June 2025

I won't be taking any photos next month or the month after, so no new diary entires (July to August 25).

30th

These sweet peas

Vibrant display of sweet peas cascading down a brick wall. The flowers are a mix of colours, including various shades of pink, red, and white, creating a colourful and lush scene. The sweet peas are growing abundantly, spilling over the wall and down the steps. The background includes a portion of a fence, some greenery, and a glimpse of a house, suggesting a garden setting.
Cluster of sweet pea flowers in various shades of pink, purple, and white. The flowers are in full bloom, and their delicate petals are clearly visible. The background is blurred, but it appears to be a garden setting with a light-coloured building visible in the distance. The overall impression is one of vibrant colour and natural beauty.
Vibrant, deep pink sweet pea flowers in full bloom. The flowers are the focal point, sharply in focus against a softly blurred background of green foliage and a partially visible white railing or staircase. Other sweet pea flowers of different colours (including white and purple) are visible in the background, adding depth and colour variety to the scene.

have blossomed.

22nd

To take in the beautiful scenery and sample coffee and cake at the Glen Cafe, Charlie and I took a car trip to St. Mary's Loch.

Tranquil scene of a reservoir nestled within a verdant landscape under a brooding, overcast sky. A low stone wall runs along the right, bordering a grassy verge and a paved road. In the middle ground, a small structure, likely a water control mechanism, sits at the edge of the water. The far shore is lined with dark green trees, creating a serene, if somewhat somber, atmosphere.

Café was busy, but after ordering the table area cleared of customers so we seated ourselves at an empty table.

Interior of a cafe or restaurant. Several people are seated at tables, eating and talking. The decor is bright and cheerful, with sunflower decorations hanging from the ceiling. The floor is light brown wood. A counter with a display case is visible at the far end of the room, suggesting a food service area.
Rainy scene at a lakeside parking area. A maroon SUV is parked next to a picnic table. Two motorcyclists in rain gear are standing near their bikes, which are parked next to the SUV. A dark-coloured car is partially visible in the background. Rolling green hills and a lake are visible in the background. The rain is heavy enough to be seen on the camera lens. The overall mood is sombre and slightly melancholic, due to the weather and the somewhat deserted setting.
View from the inside of a car driving on a wet, winding road. Rain is visible on the windshield, and green hillsides flank the road. Another car is visible in the distance. A phone is mounted on the dashboard. The overall mood is one of journey and possibly slightly melancholic due to the weather.
Vintage loom in a workshop, possibly a tartan weaving mill. The loom is predominantly green and features a collection of colourful bobbins. A partially draped kilt and a mannequin dressed in a white shirt and kilt are displayed in front of the loom, suggesting the production and display of the finished product. Framed photos or documents are also visible on the floor, likely showcasing the workshop's history or product. The overall scene conveys a sense of traditional craftsmanship and textile production.
Large, antique-looking green loom, prominently featured in the centre. A partially completed tartan fabric is visible on the loom, its dark green and black pattern clearly displayed. Next to the loom, a mannequin is dressed in a matching tartan kilt, sporran, and white shirt, serving as a display of the finished product.
Flat-screen television displaying a video of a man operating a traditional loom, weaving plaid fabric. The video appears to be of older recording quality. The man is wearing hearing protection and is focused on his work. The overall scene depicts a process of traditional textile manufacturing.

After driving into Moffat, we went to the Coop to shop for groceries before visiting the Moffat Mill, we've been watching a short film about the looms there.

19th

My last debt was paid off this morning, so I'm debt-free. My credit report might not be updated for six weeks.

18th

My blood oxygen level fell to 92% on Saturday afternoon, but I believe my Apple Watch is giving me a false reading. After using a grass trimmer for a few days, my body is swollen from touching grass clippings. After work, Charlie picked me up, and we drove to Roxburgh Viaduct in the evening.

