Inn of the Wandering Dragon

O I forbid you, maidens a’, That wear gowd on your hair, To come or gae by Carterhaugh, For young Tam Lin is there.

There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh But they leave him a wad, Either their rings, or green mantles, Or else their maidenhead.

Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little aboon her knee, And she has broded her yellow hair A little aboon her bree, And she’s awa to Carterhaugh As fast as she can hie.

When she came to Carterhaugh Tam Lin was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsel.

She had na pu’d a double rose, A rose but only twa, Till upon then started young Tam Lin,S ays, Lady, thou’s pu nae mae.

Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet, And why breaks thou the wand? Or why comes thou to Carterhaugh Withoutten my command?“

Carterhaugh, it is my own, My daddy gave it me, I’ll come and gang by Carterhaugh, And ask nae leave at thee.”

Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little aboon her knee, And she has broded her yellow hair A little aboon her bree, And she is to her father’s ha, As fast as she can hie.

Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the ba, And out then came the fair Janet, The flower among them a’.

Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the chess, And out then came the fair Janet, As green as onie glass.

Out then spake an auld grey knight, Lay oer the castle wa, And says, Alas, fair Janet, for thee, But we’ll be blamed a’.“

Haud your tongue, ye auld fac’d knight, Some ill death may ye die! Father my bairn on whom I will, I’ll father none on thee.”

Out then spak her father dear, And he spak meek and mild, “And ever alas, sweet Janet,” he says, “I think thou gaest wi child.”

“If that I gae wi child, father, Mysel maun bear the blame, There’s neer a laird about your ha, Shall get the bairn’s name.

“If my love were an earthly knight, As he’s an elfin grey, I wad na gie my ain true-love For nae lord that ye hae.

“The steed that my true love rides on Is lighter than the wind, Wi siller he is shod before, Wi burning gowd behind.”

Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little aboon her knee, And she has broded her yellow hair A little aboon her bree, And she’s awa to Carterhaugh As fast as she can hie.

When she came to Carterhaugh, Tam Lin was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsel.

She had na pu’d a double rose, A rose but only twa, Till up then started young Tam Lin, Says, Lady, thou pu’s nae mae.

“Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet, Amang the groves sae green, And a’ to kill the bonny babe That we gat us between?”

“O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,” she says, “For’s sake that died on tree, If eer ye was in holy chapel, Or christendom did see?”

“Roxbrugh he was my grandfather, Took me with him to bide And ance it fell upon a day That wae did me betide.

“And ance it fell upon a day A cauld day and a snell, When we were frae the hunting come, That frae my horse I fell, The Queen o’ Fairies she caught me, In yon green hill do dwell.

“And pleasant is the fairy land, But, an eerie tale to tell, Ay at the end of seven years, We pay a tiend to hell, I am sae fair and fu o flesh, I’m feard it be mysel.

“But the night is Halloween, lady, The morn is Hallowday, Then win me, win me, an ye will, For weel I wat ye may.

“Just at the mirk and midnight hour The fairy folk will ride, And they that wad their true-love win, At Miles Cross they maun bide.”

“But how shall I thee ken, Tam Lin, Or how my true-love know, Amang sa mony unco knights, The like I never saw?”

“O first let pass the black, lady, And syne let pass the brown, But quickly run to the milk-white steed, Pu ye his rider down.

“For I’ll ride on the milk-white steed, And ay nearest the town, Because I was an earthly knight They gie me that renown.

“My right hand will be gloved, lady, My left hand will be bare, Cockt up shall my bonnet be, And kaimed down shall my hair, And thae’s the takens I gie thee, Nae doubt I will be there.

“They’ll turn me in your arms, lady, Into an esk and adder, But hold me fast, and fear me not, I am your bairn’s father.

“They’ll turn me to a bear sae grim, And then a lion bold, But hold me fast, and fear me not, And ye shall love your child.

“Again they’ll turn me in your arms To a red het gand of airn, But hold me fast, and fear me not, I’ll do you nae harm.

“And last they’ll turn me in your arms Into the burning gleed, Then throw me into well water,O throw me in with speed“

And then I’ll be your ain true-love, I’ll turn a naked knight, Then cover me wi your green mantle, And hide me out o sight.”

Gloomy, gloomy was the night, And eerie was the way, As fair Jenny in her green mantle To Miles Cross she did gae.

At the mirk and midnight hour She heard the bridles sing, She was as glad at that As any earthly thing.

First she let the black pass by, And syne she let the brown, But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed, And pu’d the rider down.

Sae weel she minded what he did say, And young Tam Lin did win, Syne covered him wi her green mantle, As blythe’s a bird in spring

Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, Out of a bush o broom, “Them that has gotten young Tam Lin Has gotten a stately-groom.”

Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, And an angry woman was she, “Shame betide her ill-far’d face, And an ill death may she die, For she’s taen awa the bonniest knight In a’ my companie.

“But had I kend, Tam Lin,” said she, “What now this night I see, I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een, And put in twa een o tree.”

And speaking of wanting...

In browsing around online last week I came across a beautiful model ship for sale - it is a scale model of the tall ship that I spent three months aboard some years ago. I do not want the model itself, as I can clearly envisage the cat getting himself hog tied in the rigging. In addition, this model is of the historical vessel and not of the current one I worked on so there are a few noticable differences. I have no complaint with the model, it just isn't my ship. But what I am longing for is some advenure - to hit the high seas again (or the road for that matter)!

Just the thought of getting back aboard ship is enough to give me warm butterflies. I have found myself checking flight costs for various trips near and far. Eastern Canada? Europe? India? I have even been checking a few sail training websites for information. I don't have the money now but the age cut off for the Picton Castle is 40 so I still have time to make it!

