Category: Experiences | Stories
Stephanie’s News from the Laundry House
Posted by Rupert on February 5, 2009
We had a weekend of dire weather warnings – a freezing wind from Russia would engulf us in the worst snows of the year – and it came to pass.
Gavin and Margo came last Thursday before the icy onslaught began for a very long weekend (only left for Edinburgh today, Tuesday, with me) so they enjoyed the winter whiteness to its full.
Daddy came too with Holly and Angel who scampered in the snow with Jackie when we weren’t busy inside eating delicious meals, playing cards and having hot baths, the dogs lying like furry kippers on the sofas. Spoilt little things.
We also managed to get more cardboard and mulch on a further patch in the kitchen garden before the snow fell so now it’s doing its job squishing itself on the weeds and depriving them of daylight.
On the Saturday the colonel and his niece (the Scotty dogs) came with Tanya, Margo’s mum.
All five dogs went for a walk down the front drive with Gavin and Margo. Unseen, the colonel sneaked under a hole in the fence and gave chase to the sheep. He was well underway when spotted and Gavin in turn gave chase to the monstrously hairy black shape sweeping its way rapidly across the frosty grass. What a nightmare. Gavin, the colonel and the sheep fleeing hither and thither over the vast field. Jackie couldn’t resist giving chase at one point and a sheep cowered on the ground in terror but he stopped as soon as Gavin called him off. But not so the colonel. I hope Gavin will write to you separately about this. I have to admit I didn’t witness it but I saw him as he staggered back to the house, puffing, coughing and
half dead. I don’t believe he has taken so much violent exercise for years.
Did I tell you that things are progressing on the animal husbandry front? We really are going to get some hens although seeing is believing as far as the neighbours are concerned. I’ve visited most of them, after an informal meeting with Tessa and Euan, in an effort to make it a community thing. Anyway Catherine has offered me a henhouse and Phil can get some wire. Now all we need are some fencing posts and of course some hens. I like the idea of rescuing some from the Campbell’s intensive chicken farm and maybe getting some bantams. Any suggestions will be welcome.
I also want to work towards the idea of getting a few wild boar (I know where we can get some at a bargain price) to start churning up the overgrown vegetable garden above Ian’s house. But for the moment I will tread carefully and try to achieve one or two simple things at a time. This will include putting cardboard and mulch in the fruit cage where the black current bushes are.
Now I’m in Edinburgh preparing the house for letting. It’s a depressing task but Gavin has made a list that would shame the most efficient of government departments. It is a list of things to do and an inventory. He has a special programme that no-one else in the world seems to have and if you click on the bold headings you get a further sub-list. For example click on linen. You then see sheets, napkins, towels. Click on towels and you see bath towels, hand towels, soft towels, beach towels. Click on books and you have fiction, non-fiction and children’s. Click on each of these and you get further sub-categories. Then
you get names of helpers and tradesmen who will be summonsed. Click on their names and you will get their list of tasks.
Tomorrow he’s bringing his camera and all will be photographed for posterity and for those who may want various items: books, furniture pictures, ornaments, you name it, it’ll be the list somewhere. I listen and watch bemused, admiringly, hoping it will progress from list to action. In a week or two a sergeant major will arrive from Bucharest who will hopefully whip us all into shape so we can finish off the job and let the place for loads of cash.
5th February 2009
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