Guard chicken?

I have this friend who has a guard chicken in the porch of his house. (Its true.) With the impending arrival of Pandas and the attention from the paparatzi we were considering our security options. Greta seems to be keen on the post and had a wee 'foray' on to the terrace. Sadly I don't think she might have the skills for the job. She got distracted on her way to her first watch by dog food. Tasty as it is I'm not sure she has the required focus for a guard chicken position.

Either way, as they stare from the kitchen door, the hounds remain unimpressed. Too scared of greta to object though. Perhaps an attack chicken is more likely, as soon as she finished eating, she chased the hounds away from their own food.

I hope she doesn't take a fancy to bamboo.....

The pandas are coming

So I've heard the exciting news that the pandas in Edinburgh zoo are expecting. In anticipation of their needing a quiet place to gestate, I cleaned out the bamboo patch. After all the sunny east neuk is the perfect retreat for them to enjoy some peace. I hear the zoo keepers are packing up their suitcases as we speak. Obviously until they return the enclosure is closed. I'd ask you to respect our privacy at this delicate time.

In the mean time the hounds and I are off to practise our panda skills and mandarin.

Huanying Mr and Mrs Panda.

Bring milk

There's a fine line I think between clutter and clean. I verge mostly on the cluttersome side of the street. I just forget the thread of what I'm doing and discover the hand cream on the log basket (why) and my slippers reading a couple of books (again no clue how they got there). Half an hour later I'm reading the book wearing my slippers, having forgotten completely what I'm up to. That's a normal kinda day, sometimes it surprises me that I can actually function. Now don't get me wrong I'm pretty OCD when it comes to certain things and where they go but 'stuff' and cleaning, meh, not so much. And, taking a lateral leap here, when it comes to friendships and relationships, I have a similar disposition. I like to see people, but I prefer notice, its not that I'm fussy, I'm generally busy and it puts me out of kilter when folks just 'decend', so a text is lovely thank you. And, its only manners after all to call or text ahead these days. Or even better, make an appointment :) Now, I've a lovely ramble of chums and I'm lucky, mostly folks I gel with are positive sunbeams. Sadly, I haven't much time for negative folks, their 'soorness' and defeatism, sucks the very marrow out of your bones. And, I need my bones. So happy visitors, with an artist's eye for the winsomness of eclectic clutter is who I'm happiest to see. Is that you? Oh good, please introduce yourself.

So do I clean and ploomph when folks come round, I've mulled this one today, visitors due in less than an hour? Is that what's conventionally required? Do I scamper around shoving my life into cupboards, just to be tidy, taking my slippers away from their preferred reading? Erm no, to be honest I'm only OCD with cleaning if I'm not very comfortable with the folks who are 'arriving', puts me on edge and a cloot firmly in my paw. However, if I'm not comfy with 'them', those hard to get along with folks, arriving, then why are they coming I'd ask myself?  Life's too short to worry, and please folks you're not sure of, or to worry about every wee leaf, wee speck of dust and random clutter being well, randomly cluttersome. Don't get me wrong Mr McFlowers, being a very tidy sort (odd for such a scruffy bugger), does like a wee nice hoose, so the chores get done in tandom once a week. So, if you're OK I'll not tidy when you pop, but like the visitors due today (hello dear mother) you'll probably be asked to bring something, today it's milk. We don't use it, so don't normally have it in. Yes, I could have remembered yesterday and bought some special, yes I could have popped out for some. But, lets face facts, I'm sure they'll pass some on their way here. Isn't life far nicer if you can openly say what you think (like 'Bring Milk!') than spend time fussing for folks. And, honestly driving a round trip of 6 miles for the nearest pint of milk, think of the carbon footprint that will create in itself.

So if you pop round (and I'm expecting you) and the hoose is a cluttersome mess, I hope you enjoy the beauty of it. It means I'm very happy to see you, wonderfullly comfortable in your company and I'm also enjoying my own life too.  So, I'll likely be nicer to talk to and I'll wear my best smile and mean it. Although I might still be reading that book in me slippers.......