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Hi, Rusty!
We are home again! And staying put!
For the most part of our walk it was fine.......but the rain caught up with us towards the end.
Very poggy dog, as relentless mud everywhere!
No winds though.
I hope the Road Bridge opens in time to save your son a long drive round!
I shall do a bit of "tidying" ready for the family onslaught tomorrow!
Have you tried the kettle?

Hello, Elle!
Still windy here!
Must be less windy at the river.
Bridge is only closed to double decked buses, now.
A wee bit redding up would not go amiss, before your family arrive!
Kettle is fine.
It's a Tesco own brand.
It lights up when heating and that was what I wanted.
Yes, it works away fine.

Hi, Rusty!
It is dark here already!
I have just drawn the curtains and shut out the wet miserable evening we have here!
It will not be much fun for the Trafalgar Square revellers if this rain does not stop!
(although of course it might well not be raining up in town)
Is "redding up" another term for my little black book?
Are you planning to be a first -footer for anyone?
My cousin used to don his kilt and off he'd go....!
(Shades again of Andy Stuart!)
I think we might be feeding the five thousand tomorrow....my husband has just come back with the Sunday paper and a pile of pizzas .....
I thought I had already bought enough food!
I wonder who else he has invited whilst he's been out....?1

Hello, Elle!
Up here we have a Gaelic television station, BBC Alba.
They have a Hogmanay show coming from Sleat, on Skye.
Think I shall try it!
Maybe see Miss Peckwitt and Ruari having a wee jig!
"Red/d" is a well used term up here, have a wee look in your Chambers, and Anne Bradford has it under "tidy".
Pizzas could prove to be very popular!
At the minute I am staying home, but who knows, I may go a-first-footing!

Hi, Rusty!
I hope your Hogmanay Show will be good, if you have a mind to watch it!
Now, Miss Peckwitt....I knew there was something I was supposed to do......
I was going to look up what other novels she has written, wasn't I?
So far, I have only read one full-length novel, about a little boy who was adopted.
I shall put that task on my "to do" list!
I assumed "redd" meant "tidy" - I had no need to look it up!
Do you not need pieces of coal to go first -footing?
Do you have them at the ready?!

Hello, Elle!
It is a Ceilidh that is on Skye.
Should be good.
There will be sub-titles, though, with it being in Gaelic.
Yes, "redd" means tidy, and also "redd" or "redds" is a hole scooped out in the river bed by salmon to lay their eggs.
At one time coal was a first foot gift but I suppose the tradition has died away.
Where would you get coal nowadays?
If I go, I shall go empty handed, but with a song to sing, if asked.
That will be my contribution to the festivities!

Hi, Rusty!
I remember Miss P attending ceilidhs, which were always gatherings, in her tales.
But it can also mean a dance , can it not?
And it is a girl's name, too?
I did wonder if the Hogmanay show would be in the Gaelic - and need subtitles.
Will you really sing if you go first -footing?
Is that the custom now...to offer up a song?
( I did wonder about the feasibility of the piece of coal!)
What will you sing?

Good evening, Elle!
Yes, ceilidhs have dances and are lively occasions.
I have not heard ceilidh as a girl's name?
Though "Eilidh" is.
Everything is in Gaelic on BBC Alba, even the football commentaries!
So they all have sub-titles.
It has long been the custom here to sing when first footing as your contribution to the fun.
Those who refused were looked down upon.
Now, the choice of song can be difficult, so I would choose one that I would be confident of not forgetting the words!
If asked I'd probably sing "The Holy Ground", which is a song about fishermen heading out to sea.
The Holy Ground is a district in Cobh, County Cork.

Hey, Rusty!
I have just been listening to The Dubliners singing "The Holy Ground" on YouTube"
This is a new song to me!
There seems to be quite a bit of scope there....I am sorry that I shall not be there to hear you sing it!!
Yes, Ceilidh is a girl's name - one of my elder daughter's school friends was so called.
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Ceilidh
And one of our family bears the name "Eilidh".
We have just had to go up into the loft - well, my husband did......
I was the ground support.........
("Ground control to Major Tom.......")
We had mislaid the child booster seat!
With two young ones to feed tomorrow , we need not only the high chair, but also a booster seat!
All sorted now though!

Hello, Elle!
My favourite version of "The Holy Ground" is by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
I was a big fan, even had the Aran sweater!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61sMrJOI9_4
I met Tommy once many years ago. A fine man.
He is the one on the left.
Well, you are ahead of me, Elle, I have not came across a girl called "Ceilidh" before.
And you are all set for tomorrow now, with the seating arrangements sorted?
Seems quite mild here, and quiet.
The calm before the storm at the "Bells!