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.

@derxa I was trying to be ironic but 2020 won't let us away with that! I would love crisp tiny ❄️ snowflakes and hard frost with sunshine so we could sit outside and drink hot chocolate.
Not six foot drifts with sleet and powercuts.

Yes, all I want is a nice cosy blanket of snow that doesn't settle on the roads :)

Sorry grumplass I've kind of lost my sense of humour these days.
Back to spreading light and joy..

Perhaps just some flakes to see out the window on Christmas Eve! Thanks @ssd I'll away to Waitrose for some exercise and candles tomorrow.

@derxa aw we are all bit like that just now! I want the snow that falls outside Hamley's at Christmas, the magical kind

I'd love to see some nice crisp snow now but nothing would surprise me this year, an earthquake down Sauchiehall Street would hardly make the news, though wee Sean Batty would be excited.

though wee Sean Batty would be excited I love him

Me too

Our complete new central heating system is being installed tomorrow so by the end of the week we should finally have a warm house again (after years of problems )

So crisp cold weather is allowed to arrive to arrive on Friday

I went a big walk yesterday (20miles) so have spent today eating sugar on the basis that I have "neutralised" the situation... Not sure that's the best approach but never mind!

Did some spring cleaning this morning and will need to do more tomorrow but also contemplating doing some baking - although there is a risk that I eat all of it before anyone else gets home. Had a bereavement recently so doing a lot of distraction activities

thanks for the inspiration...I haven't made a christmas cake for years! Going to get on with that....have I missed Stir Up Sunday?

AND would love to have a bash at mincemeat too, my lot love mincepies and I buy tonnes of the stuff

Also I am going to light my fancy candles and stink the house up with them, I don't know what I am keeping them for!

I might look into some old fashioned crafts. Paper chains anyone? 😁

20 miles! Blimey. I’m chuffed if I plod 5K. Well done.
I would love some sparkly magical snow. Not the actual sludgy, road blocking stuff. the stuff on old twinkly Christmas cards

I loved making paper chains. They might be cute and retro for my classroom . I remember making something out of crepe paper too think they might have been for the tree. Or am I making (as DH likes to say) shit up again?

I know the crepe paper chains you're thinking of: two long strips folded at right a few across each other, so they form a sort of concertina chain.

yeah, you started with 2 different coloured rolls of crepe paper and made a concertina thing out of them, you could make mini ones that would go on a tree.

You can make good ones from stringing popcorn too. Might be a good use of the overflow from one of the Scott's cinema packages :)

These - oh these. They could look so nice in red, white, green traditional sort of colours. Did you start if at a right angle and cross them over?

yep, we used to use a bit of sellotape with one roll sitting at 90 degrees from the other and then just criss cross them till you get to the end. Probably a Youtube video demonstrating.

Yes, you started at a right angle. We used to make red and green ones. If you were careful, you could store them away to re-use the following year.

I haven't seen those chains for years!

That's what the eco Christmas websites are recommending - paper chains, snowflakes, lanterns, and my gran used to have holly, ivy and pine about the place. Good idea for crafts!

I don’t think I’m ready to go full Christmas yet — autumn is gorgeous, I’ll wait till the leaves go. I’m going to stew apples today with winter spices though. Should make the house smell good.

We had a lovely drive around East Neuk today, beautiful part of the world. Took our sandwiches, flask and sat on a bench watching the waves. It was brilliant. Seen the fishermen in Crail bringing in the lobster pots. Blows the cobwebs away a bit. Now watching Autumnwatch. I prefer nature to the news.

Thanks for the reminder autumnwatch is on! Agree, it's more rewarding at the minute. Spring watch was a great source of joy in lockdown - except when bad things happened to nests!

@ssd wasn't it great? Chris Packham has a photo of himself kissing the fox on Twitter if you've not seen it