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More rain – 27 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

We still need more of the wet stuff, just for the plants and the poor frazzled grass.

The rain didn’t start until after midday. Scamp was already out and about meeting Shona for coffee and a blether in Costa. I stayed home and managed to write a wee message to Ray, who’s going through a hard patch just now. Then I caught up with Fred who was just getting home from a shopping trip to Costco. We had a fairly long chat about anything and everything. As usual we finished off by telling each other that we really should meet up for coffee some time soon, but rarely have the time to do it.

By the time I was signing off with Fred, Scamp was returning from her meeting with Shona and I’m glad to say that Scamp says she’s looking much better now that a load has been lifted from her back. She’s another one I should really give some time to.

After that Hazy was on the phone wanting to know what was happening Up North. We’d lots of things to tell her as she had lots of things to tell us. Hope Neil gets some relaxing time before school starts again next week, Hazy.

By the time we’d made all our phone calls and conversations, it was nearly dinner time. I’m struggling with trying to get my new computer speak nice with my old laptop. Especially where Adobe is concerned. I’ve already found that I’ve got a rogue Lightroom app floating around the old laptop. I may have managed to shoot it down today, but Adobe is such a twisted app, I’m not sure I’ve got rid of everything. If all else fails, I’ll get a bit of software that should allow me to store last month’s and this month’s photos without spending another fortune.

What I think I have done is get Adobe to get its ducks in a row and allow the Gmails to get working again. It wasn’t too difficult in the end. Just a case of taking my time (for once) and reading the instructions (which I rarely do)

PoD was a long-lens shot of Seagulls on the roof of a house behind us. I don’t know why we call them Seagulls, because very few of these scavengers have even seen the sea.

Tomorrow I’m intending taking the car to a garage for a service. I think it will need it.

The Rain Came – 26 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

At last, the long awaited rain came during the early hours of this morning.

I almost believe the flowers and plants in the garden were cheering when those first splashes hit. We’ve had the odd shower or two over the summer months, but today it was a deluge for a while. After that the clouds disappeared and the sun shone, then everything dulled down and a second downpour started. After that there were more showers, but not as heavy nor as long as those first two. The weather fairies are now predicting further showers, some heavy and some light in the coming weeks. Hope you down south folk get your share of the rain.

We drove over to Tesco after the first shower because Scamp wanted more compost to fill those green tubs we bought yesterday. The good thing about buying the compost from Tesco as opposed to garden centres is that Tesco stores their compost bags under the glass shelter at the front of the shop, at least that’s what happens in our Tesco shops. That means the compost bags are much lighter than those in the garden centres where the bags are stacked outside in the rain. I often think that in rainy, wintry weather, some of the goodness is washed out of the bags stacked outside.

I was due a telephone appointment with a doctor from the health centre this afternoon, some time after 2pm, I’d been told. My phone rang just after 6pm. The sister at my recent annual checkup had noted that my iron levels were a bit low and passed the message over to one of the doctors. I’d been given a course of Folic Acid and Ferrous Fumarate. Both seem to bolster the amount of red blood cells in the body. One pill in the morning and another in the evening. That’s in addition to the other pills I’m taking.
I’ve been taking both for about a month now and despite everything being normal in my results, the doc wants me to do the same test again in a month, just to make sure everything is normal. It was my turn to cook tonight and I added some spinach to the pasta to give us both some extra iron. If it’s good enough for Popeye, it’s good enough for me!

PoD was a photo of our latest addition to our garden furniture. ‘Crazy Chicken’ seems happy enough in the back garden, even in the rain!

Tomorrow Scamp is intending meeting Shona for a blether, but I’ve got to get more pills and I’ve even more tests to do.

Looking for plant pots – 25 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Out looking for plant pots and came home with a chicken.

We slept last night with just a duvet cover on top of us. Too warm for the actual duvet itself, so the cover provided all the warmth we needed. The weather is due to break in the next few days according to the weather fairies, hopefully that will mean that the weather will return to real Scottish weather. Cold and wet.

Scamp was looking for half a dozen plant pots for the back garden, so we drove to Torwood Garden Centre to source some. A lot of the plant pots we have have suffered in the recent weather. The pots being plastic are easily damaged by bright light. It makes them brittle and it won’t be the first time I’ve picked up a pot and had the bottom fall out of it and be left with just the rim in my hands. Like everything, plastic doesn’t last for ever.

We found exactly the pots Scamp wanted almost right away, so I volunteered to get a trolley because I just knew by the look in her eye that more things would be going into that trolley before the day was through, and I was right. A raspberry bush, pansies, wallflowers some black kale plants, a pot of heather and a chicken. All went into the trolley along with lots of other things.