There are many light pink flowers on this dense bush, which may be a wild rose (Rosa) species. The bush is immersed in a lush green canopy, which implies a natural, potentially wild, setting. Overall, one gets a sense of the beauty of wild nature and the abundance of nature.
There is a grassy path going down the middle of a stone viaduct. On both sides of the path are low stone walls and tall grass. A flat, verdant landscape can be seen in the distance beneath a cloudy sky. On the whole, it looks like a peaceful and quiet place in the country.
High-angle, long shot of a tranquil river meandering through a lush green landscape under a cloudy sky. On one bank, there's a golf course visible with residential buildings in the background. The other side features a sprawling field of crops. A small, unpaved path runs alongside the river.
High-angle, long shot of a river meandering through a rural landscape. To one side of the river is a large, tilled field, and on the other lush green banks with trees. A narrow path runs alongside the river, separating the field from the riverbank. In the distance, a small village or collection of houses is visible. The sky is overcast, giving the scene a somewhat muted but peaceful atmosphere.
Charlie with his back to the camera, standing on a low stone wall and looking out at a small town nestled amongst green hills under a gray, overcast sky. He is wearing a red and black plaid shirt and dark pants. The overall mood is contemplative or perhaps slightly melancholic, enhanced by the muted colours and cloudy sky.
Modern pedestrian bridge extending from the viewer's perspective towards a large, old stone viaduct. The bridge has a dark brown wooden deck and green metal railings. The viaduct arches over a calm body of water and lush green landscape. The sky is overcast. The overall impression is one of peaceful serenity and the contrast between old and new architecture.
Modern green metal pedestrian bridge attached to a large, old stone viaduct. The viaduct is made of large, uneven blocks of grey and brown stone. The bridge leads across the top of the viaduct and over a dark river or canal. Lush green vegetation borders the waterway. The sky is overcast, suggesting a cloudy or somewhat gloomy day. The perspective of the image is from the bridge looking towards the viaduct and river.
Dark brown wooden park bench almost completely overgrown with various types of weeds and grasses. The bench is nestled within a dense thicket of vegetation, suggesting neglect or abandonment. The overall impression is one of quiet solitude and the encroachment of nature.
Tall foxglove flower with many white bell-shaped blossoms, set against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and a stone wall. The focus is on the flower, which is in sharp detail, while the background is slightly blurred. The overall mood is serene yet somewhat melancholic due to the overcast sky.
Single stalk of pink foxglove flowers growing against a backdrop of a moss-covered stone wall. The contrast between the delicate, vibrant flowers and the rough texture of the ancient stones is striking. The focus is sharply on the flowers, blurring the background slightly to emphasise this contrast.
Long stone viaduct in the background, stretching across the width of the image. The viaduct is situated behind a line of trees and a large, dark brown, tilled field that dominates most of the foreground. The sky is overcast and gray. The overall impression is one of quiet, rural landscape under a sombre sky.

Strolled along a viaduct and a disused railway track, then crossed a footpath bridge and followed the River Teviot path into Roxburgh village. While entering my residence in Ancrum, two female residents snubbed me as they passed by. Despite this, I did not try to acknowledge them. Some residents in Ancrum engage in anti-social sadism by returning to the act of snubbing.

17th

Doubled the resources of my host via transferring 6.5GB of data (size of this website) to a new VPS; rebuilding this server from scratch with only a few minutes of downtime whilst DNS resolved. Closed down my iCloud, not wanting Apple to have access to every photograph I take on my iPhone.

Panoramic view of a partly ruined red brick castle standing in a grassy field under a dramatic, cloudy sky. The castle is the central focus, with the field extending to the horizon where rolling hills are visible. The sky is a mix of dark, brooding clouds and lighter areas suggesting a break in the weather. A person's shadow is cast onto the grass in the foreground. The overall scene evokes a feeling of history and possibly impending weather change.
Panoramic view of the ruins of a stone castle set in a grassy field under a dramatic, cloudy sky. Charlie is standing near the ruins, providing a sense of scale. The remains of the castle are partially intact, with some walls still standing, while others are crumbled. The surrounding landscape is relatively flat, with some low-lying vegetation and a few trees.
Ruins of a stone tower, possibly a castle or keep, set against a dramatic, cloudy sky. The structure is made of reddish-brown stone and is partially collapsed, with visible gaps and missing sections of wall. The surrounding landscape is green pasture. The overall mood is somewhat melancholic and evokes a sense of history and the passage of time.
Charlie standing in front of the ruins of a stone castle. Two informational signs about the St. Cuthbert's Way are visible next to him. The setting appears to be a grassy field with a wooden fence. The overall mood is peaceful and historical.

