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A grey start with late brightness – 17 March 2016

Posted on by Zogman

combo bThe day started off very dull and grey.  Scamp went off to meet a friend for coffee in Hamilton and reported that the weather there was much better than here in Cumbersheugh.  Nothing surprising there with our omnipresent Cumbersheugh Cloud.  I went up “The Toonie” to meet Fred for a coffee.  It’s not as if we don’t have coffee or coffee makers at home, it was just a coincidence that we were both meeting different friends for the same beverege.  Had a natter with Fred and we set the world to rights as usual then the unthinkable happened.  The Costa repair man came in to service the coffee machine and they could only provide tea.  Now I’m perfectly happy with tea, but as far as I know, Fred only drinks coffee and beer.  Hardly ever spirits and never tea.  So we had to either walk to the other end of the centre and enter the dingy Costa there or sit coffee-less in the light.  We chose the latter.

When I came home, via Tesco as I was cooking tonight and Dobbies because I wanted to be self-sufficient in mint for mojitos, the weather was definitely brightening up, so I got my boots on and went over to St Mo’s to get some foties.  Got a couple of shots of a pair of deer and a lot of contre-jour ones against the low light.  The monochrome one of the trees was a happy accident.  I was trying to  work out how to use my phone to geotag the photos in the new Oly and just took a grab shot.  When I got home, I found that I had indeed geotagged the shot but it was unremarkable and was destined for the bin.  I must have pressed a hot key that did a basic conversion to mono and when I was doing a final check of shots for the bin, I liked the result.  Not PoD, but interesting enough to save.  Have a look at it on Flickr viewed on the lightbox (press L) and see what you think.

A case for better weather – 16 March 2016

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P3160679- flickr--76Today we spent our afternoon in Livingston selecting a case sufficiently large for Scamp to pack for our next holiday although it’s not even on the horizon yet, in fact we haven’t even decided for certain where we’re planning to go. That’s forward thinking for you. I did manage to get myself a waistcoat in a sale, so it wasn’t a total loss for me.

The day started with high cloud and although the east seemed to have better weather than the west, contrary to what the forecasters said, the sun never really got through the cloud. When we were on our way home, the cloud just seemed to get thicker and darker and the light got gloomier.

I went out to get basil to make pesto for dinner and there was just a glimmer of golden light appearing between the cloud and the land, so I took a detour from the road home and grabbed a few shots. Saw some geese flying north, another sign that winter is on the way out for another year. Further on, I saw a field full of geese. I’d have stopped to grab a few shots, but I was on a really narrow, almost single lane, road and couldn’t find a passing place. Another day maybe.

That’s about it for this Wednesday.

Back in the old routine – 15 March 2016

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combo bIt was a struggle but today we set off for the gym and a swim. The gym was tough, but I did my 6 torture devices and proceeded to a busy pool where I managed a couple of lengths without bumping into anyone, but gave up as more people entered the water. Went and sat in the steam room for a while before finishing off with five minutes in the jacuzzi. Exercise done for today.

Managed a short walk through St Mo’s later in the afternoon and caught a couple of oystercatchers unawares, then got another shot of a duck lifting off. Took “The Big Dog” (yes, JIC your terminology is rubbing off on me) with me today with the Tamron in place. It seemed to behave perfectly, mainly because I was limiting the ISO to about 3000, not its usual 25000. At least that gives the lens a fair chance to show its mettle without having grain the size of golf balls.

Other than that, it was a dull day with a cold biting wind, not a bit like yesterday. Might as well have been in Corralejo!

Sunshine – 14 March 2016

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combo bHey, maybe we brought some sunshine back.  Deep in the folds of our bags there must have been a little seed of Canaries magic sunshine.  When I woke this morning, just after 7.00am the sun was shining through the windows and the sky was blue.  Got up and did a little more catching up on the blog then after breakfast I set to to clear my ToDo list for the day.  By midday it was clear, apart from some more blog posts and Flickr post to upload.  The heavy lifting was done.  I must say that it would have been a much more onerous task without the magic of DayOne and Dropbox.  DayOne on my phone means I can peck away at the keyboard and write about things as they happen during the day and that means it’s not such a chore (I hate that american sounding word) to remember and write up my day when I’m tired at night (like I am now).  Dropbox allows me to sync the DayOne write-ups with the Mac.  Anyway, as usual, I digress.