Once we got them all into places in the boot and the back seat of the car, we went for cup of coffee for me and peppermint tea for Scamp. Then we shared a tipsy cake, tipsy in name only I think because this was a No Alcohol tipsy cake. I’m sure tipsy cakes used to have a distinct whiff of alcohol about them, or maybe I was dreaming.

Drove home via a narrow road just outside Haggs. I wanted to get some photos of the Forth & Clyde canal from one of the locks. I got the shot, but the real interest was a red tractor in a field next to the canal being loaded up with hay bales, presumably for silage. The bloke who was driving the tractor, was also carting the bales onto a low loader with a forklift attachment to the tractor. The light was constantly changing and I duly took around twenty shots from different angles and in different lights. That gave me some photos to turn into a PoD. I was really quite taken with them.

Back home and with the pots, flowers and of course the chicken safely unloaded, it was nearly time for Kirsty’s dance class.

Today was part 4, the final part of the rumba routine. This was the most complicated part so far, but by the end of the hour I was beginning to see how it hung together with parts 1 – 3.

Tomorrow I have a phone consultation with a doctor from the health centre to see how I’m getting on with my two lots of iron tablets.

The chicken has been named Crazy Chicken and is 100% ceramic! It lives in the back garden under some bushes.

Moving up – 24 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Today I took a deep breath and moved my catalog on to the new iMac. It caused a bit of an upheaval, but it seemed to work, or most of it worked. Still some things to iron out, but the main work is now done. The old iMac had been taking a fair bit of a pounding and every time I touched one of the SSD cables it seemed to lose another chunk of its memory.

It was a very dull day today until early evening when the skies lightened and the sun actually shone for a while. In the morning Scamp and I took it in turns to lug watering cans of that life-giving fluid round the front and back garden. Since the expected hosepipe ban isn’t in force yet, we decided to be good citizens and carry the water to the plants. They seemed to perk up after a quick drink. We’re hoping it will be enough until the promised rain comes later in the week.

Dinner for Scamp was Cauliflower Steak and for me was a ‘real’ steak. The Cauliflower one tasted good with two flavourings, but mine was tough and chewy. It might have been my cooking or it might have been an old tough bit of beef. It may be the last time I buy one of M&S’s fancy named steaks. I’ll stick to tried and tested sources, like the local butcher’s.

Spoke to Jamie and heard about Vixen’s new swimming pool in a smaller venue from her last one. Then, almost immediately, Simonne replied with a couple of photos. One of Vixen swimming and another of her just standing staring at the camera as if saying “Is that all you pair have to do with your time?”

PoD was a close up of a bunch of Antirrhinums that are having their second flowering of the year. Pretty colours in them. We always called them “Map Maps” when I was wee, for no apparent reason.

I’m going to leave it there because this new ‘puter will need a rest after a couple of weeks of inactivity and probably needs a wee rest now.

The only down side I can see for the new system is that I’ve lost access to older blog posts. Maybe I’ll find them some day in a hidden corner of the blog.

Tomorrow I might speak to a man about giving the Blue car a bit of TLC.

A dull day – 23 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

There wasn’t much sunshine today. Dull white skies, mainly.

We had intended going to Dunfermline, but I was too slow to rise and by the time I got my act together, it was getting to be too late to go.

Scamp used that time to hand water some of the thirsty plants in the garden. There hasn’t actually been an official ban on watering gardens or washing cars, but unless we get significant rainfall in the next week, I can see that being implemented. Even as I was walking over to Condorrat this evening, I noticed some of the plants beside the path were showing signs of needing some water. That’s very unusual in Scotland.

Scamp drove over to Tesco and bought enough food for us to ensure we didn’t starve for the next few days. I asked if I could help when she returned and she told me there was only on thing left in the boot of the car. Unfortunately she didn’t tell me it was a full bag of compost. That’s about the most work I’ve done all week, carrying that bag from the car to the house.

Today’s PoD was a table top photo of a bunch of white sweet peas. The background could do with some improving, but Lightroom made a great job of cleaning up the really gritty image.

Dinner tonight came from Golden Bowl in Condorrat. Chicken Chop Suey with Fried Rice for Scamp. Special Chow Mein for me. Both delicious.

We watched another Masterchef episode with the two clowns trying to look smart. How did that turn out? We also watched Anneka which Alex said was worth watching. I think the jury’s still out on that one.

Best show of the night by far was Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Shades of Clockwork Orange!

No plans for tomorrow, but we may go out somewhere.

Recovery – 22 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Scamp went to FitSteps in the morning and I just messed around with the computer.

When she returned we walked to Condorrat to post a birthday card, then we headed back towards the shops, but she coaxed me in to going for a walk in St Mo’s while she did the shopping. PoD turned out to be a Common Darter dragonfly. The dragonflies have been few and far between recently, but there were quite a few buzzing round the ponds this afternoon. Hopefully that’s them back until mid-autumn

Dinner tonight was Fish and Leek Risotto. My job. I thought it was fine, but Scamp thought it was a bit dry. Maybe too little Cremé Fraîche? I’ll bear it in mind for next time, all being well.

