Author: Zogman

Just a bit cooler today – 23 July 2026

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I think the days of the hot heat are numbered. It does feel a little bit cooler today.

I think I might have had too much of that hot Paisley sun yesterday. While Scamp wandered round the back garden rearranging things, I went to my bed for an hour or so in the afternoon. I felt a lot better when I woke up. Not entirely sure what caused it, but Alex and I had been walking around Paisley for a while, yesterday. It might have been that.

After I woke, I took a camera out for a walk in St Mo’s and almost immediately a Common Darter dragonfly flew over my shoulder and landed neatly right in front of me. I got that ‘dragonfly feeling’ again. The feeling that the insect was watching me even more intently than I was watching it. We both stayed in that pose, each one of us keeping a weather eye on the other and neither wanting to be the one who made the first move. It was a bit like an old spaghetti western. Eventually I blinked and walked past the insect. I’m sure it sniggered as I walked round the pond.

After the impasse I walked down to the shops and brought back some strawberries, some raspberries and a melon. The fruit was for tonight’s dinner once it was mixed with chopped up baby potatoes and little gem lettuce, beetroot and a boiled egg with some mozzarella and a few other veg. It turned into a filling meal.

Scamp and I had watered the dry looking plants in the garden with a watering can when I came back from St Mo’s and we gave it another sprinkle tonight because a lot of the plants were looking quite dry, especially the ones that are clipped to the top of our fence (not the new one). The wind tends to dry these poor plants.

Tomorrow, Scamp is intending to meet Shona for coffee and a blether. I’ve got other things to do. The dragonfly got PoD.

 

Paisley in the sun – 22 July 2026

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I met Alex at Buchanan Street bus station today and we went for a coffee to give us a chance to say where we wanted to go today.

Alex chose Paisley and I said ok, as long as we didn’t have to go to the Ugly Duck. The service in The Duck is really slow and the food is just ok. I suggested to Alex that we look at Pendulum. Scamp and I have been there and the food was really good. Alex agreed and we got the train to Paisley.

We went for a wander around the town for a while and then we had a look at the menu in Pendulum. We got a seat without a problem. I chose Fish ’n’ Chips and Alex chose Deluxe Burger. When the order came, the batter on my fish was very oily and the fish was just a little thin. Not a great deal of taste in the fish or the batter. Wished I’d got Alex’s burger which he said was great, instead. All I can say is that the last time Scamp and I were there everything was fine. Maybe it was just a bad day for Pendulum, but one bad meal can be a restaurant’s downfall. One strange thing about Pendulum is that they don’t allow those who serve the meals to accept tips. Neither of us had heard of such a thing before.

After lunch we went for a walk round the town. I especially wanted a few photos of the church on the steep cobbled hill. Now remember that today was hot, not just warm, but hot. We climbed the hill and the gates were locked, but Alex had remembered there was a road that took you round the back of the church. We followed the road round and walked round the church. I got a few photos, but I’m a bit edgy about taking photos in a churchyard, so I looked, but didn’t photograph anything apart from the church itself.

We walked further along the road and found the path that would take us down to street level. Paisley has lots of wee vennels and narrow cobbled streets and we both agreed they were good subjects for photos. We walked back to the main area of the town and watched a boy dressed in strange gear feeding the pigeons in a park. He was standing with both arms outstretched and encouraging the birds to sit on his arms. Maybe it’s just Paisley folk that are strange.

We got the train back to Glasgow and went in to a Nero for a coffee before Alex got his bus and I saw mine just leaving the stance. Just not my lucky day today!

Back home, it looks like the fence between us and next door is finished. I’m sure they will be pleased to see it in place.

PoD went to a man taking in some rays, with a glass of beer on his table. How I envied him.

No plans for tomorrow yet.

A cloudy morning – 21 July 2026

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The clouds took a long time to disappear today and when we were walking in to Tesco Scamp was sure she could feel a few raindrops on her face. Either the rain was very light, or it was her imagination, because by the time we came out of Tesco loaded with our Tuesday shopping, the clouds were just beginning to break.

When we came home Scamp found an envelope sitting on our mat. It was the official invitation to Ross and Chris’s wedding. Very smart looking invite, as most invites are these days. It had hardly hit the table before we were examining it and making sure that our RSVP was sent. We’re both looking forward to it and Scamp is already making a list of potential dresses. I’ll probably wear a kilt if that’s appropriate. All being well.

