December starts...

Snow is forecast tonight, so we're safely tucked up in bed. I'm glad I've got more bird seed & peanuts for the birds! I am reminded of this Monet,

 A busy week of festive meals are organised & we're especially looking forward to seeing Alex & Lucy from Montana. This week I visited this lovely garden in Hayton with Gardening Club cronies; candle lit at first and all illuminated by a full but waning moon.

Eureka !!! (late afternoon on 13th October) ...

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/eureka

Definition of Eureka - you have been successful in something you were trying to do

Well it's taken several years to get to this point but yesterday it happened! 

I sat on Orla for the first time!

Needless to say there was lots of encouragement from all present - so thank you 

especially to Trevor, Bob & Colin saying - "well just get on with it, she's not going anywhere..."

&  
on closer inspection you can see Trevor's hand holding the lead rein

Tomorrow Orla is off to her first dressage event of the autumn 

at Newton Rigg with Clare Chappelhow riding her. 

Two years ago Clare first sat on Orla on 15th October 2010

 

One year ago (16th October 2011) Clare took Orla to her 

first Dressage competition at Newton Rigg

What will next October bring?

Bournemouth, Nostalgia & Family - September 2012

This is rather late entry but in September Colin had an anaesthetic conference in Bournemouth. We spent three balmy, late summer evenings in the company of our friend Anne; sipping cocktails, dining & chatting - suddenly we were all 25 years younger! Both Anne & I were delighted to discover the delights of the Russell Cotes Museum, which nestles into the East Cliff, revealing only it's conical turrets to the outside world. In side there is a feast...

http://www.russell-cotes.bournemouth.gov.uk/

"The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum was founded by Sir Merton (1835-1921) and Lady (1835-1920) Russell-Cotes on Bournemouth’s East Cliff at the turn of the twentieth century.  Apart from Sudley Art Gallery in Liverpool, the Russell-Cotes is a rare survivor as the residence of a Victorian private collector, which was purpose-designed and perpetuated as a permanent art museum."



The weather was beautiful and warm about 17 -19c. We stayed in a Best Western hotel on the West Cliff. Each morning we were greeted with this

Not quite a 'Turner'

 but Gulliver had certainly left his deck chair behind...

 

While Colin was at work I drifted through Bournemouth's Scots Pine clad streets in search of the junction between Derby Road & Knyverton Gardens...

Sadly only the low wall & Scots Pines remain where Wimbledon Hall Hotel once stood: 1970 -80s flats now prevail. Earliest memories of 1963 came to me. This was where we heard about JFK's assassination; gasps & disquiet among the dining guests. I remember brother Pete getting a scald on his big toe, when a teapot overturned in the lounge during afternoon tea; while I was fascinated by the perfect cubes of sugar. Pete has since told me that it is the pungent aroma of freshly brewed coffee which evokes thoughts of Wimbledon Hall for him!

I continued my musings while enjoying morning coffee opposite at 

The Langtry

(Edward VII & Lillie's love nest!)

I thought of Uncle Bill, Auntie Chrissie & our cousins.

I found this 1956 photo of Dad's -

Mum, Andy, John &

his Granny (?) at

St. Ledgers Road

I also went to Romsey in Hampshire to see Cousin Margaret Twentyman; whom I hadn't seen since Auntie Catherine's funeral in ~ 2001. I had never visited her before. Her home at Abbey Cottage is absolutely beautiful, clad with mature wisterias (they must be superb in May - please can I have a photo Margaret?)

It was lovely talking about our families 'now' & 'then'. Colin was delighted to receive photos & news for his ongoing research into our respective families. Here is a link to our Hutcheson roots - great grandparents, Andrew & Catherine (nee Soot) Hutcheson of Beechwood, Perth.

http://www.davidsoot.blogspot.co.uk

Return from Belfast...

Stormont from the long drive, Price of Wales Avenue - a stunning piece of classical architecture

Colin & I are just back from Belfast. We had a lovely time seeing mum in law, Bettie & elderly Auntie Mollie. Our gorgeous nieces were in good form & looked after us while Lorna & Philip were away cruising on the West Coast - Loch Sunart, Gigha to name a few ports of call.

We enjoyed visiting Colin's old friends, seeing and meeting various members of their younger generations. As you can see (finally) the 2012 summer was kind to us:

Co.Antrim coastline

Scotland in the distance

Never far from a cupper!

&

some pictures just make you smile.

 

Horses for Courses ...

Proud 'mother' with her 5 Year Old!

Well Orla has had a great year, under Clare Chappelhow's care. Both have received a silver cup for their Unaffiliated Preliminary Dressage at Newton Rigg College. They have also successfully competed at local unaffiliated show jumping events ( starting the season at 45cms & rising to a maximum of 75cms) and at a couple of Trailblazers' Working Hunter Events.

Here are the girls in action:

Thank You Clare

 

 

 

 The conservatory is festooned with mostly red rosettes - the spiders are having a field day - they just don't know about low grade vacuum suction yet!

A quick word.

I've been given access to the blog, so just a quick HELLO to everyone.

Here's a link to my Facebook page if anyone wants to "friend" me!


 http://www.facebook.com/doc.rodgers

Colin

Graduation Day for Jamie & a Silver Anniversary...

Wednesday 27th June 2012

 Mr. I.J.Rodgers B.A. (Hons) Film & Media - 2:1

The Loch - University Campus - a fine scotch mist prevailed

Mr. James Naughtie - Chancellor - very disconcerting when he first spoke - ah the Today programme - BBC Radio 4

Jamie with his peacock proud parents -  beside an old Andy Murray practice court

 

 

& then is was off to

 Edinburgh
for a Graduation & Silver Wedding Anniversary Meal

 

 

Trish, Jamie, Nicky & Colin at Wildfire, Rose Street, Edinburgh

 

 

 www.wildfirerestaurant.co.uk

 Here's to the next 25 years - do we need some help?