Morning, everyone! Last proper day of my short break; you can't count tomorrow.
I remembered to take some bedroom photos - please ignore the clutter and, yes, I made the bed but had been sitting on it.
It's an old room. I gather some rooms have been done up and are nice but the single rooms tend to be the poor relations, don't they?
John came for me at ten and took me first of all to his scrap store in Selkirk. My goodness, what an Aladdin's cave it was. I chose all sorts of bits and bobs and John, bless him, paid for that for my Christmas present.
We had a very nice lunch in the visitors' centre before 'doing' the shop where I got my fridge magnet!
In the afternoon, John took me up to Smailholm Tower and I was really pleased with this photo - the lowering sun just caught the side of the tower making it stand out clearly.
Generally, the decor could do with refreshing and the old, wooden, sash window frames are in a disgraceful condition. However, it is warm, comfortable, the furniture is 'cheap' but fine for purpose and the bed is very comfortable, as are the pillows.
And there's a stand for my case and a convenient corner to tuck it away.
And there's a stand for my case and a convenient corner to tuck it away.
A few links.
Then Gina turned up and we went to Abbotsford which was the home of Sir Walter Scott.
I have to admit I have never been able to get into his books and John and Gina said the same thing.
We didn't have time to go into the house but we did walk around the grounds a little bit where there were all sorts of weird and wonderful carvings.
Here's a bit of history
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/smailholm-tower/history/
Today is Edinburgh day. I'm just hoping the weather forecast is wrong!
It was closed for the winter but we had a good climb/scramble up the hill and down again. Nice to get some fresh air and we were so very lucky with the weather.
Finally, we went to a local garden centre and John chose his Christmas tree, a nice one in a pot with roots.
And the last photo - John entitled it 'Two old people in a field' which is exactly correct!
It was a really lovely day. We were so lucky with the weather and spending the day with John was beyond good.
Today's Advent calendar music.
I love John Rutter's Christmas music and this is new to me - Magnificat.
I looked it up and Wiki told me . . .
The Magnificat by John Rutter is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat, completed in 1990. The extended composition in seven movements "for soprano or mezzo-soprano solo, mixed choir, and orchestra (or chamber ensemble)" is based on the Latin text, interspersed with "Of a Rose, a lovely Rose", an anonymous English poem on Marian themes, the beginning of the Sanctus and a prayer to Mary. The music includes elements of Latin American music.
The composer conducted the first performance in Carnegie Hall on 26 May 1990, and the first recording with the Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia. Oxford University Press published Magnificat in 1991 and Of a Rose, a lovely Rose separately in 1998.
While the canticle Magnificat was often set to music, being a regular part of Catholic vespers and Anglican evensong, Rutter's work is one of few extended settings, along with Bach's composition. Critical reception has been mixed, appreciating that the "orchestration is brilliant and very colourful" and "the music weaves a magical spell of balm and peace", but also experiencing a "virtual encyclopedia of musical cliches, a ... predictable exercise in glitzy populism".
That last bit is harsh and I wonder if they would say that today, thirty five years and many compositions further down the line. His music is very relatable, for sure, it is not 'elite', but it's lovely. YouTube has the whole work and I am going to enjoy watching it but, for now, here's the beginning.
Magnificat anima mea
That looks like my kinda room in that I dislike huge beds and huge hotel rooms. Just a simple (comfy) bed and ensuite is all I need. Sounds like a great day yesterday. Have fun in Edinbugh today. Rachel xx
ReplyDeleteJoy what a lovely photo of you and John. I looked at it and thought, “Joyful Reunion” I have to say I think my title is better than John’s 🤣 You both look blissfully joyful. Enjoy Edinburgh today and safe journey home. Oh nearly forgot to say there was an interview with John Rutter on BBC Radio 4 the other day. I’m sure you could find it on BBC Sounds. Thanks for blogging, I always look forward to reading them.xx June
ReplyDeleteA lovely photo. What a wonderful idea, the scrapstore...I would definitely be in there a lot. It reminds me of a place we visited on the Isle of Man called Jerby Junk, there was a warehouse full of odd things that would no doubt otherwise had gone from factories to landfill. I remember a basket of plastic dolls heads...a bit freaky but no doubt someone creative might have done something with them. Enjoy the rest if your holiday. X
ReplyDeleteI hoped you would have a visit to the Scrapstore-they are wonderful places and just my cup of tea. I read online that your hotel had new owners and that it was being renovated bit by bit. Enjoy Edinburgh today but dress in warm layers-it’s a cold place due to the wind from the Forth. Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable day. I hope Edinburgh compares well.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks cosy and fun. So much rain everywhere at the moment, hope you have a great rest of the trip despite the weather.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
A lovely photo of the two of you. All that's needed from a hotel stay for me is an exceptionally comfortable bed and a good breakfast. Anything else is just a bonus. Oh, I guess a nice hot shower would be good too!!
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