After lunch, I started trying to get the Mac to read my old backups from about eight years ago. I can’t remember what I was looking for, but the Mac wasn’t interested in it. It kept telling me it couldn’t work with the 4GB of data. In fact the section that should hold the data was greyed out and couldn’t be read. I struggled with it for a couple of hours with no success. I tried using an old, slow Mac to no avail. In fact I foolishly tried to get an even older backup to read and it couldn’t be read either. I admit that I was panicking with visions of losing years of data, good and bad. Eventually I remembered a sequence I used to use to get the Mac to read the data in its own language and there were the data fields and they weren’t greyed out. Everything seems to be as it should be again. Just to be sure, I’ve written out the instructions to find it again, but that was scary.

For one reason or another, I didn’t want to go for a photo walk today, and that was before the calamity had struck. So the PoD was actually a photo from yesterday. It’s a Great Willowherb with a couple of pink flowers.

The fence next door is looking good. The posts are in and the stringers are too. Most of the verticals are in place and it looks like it’s just a bit of snagging that needs done. These guys work some amount of hours.

Tomorrow I’m hoping to meet Alex for a walk and a blether. I have no idea where he wants to go, but the weather is getting a bit cooler and Scamp may be right about those raindrops.

Up and out early – 20 July 2026

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Well, fairly early, let’s not get too excited.

Scamp and I drove over to Larky in the morning where I picked up my new distance vision glasses. These ones are going to stay in the case until I lose the last pairs. It’s not a case of “If” I lose a pair, more a case of “When”. Scamp is threatening to make me a pair that I can dangle round my neck! I don’t think so. I may be getting on in years, but I’m not quite over the hill yet.

With the new glasses in my pocket we drove over to Chatelherault for coffee and a cake each. It’s ages since I’ve been there, and even longer since Scamp has been. It was such a beautiful morning with a blue sky and a few fluffy white clouds. I hadn’t bothered to bring a camera, partly because I tend to go into Photographer mode when I bring a camera and spoil the day by whipping the camera out at every opportunity, and partly because I’ve seen Chatelherault in almost every weather condition.
Anyway we did go to the cafe and had a cafe and cake. Then we had a leisurely walk around the park, admiring the panorama of the central belt in all its glory. After our walk we drove home. It was a bit strange to go for a short walk instead of a ramble through the trees. Quite refreshing for a change.

Back home and after lunch we noted that a load of wood was covering the garden next door. It looked like the construction of the fence had begun in earnest.

Scamp chose to sit in the front garden away from the saws, hammers and digging that was going on and I went for a walk in St Mo’s. I had thought it was supposed to cool down today, but if anything, it felt warmer. I’d forgotten to bring water with me so I curtailed my walk, but I did get some photos of butterflies over by the football park. PoD and my favourite was a Meadow Brown. It was a bit battered and bruised, but was still flying.

Scamp suggested Pasta Carbonara for dinner. It’s ages since I’d made it and it took me a while to get the recipe right, but Val must have been watching me over my shoulder and making sure I was getting it done properly.

Spoke to Jamie tonight, a bit out of sync because they had been late getting home from a barbecue. It seems that they are still having problems with water. Hopefully once we get our predicted rain, it will fall on their garden too.

The wood that had been lying in the garden next door is now looking like a real fence. They are making good progress with it. I’m impressed with what is really just one day’s work.

We may need to get some ‘messages’ in tomorrow.

A busy day for a ‘tog – 19 July 2026

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Sheila’s cousin, Isabel’s actual birthday is tomorrow, but she had decided it would be easier for all concerned if she had her birthday today, the 19th of July 2026. You don’t need to know how old she’ll be on her birthday. All I’ll say is that it’s a big number.

We arrived at the party place almost exactly on time and found a table for all four of us, Shona, Ian, Scamp and me to sit. I was the one with the camera and I think I almost got away with taking lots of photos of folk without getting any taken of me. Surprisingly, I knew a few of the people who were there, and stopped to talk to the ones I recognised. A lot of the names were familiar to me from Scamp telling me about members of the choir and now I could happily put faces to the names.

Lunch was a very full board of sandwiches and rolled up things probably they would be called ‘wraps’ or ‘petit fours’, but rolled up things, although a bit clumsy, describes them better as far as I’m concerned.

There were no speeches at the party. Scamp reckons that was one of the rules Isabel had laid down and good on you for sticking to your wishes Isabel. The hall had been booked for two hours and as the time approached, most of those attending were making their way home and we were among that group. It had been a lovely afternoon and I think we all enjoyed it. We dropped Ian off first then Shona and finally Scamp and I.

