Virus times continue

 

Life seems very busy, though when I look back at the last few days I don't seem to have achieved a lot. 

On Sunday we went out for lunch with Daughter 1 and family, which was very nice. This is allowed - in a restaurant - so we went to Swanston Brasserie and had a walk on the hillside afterwards. Why we're allowed to do this and not to have them in our house is a bit mysterious, but the Brasserie feels reasonably safe - quite spaced-out with lots of hand sanitiser and the staff all wear masks. 

Then the children came back here and did this. It's so lovely that we're allowed to have them in our house, even though, as above, somewhat illogical (and maybe a bit ill-advised, if you think about it too hard). 

Yesterday we went down to check Daughter 2's Edinburgh flat (still no buyers, alas) and then had a walk round the Botanics, which is decked out for the light show that started yesterday. Daughter 1 and I are going with the children on Saturday, at least I hope we are - Big Grandson was somewhat vomitty today, poor lamb. 

It was beautiful weather. But look at the long shadows - it was nearly midday. The sun in very low in the sky at this time of year. 

This cottage was the original head gardener's house, built in 1764 when the gardens were several miles away. It was more or less derelict until a few years ago, when it was dismantled and rebuilt in these gardens. It's now used for teaching purposes. 

A Highland stream - or a fairly accurate recreation of one. 

And somewhat inaccurate cyclamen which presumably light up. 

Then we came home and I wrote all my Christmas cards and letters to my overseas friends and family (yes, well done me) and then I embroidered the name of the baby on to the back of his quilt, which I've parcelled and will send on its way tomorrow. Then today featured the supermarket (very exciting) and making two Christmas cakes. Later we Zoomed my brother and sister-in-law.

Thus the days fritter themselves away - not unpleasantly. But what a waste of a year this has really been. Hopefully we elderly people will get the vaccine in a few months, which will make a great difference to our lives, but we'll never get that year back.