Ring Out, Wild Bells

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light;
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Excerpt from ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1849)

Happy Hogmanay all! Anybody have any exciting plans for tonight? I’m set to have my quietest New Year’s EVER! I’m not heading out anywhere, which’ll be the first time since I was a teenager, and neither am I going home to my Scottish mother’s house, which will actually probably end up madder than  any pub or party I’d have been going to anyway. It’ll always does between the crazy (in a good way) relatives and their wacky traditions. Instead I’m sitting in with himself, who’s all dosed up now too, and having a nice relaxing one. I’m rather looking forward to it, actually. Anyway, just wanted to wish you all the best for 2011 and let you know how wonderful it’s been getting to know you all over these past months. Here’s to another great year of blogging!

A Little Late

Hi folks! How’re you all doing this evening? Still enjoying the festivities I hope. Sorry I’ve not been on here sooner to pass on season’s greetings and such things, and I’m even more sorry that I don’t actually have anything nice to share with you today either. I’ve been having a pretty vacant week, you see. I was lucky enough to have a lovely Christmas day, really lovely, but since Monday I’ve been laid up in bed with the winter flu. There seems to be a bit of an epidemic going around here since the thaw- which was pretty insane, I might add. One day last week it was -16C and in a matter of hours the temperature rose to +10C. Madness!

Anyway, I’m not going to complain too much as it’s the first time I’ve had the flu in years so I was kinda due a wee dose. Plus if there’s ever a week you want to be stuck indoors it’s this one- so many new books to read and cheesy films on TV.  It’s not very conducive to blogging though; not only have I been doing absolutely nothing and thus have nothing to chat to you all about, but also I didn’t even have the energy until today to turn my computer on so I’ve no quirky internet finds or links to share. All in all this a pretty pointless post really, except to say hello and to let you know that I haven’t abandoned the blog (heaven forbid!). Well, as I said, hope you all enjoying the rest this holiday week and for any fellow flu-zies out there just remember that a giant mug of hot whiskey and a couple of nurofen be the cure for all evils!*

*Please note that to be highly irresponsible and unsound medical advice, so if you’re probably better just ignoring it. Still, it makes you feel better! 

As If We Needed More Snow

Make your own!

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things,  but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”

 

Heard that quote somewhere the other day but I can’t remember where or who by… I suppose I could just Google it but I’m in the middle of baking attempt #2 and, to be totally honest, couldn’t be bothered. Anyway, I’m just stopping in quickly to share this great wee link for all those fellow procrastinators out there (let’s face it, if you’re reading this blog then you most certainly must have something better to be doing).  It’s a snowflake machine! I found it via the wonderful Black Journal last week and totally forgot about till I sat down for a cup of tea there. Give it a wee go, it’s great fun! I made loads of flakes when I first found it and copied and pasted them into Gimp to make textures and little pictures, like these three. They took about 15 minutes!  Well folks, hope you’re all having a relaxing, peaceful week. I’ll try to be back before Christmas but if not I wish you all the very merriest day!