I do hope Isabel enjoys her birthday tomorrow and gets to relax with the rest of her family.

PoD was a bit of a cheat. It was a photo of a bunch of cut flowers Scamp liked and it was taken in our garden, yesterday.

Tomorrow I may drive to Larky to collect my new driving glasses and hopefully I won’t lose these ones, especially if I re-find them after I’ve paid for a new pair. One pair for the car, one pair for the house and one pair to be put in a safe place for when I lose the other two pairs.

Dancin’ – 18 July 2026

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It’s Saturday and that means we were dancing in Brookfield. It was another warm day, but with a lot of clouds hiding the sun.

Quite a full dance floor. We started with the Electric Slide. Just a repetitive piece of nonsense. Next was the American Smooth Waltz. It’s beginning to fit into place, but not as fast as Scamp would like. That took up about a third of today’s lesson.
For a break we danced the Sally Ann Cha-Cha. Also a bit of fun, but much more interesting that the electric slide.
Jane’s favourite, Rona’s Rumba was next. It was to commemorate a dancer called Rona who passed away a couple of years ago. It’s probably a lovely dance, but I’ve now heard a few of the old hands saying it has too many turns and it doesn’t flow well. They could be right. I just find it hard to dance. That was another third or more of the lessons gone.
Two more sequence dances, The Mayfair Quickstep and the Melody Foxtrot finished the class.

We drove home through very light traffic and were home in no time at all. Unfortunately I didn’t time it this time.

I didn’t want to go walking in St Mo’s again after yesterday’s disappointing walk. Instead I helped Danny, the bloke next door, to rip out the old wire fence that separates our two gardens. He’s determined to get a fence up to allow his grandkids to play in the garden. It was a tough job, but I got the remains of the old Blackcurrant bush removed and a lot of weeds and invasive flowers removed. It’s half past nine just now and he’s still working away at it. Not me. I’ve had enough for one day.

We’re hoping to go to Isobel’s 90th birthday party tomorrow. I’m intending taking my camera to record the event, although I’m sure Isobel will complain bitterly!

PoD went to a Calendula flower from the garden.

Yet another hot day – 17 July 2026

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The highlight of my day was driving to Kenilworth to get the results of my blood test. It was that kind of day! I’m glad to say that I passed the test and was so excited, I booked an appointment for my annual checkup.

After lunch Scamp suggested we should strim the grass, front and back. Between us we hauled out the strimmer and while we were there, we brought out the grass cutter too. I didn’t do any of the cutting myself, I left the technical stuff to Scamp. I just moved the pots of flowers out on to the path to allow Scamp to mow everything more quickly. She seemed to be on a mission today, because even the daisies were having a short back and sides and the recalcitrant ones were beheaded on the spot.

When the rough cutting was finished Scamp suggested we move some of the flowerpots about. I did the rough positioning and Scamp made the fine adjustments. With everything back in the correct place I went for a walk in St Mo’s. Scamp relaxed in the garden.

There was little to see today in St Mo’s today. No dragonflies, a few damselflies and no sign of any other creatures. In the distance I could hear some fanatics playing basketball in the school grounds. Other than that, I hardly met a soul.

Back home we watered the garden. Thankfully there are no water restrictions in Scotland, at least not for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come.

PoD went to a Greenbottle, not a Bluebottle sitting on a Cowparsley flowerhead. Apparently, according to Google bluebottles and greenbottles are different species. It’s amazing what you find out.

I think we may be going to dance class tomorrow. Hope Brookfield have their air-con working. Ha ha, fat chance of that!

An invitation to dinner – 16 July 2026

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Another really hot day. I was glad that we had managed to get the front garden watered last night.

This morning, Wordle on the iPhone kept shutting down. I tried all the usual remedies without much success. Then I tried switching to the MBP and it worked ok, but still had the same problem on the iMac. I left it for a while and later in the morning I not only had the iPhone version working, but also managed to get the right letters in the right order … with a little bit of cheating! I’ll see how the system works tomorrow.

Scamp was pruning the bushes again and in the late afternoon I went for a walk in St Mo’s with the old 55-210mm Sony. The quality is reasonable, but really it’s the portability that I like it for. An APS-C camera is more than good enough to get decent photos. That’s the story I tell myself, but I still prefer the full frame camera/lens combo, even if it’s much heavier.

In the late afternoon we headed over to Shona’s house. We’d been invited over to have dinner with her. Her suggestion.

