A Difficult Gift
Dec. 17th, 2025 07:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootFixed a leaking tap, baked a mighty pie, cards sent (mostly) presents sent, rooms getting close to prepared for Xmas guests... it's all happening. There's a frustration re a gift. R, if you come by here, now is the time to leave cos this is about something for you!
I bought R something he's been interested in for a long time; a butchery course! Most of these are grandly expensive, set in lovely settings where, for a day or maybe a weekend, you learn three things about cutting and presenting one style of meat, like learning how to do a butcher's knot or a crown of lamb. But for the same or in some cases less money, you can go on a butcher's skills course at the City of Glasgow college which will teach you about different meats, making your own sausages et, exactly what he's been interested in. It's four days over four/five weeks, one evening a week, and it seemed perfect because it's in Glasgow, not far from his new job.
Only it isn't. Turns out he's actually in Perth most of the time. I didn't know this - frustratingly I even checked that he would be up for something evening class-like, and he said yes, as long as it was reachable from work - but at that point, we thought work would be mostly in Glasgow. Turns out maybe not, nor do I know if this is a permanent arrangement of his time. If it is, he's unlikely to be able to get from there to Glasgow in time for the evening classes. If his schedule changes by then, it shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise if it can't be done, I will have to get a refund, and they dock 20% off that. So annoying! And I was so pleased with myself!
Fortunately, I have bought him a couple of little things to unwrap on Xmas morning.
My presents have mainly turned up already, the red standing mirror and the potion tree. I smile every time I see them, though I have to admit that this morning's offering, Alien by Thierry Mugler, is a victory of marketing. It's a successful non-paint-strippery jasmine that doesn't suit me. Beginnning to think the only jasmine I can wear is the actual flower, and my preference is to leave that loveliness for the bees.
I bought R something he's been interested in for a long time; a butchery course! Most of these are grandly expensive, set in lovely settings where, for a day or maybe a weekend, you learn three things about cutting and presenting one style of meat, like learning how to do a butcher's knot or a crown of lamb. But for the same or in some cases less money, you can go on a butcher's skills course at the City of Glasgow college which will teach you about different meats, making your own sausages et, exactly what he's been interested in. It's four days over four/five weeks, one evening a week, and it seemed perfect because it's in Glasgow, not far from his new job.
Only it isn't. Turns out he's actually in Perth most of the time. I didn't know this - frustratingly I even checked that he would be up for something evening class-like, and he said yes, as long as it was reachable from work - but at that point, we thought work would be mostly in Glasgow. Turns out maybe not, nor do I know if this is a permanent arrangement of his time. If it is, he's unlikely to be able to get from there to Glasgow in time for the evening classes. If his schedule changes by then, it shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise if it can't be done, I will have to get a refund, and they dock 20% off that. So annoying! And I was so pleased with myself!
Fortunately, I have bought him a couple of little things to unwrap on Xmas morning.
My presents have mainly turned up already, the red standing mirror and the potion tree. I smile every time I see them, though I have to admit that this morning's offering, Alien by Thierry Mugler, is a victory of marketing. It's a successful non-paint-strippery jasmine that doesn't suit me. Beginnning to think the only jasmine I can wear is the actual flower, and my preference is to leave that loveliness for the bees.
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no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 01:25 pm (UTC)I dunno whether I've ever mentioned this, but my kid Ichabod knows how to butcher. His very first college was a place called Deep Springs. It's a college-cum-working ranch on the California/Nevada border, and the students do everything from selecting their professors & deciding what to be taught to all the ranchwork. The students rotate through the ranch chores, and for one six-month period, Ichabod became the ranch butcher.
Shortly thereafter, he became a quasi-vegetarian! (I think some girl was involved. 😀) Though he didn't give up meat entirely. He'd still eat meat if it was hunted or free-range; he just wouldn't eat anything from a factory farm.
He eats more meat now, though he still avoids anything from a factory farm. And we tease him that when civilization collapses (any day now), and his law degree is useless, he'll still have a valuable occupation.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-18 08:21 am (UTC)Deep Springs sounds excellent! R would have loved it so much!
We need more places like this. I am not sure we have any such options in the UK.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-18 02:32 pm (UTC)I haven't been around much this past month. Trying to sort why. I will be back, though, and hope the New Year brings us more interaction and creative writing!
no subject
Date: 2025-12-21 08:37 am (UTC)