December 2024

31st

Always calming to watch Charlie feed the flock.

Charlie inside a barn, feeding a flock of sheep. The barn is dimly lit and appears to be a temporary structure, possibly a covered area for winter. Charlie is holding a bag of feed, and the sheep are gathered around him, eating hay. The overall mood is peaceful and rustic.

Borthwick water flooding.

Nighttime view from inside a vehicle driving down a long, straight dirt road. The road is bordered by a wire fence with wooden posts, and the surrounding area appears to be flooded or very wet, with vegetation visible along the roadside. The only light source is the vehicle's headlights, which illuminate the road ahead and create a sense of depth and isolation. The dark sky and lack of other artificial light contribute to a somewhat ominous or lonely atmosphere.

We had planned to spend Hogmanay at a local event, but social anxiety changed my mind.

30th

Allergic to my Apple Watch series 10; purchased to motivate me into exercise.

Close-up view of Leonie's forearm, resting on a dark brown wooden surface. There is a noticeable, slightly raised, reddish mark or rash in a roughly circular shape on the inner forearm. Part of a dark purple or burgundy sleeve is visible at the edge of the frame. A portion of a dark-coloured object, possibly a piece of electronics, is also visible in the bottom right corner. The overall impression is one of a possibly medical issue or skin irritation.

They'd written nickel content in the £400 watch as negligible; however, ho-hum.

29th

A visit to Leaderfoot Viaduct. A portion of the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was filmed at the viaduct, although the scene was said to be located in Switzerland.

A long, red brick viaduct spanning a river. The viaduct has many arches and runs horizontally across most of the image. It's situated in a landscape of gently sloping grassland, with trees visible in the background, on a partly cloudy, dusk-like sky. The overall impression is one of serene, quiet grandeur.

These pictures are of low quality, the light was poor as the sun had already set some time ago.

Panoramic view of a large brick viaduct curving gently across the landscape. The viaduct is composed of numerous arches, and it spans a river. The time of day is twilight; the sky is a mix of blue and pinkish hues, indicating either dawn or dusk. Grassy hills and a line of trees are visible in the foreground and background, respectively. The overall impression is one of tranquil beauty and a sense of scale, highlighting the impressive engineering of the viaduct against the serene natural setting.

I get tired of looking at empty pictures; a distraught life eerily empty, we're a dispossession.

Low-angle view of a large stone viaduct against a twilight sky. The viaduct is composed of several tall, arched structures, and appears to be made of dark reddish-brown stone. The sky is a mix of blue and clouds, suggesting dusk. The foreground shows a gently sloping grassy hill. The overall impression is one of grandeur and a sense of scale, emphasizing the height and length of the structure.
Standing on a gravel path, gazing upwards at a large brick viaduct against a twilight sky. The viaduct's imposing structure dominates the frame, with its arches creating a strong visual element. The soft, pastel colours of the sky at dusk add a serene and contemplative mood to the scene. A smaller bridge is visible in the distance across a river. The overall impression is one of scale, solitude, and the beauty of a natural and man-made landscape merging.
Low-angle view of a long, red-brick viaduct against a twilight sky. The viaduct consists of multiple tall, arched structures, and extends into the distance. A body of water and some trees are visible in the background. The overall impression is one of age, grandeur, and perhaps a sense of quiet solitude.

Charlie was interested, perhaps in awe, over the eighteenth century engineering fête.

Low-angle view of a large brick viaduct stretching across the frame under a twilight sky. A single person stands on a path leading away from the viaduct, providing a sense of scale. In the distance, a smaller bridge is visible over a body of water. The overall mood is serene and somewhat melancholic, with the soft colors of the twilight sky contrasting with the imposing structure of the viaduct.

There is a Roman fort nearby, named the trimontium, however the access gate was being locked as we arrived. Earlier we had observed sundown at Walter Scotts viewpoint.

27th

Ancrums Christmas Tree.

Christmas tree adorned with white fairy lights, standing in a grassy area at night. The tree is the central focus, illuminated against a dark blue night sky. In the background, there are dimly lit buildings and trees, suggesting a quiet, possibly residential setting. The overall mood is peaceful and festive.

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter,
wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

Best one in the Borders.

26th

We approached Lindisfarne at 2pm, about an hour after the tide had receded from the road in. Charlie stopped enabling me to photograph our approach, however I was we had not, as I attained a tick bite amongst the long grasses.

Dark-coloured pickup truck parked on a roadside next to two large concrete blocks shaped like oversized Lego bricks. The truck's doors are open, and a person can be partially seen inside.

We only had two hours of daylight left.

Wide, flat expanse of marshland under a vast, mostly clear, blue sky filled with thin, wispy clouds. The foreground consists of brown, dry grasses, punctuated by small, shallow pools of water reflecting the sky. The background reveals a similar flat landscape extending to the horizon. The overall impression is one of stillness and wide-open space, typical of coastal marshland.

Halfway to the Isle we stopped again to take a picture, other cars immediately parked next to our truck, out jumped Italians taking dozens of pictures before we exited our truck! The £6 tariff infuriated me; to the point where I much preferred a confrontation than paying for a display ticket. If you visit, do check the tidal times first!

After purchasing a bottle of mead, we walked to the estuary where a sunset fell upon our faces, previously visiting we walked east, this evening we walked west.

We also caught the sun-setting over the abbey.

We enjoyed a beer at the Anchor and Crown before taking one last photograph as we departed from the Isle.

This is truly an awesome place to visit.

25th

We had a quiet Christmas, just me and Charlie.

Charlie lost the pull of all the crackers, how is that possible.

17th

Pies purchased in shops are suspect, so I hand make my own pies.

I usually decorate them with pastry cutout tractors puffing smoke clouds.

16th

The most unfriendly town I've resided in, 18 months of near complete ignorance.

Entered into John Lamont's office to enquire about the Acrum bridge that has been damaged by an increase in road traffic; the bridge wasn't built for today's transport.

15th

At dusk we arrived at Talla.

Earlier we visted Gray mares tail waterfall.

St Mary's Loch.

Tis a very beautiful place, if I was not here but there.

14th

Santa came to pass by my house today, looks like a Rotary club to do.

I believe this is something to do witht the Water Rescue Fire bridge.

8th

One gimmer and whether escaped their appointment with the slaughterhouse and rejoined the flock. The lambs were in holding, but their appointment never came, so we returned them to Woodburn, bewildered, they seemed happy to be reunited with the herd.

After Charlie ushered them into an enclosure, I opened the gate, he carried the two lambs into the pickup one by one.

Our three tups were also reintroduced to the herd, we waited an extra two weeks so as to avoid cuckoo lambs.

Sam the sheep dog was frustrated, as an emotional manipulator he wants to be part of EVERYTHING.

Enough of the animal hoo haw, in ye go!

I don't record as much of my life as I used to, because the same things roll over and over into different permutation.