(Selkirk)
Where have I been? Everywhere except Selkirk.
Dumfries, Thornhill, Kelso, Duns, Jedburgh, Etal, Berwick on Tweed, Hawick, Coldstream (twice), Melrose – we were in Melrose , right? and Penrith.
I’m not sure why we didn’t do Selkirk, probably just a navigational error.
There was some beautiful scenery, gorgeous blue skies, sub-zero wind chill, hail, horizontal rain, fog, sunscreen and umbrellas – typical weather for the Borders in April. A thatched pub, sorry, the thatched pub, a castle, a steam train, sheep, plumbing, champagne and a birthday cake. I got to sit with lovey wife, in the tiniest pub in Berwick on Tweed and share some beer.
Just in case you’re wondering, the “plumbing”, was an intentional inclusion, not some random feature or flushing incident; although, plumbing in a “honey hut” was a first, even for me.
I should probably now clarify further, that this was water-pipe related repairs, in a real building for the collecting and processing of Bee-related produce, and not some hedonistic euphemism…
I am fortunate to have a lovely wife (I should probably end that sentence right there), for whom “reduce – reuse – recycle” is not just an ideal, but the only acceptable lifestyle choice.
I confess that “empty crisp packets in this bag, yoghurt pots in that one” has never become my automatic reaction. In my defence, I think of myself as a long recycler – if I keep this “thing” for seven years – it will come in handy. It’s quite amazing how often “a good box” or that odd spring handle,* are, in the end, just the thing you need, if you can remember where you put them!
They also come in handy on the fourth “R” – Repair, where I’d like to believe, I redeem my failures on the other three. I take minor (and some major) broken things as a personal challenge. Most disposable plastic widgets can be dismantled, re-jigged. Repairs can often be achieved with duct tape, super glue and a measure of cunning (yes, and bungies and cable ties and WD40…)
They say that problems should be solved (or can only be solved) by those who see them, and in a kind of way, I believe that repairing the broken clocks and pots of the world, rather than buying new ones, is an extension of that idea, but I also feel that there is a kind of obligation – If I have the skill to fix it, I should.
So if your honey hut doesn’t work, give me a call (no, that’s definitely a euphemism!).
Next week on IaDL – wait, another 60th and we’re playing guitar?
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 