We had Melon for starter, followed by Chicken with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes and a Parsley Sauce. A lovely summer afternoon meal. Dessert was Strawberry Cream Sponge. We even had a bottle of Nosecco to go with it. Shona can make dinner for us anytime!

We sat and talked for a couple of hours, watching the clouds gather above us, then dissipate again later. Drove home and got parked in the same space we’d come out of.

Watched Mastermind to finish of this week’s first trilogy and then watched the first Sewing Bee. Too hard to say who the front runners are going to be this year.

PoD was a couple of wild raspberries I saw on today’s walk around St Mo’s.

 

Sun Catchers – 15 July 2026

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I think it was the angle I used that made it look like the wild geranium flowers were all pointed at the same spot.

We drove out to Larky today because Scamp needed to have a checkup at the optician. It also gave me the opportunity to get a new pair of glasses to replace the one’s that had disappeared when we came back from Skye. Different glasses from the last ones, just for fun. And because I was replacing a pair I’d lost recently, I got the new ones for half price.

Once all of that was organised and Scamp was having her eyes checked I drove up through Larky and found a petrol station that I’d forgotten was there. Put some fuel into the tank before the beepy noise told me I was running low. I drove further up the road and remembered that there was a Lidl at the top of the hill and Lidl sell a lovely, cheap bottle of gin. Two birds, one stone!

As I was driving out of Lidl with my bottle, I got a message from Scamp to tell me she was sorted and ready to be driven to Brookside cafe and garden centre. It’s an old fashioned cafe that’s been there for years, but one that sells Rolls ’n’ Flat Sausage and also Rolls ’n’ Scrambled Eggs with cups of real coffee. None of your fancy ground beans, but real coffee, out of a jar I think. While we were there Scamp found a perfect present for one of her friends, so we bought it on the spot and then drove home before she could find anything else to purchase.

Back home I changed into Shorts and Tee Shirt and while Scamp sunbathed with lots of sun cream in the garden, I walked over to St Mo’s to get some photos. There wasn’t much to shoot today. The swans were hiding in the bushes from the sun and there was only one dragonfly in the whole of the pond that I could see. The PoD I chose was a bunch of wild geraniums, they looked like scanners pointed in the sky searching for signs of rain that didn’t come.

Annette came for dinner. I was chef for the day and Scamp had chosen Fish Risotto. Easy to make and the oven does most of the work. Good conversation with a good friend.

Later in the evening, Scamp found the ‘lost’ glasses. Oh well, another pair of driving glasses won’t go amiss!

Hoping to dine with Shona tomorrow.

Off to feed the Vampires – 14 July 2026

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I decided I’d better go and feed the vampires before they came for me.

It was almost a full house in the health centre this morning and I thought I’d be waiting for ages to get my bloods taken, but then remembered they are a multi-functional health centre now catering for all sorts of injuries and problems. Mine was fairly simple and took almost no time at all. Back home the weather was beginning to improve from the dull heavy clouds we get used to in Scotland. There was still a cool east wind blowing until the sun made an appearance.

Scamp and I drove to Tesco and filled a trolley full with essentials for a weekly shop. Nothing new, just the basics with little to add. By the time we got back home the sun was shining fully and the whole place felt warm again. Just a comfortable warmth.

The breakdown cover on the blue car was about to run out, so I spent an hour or so in the afternoon working out who was the best choice for the cheapest price. It’s always a conundrum finding who you can trust for the least amount. At the last gasp, I finally settled on the one I had last year for a decent price. Now I just hope I never have to use it. Isn’t it strange that we pay good money for something you hope you will never use? That’s what keeps us going I suppose.

Dinner tonight was home made Paella. As usual I made far too much, but Scamp suggested we freeze, or at least chill the remainder to use, perhaps tomorrow.

We watched University Challenge in the evening. It’s usually an autumn program, but this year all three, University Challenge, Mastermind and Only Connect have started already. I think it makes the year appear to shrink. They are the only game shows we watch.

Today’s PoD turned out to be a photo of a Blue Eryngium from the garden. It’s quite a startling flower. I took it with a lens that I don’t use very often. It gets terrible reviews, but does produce some great images. Best of all, it’s cheap … if you can find a good one! I did and I’m sticking to it. See if you can spot the spider!

Tomorrow we’re hoping to drive to Larky for Scamp to get her eyes checked. The last time the went the optician thought her eye pressure was a bit high. Hope it’s settled now.

Annette is intending to come over tomorrow for dinner. It will give Scamp someone other than me to talk to. I’m hoping to go out for a walk with the camera and leave the ladies to their chat.