Well, last month, I said it would be a shortie, and indeed it was. No travels, no political commentary, just DIY – lots and lots of DIY.

This month, my friends, is NO different. More DIY, more plaster, more stripping wallpaper and more gardening – I think I’m still enjoying it though. Things are getting there – well down stairs anyway; the toilet’s in, the ‘utility’ is up and running, the doors between the kitchen and living room are in and, most importantly, my open, real fire is blasting.

Yeah, I’m still enjoying it!

But, something I forgot to mention last month – HARRY POTTER 7.

Caitlin was given the first three HP books when she was seven or eight. I had heard about them, but didn’t know that much about HP so I said I would vet them, in case they were too scary; given that I was doing my degree at the time, and was reading about six books per week, three more weren’t going to hurt me.

So, pot of decaf abound, I’d settled down to flick through, skim them, make sure…and WHAM! I was entranced. Couldn’t but them down, got a C for some essay on some sort of dull political stuff, but could easily have scored an A++ on any Harry Potter essay. I just loved them, thought they were brilliant in fact – and of course, my being an English Lit student, meant that I was totally qualified in my critical assessment!!!!!

And so, the love affair began. It was a wee thing between Caitlin and I. I’d always want the new book and she’d always get it for my birthday or Christmas or something.

However, when number seven – the Deathly Hallows – was released, Caitlin (rather unfairly, I thought!) was in bloody Corfu – and there was no way I was waiting for her to come back.

So, the night of its release, I took a drive down to Asda to pick up a copy. It was very exciting, I was just going to nick in, get my copy then nick back home and start reading – eh naw! When I got there, the queue for the book snaked right round the store and up into the wee town centre – it must have been about three quarters of a mile long! I couldn’t believe it – all this for a book.

So, I went home, waited till about two-am – and no, I didn’t wait up specially, I was up entertaining – honest!

I took a drive down again, with all my earlier intentions still intact. However, by this time, the line was even longer.

It was unbelievable, there were all sorts there, young, old, families, folk on their own, folk dressed up, normal folk (!) Just amazing.

I can only imagine that this type of thing would happen if the Beatles got back together or something? But it was a book!!! I don’t think this type of thing has happened for a book release that I can remember – except maybe the Harry Potter before this one!

Anyway, I got my copy next morning – in fact, I almost bought two, then realised that there was absolutely no point in buying two just because the dust sheets were different!!!

And so, in amongst the rubble and the DIY, I read it – a fitting end I thought…

August 2007

It was a calm time, and Thomas, our lovely person who is making all the mess in the house, was like fast-draw-McGraw.

I would leave the house for something – you know, like some bread and milk – then come back and there would be a big space in the wall, or a new kitchen, where the couch used to be – phew! No flies on this guy!

Also, it rained in August, didn’t it? IT RAINED!

So, I bought myself wellies – lovely blue flowery wellies. The were ever so good for when I ran a stage at the Auchinlea Festival with some of the young folk I’d been working with. I was okay, warm-ish and dry, but the young folk were soaked. It was almost like a badge of honour, ‘let’s see who can go on stage the wettest!’. Never good with electrics, but especially never good when a whole rack of guitars fall off the stage onto the soaking wet grass – and this was INSIDE a marquee!!! T in the Park, eat yer heart out!

But, it was okay, I was able to go home to my nice warm house and my nice new bedroom which is all finished and clean and had the biggest bed you ever saw! It’s huge!

When I go to bed, I feel like I’m in that story; The Princess and the Pea…no, not with the wellies on!!!!

But, wellies off, suitcase out – it was off to Jersey for my brother’s wedding!

I must admit, I was sceptical, this was something like his sixth attempt – he’d never married before, just talked about it!

The whole family went down, as did his bride’s family. And what a time it was.

The wedding was absolutely lovely, dead warm and intimate, the party afterwards was outstanding, again, warm, intimate. And then, the few days that followed was also warm and intimate, just a lovely family time; the whole thing was wonderful (oh me of little faith eh?).

More than anything though, it was the kids who make it every time. I have two nieces in Jersey and, as you know, I’m going to say they are amazing, warm, clever, talented, funny, beautiful, extremely witty, mental…but they ARE!

They even wrote and performed a song and dance for the happy couple – who were a million times happier after the performance!

Of course, though, it was a time of pure decadence and debauchery – food, booze, partying…every morning for four mornings on the trot, I had a cooked veggie breakfast - ! I was fit to burst!

And did I? No, I just kept on partying!!!

I think in the four nights I was there I had about 20 hours sleep – not just because I’m a party animal, but because I wanted to make sure I was up early for the breakfast!!!!!

In that weekend, I think I encompassed each of the seven deadly sins at least once!

Far travelled as I am (!) I also went to Edinburgh for some festival fun…well, when I say fun, we went to see a documentary movie about a massacre in Chiapas in Mexico! So, yeah, lots of fun.

The movie was tremendous – ‘A Massacre Foretold’ – if you get the chance…!

But then we were saved by going to Cuba Norte to enjoy some salsa dancing. Some folk are just wonderful at this dance (brother and sis-in-law). But it was a million miles away from the big open space in Ometepe (Nicaragua) where we watched the amazing moves on the first of January this year…oh no, I think I’m melancholy for Central America!

And, I think that’s really it for August…new tiles, new plastered walls, new doors, horrible new firedoors that we need for building control, but it doesn’t detract from this amazing place – I know, I keep saying it, it’s like a mantra

It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done, It will be amazing when it’s done,

See you at the end of next month.

Oh yes, there’s a show in East Kilbride on September 15th, it’s always great fun there, come along and have a laugh.

Cheers

Carol Laula