I have been thinking to get my negatives scanned for a while so I can load pics from the south pacific trip onto the computer. Now I really want to pull out those albums! But with my whole cost concious thinking I think I will have to get the old scanner working instead. And in the meantime, I am going to have to get creative and come up with some fun adventures closer to home. There is no cure for the itchy feet except to get them wandering somewhere!

Ah, the joys of laying in a cold room while various wires and clips are draped over me to feed an image into the computer. It is that time again - the annual checkup. But since I have a new doctor this time and he has only a small idea of my health history I have been sent for more than the usual blood tests. EKG, ultrasounds, enough bloodwork to feed a small vampire and x-rays to top it all off. Overall I will be going to appointments for the next month. In the meantime I have to corner the office staff to find out what happened to my chart summary which was sent over by my previous (now retired) doctor. They claim it never arrived, I think it has been misplaced, as does my old doctor who was always meticulous about things like this. Let the fun continue...

I think a lot of people are cutting back on their spending with all the uncertainty going around. I know I certainly am. This past summer has seen me doing a little more shopping than usual for things like CD's, make up, fun stuff for costumes and crafts etc. It is so easy to just get used to being able to spend like that all the time, and as time goes on you find yourself wanting to spend more. I am a sucker for beautiful things, for good books and for 'treating myself'. Now I find myself getting a lot more critical of how I budget my money. I find myself wanting some lovely dragons to add to my collection, or a decorated wooden box to drool over. And lets not forget that fabulous skirt I found online! But then I have to stop and ask myself: Do I need this? Where would I put this? Do I honestly have a use for this?

What do I honestly need - and has that need been met? For example, I need my health so the gym membership is justified as long as I keep going regularily. I need to get the suspension checked on my car so that it remains road worthy, but since I do not yet know what that will run me the items I want - the dragons and the box - will have to stay on the store shelf. I have a use for the skirt, heaven knows I do not typically buy a lot in the way of clothing. But I have skirts in the drawer that are rarely worn as it is. For now maybe I should look to get more use out of what I alraedy have.

There is so much that we are told we need everyday, an entire industry is devoted just to getting that message across to us. But do we really need so much..?

My cat has developed a few bad habits, not the least of which is mooching for food. When he first arrived he had no interest in people food, aside from some fresh meat once in a while or a few drops of milk. However the boyfriend seems to think that this is not the behavior of a "real" cat, and he has always offered a bit of whatever he is making / eating. Over time my cat has grown more willing to eat human food and has become more pushy in getting it.

I do not have an actual 'dining table' so we typically eat at the coffee table which means food is in easy reach of eager paws and we have to be on guard most of the time. The cat has, on occasion, managed to grab something and run off with it much to the boyfriend's dismay.

This morning started no differently, the cat has developed a taste for crackers and was attempting to steal some. Since I was on the other side of the room assembling my own breakfast I was having a few good laughs at the antics as the boyfriend was simultaneously defending his food and sorting some papers. Finally I suggested a solution and I handed him my stack of fresh grapefruit peel. They were promptly arranged in a circle around the boyfriend and his food, and the cat curled his nose in disgust and backed off. He then spent the next while determinedly circling like a hungry shark looking for an opening. It was only a temporary reprieve, as the cat eventually figured out he could go over the furniture and come in from above. By then however, most of the food was gone. I guess the boyfriend is going to have to think of something else next time.

Well I have finally bit the bullet and joined a local gym. I had checked out a few in my area and lets face it, they all have the same equipment and the same 'areas' to work out in. They all have the same types of group classes ie. Pilate's, cross training, spinning etc. They all have the 'women's only' area. They all have the juice bars and they all sell the supplements. For myself the choice came down to two factors - value for dollar, and overall atmosphere. So when I walk into one gym and the place is dim and the staff are more efficient than friendly, that would be a good indicator that this is not the place for me. Add to the fact that it was the most expensive gym out of the lot and that sealed the deal. The one that I did choose came in at half the average price and the staff have all been friendly and know what they are doing - as a plus, it has nice large windows that let in a lot of light. I live in a basement suit with minimal light and I do not feel I want to work out in the same conditions. The biggest difference between this location and the others is that this one is not in a shiny new location - therefore less overhead. But the equipment is current and well looked after and the facilities are clean. Really, to me that is what is important.

Ever have one of those days where you just wish you could say whatever it is that you really think to another person? With working in retail with the public I have several of those days. I know it would upset the other person and it would impact whether or not the sale actually went through but some days - it is so darn tempting!
I had a customer who was whining about getting a discount - and I mean whining! "But what about MY price? What are you going to do for MY discount?! What was really passing through my head was the notion that the more my young nephews beg and whine for treats, the more the chances of getting such treats rapidly diminishes, and that the same principle should definitely apply in this case! I could mentally picture the shock in the customer as I told him in my best mom voice "What have I told you about constantly asking for discounts? No, you are not getting anything because you did not listen, and you have not earned the right to receive a discount."
I find the though amusing as anything, but I shall just have to enjoy it in the privacy of my head. Ah well, life goes on...

A few of us were invited out to a day on the lake not that long ago. Here it was, the end of September - beginning of October and we had just fantastic weather! The sky was clear, the water was smooth and the fall colours in splendid contrast.



I just love the complexity of the hot autumn days, alternating between cool, warm, humid, sharply dry, and the rich golden tones of the changing leaves against a blue sky.
For lunch we dropped anchor in a sheltered cove and enjoyed the picnic. Other families came by, some fishing, some just relaxing on the glassy water but there are bends in the cove that allow each group to have their own little spot. I can see how people can fall so much in love with boating. I don't know if I ever would, but I will enjoy a brief jaunt now and then.