Month: February 2016

An hour of good light – 9 February 2016

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combo bWe had intended going to Ayr today, but the weather said NO! It rained all morning, then as predicted by the weather men (and ladies) it stopped at midday. Too late to go to Ayr, or anywhere else really, so we took some rubbish to the council tip. Hmm, not exactly exciting or scenic. However, it was worth a walk over to St Mo’s.

I spent an interesting and worthwhile hour in St Mo’s. The light was good, the ISO setting was reasonably low and I got quite a few shots. From the 70 odd shots I distilled the four above. Top left is a group of Cladonias lichen which will forever be called Green Trumpets by me. Top right is a wummin walkin’ her big dug. Try getting Google to translate that! Bottom right is a coot looking for some bread. I had none today. Bottom left is a rare Scottish Pink Haggis – the female of the species. It was grazing on grass near the old BMX track. They will feed on grass if there is no heather available.

Hoping for more sun tomorrow.

Cycling in the sun – 8 February 2016

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combo bHeavy rain when we woke, but then the rain cleared up, the sky lightened and blue sky appeared. It was too good an opportunity to miss, so I got the bike rack on the car and drove the bike to Auchinstarry.

When I got there, I noticed right away that there was a strong westerly wind. A head wind for me. Oh well, better to have a head wind going and a tail wind coming back rather than the other way round. It was a cold wind though! Made heavy weather of the outward run and got some interesting photos at Dumbreck, including the shots of the swans. I just missed getting shots of their take off, but it was a joy to see in the scattered afternoon sun. Cycled as far as Shirva Farm but the going was tough with the headwind and the fact that they were “upgrading” the canal tow path. Upgrading apparently means digging it up and leaving it like that. The path was a quagmire. I turned and came back along the canal, then crossed at the path through the plantation and back to the car. I was really pleased that I’d taken Scamp’s advice and brought a flask with coffee. It was a more pleasant run back, not fighting the headwind, but the coffee was welcome.  I even washed my bike when I came home.  The first wash it’s had in a long time.  I hope it still works.

Salsa at night and then Bachata for the second hour. It’s getting better. I’m beginning to relax into it. Much less frantic than Salsa, but not as enjoyable. Too regimented for my random brain. Rain forecast for tomorrow.

 

Curry – 7 February 2016

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combo bI had to drive in to Glasgow today to go to a curry making afternoon at Cafe India in the city.  It was a really interesting two and a half hours which started with making pakora – Potato, Spinach and Chicken varieties.  After we sampled them, we moved on to mains.  I made the Lamb Lazees (pronounced Layzee) which was really rich and a little bit creamy.  I think I’d he hard put to make it myself, but it was an experience discovering just how quick these dishes are to make.  Granted the meat was all pre-cooked, but one woman was vegetarian and she made a standard vegetable curry in the same time as the rest of us, which was about 10 minutes.  Next was a demonstration of making nan bread and chapatis.  We didn’t get a chance to make our own, probably on health and safety grounds as the tandoor oven operates at 300ºc!  Finally we had a sit down lunch where we got to eat the fruits of our labours.  I’ve told Scamp that the next time she sees this offer, she should go and then we can compare notes.

We should have gone to the Sunday Social today, but I couldn’t be bothered and Scamp was feeling the after-effects of yesterday’s late night at Kul’s surprise birthday party at Gusto in Bothwell Street in Glasgow.  Table should have been ready for 7.45pm, but the restaurant were running late.  Finally got our mains at just after 10.00pm.  I don’t think we’ll be back there again.  My main was good – roast chicken, but the meat was finished before they brought the potatoes and veg.  Totally disorganized and not cheap either.  So, we agreed to forego salsa but did have a practise at the bachata steps we learned last week.

Only got one shot today in a dull rainy Glasgow.  It wasn’t raining in Cowcaddens underground where I got today’s PoD.  It should have been the full view across both tunnels, but I was rushing and didn’t notice the camera strap obscuring the left hand tunnel.  One of the problems of the 9mm lens is the remarkable field of view.  Sometimes it’s too big a field.