After fixing the filament inside Woodburn Farmhouse's boiler, Charlie took me for an evening drive to Cessford Castle. Within the castle grounds a mixed bag of sheep grazed, Suffolks, Cheviots etc, I could not help notice them for stepping over sheep poo. Walkers wearing backpacks arrived from St Cuthberts way.

15th

Returned to the Farmhouse, mowed the front garden, then pulled a wheelbarrow of rhubarb.

Leonie standing behind a pink wheelbarrow filled to the brim with freshly harvested rhubarb stalks. She's wearing a red and white patterned dress and a knitted hat. The setting appears to be a rural area, possibly a garden or farm, with a stone wall and some greenery in the background. The overall impression is one of a successful harvest and simple rural life.
Pink wheelbarrow filled with freshly harvested rhubarb stalks sits on a paved surface next to a grassy area. The rhubarb is predominantly green and red, showing varying degrees of ripeness.

Our potato crop is on the verge of blossoming.

Thriving potato patch in a raised garden bed. The potato plants are lush and green, showing healthy growth. The bed is bordered with wooden planks, and in the background, there's a stone wall and a section of a grey tarp, possibly a makeshift shelter. The overall impression is one of a productive and well-maintained small-scale farm or garden.

Peas.

Lush, overgrown pea plant in a garden. The pea plants are supported by a rustic framework of wooden stakes and chicken wire. The plants are thriving and appear healthy, with many leaves and some pea pods visible. The background includes a partially visible building and a section of wooden fencing. A dark grey tarp is also partially visible in the upper left corner of the image. The overall impression is one of abundant growth in a possibly small-scale, home garden setting.

Swede.

Two rows of thriving green leafy plants growing in a small garden bed. The bed is bordered by chicken wire fencing and is nestled against a stone wall. The soil is dark and loose, and some small weeds are visible between the cultivated plants. The overall impression is one of a productive, though somewhat untamed, small-scale garden.

Charlie built a fence along the sheep holding area, this is the first evening our weaned lambs have been out of their poly tunnel.

14th

This is the reason I convinced Charlie to acquire a work vehicle.

Back of Charlie's car, specifically the rear seats and cargo area. The seats and floor are covered in a significant amount of hay or straw. A yellow bag, possibly containing feed or fertilizer, is visible in the cargo area along with other items, which appear to be some kind of work boots and a hi-vis jacket. The car appears to be used for transporting materials related to agricultural or landscaping work. The overall impression is one of a vehicle used for practical, possibly rural, purposes.

Described as a mobile barn, it was covered in smears of animal feces, hay, straw, and chaff.

Charlie wearing glasses, he is smiling and sitting in the driver's seat of a car. He's wearing a light gray and white plaid shirt and blue jeans. It's raining outside, visible through the car windows.
Selfie taken by Leonie inside a car. She's wearing a green knit hat and a red floral dress. Her expression is somewhat quizzical or amused. Through the rain-streaked car window, we see two men working on a car attached to a small trailer outside a house. The overall impression is of a casual snapshot, possibly capturing a moment of waiting or observation.

He kindly gave me a lift to the Coop in Jedburgh; I'm not going to the Ancrum Village Fete because Ancrum is a phobic village.