Got the bike out and went out wearing shorts!  I took my longs as well as insurance, just in case the sun was lying and it was really cold.  It wasn’t.  It was windy though, an easterly wind, which means it’s a headwind when I’m on my way home.  Not to worry though, that would be later.  It was a tail wind on the way out.

Got some good macro photos of Coltsfoot Daisies.  They always remind me of my dad.  He used to say they were one of the first signs of spring.  It was him who told me how it got its name.  It’s to do with the shape of the leaf.  Also got some green blobs – my name for the fruiting bodies of moss.  Pretty little things if you take the time to look and quite colourful too.  Got one shot of a duck doing its vertical takeoff.  Ducks make me think of fighter planes the way they take off in a straight line, climbing away into the sky just like a Typhoon or a Tornado does, but a lot quieter.  Beautiful flight patterns when landing too, with down pointing wings – technically anhedral as opposed to dihedral.  Less stable, but better for controlling the airflow.

Salsa and bachata at night.  Old moves, but well remembered in salsa and good combinations that we’ll need to work at in bachata.

Mixed forecasts for tomorrow.  As Scamp says, we’ll need to see what the weather’s like.

Auld claes and purrich – 13 March 2016

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combo bBack to life, back to reality.  Maybe Fuerteventura was cold and dull by Canaries standards, but the light was bright compared with a Scottish late winter/early spring.  It was a sea change being back home with ISO ratings back in four figures again, but it was also good to be back home.

This being the second Sunday in the month, there was no Sunday Social to brighten our day, but also no need to rush around getting things done with a 4.00pm cut off as happens on SS days.  Like most things, it was a double edged sword.

The furthest we went as Tesco on a shopping expedition and then I went to Condorrat via St Mo’s to get some Soda Water because we had decided to have one more Mojito each before the diet and withdrawal of alcohol started.  Seemed like a good move – the Mojitos, not the withdrawal of another innocent pleasure.

It looks like a decent day tomorrow.  May go the the gym and may go cycling.  Whatever we choose, it will involve some exercise.  It must.

At the Airoport I’m happy – 12 March 2016

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combo bListening to the “Passaheros” and “Condestinos” announcements while we wait in one queue after another, I’m almost tempted to stand to attention when German flights are called. German seems such an abrupt stentorian language. More a set of commands and demands than lyrical French or stiff upper lip English or even drunken Gaelic. Like the lady who informed the chef at breakfast “You vill cut up the fried eggs for me.”  A statement.  Not “Vill you … ?”, a request. Thinking along those lines, wouldn’t it be better if we used local vernacular at places like airports: “Aw right, them thits gaun tae Zurich git in the queue noo. Them thits no, jist haud yer wheesht an’ wait ’till yer telt.” Now doesn’t that have a bit more character and humour?

Anyway, for once we were called to the gate, then boarded well ahead of time and we are currently flying through the air strapped in to an armchair in an aluminium tube, heading in the general direction of Dublin. Isn’t technology wonderful?

Arrived ten minutes ahead of schedule in Glasgow. It took about 20 minutes to get through security, possibly because three planes had landed in swift succession, possibly because the much vaunted automatic Euro Passport booths weren’t working again – well, to be honest, they’ve never worked since they were brought in. It took another 20 minutes for the cases to be delivered. What’s the point of having faster and faster transport links when the infrastructure at the airports isn’t up to the job? Anyway, we were home and the weather was, as a flight attendant once said “… eh, Scottish.”

Today’s title comes from the Loudon Wainwright III song “Lowly Tourist”
“… at the airoport I’m happy ‘cos I know I’m going home.”

Last full day in the sun – 11 March 2016

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combo bMaking the most of the last full day. It started with grey skies, but by the time we headed off after breakfast, the sun was breaking through. We were headed again for Corralejo town. Basically it’s north to the town or south to the dunes. East is the Atlantic and there is no road west. We wandered round an open air market and I was thinking about buying a Rolex watch, but I couldn’t decide between it and a Breitling. Both were €35. I decided to think about it. Scamp was taken by a woman’s scam, selling wine bottle openers.  She had a slick pitch, but was no match for Scamp.

