November 2023

10th

Tonight we played games with the good folk of Roberton, which included dominos, cards, a treasure hunt and carpet bowls. Both myself and Charlie enjoyed this civil and sociable evening; it was heartening to see Charlie thaw to warming conversation.

7th

As we pulled into Longtown cattle market, there was a long dual queue to offload our sheep. By the side of our 4x4 was a young farmer eager to unload, Charlie lacked patience with him suspecting he was going to pull in front of us which proved unfounded.

Line of vehicles stopped at what appears to be a livestock market or agricultural area. The sky is dramatically cloudy, with dark, swirling clouds dominating the upper portion of the image. The foreground is dominated by the hood of a car, from which the picture is taken, suggesting a first-person perspective. The focus is primarily on a large livestock trailer filled with sheep (partially visible), positioned to the right of the road. Other vehicles, including pickup trucks and cars, are visible ahead in the queue. The overall mood is slightly sombre due to the dark clouds and the implied wait.
Dark-coloured SUV parked near a livestock loading area inside a barn. A man is visible in the background, appearing to be overseeing the loading of animals onto a trailer. The focus is primarily on the interior of the SUV, specifically on the driver's side seat and window. The overall impression is one of a working day on a farm.

I told Charlie to have more patience with the younger generation; however the young farmer made an offhand remark as Charlie carefully pulled away from the loading bay where the young farmer had aligned his trailer very close to our 4x4, how testosterone burns civility.

Tightly packed group of sheep, predominantly dark brown or black in colour, with some lighter shades mixed in. Their wool appears thick and somewhat unkempt. Many of the sheep have yellow ear tags. The sheep are confined within a red metal pen or enclosure. The overall impression is one of a crowded sheep pen at a farm or market.
Sheep pen in what appears to be an auction house or livestock market. The foreground is dominated by a dark-brown sheep with a lighter face, that appears to be looking directly at the camera. Behind it are several other sheep, some dark brown and some light-coloured, all penned in and waiting. The setting is a large, well-lit indoor space with a metal pen structure.

After enjoying a large breakfast at the cattle market cafe, we walked around the pens, where I discovered a flock of Herdwick sheep. Since we purchased a Herwick ewe Charile is no longer reffering the breed as awful things, maybe they'll be some Herdwick's returning to the farmhouse with us in the future? As we left the pens a stranger "apologised" to me, whatever for I do not know, but his demeaner was creepy, not unlike many other projections that had made unfounded "apologies" to me. Unnerved, I followed Charlie into the auctioning hall and watched a young Herdwick tup sell for a mere £50.

Panoramic view of a rural landscape, possibly in the UK. It features a winding asphalt road curving around a heather-covered hill. The foreground is dominated by dry, brown bracken and grasses, while a stone wall runs across the middle ground, separating the closer hill from a flatter expanse of land that stretches to the horizon. The sky is a mix of fluffy white clouds and patches of blue.
Pastoral landscape under a dramatic sky. The foreground features dry, brown grasses and a low stone wall winding through the terrain. A road curves gently in the mid-ground, leading towards a small cluster of trees and a village nestled in a valley. Rolling hills extend into the distance, with wind turbines visible on a ridge in the background. The sky is a mix of dark, heavy clouds and patches of blue, creating a moody yet beautiful atmosphere.

Returning to Hawick, we turned diverted onto a right turn after Langholm, following a small lane towards Langholm moor; I adore the stalk scenic views of this wild and free area, a place to breathe, restful.

Landscape view of a moorland under a dramatic, cloudy sky. The foreground is dominated by patches of low-lying heather and grasses, leading the eye towards a gently rolling expanse of similar vegetation stretching to a distant, low hill or mountain under a sky filled with dark and light grey clouds.

We seen some goats and wondered about a goat with poorly kids we'd seen here months before.

Gently sloping hillside covered in low-lying, scrubby vegetation, predominantly shades of brown and muted green. Three goats, appearing dark-coloured with some white markings, are visible grazing amidst the vegetation. The sky is a clear blue with some fluffy white clouds.

Passing over a black and white painted bridge we turned left and parked beside Tarras Water.

Panoramic view of a calm stream flowing through a landscape of low hills and autumnal vegetation. The stream is relatively shallow, with rocks and patches of green moss visible in the water and along its banks. The hillsides are covered in brown and reddish-brown grasses and ferns, indicating late autumn or early winter. The sky is partly cloudy, with patches of blue. Bare branches of trees are present, adding to the seasonal feel.

Overlooking Newcastleton we stopped to observe another panoramic view.

Wide, expansive landscape under a partly cloudy sky. A low stone wall runs diagonally across the foreground, separating a field of tall, dried grasses from a darker area of evergreen trees and rolling hills. The far background showcases more hills under a sky of blue punctuated by fluffy white and gray clouds. The overall impression is one of a serene, rural, and possibly remote location, typical of a highland or moorland scene. The colours are muted earth tones, with the exceptions of the blue sky and darker green of the trees.
Vast, rolling landscape under a dramatic, cloudy sky. A dark-coloured vehicle and what appears to be a trailer are parked in the distance on the right, near a barely visible track cutting through the dry, brownish-green grasses and low scrub that cover the foreground and middle ground. The background reveals a wider valley or plain, suggesting a rural or possibly moorland setting.

