A Grrr-eat Weekend

It's been a quick weekend. Friday was a belated Xmas trip to the circus with my mum, and then Saturday was a trip to Glasgow to see my cousin before he emigrates to the States.

It was originally Big Sis' who came up with the plan and then I joined in too. Since mum was at mine, I had her stay the night and we hopped aboard the train in the late morning.

We met Big Sis at the station, with Wee Ben in tow. He was immediately pleased to see Missy and gave her his usual shy kisses.

From there it was a quick walk about George Square and then onto another train to my aunts. It was the sort of visit I generally avoid - a gathering in the house were everyone talks over each other, but I was pleased to have made the effort. I went on a dog walk and had a chance to catch up with my cousin properly. 

By the time 5 rolled around, it was time for me to go, so I bailed off and made the journey home myself (big sis and mum were catching the same second train whereas I'm on a different line, and I wanted some space to myself, so it was fine). 

Both cousins walked me to the station for the first train and that was really nice. Missy was much complimented as always, it being the first time they had properly met her as more than an aside on an adventure. Then off I went. 

I knew I'd missed my connecting train pretty much right away. So I took my time getting off the train and got some nice photos of Missy in the station. The train staff were enamoured at her posing and she was much fussed over. And thn it began.

There is a phenomenon I have discovered, in which dogs in general just seem to attract anyone mikdy inebriated in a six mile radius. And Missy is an absolute magnet. Our quick walk to kill time took ages as she stopped and allowed herself to be petted at almost every traffic light and bar.

It got no better on the train, and I found myself making polite small talk to several strangers, all wanting to share dog stories (and ask about my cross stitch, which I hadnt really thought about as an unusual hobby to see out and about these days - my sisters wild knitting has clearly made me immune to the oddness of crafting on the go!).

Then it was home, tea and a bath. Well deserved! 

Today was helping a friend move house. Always an exciting moment, and she kindly treated us to lunch for all the help. I'm really looking forward to seeing how she makes it a home. 

And that's it! The weekend is gone. I got some quick embroidery advice whilst at my friend's and have started the long process of embroidering thistles on my aunts dress for my cousins American wedding. 

One down, 27 to go... 

Keeping Christmas on the Rails

I think, maybe (possibly, hopefully) Missy is starting to cotton on to the whole Christmas thing. We decided not to do a tree this year (the below photo shows the extent of our festive decor) and Missy has been in generally better spirits than in Christmases past; certainly, I haven't had the panicked "omg, your home - you left forever ago!" that I was getting last year, which usually resulted in Missy running and jumping on me whilst trying to pirouette into a cuddle before slowly sliding to the floor to lie there, wagging tail between legs, on her back and whine crying. A phenomenon that only started when the tree went up and ceased when it went down again and, despite how funny the picture sounds, both hubby and I found very distressing. 

The correlation has been proven, no tree, no hyper anxiety, so that's us, no tree anymore. 

Missy got an early Christmas present after staring out her stocking for 20 minutes, and we spent the day doing the rounds. A dog walk with my brother (and of course Maisie in a wonderful Xmas bandana) and mum, and then a visit to the BIL who is doing well considering the year he's had. We then had the evening to ourselves and, after dinner, the three of us all cosied up on the sofa with a Christmas film and munchies. A good day.

I've said before that hubby works retail, so I had a few quiet days post Christmas to get the place back in order whilst he worked. I'd noticed online that the Bo'ness and Kinneil railway were doing a Diesel Gala Day the Saturday and decided that it would be a good way to get out and about again and burn off some of those Christmas chocolates.

Having a season ticket meant I could get one return ride as it was a special event day and I knew I wanted to have a shot on the DMU from the 50s. For those who aren't train nerds (and I certainly wasn't one until I got me annual pass!) a DMU is a diesel multiple unit, basically engine and carriage are one and the same. The one at bo'ness is so old and decrepit that it took the same time to run half of the line and back as the other trains take to do the whole thing. I had missed it at the 50s day in August, so was keen to try again.

My mum came along for the ride (no pun intended) and it was a good distraction from the news of last week when we lost my uncle. It was one of those funny days where everyone seems to want to know what breed of dog Missy is. I think those are the days my mum likes best, she loves talking to random strangers and Missy has raised through the ranks to be her favourite grand-doggy-daughter, so she loves talking about her too.

We had people in the cafe chat to us, and then two separate couples on the train ride itself as well as on the platform. Missy was in full tart mode, cuddling up to the legs of the people we were sat beside and demanding, via nose-nudging, for more pets. The return journey say us with a father and young son (5 yo). The boy was nervous but the father, who told us all about the rotties he used to keep, was quite keen for us to sit with them. Letting the kid give Missy some treats soon cemented that friendship and they were having photos taken together by the end of the ride.

A successful ride! 

We did the harbour walk afterwards and then it was home for homemade steak and ale pie before my mum left as we were losing light. The winter days are certainly too short.

I've been working away on the sewing machine, but this quilt was the last of my Christmas present makes. It's new owner (BILs girlfriend) was very pleased to receive it and I don't think will be parted from it anytime soon! She loves cuddling on the sofa in a duvet almost as much as Harry Potter, so this Hogwarts house themed quilt was a sure win.

We've always done Christmas for family and New Year for friends, so I'm looking forward to next week and will need to have a think in new year resolutions. Missy, after doing so well, broke her no vet visits resolution a few times this month, so I think we need to lower the bar for her! 

I look forward to writing again in the next decade! I'm looking forward to the 20s - I have grand plans for holidays over the next few years, and in a smaller time scale, some fabulous sewing projects (although part of me wants to get some vintage sewing patterns and really embrace the decade).

Until then! Have a wonderful New Year.