Side benefits

Today began with the slightly tense preparedness for the arrival of some tradesman or other to fix something, and the irritation when he turns up over an hour late. In this case it was an electrician to repair replace a noisy, grinding extractor fan in the bathroom and to replace all the spot lights in the shower room ceiling, one of which had gone out. We've kept the other three that were still working - the call-out fee is a pain - and Himself, having watched closely, reckons he could do it himself next time. 

We'll see ...

I, meanwhile, popped out to deposit a prescription request and in the passing enquire about the bloods I had taken on Tuesday. ("normal", she said - I don't even know what abnormalities they were seeking.) I bought more special eye makeup remover from the optician - I can't tolerate the special eye wipes because they sting brutally, but this is great stuff, then headed up to the printers who produced my last poetry collection - I still can't recall exactly what the first steps were (apart from finding the poems; I'm still on it) but I do remember spending quite a time in their office.

After lunch we had to pick up some venison from the stalker - I must have told you our wonderful supplier's name? Winston Churchill. Really. The business has grown in the time we've been customers, so if you're in the UK you might well find it at an outlet near you, but for us it's a matter of driving up the road to Clachaig, then up a track to their larder. (We'd ordered it by phone). Then we parked beside a log pile and went for a walk we rarely do unless we're buying venison, up the Balagowan Burn into the hills. We stopped when the road turned into a single path, which is where I took today's blip - just the hills, furry with the dark forest, bright with new bracken and baby fir trees, and the bright blue of a water pipe (I imagine) briefly visible before vanishing under the earth again. It was peaceful, warm and lovely - and the scents were wonderful. And there was no-one else in sight. How lucky are we to have this to access on what was essentially a shopping trip?

The day was rounded off with some ribald texting with a pal and a fragrant dish of Himself's curry. But I really need to get back to these poems ...