Sept 2016 and I am having a rant- I was scammed trying to do someone a good turn- agghhh. I work as a ghost writer- you write a story and when it is paid for, the story belongs to the buyer. A man from Australia wanted a book done urgently as he had been let down and I tried to help him out- without a proper contract in place. Knocked myself out to finish it by the date he said. What a fool. I won't do that again. As soon as he had the work he never answered an email and has never paid a penny. I am 400 dollars down. However, the story is mine because he never paid so it is now published on Amazon - with a few tweaks. From tomorrow it will be on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sheila+muckle  I suppose I've learned a lesson . It's a love story with a twist.

In the winter the sun lounge roof leaked- it has taken till now to dry out- my DIY task to sort it and add insulation- bit by bit as I can only work upside down for about half an hour.
Ceiling waiting to be done

The start of the mend

will be painted and edged and new ceiling roses- eventually. In the meantime that wonderful woman Silvia has sent me chocolate from Germany-

 yum yum- forget the DIY-- Thanks Silvia xx

We have a Gordon Setter called Carson who is just too clever by half. He plays hide and see with me- yes properly. Last week I called and called and nothing to be seen. I looked at the bushes and saw absolutly nothing and then spotted two tan feet below the leaves- He was as still as a stone and nothing else to be seen. As soon as I said I has seen him he came out and shook himself. I swear he grinned at me. Today called and called again- nothing. Can you spot the dog in this picture?

The dog run is a bit wild- apologies there. He was right beside the wall of the old garage.

Never moves and really tries it on. Handsome man though. I took him inside when I finally found him and visited the greenhouse. Pelargonium Vancouver centenniel is pretty- foliage and flowers and I just always love the flowers of Peucedanum.

I'm a lonely little orchid in an allium patch, an allium patch, an allium----- Amazingly the wild orchids that were in my garden years ago in Northumberland pop up in the most unexpected places. The seed must lie dormant for years and when the conditions are right, they brave the world again. I just love them.

 Here in Scotland there are a different wild orchid that grows all over the place and even in what used to be the entrance to a driveway and is now my small wild meadow.

The original song was a lonely little petunia and this year I found these jet black ones. Cannot believe it is actually black but it is. The little edged one is pretty as well.

The garden is always a joy except up here when the midges are about- they are just unbearable so I have been inside doing a few reclaiming jobs. My mum's old coffee tale had a marble top that smashed- it had done well for about forty years or so. I had been laminating the kitchen floor and used a couple of left over bits to make a new top.

And then there was my wardrobe- I asked the lady in the shop how much and she suggested £15- wow a bargain and two coats of emulsion later it is white and quite pretty.

Have exhausted myself just talking about all the jobs- must learn to relax like out Pops.

My DIY phase continues and as the terriers had made a hole in the old bedroom door that they could put a head through, I decided to try and replace it. The pine, cottage style door arrived- yes it was a bit heavier than I thought but got it into situ and measured how much would need to come off. I took off three inches with my trusty little electric saw. Easy peasey. The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted that maybe two inches or two and a half would have been better- hey ho- you have to learn on something.
The old door refused to come off until I prised it off with brute force and a giant srewdriver. I hung the door!! It is not perfect but the handle and catch took me longer than fitting the door itself. Again the eagle eyed will spot the small slit I drilled first before finding where the catch actually should be situated but it works. I was so pleased with myself- went to bed, relaxed and watched a ghost hunting program- I am fond of them. Then about midnight I needed the bathroom, opened the new latch and stepped through. The door pulled itself closed behind me with a noise like ccrrrr. I shot to the bathroom and locked the door. Maybe the door had brought its own ghost. I hear you laughing.
I might be mad but I sleep with five setters and if a ghost or anything else had appeared the noise would have been thunderous. They slept on peacefully having successfully taken over my spot on the bed. --- Still I hung a door- if I can do one I can do all the internal doors- yippee.

My version of Homity Pie is simple and delicious and vegetarian. Use a ready made savoury pastry case to save the chore of making it yourself. Then boil up a bag of new potatoes- I used Tesco Finest. Soften a chopped onion in some olive oil and grate about 150grams of cheese. I used Red Leicester. Mash the potatoes, add onion, oil it was cooking in and the cheese. Mix well and add a dash of milk to make it easier to mix. Pile it into the pastry case and pour on the top about a quarter of a tub of double cream- I use Elmlea long life. Don't mix it in. Cook in oven at about 180 to 200 for twenty minutes or until the top is golden brown. This is the most amazing pie to eat as the cream turns it into a sort of fudgy consistency. yum yum

Wonderful result for Anja, Silvia and Misty- Best in Show and becoming a German Champion on the same day- wow.