So we are now sitting in La Cantante in Corralejo having a mojito after another of their excellent tuna pizzas. On the walk back to the hotel. On the way we passed a wee shop selling souvenirs and I got two shirts for €6. A bargain at twice the price. Ok, they were so thin you could spit peas through them, but bright cheery colours to match my sunny disposition.

When we got back, there was just enough sun left for an hour or so on the sun beds. Then it was back to the room to pack. 🙁

As you can see there were a lot of photos taken today.  To get a better look at them, visit my Flickr page by clicking on the mosaic.

Another day in the sun – 10 March 2016

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combo bToday started like yesterday with a search for a couple of sun beds together. We found them by the pool just outside the flat and that is where we stayed most of the day. The day began earlier with a sensible preparation for the sun. Rather than be caught out like yesterday we got thoroughly covered in sun cream. Then it was off to breakfast before we faced the sun.  The sun was not so constant today which was a blessing really because it was too hot yesterday.

WARNING!  MAY CONTAIN TECHNOSPEAK
After lunch we rested for a while beside the pool and then Scamp decided it was time for a walk. I’d said I wanted to do some painting on the dunes, so we headed up the road to the mini Sahara again. I didn’t get any painting done, but I did confirm my suspicions that this end of the dunes is a nudist beach. Couldn’t settle on a suitable spot for a painting and was getting exasperated with the camera occasionally overexposing. So started off back when I hit on the idea of doing a complete factory reset. I’d just done it when I realised that the over exposure only happened with the old kit lens. I checked it and sure enough, no matter what aperture setting I set on the camera, the lens aperture was stuck wide open. That would explain the overexposure. At least the overexposure in the camera. The overexposure of the blokes in the bushes was another matter entirely. Anyway, the reset seems to have made the E-M10 useable again.

Dinner tonight was in the Spanish restaurant where we had tapas to start with and then I had shoulder of lamb that simply fell of the bone – delicious and Scamp had salmon which apparently was quite good too. Pudding was banana flambé which was good, but with little evidence of any flames. Not like mine at all!

Tonight’s show was billed as Radio Gaga, but announce as We Will Rock You. Actually, it was better than the full length show we went to see in The King’s in Glasgow. The cast were all miming, but that didn’t affect our enjoyment. Sometimes enthusiasm is better than ability.

More pictures of the architect’s house, a desert shot and a cat for Hazy!

Our Day in the Sun – 9 March 2016

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IMG_3105- flickr--73--69What can I say, it’s been a day of wall to wall sunshine. Why, it’s almost like being on holiday! After breakfast we settled ourselves on two sunbeds next to the pool (and more importantly, the pool bar) and haven’t moved except to get drinks and food. It’s now almost 4.30pm and we’ve been here since about 10.00am. Might go for a walk to the beach later. So this is what being on holiday is like!

It’s amazing the things you promise yourself, the lies you tell too. We didn’t move until the man came to clear away the sun beds. After dinner we went to watch the Kids Club and then it was time for more rum ‘n’ cokes ( Scamp) and mojitos (me). That’s where we are now, ensconced in the lobby bar. Drinking to another sunny day tomorrow.

A day on the dunes – 8 March 2016

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combo bThe sky was a bit more promising this morning, so after breakfast we went for a walk to the dunes again. Took some more photos of the strange house which apparently belongs to an architect, not an artist.  Every time we pass it, it seems there’s more to see, just something we hadn’t noticed the last time.  We walked right in to the dunes proper this time and watched the kite surfers for a while. Then, when we got brave, we paddled our wee tootsies in the Atlantic. Ooh it was freezing! I can now see why the kite boys and girls need those wetsuits. Took some more arty farty photos in the gloriously warm – no, HOT sunshine before heading back. On the way back I did spot a couple of folk skulking behind some of the prickly bushes, apparently in the bare buff, (a dangerous game to play!) so this end of the dunes might be a nudist beach after all.

We’re sitting inside in the cozy wee bar at reception now drinking rum ‘n’ cokes and pretending it’s the Canaries we’re in, not a freezer.

Good weather forecast for tomorrow. We’ll see.