That was about it for today apart from watching an episode of Masterchef that wasn’t really riveting.

We got a message from Canute & Delia last night to say that they had arrived home safely and had had a great time in Scotland.

Today was a recovery day after driving back from Queensferry in rush hour. I don’t know how folk can drive through that congestion every day.

We’re maybe going out for lunch tomorrow if the weather plays nice.

Out to the East – 21 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

We were driving to South Queensferry today to meet up with Canute and Delia on the last day of their summer holiday

Earlier, I filled the tank of the Blue car and took it through the carwash just to make it look a bit more presentable when we got to Queensferry.

We arrived with almost an hour to spare and walked through the town with its quirky narrow cobbled streets and alley ways showing views of the Forth Rail bridge. The town had changed quite a lot since we had previously been there, a couple of years ago.

It was Scamp who was the first to spot Canute and Delia walking along the promenade, so we crossed the road to meet them. We took our time walking to the restaurant we’d chosen for lunch and were quickly seated.

The menu was basic restaurant fare and we ordered and found out about their ‘Glamping’ and the Michael Buble concert. The photos they showed us of the Glamping tents made them look more glamorous than we’d imagined. That doesn’t mean I’m thinking of booking one!

The food in the restaurant was mixed. The Sriracha & Honey Cauliflower starter was excellent, but my Steak and Pale Ale pie was really disappointing. Far too hot and salty. I did complain and got its cost removed from the bill. Nobody else had a problem with the food. Scamp’s Sea Bass, Delia’s Sriracha Cauliflower and Canute’s Fish Goujons were all fine. Maybe it’s just me, then!
Only Delia and Scamp had desserts. Passion Fruit & White Chocolate Pavlova for Delia and Salted Caramel Tablet Sundae for Scamp.

After that feast, we all sat and talked for a couple of hours before it was time for the other couple to go back to their hotel and start packing for tomorrow and for us to go home. We drove through the horrific Edinburgh traffic and after an hour of that, I followed Scamp’s directions to avoid being caught up in a tailback after an accident near Easterhouse, we finally arrived back home.

It had been a beautiful day with blue skies in the east coast. Not so good with black clouds and the threat of rain as we neared Cumbersheugh.

PoD was a photo of a couple sitting looking across the Firth of Forth with the Forth Bridge in the background.

It really was a great day. I think we all enjoyed the chat and the stories that were told.

Tomorrow Scamp is intending to go to FitSteps in the morning, but we have no other plans.

Walking with Alex – 20 August 2025

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I’d a bit of an upset stomach yesterday and I was hoping it wouldn’t present any problems today.

It didn’t. I met up with Alex at our usual place, Buchanan Street Bus Station. It had been a cold start this morning, but by the time my bus got to Glasgow it was warming up nicely. First stop was Cafe Nero for a coffee and a chance to plan the day. Neither of us had any ideas where go today, so Alex suggested a walk around the centre of the city. That suited me fine. I was looking forward to a walk and a talk. We passed a bloke entertaining the crowds with some decent sounding electric guitar music, mostly Snow Patrol. I was quite pleased that I could name a few of the songs he played!

Alex had scouted out a possible new camera for me (New to me, but really second hand). It looked like a bargain until I did a bit of research back home and found it had taken over 110,000 photos already! Mine had only taken just over 7,000. Not such a great bargain after all. Pity

We walked down Buchanan Street and along Ingram Street, avoiding the Apple Store. Then down to see the gigantic portrait that had been painted on a gable end for the Merchant City Festival in July. On the way there I did my ‘Good Samaritan’ act and gave a German(?) lady directions that would take her to the GOMA (Gallery Of Modern Art) which she was looking for in all the wrong places. I hope she found it. Alex and I photographed the massive portrait and then, because he wanted new guitar strings we had a wander round Guitar Guitar, a glory hole for musicians. I just wandered round wondering what was the most expensive guitar they had. It was £9999 just in case you’re interested, that was for a used Gibson Les Paul Custom blah, blah.

I got my PoD near there. It was two wee old guys (same age as me, probably) sitting near the ventilator for the underground railway. I don’t know what they were talking about, but it looked as if they were discussing the different architecture themes in the buildings on Argyle Street. Or maybe they were just discussing their team’s results.

We were getting hungry so Alex suggested Greggs for a sandwich and a bottle of juice. I agreed and he was paying. With our lunch in our hands we walked down to the Clyde Walkway and scoffed our lunch sitting on the grass, which seemed to be what everybody else was doing.