Charlie with glasses driving a blue Mini Cooper convertible. He is pointing out a gate in a hedgerow beside a country road. He appears to be taking in the scenery, perhaps pointing out a point of interest along his journey. The overall impression is one of a pleasant, rural drive.
Picturesque landscape, dominated by a vast expanse of rolling green hills and a dark, cloudy sky. A low stone wall runs across the foreground, partially obscured by tall grasses. In the foreground, a vibrant purple foxglove stands out against the muted tones of the landscape. In the mid-ground, a verdant forest stretches across the horizon. A distant hill, possibly volcanic in appearance, is visible in the background. The overall mood is serene yet somewhat dramatic due to the looming clouds.
Gravel path winding through a lush green forest. A wooden post with a yellow arrow and the letters WA painted on it marks the trail. The path is flanked by dense vegetation, including flowering plants, and a low stone wall is visible on the right. The overall impression is one of a quiet, secluded woodland track.
Close-up view of a vibrant purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in full bloom. The flower stalk is tall and slender, densely packed with numerous bell-shaped blossoms, each exhibiting delicate water droplets, suggesting recent rain. The background is blurred but depicts a lush green woodland setting with trees and what looks like a river or stream in the distance.
Close-up of a single, delicate, light pink wild rose blossom with its intricate stamens clearly visible. The rose is attached to a branch with vibrant green leaves, many of which show water droplets, suggesting a recent rain. The background is softly blurred, showcasing a lush green forest setting. Another rose bud is visible in the out-of-focus background.
Two foxglove plants growing side-by-side in a natural, slightly overgrown setting. One foxglove has white flowers, covered in raindrops, while the other has vibrant purple flowers. The background is blurred, focusing attention on the contrasting blossoms.
Tranquil river scene under a cloudy sky. Four tall, slender trees stand in a row along the riverbank, their reflections slightly visible in the dark, somewhat muddy water. The far bank is lined with lush greenery, continuing the peaceful, natural mood.

Charlie took me out for a drive, and after stopping in Earlstone to buy some sugary biscuits, we strolled along the Tweed River.

13th

Year one of my first garden, wow!

Stone statue of a woman, possibly a nymph or goddess, standing in the midst of a vibrant flower bed. The flowers include various shades of pink, red, and purple, creating a colourful and textured scene. The garden is situated along a residential street, with a portion of a house and a parked car visible in the background. The overall impression is one of peaceful beauty and careful gardening.

Ok, this photograph was taken at dusk, so the quality is not that great.⁣

12th

Charlie doesn't have to work this morning, and I like having him here with me. Charlie, a farmworker, is busy this time of year producing silage, but since we need the money, it's okay with us.

11th

Achieved significant coverage by spraying herbicide yesterday; nearly all dock leafs, thistles, and nettles on the paddock are dying or dead.

Grassy hillside with a significant amount of broad leaf weeds, possibly dock or sorrel, scattered across the ground. The weeds appear dying or nead, as they are lying on the ground. The scene is bathed in sunlight, suggesting a daytime setting. A portion of a stone wall is visible in the upper right corner, indicating a rural or agricultural setting.
Grassy field with several patches of dead and dying weeds suggesting intentional clearing, possibly for gardening or agricultural purposes. In the background, there is a stone wall and a small cart.
Gently sloping grassy field under a clear blue sky. A simple wire fence runs across the top of the field, and a broken-down wooden gate or fence post is visible near the enter. In the distance, rolling hills covered with trees are visible under the clear sky.
Patch of dark, possibly tilled earth in a vibrant green pasture. A dry-stone wall and a small flock of sheep are visible in the background on a gently sloping hill under a clear blue sky.
Gently sloping green pasture, bordered by a low stone wall. In the background, nestled amongst a stand of dark green trees, sits a small, whitewashed cottage.

This area of land (and barn) has been neglected since it was taken from Charlie; an abundance of dock leaves appears to be emerging from this location.

Long, weathered, grey barn with a corrugated metal roof, partially overgrown with vegetation. The barn is situated in a rural setting against a backdrop of rolling hills under a clear blue sky. A wire fence runs alongside the barn and into the foreground of the image.

These thistles were allowed to go to seed last year.

Verdant landscape, divided into three distinct sections. The top section features a dense line of lush, green trees forming a natural hedge or wall. Below this, a slightly shorter, less dense area of vegetation fills the middle section, possibly a field of young saplings or shrubs. The bottom is composed of a short-cropped, bright green grassy field, extending to the bottom edge of the frame. Two yellow diagonal poles are partially visible in the bottom left corner, suggesting a possible fence or barrier.

Our sheep are not well-received by our neighbour in Woodburn, who is reportedly constructing a barn conversion with multiple bedrooms for her grandparents.

