Reading the meters again

A male blackbird in the garden this morning

Every Monday morning I check the electricity and gas meters and record the readings in my household journal.  Sometimes N will also update our online accounts with the new figures, that way we know how much we are spending.  This week I noticed that the electricity reading was a little higher than usual, so we've obviously used more than normal last week.  Didn't take a genius to work out why - we have watched the Winter Olympics on TV most days.  Normally we watch very little television but last week (and this week, too, if we're honest!) we have enjoyed the spectacle from Sochi.  Seeing that reflected in the electricity reading on Monday really brought home to me how easy it is to waste energy, and the reason why I bother to read those meters each week.  It doesn't take 5 minutes to do but it helps us keep our usage in check and we know exactly what our bills are.  It's been a worthwhile habit to acquire and is a small step that anyone can adopt on the road to simplifying your life.

I finally managed to snap a picture of a goldfinch - the flash of yellow always catches my eye.  I've just noticed the big fat buds on this horse chestnut tree - the mild winter seem to be encouraging early growth.  

Now that the jumper is finished I can turn my attention to the long list of projects that was put on hold.  Today I hemmed a dozen rags from an old polo shirt of N's and yesterday I altered a beach dress - two things off the list, neither of which took long to deal with.  Whilst looking through the project box I came across a long-sleeved rugby shirt that I had originally intended for more rags but on closer inspection, I think I might be able to repurpose or upcycle it into a jacket for myself.  It's not something I've done before but I think it could be fun to try.  Some brightly coloured trimming to bind the edges, and buttons to fasten -  I can see how it should look, but I'm not sure if it will.  However, I won't find out unless I try so I shall give it a go.

As well as the North Ronaldsay wool we brought back from Orkney on our last trip in May, I bought myself some Shetland wool, dyed in the most beautiful shades of green, turquoise and red.  Yesterday I wound it into balls, draping the skeins over the back of the dining chair.  I found myself remembering when, as a small child I would hold skeins on my hands while my mother wound them into balls ready for knitting.  I just need to find the right pattern to do this lovely wool justice.

Although we seem to be having a slightly calmer week weather-wise (not as much rain, not as windy and a little milder), the damage caused by flooding continues.  On the southern coast of the Island, one of the roads has collapsed and several households have had to be evacuated.  It is an area that has suffered landslippage in the past, due to the underlying geological layers, but it is nonetheless devastating for those residents concerned.  

The sun disappeared behind the chimneys at 5.30 this evening and painted the clear blue sky with streaks of gold.  Quite beautiful.