Autumn is here and winter slowly creeping up on us, with the sun no longer rising high above the Soroba hill to the south of Oban. But the birds still begin their chirping and singing at about 6am and daylight still lasts until shortly after 6pm.
The trees here, though, are still full of leaves and temperatures only dipped to freezing for two short early mornings a couple of weeks ago. The sun was out for a while earlier today, which always lifts the spirit.
Having learnt my lessons last winter (my first winter here was over in a flash and didn't affect me at all), I'm following the advice given by a nutritionist friend of mine and have been taking extra high doses of vitamin D3, the sun vitamin, to keep my body's resistance up.
It seems to work because there's a lot of bronchitis about and people with fluey symptoms but I feel fine – really hope to stay well this winter.
And I very much look forward to moving to a larger, quieter house where I won't be invaded by my young upstairs neighbour's hideous radio programmes whenever she decides to listen. Mind you, she's much better than she was at the beginning...
It's a great shame soundproofing is so poor in this former council building; I really love my wee flat and have enjoyed living here -- most of the time!
Earlier this week I was invited to lunch at a friend's house. Her garden is still full of flowers and the shrubs were swarming with bees and bumblebees – gorgeous!
The new garden shed I had put in at the end of January this year now has a protective coat of paint – and it cheers up the kids in the neighbourhood – and me!
