Category: A Walk

A day on the dunes – 8 March 2016

Posted on by Zogman

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.

Hoodie – 7 March 2016

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combo bToday I gave in and bought a hoodie. It was another cold grey day. We did have an hour of sunshine around midday but that was it. In the morning we walked to the start of the dunes saw a strange (artist’s?) house with lots of icons on the walls. Just begging to be photographed.  Next door was what we think is a nudist hotel. High industrial looking metal walls and a name that hinted at naturism. We must go back and investigate.

Once I’d decided to bite the bullet and go for comfort over fashion, we walked half way into town and had a look in lots of shops, even venturing into Zara!!  Couldn’t find what what I wanted at a sensible price (€85 for a hoodie? I think not). With that in mind we walked back to our local shopping centre and got one there. Not in the shop where the Indian woman asked “You like it. You not going to buy?”  “Eh, naw”. Finally got one. A bit dearer than the Indian one, but from a much more pleasant seller. The squeaky wheel doesn’t always get the grease.  Just been to the Rambutan restaurant for dinner and it was great. Not the best hotel in the world, but the food is exceptional.

Sunday Stroll – 6 March 2016

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combo bToday after breakfast we walked all the way in to Corralejo. It took us some time.  We passed through a shopping arcade where there was an open air craft market and a group singing folk songs.  Further into town I got a cheap, but really comfortable shirt after waiting in a long, long queue. We saw the most amazingly customized bikes, cycles, not motorcycles, covered in shells and goatskin!

We walked down to the harbour and saw painted fish statues, like the cow parade, but fish!  On the walk back we stopped at a bar where we could have danced last night, had we known. Instead we had a pizza, Scamp had a glass of wine and I had a beer while we listened to a jazz guitarist playing Jimi Hendrix covers. Good guitarist, good pizza and the drinks were very welcome because it was starting to get warm.

Back at the hotel we watched a volleyball game in warm sunshine for an hour.

At night we watched the show – Cabaret and then got to dance salsa and bachata in the disco. Knackered now.

First thoughts on Corralejo – 5 March 2016

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P3050281- flickr--72--65We are sitting on the balcony with industrial strength G&Ts. This, after “Cooncil” (ie, all-inclusive, local spirit) mojitos and G&Ts and a few beers. Not impressed with the weather.  It’s a bit cool, but still doable. It’s the wind that keeps the temperature down. Went for a short walk along the beach, but swiftly headed for the shelter of the beachside houses. Food in the hotel is fine. Actually quite impressed. Rooms are fine. Nothing fancy, but sufficient for our needs. It’s strange that the temperature is higher after the sun sets, presumably because the wind dies down then. Hoping to go for a walk tomorrow. You know how Scamp loves her walks. Possibly heading in to town. That’s CORRALEJO TOWN, not TOONIE or THE TOON. Just so we’re clear. This isn’t Kansas, Toto.

The Wanderers Return – 2 March 2016

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combo bI had good intentions today. I was going to the gym or maybe just a swim. I did neither. I lay in bed and read another couple of chapters of my latest book, The Drowned World – JG Ballard, originally published in 1962 and as valid today. It’s the story of earth after the polar ice caps melt. Not due to greenhouse gas emissions or stuff like that, but because the sun has gone mental (Technical Term) and is overheating. Different scenario, same outcome. Amazing book. I first read it when I was about 16 and then went on to read Crystal World, Drought and Concrete Island. Ballard was a really imaginative writer. Years ahead of his time.

After my literary morning, I went to St Mo’s to feed the jucks and get their photos. Unfortunately I got mobbed by a couple of swans and didn’t get any decent shots of Tufty the Tufted Duck.

Went to meet Fred and set the world to rights at midday. Todays discussion bounced around the delights of doodling, (but his were so much better than my po faced perspective doodles) Council Tax reforms, Euroskeptics (and what we should do with them) and former bosses (and what we should do with them). The world would be a much better and more pleasant place if they would let us run it.

