Piping up over cancelled trip to Edinburgh Tattoo

Fiona has been trying to count her blessings after a hit and miss few days which have resulted in a fuzzy TV and a tooth twinge

It has been a hit and miss few days.

The window cleaner comes, but the aerial man does not – despite promising, and me waiting in for most of the day.

Now I cannot get hold of him and we are stuck with a fuzzy TV.

With luck, there will be nothing much on. But luck seems in short supply this week.

It’s time for one of the twice-yearly visits to the dentist, but last-minute work forces a cancellation.

Let us hope that twinge in my mouth does not get worse.

I then set off to have coffee with a friend. It is a long-planned event, but we both end up sitting on our own, in the wrong place. A lack of communication, I fear.

Meanwhile, home alone in the house, the MacNaughties decide to have a fight over a cushion.

It is covered in MacGregor tartan. Or rather, it was covered in said tartan...

The cushion gets hidden. I do not think the chief will notice its absence. He is not big on interior design.

The doggies get scolded and retire to their beds to sulk.

The sun comes out. I rush out, hoe in hand, to weed the border. Then the rain comes on...

Back inside I go to pop a consolation crumpet in the oven.

I remember it some hours later.

I know. And I hear you sigh. Life is hard.

For I realise that all this is small beer in the great scheme of things.

But it is irritating, all the same. Hitches and glitches. They come in waves, don’t they?

The previous week a family problem meant we had to cancel our muchanticipated trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo.

It is a shame, because it is such a thrilling experience.

The tartan, the atmosphere, the theatre… and this year’s event, I hear is bigger and better than ever.

Yes, giving up tickets for the hottest event in town is a hard decision.

But, explaining our dilemma to a neighbour, he lightens the mood.

“I told my wife I wanted to get a tattoo. And she said she was fine with that. But now she’s complaining about all those pipers on the lawn!”

So, we must count our blessings – and make our blessings count.

We must count our summers – and not our winters. Perhaps we can make a list of all the good things there are in life?

No TV means getting on with all the other jobs we have been meaning to do. Or even just reading a book.

No dentist? Surely, I can rejoice that at my advanced age, I still have a mouthful of teeth to twinge.

What is the odd cushion, or two, among friends? At least the MacNaughties are still with us.

And who needs a crumpet dripping with butter? All those calories. Not good for a body.

Mind, I could have done with a glorious evening at the Tattoo.

I set off to have coffee with a friend – we both end up sitting on our own, in the wrong place. A lack of communication...

Picture: Getty. Highland dancers at a previous Tattoo held at Edinburgh Castle.