Jackie writes:
Well, here is the gossip for today.
I took the dogs for their morning walk around the site.
I noticed there were some rubbish bins out for collection.
When I got back home, I thought I'd put out my bin
and, as a good neighbour, I'd do Mike & Ann's as well.
When I got back home I couldn't remember what colour of bin I saw.
I knew I have that issue [color-blindedness],
but today kind of reminded me. We have four bins.
It's very confusing: Green is cardboard & paper;
blue is tin, glass & plastic; black is general waste;
& brown is food waste. But you have to buy special eco bags
to put the food waste in before it goes in the bin,
and if I want to put garden waste or dead flowers in it,
then I have to pay £50.00 per year for a licence.
I took all the dogs to the vet today for their first registration visit.
I was very surprised, but in a good way. So, three dogs examined,
a lengthy discussion and explanation about Hamish and his allergies,
30 Apoquel pills for Hamish: £47.00.
Last month, 30 pills cost me £156 at my previous vet.
Then I signed up for the pet health club. £17.75 each dog per month.
The previous vet was £22.99 each dog per month.
For that fee I get all their worm & flea treatment per year,
their annual vet check and inoculations,
and a six-month health check, nails cut, glands done
and a discount on all medication and procedures.
This is much the same as I had back in England,
but nearly £5.00 cheaper per dog per month.
I dropped the dogs back at home and we went to the local café,
pronounced caff up here, or greasy spoon . . .
It was just like the ones [my sister] Lex & I used to go to
in Bathgate before I met Tom, or Falkirk when we went shopping
for a change sometimes. Cheap & cheerful -
food roll and square sausage or egg, bacon, black pudding,
haggis, or all of them on one roll and of course chips;
chips with everything up here.
[The LORNE SAUSAGE, also known as square sausage or slice sausage,
is a traditional Scottish food item made from minced meat,
rusk and spices.]
[HAGGIS is Scotland's iconic savory pudding,
traditionally made from sheep's heart, liver & lungs
minced with oatmeal, suet, onions & spices,
cooked inside the animal's stomach (or a casing).
It's a rich, earthy, peppery dish served ceremoniously,
often with "neeps & tatties" (turnips & potatoes)
for Burns Night and Hogmanay, and offers a unique taste
that's surprisingly like a spicy, crumbly sausage.]
[BLACK PUDDING is made from pork or occasionally beef blood,
with pork fat or beef suet, and a cereal,
usually oatmeal, oat groats, or barley groats.]
[A full Scottish breakfast is a hearty fry-up featuring
distinctively Scottish items like Lorne sausage (square sausage),
tattie scones (potato scones), and often haggis,
alongside staples like bacon, eggs, black pudding, baked beans,
mushrooms, tomatoes & toast, all served with a strong cup of tea
for a substantial start to the day.]
I took a couple of pics of the main street in the village.
It is very quaint and has great views.
I had some thoughts while we were wandering about.
I locked up and left Millfield without a second glance,
but when I left Eastwood End I went into every room
for a last look and to say goodbye.
Millfield was never home; it was where I lived.
I remember when I decided to buy this house and into this lifestyle,
I said I was going home even though the east coast was my original home.
This feels like home. I feel happier and a lot less stressed,
even though getting here was a bit more stressful than I'd envisaged.
The man came and put up my picture and the door sign.
It's coming down in buckets again.
I had to hold an umbrella over him while he put up the door number.
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