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In Memory of James Wolfe Murray

Tribute to James Wolfe Murray, delivered at his funeral in Melrose on 10 June, 2011, by Angus Wolfe Murray.

Stephanie Wolfe Murray in 10 Scenes

The script for the play we put on for my Mother’s 70th birthday party. It looks neat and tidy here but putting it on was chaotic and I’m still ashamed of my unwillingness to cooperate (I can’t stand acting). But thanks to Monica, Alina and my brothers it came off. And this is a neat little summary of Stephanie’s life. RWM

A sad tale of dog and hen

The only way to survive this Heathcliffian landscape and weather is to have a warm and cosy house which is, on the whole, what we have.

A skirmish on the front lawn

Busy, busy, busy here keeping going in this weather. Another arctic spell coming. The gas truck tried to get to our house today but couldn’t make it so I’m panicking because it’s about to run out which will mean no Aga, no hot water (haven’t used hot water for 3 weeks anyway to save on gas) [...]

350: “The Devastating Number”

The title isn’t mine. It’s from an article on the significance of the number 350 to the 6.793 billion humans inhabiting planet Earth on 24 October 2009. I won’t make it easy by posting a link that you will, in all likelihood, ignore. If you’re not the ignoring type, then a) you already know about [...]

Three strays of Bucharest

I watched in astonishment, waiting for more cats to pop up and – why not – snakes and doves and a few curly dogs doing jumps. A car engine turned circus hat.

Diary of a bike

We get to London and I had the exquisite pleasure of being ridden through St Pancras, which has to be the most glamourous and charming station in London.

Galo Desaparecido

One line: We had a rooster, now we don’t. Two lines: A friend decided our four hens needed a rooster, and somehow got us one. It stayed in the coop for half an hour, then fled. We couldn’t catch it, then it was gone. More lines: It was a beautiful rooster, burgundy feathers and a [...]

Holiday in Galicia

Beginning of September: one week of holidays left, after a month in Scotland and a month on the land. We are exhausted, but one week of sleep is too much to ask. A holiday, especially our particular brand (no planning, no destination, pure chaos, something between the frantic and the sublime) sounds so much like [...]

cluck cluck, chirp chirp

It’s hard not to be happy when your life is dominated  by funny dogs, friendly (productive) hens and  beautiful chick maidens. This morning, first thing, I brought in the washing (2 huge bedspreads from St Leonard’s Bank) which had been blown hard all night under the canopy of the massive sycamore tree. I love this [...]

Confessions of a coke addict

Last Christmas I bought myself an 80 megabyte iPod. This was a bit of a cheat considering it cost more than the presents I got for my loved ones, but I bought it through the company and justified it that way. Although iPods look amazing they are a pain in the butt because in order [...]

Meet our neighbours

In the morning, I meet Mrs Cosmovici going down the stairs in her light blue home robe. She holds a tray of mincemeat in one hand, a Kent hanging in the other.