December 2024

7th

Late afternoon we drove through the tail end of Storm Darragh to get to see the sea at St Abbs. Sometimes we go to the see, to gain reflective perspective upon our sincerest emotions, other times because choppy winds crash through states of derealisation.

Dramatic seascape under a stormy sky. Rough waves crash against dark, rocky shoreline. The overall mood is one of wildness and power, with a muted colour palette emphasising the grey sky and churning white water. A sense of isolation is conveyed by the vast expanse of ocean and the rugged, seemingly uninhabited coastline.

Returned to our parked truck for a short trip to Eyemouth.

We enjoyed fish and chips then returned to Roberton.

4th

I was alerted in our village shop to a woman's dog that had become stranded by Alewater. Initally I offered to climb down a verge and grab him, but I was notified the emergency services were on their way, and they came prepared.

High-angle, outdoor shot of three emergency rescue workers in bright yellow and red uniforms searching along the bank of a river. They appear to be searching for something in the undergrowth near the water's edge. A fourth person, possibly a supervisor or another emergency worker, is visible further up the path. The scene suggests a search and rescue operation is underway.

The little dog is holding onto the embankment below the woman dressed in a red jacket.

River scene where three rescue workers in bright yellow and red life vests are wading in a shallow, somewhat murky river. They seem to be engaged in a rescue operation, possibly searching for something or someone. In the background, there are bare winter trees and a few figures in the distance, appearing to be onlookers or additional emergency personnel. The overall mood is serious and slightly tense, indicative of an ongoing emergency situation.

The fire brigade walked quite a long length of river to rescue the dog, I'd of absailed down the grass slope, must quicker and less risky.

Three figures in bright yellow and dark clothing wading through a shallow, flowing river. They appear to be emergency personnel, possibly rescuers or search and rescue team members, given their attire and the context of their activity in the water. The river flows through a natural landscape with leafless trees lining its banks. The overall mood is somewhat somber and suggestive of an ongoing operation or search.

They bought two dingys with them, I didn't know somebody had told them I had planned to go into the river to recuse the dog, an ambulance also came.

Red emergency response vehicle, with its rear doors open, parked on a road next to a low stone wall. A red inflatable boat on a trailer is attached to the back. The scene is rural, with fields and a small village visible in the background. The overall impression is that emergency services are responding to an incident in a rural location.
Fireman standing near a red barrier on a bridge. In the background, an ambulance and another emergency vehicle are visible. The scene seems to be post-incident, possibly at the site of an accident or emergency situation in a rural area. The overall mood is serious and suggests an emergency response is underway.

Half an hour later the woman appeared in Ancrum with her rescued dog which seemed completely unphased by the incident.

1st

Borthwick water has burst and flooded fields. It's the first of the month so wanted to write a blog post, unfortunately Wolfcleuch Waterfall was off limits so took some pictures returning to Woodburn.

Flooded field in a rural landscape. The water is relatively shallow and covers most of the foreground, with patches of brown and dried grasses sticking out of the water. In the background, there are gently rolling hills, sparsely dotted with trees and sheep. The sky is overcast and muted in tone, suggesting a cold, possibly wintry day. The overall impression is one of quiet, subdued stillness and the effects of recent rainfall.
Flooded field in a rural landscape. The water covers much of the foreground, with patches of brown grass visible above the surface. In the background, there are rolling hills, some trees, and a few sheep. The sky is overcast. The overall impression is one of a quiet, somewhat bleak, but also peaceful scene. The flooding suggests recent heavy rainfall.

Whilst I take pictures Charlie plays Magic Kingdom on his mobile phone.

Charlie sitting inside a dark-blue car, partially obscured by rain-streaked windows. He appears to be holding a device, possibly a phone or camera, up to the window. The car is parked beside a rural road, with a dry-stone wall and a wooden gate visible in the background. The sky is overcast. The overall impression is one of quiet observation or documentation of the landscape.

Our new truck is more suitable for farming than our Freelander, although I miss the electric seats, the heated front window screen was also a bonus. We found a smaller waterfall, actually this is my favourite fall in the Borthwick valley.

Dark-blue Mitsubishi L200 Warrior pickup truck parked on a wet road beside a small waterfall cascading down a hillside. A single evergreen tree stands prominently near the waterfall. The overall setting appears to be a remote, sparsely vegetated area, possibly in a mountainous or hilly region. The weather seems overcast.
Small stream flowing through a mossy, wooded area. An old stone bridge is partially visible in the background, and the banks of the stream are covered with fallen leaves and moss-covered trees. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet, natural beauty in a seemingly rural or secluded setting.
Small waterfall cascading down dark rocks, surrounded by lush green moss and vegetation. The water appears relatively clear and the overall setting is tranquil and natural, suggestive of a secluded or remote location. The sky is overcast.

At Craik Forest I didn't realise my lens was smeared, photos are too poor quality to post. Later Charlie cut the fruit cake I baked for him.

Charlie using a knife to cut a slice of a dark fruitcake. The cake is round, sits on a wooden board, and is wrapped in aluminium foil. In the background are various food items, including bread and what appears to be other baked goods and packaging. The setting seems to be a kitchen counter. The overall impression is a domestic scene of cake preparation or serving.

I didn't make a big thing out of baking him the cake, however I was excited to see how the cake looked inside; believing I might have almost perfected it.

Close-up view of a sliced fruitcake. A large portion of the cake is visible, revealing its dense, dark brown texture and numerous dark-coloured fruits embedded throughout. A smaller, separate slice of the same cake is also in the picture. The cake rests on a piece of foil. The overall impression is one of a rich and possibly traditional baked good.
Slice of fruitcake resting on an antique-looking plate with a blue and white floral pattern. The cake is dark brown and densely packed with dried fruits, visible throughout the slice. The focus is sharp, highlighting the texture and ingredients of the cake.
Charlie with somewhat dishevelled light brown hair sitting at a wooden table. He’s wearing a corduroy jacket and a dark blue sweater. He's holding a mug with a yellow butterfly design, drinking from it, and simultaneously holding a piece of bread with yellow spread on it. The background is a vibrant yellow wall with a white radiator. The overall mood is simple and peaceful, suggesting a quiet moment of refreshment and possibly a solitary meal.

Charlie is so patient with me, he enjoys his fruit cake with a slice of butter washed down with a mug of coffee.