Saw a couple of lovely paintings in the restaurant (top right) and tried to copy one tonight.  Not totally successfully, but an interesting diversion from my usual “style“.  Yet another work in progress.

Heading East – 6 February 2016

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combo bWe tried to go to Falkirk today, but got as far as the outskirts when we met the traffic. Everyone seemed to want to go to Falkirk today. We didn’t. We turned and went out over the Kincardine Bridge and drove to Culross. It was a short visit, because as soon as we got out of the car the rain came on and it was bitterly cold. Up until then it had been fairly bright with no sign of the wet stuff. I took some photos around the pier and jetty at Culross but Scamp was looking really cold and miserable sitting around waiting for me, so we headed back west again and went to Milano’s for lunch.

Not much else to report about the day other than there seems to be a morons convention going on next door. Mostly it seems to revolve around them trying to talk.  They seem to have mastered shouting, but are failing to understand the technical aspects of controlling their sound level. I think the bloke’s dog is teaching them, but it’s an uphill task and may be beyond him.

It Rained – 5 February 2016

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt rained all day. High point was going to The Cotton House for lunch. Other than that, it was a bit of a very damp squib. A trip to Robroyston couldn’t lift the clouds. Even the scones I made tonight were underbaked according to my own Mary Berry. I’ve got to admit they weren’t my best. You can always tell how bad it’s been – today’s PoD is flowers, always a bad sign. That’s it I’m afraid. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Another sunny start – 4 February 2016

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combo bHo, ho, two sunny mornings on the trot! This morning I got up and patently ignored the little pink case with the borked Nexus 7 in it. Had my breakfast and headed off to Glasgow to return a pair of shoes. I had that feeling when I left the shop two weeks ago that the purchase was a mistake. I was right. No amount of wearing them about the house would convince me to accept them into my shoe library. Nope, they were duffers as far as I was concerned. I’d hummed and hawed about them when I was in the shop, but as soon as I left it, I knew it was a mistake. Oh well, the return was made without a hitch and I left feeling so much better. On the way back home I made the decision to get the bike out, pump up the tyres and head off for a gentle run in the sun.

The run transpired, the sun didn’t. By the time I was leaving the house, the clouds had rolled in from the west and rain was threatening to dampen my high spirits. However, I was suited and booted (as the lady in the Apprentice said) and I was off. Not a long run, I’d decided, just a gentle breaking in expedition into darkest Tipland. It used to be an open cast mine I think but later it became a tip and even later, recently in fact there has been a lot of test boring on the site. I may be wrong, but I get the sense that it may eventually become a housing development. It will have a fancy name, the houses will be ‘chicken boxes’ and about ten years or so after they are occupied someone will start a petition to get samples taken from the ground. Those samples will confirm the people’s fears that there is methane gas exuding from the ground. If only they had listened to me, I could have told them. But for now, it is usually a good place to see deer in the winter and a great place for damselflies and dragonflies in the summer. No deer today and the damselflies are still in the nymph stage, busy catching water beetles and minnows, unaware of the changes that will come soon in their lives. So it was photos of trees today. That’s ok, some of the trees made interesting shapes and there was almost a bit of form to the sky, almost. Lightroom helped there. After that it was cycle home, have a cup of coffee and dream of warm summer cycling days to come. DV.

Perth – 3 February 2016

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combo bSince it was a bright cheery day, we went to Perth. We had intended going on the bus, but going there was fine, but coming back was a bit of a hit and miss – with our luck it would be a miss, so we drove. It was a really pleasant run up the A9. The scenery with the changing light on the hills was spectacular. We get so used to seeing this scenery in Scotland and we become partly blind to it. I think it’s because we’ve had such poor weather and light recently that we enjoy the world around us when the light returns.

We had come to Perth to get coffee and tea, well, I had come for these essentials as it’s only me who drinks tea and mostly me who drinks coffee. We went for a walk along the Tay and that is where I saw the swan in a newly formed pond created by the recent floods. It was also where we saw the tower on the far side of the river. I think it was really a bit of a folly.

Lunch in Howies restaurant as we hadn’t booked Cafe Tabou so there was little chance of getting a table.

