We are just back from a couple of ‘mini-moons’ after getting married last week and I’m feeling so down about starting work again. Thankfully just at home still though.

About to order a takeaway when the kids go to bed so that should perk me up.

demented, are you me? Yes to all that!

A sugar poke and a stalk of rhubarb, collecting bees in a jar (ah the smell of warm bee), making perfume from rose petals, collecting frog spawn and hatching it in the bath, sugar pieces, rice pudding made in the oven and dotted with currants, tumshie hunting in the nearest farmers field (we lived on the edge of the city), getting a chase and me being the littlest, getting dragged along and older siblings having to explain why my knees are grated to the bone and I'm filthy from head to toe, making a skateboard from a think book and an old skate, getting pocket money when the man came to empty the gas or electricity or tv meter, chopping down trees in the garden and bursting up chests of drawers during the power cuts to get some heat and light. At least 9 of us at any one time, squashing into my brothers car once he learned to drive and taking trips to the beach. I could go on all night.

The rhubarb and a sugar poke! Omg not thought of that in years. I have a rhubarb patch, I must have repressed the memory 😁

Thanks for the thread Lidl. We need balm for the soul at the moment.
As a departure from hallowe’en I just wanted to share that I too have been on holiday this week and at the age of 52 had a bash at. stand up paddle boarding. After my initial spaghetti legs (caused by a flood of adrenaline) I managed not too bad. Stayed upright, only fell to my knees once (and have a lovely bruise as a reminder) and endured terrible cramp in my arthritic toes all whilst my DD coasted by serenely.

I am thinking of doing some crafts with the kids to distract us on the long dark nights. I am definitely not a creative or arty person but my youngest DS really enjoys making things. Any creatives out there who could give me some ideas to get started? Maybe if I start now I might have something for Christmas!

My mum used to carve neep lanterns from my brother and me when we went guising in the 1960s. Now that I regularly attack chop neeps for cooking with (especially now that I'm back on the MN HFLC Boot camp), I have nothing but respect for her endeavours Pumpkins are sooooo much easier.

I always make guisers do their "piece" before giving them any sweets and fruit. I'm in two minds about what to do this year : whether to put out a lantern and leave a bowl of sweets in the storm porch or just to leave it completely. I think I'll be doing the latter.

Dh and I are enjoying our daily walks to feed the ducks and moorhens in Maxwell Park. One good habit we've got into

I think @dementedma is me too. That describes my childhood growing up in Fife in the 60s and 70s. Expect we didn't have a coal fire. Our neighbour did as her DH was a coal miner and I loved going to sit so close to it I got fireside tartan on my legs!

Well we've just staggered back from the pumpkin patch which some gigantic pumpkins and some delicious looking food. Going to carve them tonight and use the flesh in a pumpkin and peanut stew.

I am thinking of doing some crafts with the kids to distract us on the long dark nights. I am definitely not a creative or arty person but my youngest DS really enjoys making things

How old are your kids?
My niece loves Christmas cross stitch and you can get free patterns on the web. We make salt dough ornaments every year. Appliqué is on my list to try with mine. Patchwork cushion cover? Could make your own Elf.

I am looking forward to scooping out the pumpkin flesh. I make a mean pumpkin soup - secret is to roast the pumpkin and use liberal amounts of cream and butter, and we have a family tradition of making pumpkin buns from a Morrisons recipe.

@FlippingBottleFlippers can you still get knitting Nancy? Loved that as a child and spent ages doing French knitting, it's a good start to more complex things

Great idea for a thread. Pity I've got nothing exciting to add, I'm just going for a.......walk

I had plans for a walk in the crunchy leaves but it's pissin, so I downloaded a new book . Second by a new crime writer and only £2.99 so that'll be my wee treat. I actually had a long lie this morning so hoping the clocks changing will suit my sleep pattern better.

Actually scrub that, it's started raining. Every time I put my trainers on to work it starts lashing. And I've had too many walks caught in the rain to actually start off in it.
Bugger it I'll make a cup of tea.

I've never downloaded books, is it good?

Mm it will never be the same as the sensory experience of a book. But DH doesn't whinge about the six volumes cluttering up my bedside table. My Kindle is the one that looks more like paper and is backlit so I can read without disturbing him when I can't sleep.

I usually have a few different authors and genres on the go.

I love a good book. Have you read Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine? Best book ever and set in Glasgow.

My cousin is an award winning Scottish author, must be from the other side of her family (actually I know it is as her cousin is an even more famous Scottish author with some movies also under his belt).

I haven't - my DM said I'd love it. But that can put me off sometimes (twisted so and so that I am) will queue it up .

Six degrees of separation Wax you are connected to writers then celebs. Mine are all footballers and gangsters.

Its honestly a brilliant book.

Come on wax we need names

Start with Trainspotting ssd.

and :o Lidl - have a few of those floating about also

Talented family wax!

DH and I read that on honeymoon Wax and wondered why we struggled to strike up conversations. Turned out the other holidaymakers thought we were genuine Trainspotters- then we got them to try to read the first page aloud. An American refused to believe it was English . Book, play, film all remind me of being 21 a newly wed and carefree .

Aww, nice memories then Lidl. That is cousins cousin but cousin also very talented. They seemed to get all the talent and brains, not quite sure what we got. :o I don't think i've seen any of them since primary school, not even at a funeral I don't think but cousin and I were close for a while. My DM fell out with her sister (cousins mum) at one point about 15 years ago and didn't speak at all after that. Interestingly enough it was all over a book!

One which was lended and was or wasn't returned (we still don't know) but apparently it wasn't about the book, it was the lying about it that was the problem. Now I know what we got on my side of the family - sheer thrawn!!

We used to go guising and we walked for miles in our wee costumes.
Also my DM used to organise a firework party in our farmyard. Safety wasn't a priority. Then back into the house for lots of sandwiches and bottles of 'jaggy juice' (Irn Bru)
The things the that keep me going probably don't interest others. My tups are out busy entertaining their ewes and they're doing a fine job. I literally love them. My favourite is called Gleneagles and bit of a devil. If you don't watch he'll take a run up and give you a bit of a dunt. He just wants attention and loves a good scratch on his head.