Birches

I don't know which I like more, the silver bark of the trunk and branches glowing in the early light or the beautiful feather like fronds near the top. I just love silver birches! They're not very practical yes though, these are far too close together and self seeded.
I had no tasks this morning - well, apart from wrapping some birthday presents and taking a couple of other things back to M&S.
Joyce and I decided to head out to the Gyle late morning for a wander around and a bite for lunch . I went into Morrisons to buy some meat for New Year as I'm going to be busy for the next couple of days, but no success with that.
We met up briefly with Katy and the girls who were having a wonderful time spending Christmas vouchers and cash. Isobel was in ecstacy in Claire's Accessories! Money burns a hole straight through her pocket, but you can't fail to be touched by her enthusiasm!
When we got home, Katy phoned to say they were dropping in on their way home to pick up something Eilidh had left here Eilidh says she's on an 8 day Grandma streak. :-)
- they've been out all morning while Jon sleeps as he's on nights just now.
Ali messaged to say they'd been to the zoo today in Johannesburg but that it had rained all morning so they were soaking wet and all the animals were inside taking shelter - a bit like here somehow! Fortunately the afternoon was better so they dried off and had a great time eventually.
We took Joyce into town to meet some friends and on the way back popped into our local Morrisons where I picked up a couple of bargain pieces of Sirloin with 75% off. They're in the freezer and dependent on numbers I'll defrost some or all for New Year.
Tomorrow is a big day, Eilidh will be 11 and Bonnie 1. We'll miss seeing Bonnie but she'll be home soon. They look to have had a good break. I'm glad as Ali goes back to work in just over a week, which will be a shock to the system after her year of maternity break. I'm sure they'll enjoy the return of her salary though. A new adventure for Bonnie as she starts nursery, I do hope she's as happy there as Josie is.
Eilidh's gifts are all wrapped and ready to deliver to her tomorrow, we'll go down after church, on our way to taking Joyce to the station. The time has passed quickly. Soon this century is going to be a quarter through. It seems like no time since people were worrying about the Millennium bug!
Remember this?
https://youtu.be/izQB2-Kmiic?si=JjK5DYCm5tEjJcvS