Rural construction site. A stone building is under renovation or extension, with wooden roof trusses visible. Scaffolding surrounds the building. Two vans and a pickup truck are parked nearby. The site is located in a green, hilly area with abundant trees and vegetation. A temporary metal fence is also visible near a pile of building materials.
Middle-aged woman with greying hair pulled back in a ponytail. She's wearing glasses, a blue t-shirt, and a bracelet. She has a happy expression and is holding a cell phone to her ear and a travel mug under her arm. The background is blurred but shows green leafy foliage suggesting an outdoor setting possibly near some sort of vehicle. The overall impression is a casual snapshot of a woman making a phone call outdoors.

She acquired the stone barn; the planning application was approved without any opposition. Subsequently, she acquired the wooden barn and the land from Charlie by purchasing them from his landlord.

Two-story farmhouse with a slate roof. Nearby are older barns, some in apparent disrepair, and newer construction is visible, suggesting ongoing building or renovation projects. Farm equipment is scattered around the buildings. The scene is set in a green, rolling pasture with trees in the background. A dry stone wall runs diagonally across the lower right of the image.

Land allocated for an access drive.

Rural scene, likely in the countryside, on a sunny day. The main focus is a grassy area, partially fenced, with a weathered stone barn on the right and a larger, whitewashed stone house on the left. The lawn shows evidence of gardening or agricultural activity.

Charlie's landlord did not factor in emergency access to Woodburn Farm's septic tank, so now plans to take more land away to allow an access drive, further squeezing Woodburn farmhouse against the hillside. Charlie built the black poly tunnel to lamb his sheep, but the next neighbour along (another developer) complained about “run off” from the poly tunnel.

Many individuals have made comments to me regarding the unsightly appearance of his residence in Borthwick Valley; it was not permitted to be elevated beyond one floor. He became upset that he would not be able to have the largest house in Woodburn; he also owns a large field where he runs his noisy dogs. There are many examples of developers destroying farms, and Woodburn is no different.

Not everybody who comes to Woodburn ruins our farmhouse, House Martins build nests, we also have bats, badgers, and rabbits that once thrived in the stone barn next door. Other developers have not encroached upon Charlies farmhouse, as two log cabins have also been built within Woodburn without visual and crowding effect on residents already here.

10th

I'm currently at the farmhouse, coding this website and applying herbicide to the dock leaves after downloading and deleting 13,000 photos from my iCloud account.

Flock of sheep walking along a grassy path, seemingly being herded. The path leads from a field towards a line of trees and a fence. The sheep are predominantly white with varying shades of gray and some have patches of what appears to be colored marking. They are fluffy and appear to be rather docile. The overall feeling is one of rural peacefulness and the natural rhythm of farm life.

After spot spraying the 0.4 hectare paddock at Woodburn Farmhouse, I accompanied Charlie to the grass keep to conduct a welfare check on our teg flock. Half of the flock still require shearing.

Charlie chopping wood with a chainsaw next to an old, rusty red tractor. There are various farm implements and containers nearby, suggesting a rural, farm setting. The overall mood is one of work and rustic simplicity. The sunlit scene highlights the contrast between the man's activity and the weathered equipment, conveying a sense of everyday life in a rural environment.

In the evening, Charlie cut logs for our fire with the chainsaw and axe while I made cottage pie for dinner. Our days are constantly filled with tasks.⁣

9th

Forty percent of the fragile flowers at my house in Ancrum have fallen from their stems after my neighbour was caught on CCTV lifting and dropping a heavy pot onto her paving slabs close to my flower garden, causing vibrations that damaged the plants.

ground covered in fallen purple flower petals. These petals are scattered amongst small rocks and soil. Nearby are some green plants, including what appears to be a sage plant and some pink dianthus flowers. The overall impression is one of a garden scene after a bloom.

Paranoid eavesdropping neighbour opposite, and spiteful neighbour that traumatises petals from delicate flowers to the left of me. Maybe we're all unwell, but damaging my garden and installing a special microphone to listen in on my conversations is damaging, but a mere drop in a turbulent ocean of malicious abuses inflicted upon life sanctities.