Scamp wanted to look at handbags on the way to the coffee shop and I spotted what looked like a decent pair of shoes in the same shop. Tried them on and decided on the spot that they were fine. Scamp beat me, she got a pair of shoes and the handbag. I wasn’t too bothered because I liked my shoes, they were a bargain at the price and there were no handbags that I liked. I got my caffeine requirement and we drove home, all in sunshine. It’s forecast to rain tomorrow. What a shame.

When we came home I struggled again with that bloody Nexus 7. I’ve decided it can’t be fixed. I’ve tried everything I can. I think someone has been at it before me and without knowing what they have done, I can’t undo it. I’ve learned a lot in the process though. Mainly, leave well alone when it’s been bodged by somebody else.

I’m walking in sunshine – 2 February 2016

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combo bFor a time today, the sun shone.  It was so good to walk in the sun.  After all the dull, heavy feeling weather we’ve had this winter it was good to feel the sun on your face and to see shadows.  It’s surprising just how much it means to see the effects of the sun on your surroundings.  According to the weather fairies we are to have more sun tomorrow.  Bring it on!

Went to the gym and had a play around on the machines.  I’ve still got a few to investigate and a few that I can happily discount as ‘not for me’.  Went for a swim afterwards, but the pool was busy so we spent most of our time in either the sauna or the jacuzzi.  I don’t mind, it does you good to just get out these days.

After lunch I went for that walk in the sun and when I got back one of Scamp’s friends had brought her Nexus round for me to have a look at.  The first thing I noticed was that the back of the device wasn’t seated properly, so I suspect somebody had been there before me.  Second thing was that the machine was totally dead – not even the empty battery sign which usually means it’s been left on or something has shorted somewhere.  I worked with it all night, but the whole thing is totally ‘bricked’.  A very technical and appropriate term for knackered.  I don’t see it working again any time soon.  In an attempt to reset it like I did with my own Nexus, I had to use the PC.  What a brick that is.  Windoze 10 wouldn’t start – grey screen – no message – no pointer.  Powered down, then back on – just the same.  Left it charging for about 15 minutes and a message appeared “configuring updates 100% complete”  So that’s what the bloody thing had been doing.  It would have been good of Win10 to at least give me a clue what was going on in its tiny mind.  After another 3 hard resets, it started working, though grudgingly.  That’s why I don’t mind paying the hefty price for a Mac.  It just works.  Usually.

White Rabbits (x3) – 1 February 2016

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe traditional greeting for the first day of the month.  It’s meant to bring you good luck or something.  Let’s hope it breaks the seemingly endless chain of storms that are sweeping Scotland.  Today it was Storm Henry’s turn to wreak devastation.  Henry is quite a noisy and blustery storm, he’s still rumbling around outside as I write this and will be there tomorrow to catch the unwary so we are told.  Some businesses in Glasgow let their workers go home early because of him.  They probably had their hours cut though.  Charity stops at the office.

Didn’t see any rabbits today, white, brown or striped red and yellow.  I did see three deer though.  The were feeding in a public park near the path to Condorrat, right next to a swing park.  They saw me, but pretended they didn’t and seemed quite unconcerned.  I could almost hear them saying “Oh, it’s just another old codger taking photos.  Ignore him and he’ll go away after he’s got his shots.”  So I did get the shots and they did ignore me and I went away.

“Gems” had invaded the house by the time I got back so I took the car out for a run and tried for some photos down by the Luggie, but there was nothing stirring and it was getting really dull so I headed home with an empty SD card.

Went to the Bachata class again tonight and although it was the fat bloke, he was much, much better than last week’s wannabe.  “Junior Instructor my sharny arse” as DCI Steel would say in the latest Stuart MacBride book.  Books are a real pain.  Did you know the pages don’t light up?  You have to physically turn the pages too.  The pages don’t turn when you touch the right hand side of them.  How old-school is that?  If you want  to look up a word you have to use a special app called a Dictionary you can’t just ‘long press’ the word.  Worse still, the Dictionary app is a book too.  I think there’s a conspiracy here by the book makers who are trying to get you to but even more books.  It won’t work though.  There will always be a place for a Kindle.