We walked along the Walkway when we were finished and critiqued the graffiti. Definitely not as good as the ones from a fortnight ago. The good thing about the Clyde Walkway is that if you do’t like anything you see there today, come back in a week and it will all be changed! Nothing lasts for long here.

By then we were heading homeward, but not before we had a coffee in the Nero in St Enoch’s Square. Then the long drag up the hill and into the bus station. Alex went left and I went right. We are considering a walk round Paisley next time.

Back home it was plenty warm enough to sit in the back garden. Dinner tonight was a Salmon and Broccoli Quiche for Scamp and Mince ’n’ Tatties with Beetroot for me.

I think we may be heading east tomorrow to meet some friends.

 

A change in the weather – 19 August 2025

Posted on by Zogman

A distinct change in the weather this morning. Much cooler than recently. Is this the gentle slide into Autumn I asked myself? Or is it just a cool day and the sun will return tomorrow?

It was dull and cloudy when I eventually got up and dressed and there didn’t look as if that was going to change very soon. Maybe it was just a rest day for the sun. It had been working very hard for most of the summer and it deserved a rest. As long as it didn’t forget to come back.

Lots of wee birds fluttering around the Rowan tree, presumably hoping the bird feeder would magically refill itself. Well, it did manage to refill itself, but it was me who filled it, not magic. To encourage the big fat pigeons to stay away from the bird feeder, I left a handful of seeds on the lid of the compost bin and that seemed to do the trick. The wee birds got some food and so did the big one. There’s probably a moral in that story, but I’m not sure I’m the best person to untangle it from my usual stories.

In the afternoon I managed to fix another email address which leaves only one on the old computer and possibly three still to fix on the new one. We’re working away at it making small changes and hoping they will stick. Scamp finds the most devious ways to work between computer and iPhone and get things to turn out the way we want them to. Thanks again Scamp.

I went for a walk in St Mo’s just before dinner and although there wasn’t much to look at, I did find a little thin green spider just finishing wrapping its dinner up on it’s web. I really needed a longer lens to capture it properly, but thankfully Lightroom came to the rescue and enlarged the photo so the details were visible. The spider got PoD.

The fruits and berries are ripening well ahead of schedule now after all that heat and sunshine. Today it was a bunch of Rose Hips that drew my attention. I think this must be the best year ever for fruits on the trees and in the garden. Yesterday we pulled four or five little red strawberries in what was meant to be the raised bed. I’m afraid that after about twelve years of wet and dry, it’s becoming rotten and will need to be replaced soon. Almost all the kale I planted has now shot (or Bolted to give it the proper name) and will soon be chopped up for the compost bin.

Mince and Tatties for dinner with a few slices of pickled beetroot, just because it was sitting there. Absolutely delicious!

I’m hoping to go for a walk with Alex tomorrow. Nowhere grand, probably just a walk round Glasgow. Scamp is hoping to entertain Annette while I’m out.

 

Yet another hot day – 18 August 2025

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Out to the dentist in the morning.

I was lucky to get an appointment at the dentist. I had my six monthly check last week and today, a week later, I had one of my teeth filled. Not for the first time either, it’s the second or maybe the third filling I’ve had for the same tooth and it’s all my fault. I just keep probing the repaired tooth and occasionally I’ve bitten down on a hard sweet and cracked the tooth. I’ve now had a “good talking to” and for the next week I’m banned from chewing anything tougher than an apple. I’ll do my best to comply.

So it was that lunch was half a nice soft Ginsters pasty. Scamp had gone shopping after I returned from the dentist. I was attempting to solve a couple of problems that were still lingering with the new iMac. It’s beginning to look more like a usable machine now, not just a bag of disconnected parts.

After lunch Scamp started to clear out some of the clutter we’d built up over the years. Many sheets of ancient documents and invoices went into the shredder and then into the compost bin. Chopped up paper apparently makes great compost when mixed with vegetable and fruit in the big black box at the back of the garden.

While she was doing that, I went for a walk in St Mo’s and got a photo of a Painted Lady butterfly that became PoD. They are occasional visitors to Scotland, but are less rare now than they were.

Scientists have discovered that the Painted Lady butterflies do indeed migrate south each autumn but make this return journey at high altitude out of view of butterfly observers on the ground. Radar records reveal that Painted Ladies fly at an average altitude of over 500 metres on their southbound trip and can clock up speeds of 30 mph by selecting favourable conditions.

We were dancing Rumba at Kirsty’s class. Very slow and precise and quite enjoyable in this hot weather. Kirsty taught three separate parts of the routine and then encouraged us not to dance them in order, but to take them in any order the leaders chose. No directions, but the leaders had to guide the followers by hand pressure alone. I found it difficult and demanding, but worth practising at home. Our one hour slot just disappeared!

Tomorrow I believe we may be taking some stuff to the Council tip. Especially if Scamp has her way!