Dark brown soil, scattered with small grey and brown stones. Many fallen, bright pink petals and small sprigs of a plant with similar pink flowers are strewn across the ground. A few intact pink flowers and some green plants are visible, suggesting the fallen petals are from a nearby plant. The overall impression is one of a garden bed after a light wind or storm.

I will turn my CCTV on Mrs. Nelson and upload the footage to this website if she repeats this action. I am tired of tolerating the malcontent of others, and I no longer wonder why her visiting daughters keep her antics at a distance. Mrs. Nelson is destructive and selfish.

8th

Just two weeks have passed since we last weeded our kitchen garden, and it has already overgrown. The leeks have flowered, and Cinnabar Moth caterpillars have started eating our cabbages that didn't make it. We have broccoli and onions, but parsnips and other vegetables have not shown up. However, potatoes, swede, and peas are thriving.

Close-up of an unripe bulb of a plant, possibly an onion or garlic, in the foreground. The background is blurred but shows Charlie bent over tending to plants in a field, suggesting a scene of agricultural work. The overall mood is one of quiet labour in a natural setting.
Several small, black and yellow caterpillars nestled within the folds of a large, green cabbage leaf. The leaf shows significant damage from the caterpillars' feeding, with numerous holes and ragged edges. The overall impression is one of a close-up view of a pest infestation on a cabbage plant.
Raised garden bed filled with lush, green potato plants. The plants are thriving, indicating healthy growth. The bed is edged with wood, and the surrounding area is mulched with grass clippings. In the background, there's a large black plastic tarp, possibly a makeshift shelter, and a stone wall with sheep visible in the distance, suggesting a rural or agricultural setting. The overall impression is one of a well-maintained, productive garden plot.
Overgrown, fenced-in garden plot situated next to an old, weathered barn. The plot is filled with a mix of weeds and some sparse, possibly struggling, plants. The overall impression is one of neglect or a garden in need of significant tending. There is a rusty metal container visible within the plot, adding to the sense of disrepair. The setting appears rural and somewhat secluded.

We began weaning some lambs we still have from this year's lambing; the mother ewes and one tup are being taken to grass keep. It will be noisy all night because lambs are crying for their mothers. That's farm life, right?

Charlie in work overalls standing in a grassy field, looking towards a white farmhouse in the background. The setting appears rural, with rolling green hills and scattered sheep visible in the distance. A dark-coloured car and a trailer are parked near the house. The sky is partly cloudy. The overall impression is one of rural tranquillity and possibly a sense of contemplation or observation by Charlie.

We have taken the pickup off-road, registered as SORN, the truck is taxed until November but won't be until March 26 when we have enough money to make repairs. We purchased this Nissan Almeria as a workhorse, to tow our livestock trailer and transport grain, hay and small square bales of straw.

Charlie smiling whilat sitting in the driver's seat of a dark green Nissan Almeria. He's parked on a gravel driveway in front of a stone building in a rural setting with green hills in the background. The car is towing a small, wooden trailer. Another vehicle is parked further up the driveway.

We're trying to clear the paddock of sheep, allowing me to proceed spraying dock leafs with herbicide; however, one Dorset ewe is refusing to come down.

7th

Today we visited Berwick on Tweed.

Close-up view of a weathered, cylindrical glass lamp fixture containing a glowing green light bulb. The lamp is affixed to a stone structure overlooking a body of water, possibly a river or sea, with a distant shoreline visible under a cloudy sky. The overall mood is somewhat melancholic or atmospheric, due to the muted colours and the slightly ominous weather.

We walked toward a Lighthouse along the Pier.

Panoramic view of a lighthouse situated on a concrete pier overlooking a calm body of water. The sky is overcast with a mix of grey and white clouds. A person is visible in the lower right corner, seemingly observing the scene. The lighthouse is predominantly white with a red base, and the pier features a textured concrete wall.

At the start of the Pier, I could smell sewage.

Coastal scene at low tide. The foreground is dominated by exposed mudflats and seaweed, interspersed with patches of sand. In the midground, a calm body of water stretches to the horizon, where a line of buildings or a small town is visible under a cloudy sky. A stone wall or barrier is partially visible in the lower left corner.

However, I was unable to resist the overwhelming sense of openness.