November 2024

29th

Do you ever feel emptied? Returning from a religious trip to India, I discovered people arranging life around me, diverting and recycling actualities via the manipulation of fight or flight mechanisms that left me feeling as if I were an opportunity mule.

I've been purchasing books for Amazon (new), eBay (job lot, new and second hand) and at discount bookshops; but finding attention and focus to read them is hard. Yes, I am like one of those Anarchists that Communism Bolshevikism utterly despised, and maybe wrongfully blamed for the historical failures of the feudal system. Running on emptiness, I detest the encroachment of egalitarism and socialism more than the cruel and beligerant authorities that push violating and often spiteful "tee-hee" trepass upon our "humble pie" existence.

I baked Charlie a fruit cake, he enjoys this energy cake at lunch during his work break; I know this recipe off by heart after two years of knowning Charlie.

28th

On the map, Falls of Clyde didn't seem that far, just a few miles North from Biggar. On the way, we stopped for some light lunch at a café in Innerleithen; this small town is a mecca of mountain bike riders, and is seemingly alternative.

This café reminded me of a vegan café I lived at during the year 1996; the café owner knew of the café which was located in Bristol, I think he said he was originally from reading. We walked along the high street, I purchased three sociology books at a discount bookshop. We parked our truck in New Lanark.

And walked a wooden walkway beside the River Clyde, towards the falls.

Quite impressed by the hydro power station.

Huge bolts!

Hearing the falls provoked anticipation.

Darkness had descended upon New Lanark by the time we had returned to our truck.

Returning to Roberton we drove down the M74 rather than use the lengthy A72 through Peebles et al.

23rd

Snow has reached the Scottish Borders, all this whiteness sure looks pretty settled upon Woodburn Farmhouse.

The drive from Ancrum to the farmhouse was slush mush. Passing through Roberton we saw Colin on his quad, presumably on his way to tend to his flock.

The sheep are hungry, time to place the bale into the ring feeder.

Ready to role this bale of hay into the ring feeder.

And straw for their bedding.

Purchased heating oil 3 days before snow came; relieved to see boiler steam again.

Fixed the dash cam whilst Charlie tended to coos. We've had a problem with memory cards irreversibly corrupting.

21st

Charlie came to my house in Acrum after a blood test in Hawick; he appeared sick and rang himself as unfit to work. Later in the afternoon we visited the Waterloo Monument. The Waterloo Monument near Ancrum in the Scottish Borders is a 150-foot tower, built between 1817 and 1824 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.

We drove through a bump track, a fair distance until we reached the foot of the hill. Today Sam the sheep dog is with us; I've been looking after him for the last three days.

I enjoy including Charlie in my blog, other than appearing on these pages, he has nothing other to do with this or any other websites I create. For many years I only blogged about myself because I was isolated alone, due to ongoing issues I also feared for safety of others that could have appeared on my blog.

The walk to the top was brisk, as chilling wind gained momentum. Charlie struggled to grip due to lack of tread on his shoes so I took hold of Sam.

Viewable from the panoramic summit are the Cheviot Hills, Rubis Law hill, Elidon hills and Monteath Mausoleum. We didn't look for Minto and Smailholm towers but sure they are also visible. Landscape of the surrounding area had the appearance of a Hillfort.

There were no usual information signs explaining what this monument represented, and I'm aghast at how long it took for me to visit this place that dominates the landscape.

Today I recieved an ordered book about transactional analysis from Amazon titled "The Games People Play". It's taking time to fill my lovely bookcase with great books. I've been interested in purchasing this book after a staff nurse reccomended it to me, he began reading the book after I described "games" peope were playing on a acute ward where I was an inpatient; he took interest because psychartrists always described my accusations as beliefs, not delusions. Aling mental health, altleast for me, is triggered by environmental factors.

20th

Look at these two books that arrived today, been waiting a while to order these!

I've also purchased a cheap Geiger counter! I'm using this to scan my food, and some antiques.

I am now at odds about attaining radioactive samples (available on eBay) to calibrate my new detector. Tubes inside these detectors are slow measuring a reading (sensitivity needed during motion detection), that is why they are cheap. This detector was £70, they can be purchased from less known manufactures for around £50. For a half decent detector expect to pay between £300 to £500, the very cheap detectors will give you a false reading, notably come as phone attachments et al, they do not work. EMF detectors are somewhat cheaper.

19th

Charlie took me for a drive across the Scottish Borders, today I'm depressed about my eleven year estranged elder brother (only surviving direct family member) taken by a secret society suspected to be co-freemasonry; it was his birthday today, years he's shunned contact, I have not known him to be alive or dead; just renunciated dead toward me it seems.

Returning to Roberton via Borthaugh.

Charlie checked the depth of a ford before we crossed over the River Borthwick. The water was deeper than it appeared but our L200 had no trouble crossing, even had no issue with climbing up a tall verge. I was too anxious to film it!