Only a brisk walk back to the heated seats of the 4x4, where Charlie's smile is waiting; realising I'm now visiting this weathered wilderness, rather than tethered to extremities from within it.

5th

Charlie finished building the paddock perimeter fence, in worry of the Herdwick ewe and lamb jumping the stone wall. We divided half of the herd from the polytunnel to the paddock, I enjoyed watching them take to the green pasture; those remaining in the polytunnel (mostly castrated lambs) will be sold at the cattle market as store lambs.

Hillside covered in short grass, with a small flock of sheep silhouetted against a cloudy sky. The sun is partially visible behind the clouds, creating a bright spot in the sky. Power lines cross the upper portion of the image, and a line of dark trees is visible in the background to the right. The overall tone is dark and moody, emphasising the silhouettes of the sheep and the texture of the clouds.
Close-up view of blades of grass covered in morning dew. The droplets of water on the grass catch the light, creating a sparkling effect. The overall tone of the image is bright and vibrant, with the green of the grass being particularly vivid. The focus is shallow, with the foreground blades of grass in sharp focus, and the background gradually blurring into a bokeh of out-of-focus light and colour.

Decorating the farmhouse reception room has progressed significantly, in the evening I painted the borders and rolled emulsion onto the celling. There are still fragments of wallpaper everywhere; stuck to the sofa, in-between the cushions, on skirting boards etc, I'm finding this formality quite annoying.

Country road winding through a forest in autumn. The trees lining one side of the road are ablaze with vibrant shades of orange and red, while the trees on the other side are mostly bare, their branches silhouetted against a partly cloudy sky. The overall impression is one of serene autumnal beauty.
Woodland scene in autumn. The focus is on a low-hanging branch displaying vibrant yellow and green leaves, contrasting with the browns and reds of the fallen leaves on the forest floor and the warmer tones of the trees above. The scene is bathed in natural light, highlighting the colors of the autumn foliage. A large tree trunk is prominent on the right.
Dense forest scene, predominantly featuring trees in various stages of autumnal colour change. The most prominent trees display a vibrant mix of oranges and reds, contrasted by some areas of yellowish-green leaves, indicating the progression of fall foliage. The overall effect is a rich tapestry of warm autumnal colors set against a backdrop of darker greens and browns on the forest floor. The lighting suggests it’s likely daytime.

Arriving into Hawick I got Charlie to pull over the 4x4 to allow me to take a few pictures of the autumnal bronzes displayed on the trees near Wilton Lodge Park. The wee lane is busy most mornings with walkers, dog walkers and joggers, noticablly happy pensioners seemingly paired together, perhaps in correspondence sake of sustaining memory.

Leonie wearing a cream-coloured knit hat and a navy blue polka dot shirt under a cream-coloured fleece jacket, standing on a grassy hillside. Leonie is looking directly at the camera with a somewhat pensive or slightly unhappy expression. In the background is a small, white farmhouse and farm buildings, situated in a rural setting with rolling hills and trees. The overall mood is peaceful yet slightly melancholic.

In the evening we had planned to have a bonfire, burning I Guy Fawkes on the paddock, but were too tired from performing chores of the day; Morrisons supermarket had also sold out of sparklers, and we thought better, in mind of livestock, than to let off fireworks within the Borthwick Valley.

Two sheep standing on a grassy hillside against a clear blue sky. One sheep is predominantly black with white markings on its face, while the other is light-coloured. A low stone wall and a small wooden gate are visible in the lower left corner, along with a single bird perched on the wall.

I am enjoying using a language app named Duolingo immensely, this evening I failed, by a mere hundred "XP" to get promoted into the next league after coming first in the previous league. I am learning French, and plan also to learn German and a Scandinavian language also.

4th

Strange fungus growing on the farmhouse paddock, I am not aware of the name, but the sheep on the paddock sure seem to keep their distance from it.

Cluster of brown, cup-shaped fungi nestled amongst decaying plant matter, likely straw or dried leaves. The fungi appear moist and somewhat fragile, with irregular edges to their cup shapes.
Close-up view of a clump of light-coloured, wispy fibres or hair resting on a bed of dark brown, dry, shredded plant material. The fibres are the focal point, contrasting sharply with the darker background. The background material appears to be composed of twigs, stalks, and possibly dried leaves. The overall impression is one of a natural, somewhat decaying, organic setting.

In observation I pondered over why dock leaves are attracted to gather and grow around [not in] manure, perhaps I'll research the internet for an answer to this oddity.

White cottage nestled in a rural landscape. A person is tending to a pile of manure in a garden in front of the house. A small car is parked near the cottage. The background features a hillside covered in trees, and a dramatic sunset with orange and gray clouds fills the sky. The overall scene is peaceful and evokes a feeling of rural tranquillity.

The sunset glow was warming through a dark chill of dusk. I shared the picture above with our friendly neighbours from the farmhouse cottages pictured.

White two-story house in the countryside at twilight. String lights are strung along the exterior of the house. A dark-coloured SUV and a smaller utility vehicle are parked in the driveway. The scene is peaceful and evokes a feeling of rural tranquillity. A farm building is partially visible in the background. The overall mood is calm and slightly melancholic due to the dim light and the late hour.

We've had the farmhouse encircled by lights which have developed during these darkening evenings; but somehow occasionally seem to loose sense of their presence.