Came home and decided the bright sun deserved to be recorded for posterity and with that in mind I took myself off to St Mo’s for the second time today. Saw a Treecreeper. I thought it was a Nuthatch, but realised that it was the wrong colour. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a Treecreeper, hope it’s not the last.

After dinner I tracked Scamp and the sisters on their flight back home. On dear, my week of perfect isolation is at an end.

First day of Spring? Nobody told the weather – 1 March 2016

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combo b

For the first day of Spring, the weather was really like Winter.  Cold winds and even colder rain showers.  Spent the morning tidying up the back bedroom for the return of the wanderers.  Then in a bright spell, I grabbed the dreaded Micra boot handle and bolted it in place, joined up the cable to check it still worked (it did – did you doubt me?) and fixed the cover panel back in place.  Job done.  £95 for a new switch?  I think not.  All you needed was a 10mm spanner, a Torx screwdriver, a stanley knife, a JB00A push to make switch, a sheet of sandpaper, a hot melt glue gun, a silicon gun and some duct tape, always some duct tape.  Oh yes, and some step by step instructions from a kind gentleman on the net.

Couldn’t decide what to do next.  I’d considered the gym, but I needed some photos for the 365, so a walk was a better option and with a look at the sky, it would need to be a short one.  Managed a dry half hour at St Mo’s.  Nothing very inspiring.  The Tufted Duck was keeping well out of detailed camera shot range and the Oystercatchers were just messing me about.  As soon as I got the camera fired up, they were gone.  Oysters in St Mo’s, who would have thought it.

Quick dash to Tesco for supplies and then home to make dinner.  That’s about it.  Snow forecast for tomorrow morning.  Thankfully I don’t need to be up and out in it.  If it’s photogenic, I may take the camera for a walk.  As Scamp is fond of saying, it all depends on the weather.

Three Birds, Four Faces – 25 February 2016

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combo bYet another early rise. This one not as bad as yesterday, only 7.30 this morning. Taking the car to get its MOT. Taxi back from the garage because it’s about three miles away on a freezing cold morning and there’s no public transport to speak off there. Moped about for the rest of the day. Read more about the new camera and then updated the firmware on it and on the Panasonic lens. Didn’t realize you could get firmware for lenses. Got some decent photos of birds in the garden then after a few more tweaks to the bells and whistles, went to St Mo’s to spy on more birds and hopefully some deer.

Birds were easy, even Mr Grey was posing for some action shots, but the deer were off like the wind. I saw them, but they’d seen me long before. Then I spotted a fox, but couldn’t get a clear shot of it. One shot of the back of his head. That’s when I saw the clay faces. I remember photographing them some years ago in the woods behind the pond. These were obviously from the same source. Last time it was red clay, this time it was grey/white stuff. The decoration was the same. Twigs, leaves and pine cones. Some imaginative ideas there. I’m guessing it’s from one of the local schools. Don’t think the “Bucky Boys”have the intellect or the skill to make them.

Came home and made a pizza from the Nigel Slater book. Pizza base, mozzarella and an egg yolk on top. Quite delicious and very filling. Not for you though Hazy. It tasted all the better when the garage phoned to say the car had passed and was ready to pick up. Phoned a taxi and brought it home. Tomorrow it gets to go through the car wash for being a clever little Megane. I get a Laphroaig because I won’t be gettin up and driving too early. A good day.

Four season in one day – 23 February 2016

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combo bThe day started with a swim this morning.  No gym, just some water relaxation.  It seems to have helped my back and still gave me some exercise.  After that, Scamp and I went for lunch and I took myself out for a walk while she was making the final touches to her packing for HER holiday.  The light was beautiful today with the occasional cloud giving a bit of shadow detail on the hills.  For once (whisper it) the Tamron behaved well.  As Scamp suggested, maybe it too just wants to be out in sunshine.

When I got home, it was time to drive to Glasgow to pick up Jackie.  Beautiful sunshine when I left home, blizzard conditions on the motorway ten minutes later, then beautiful sunshine five minutes later.

It is Scotland after all.

Gym, Walk, Dance – 22 February 2016

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combo bI usually go to the gym while Scamp has her Gems group in the afternoon. Today I changed that around today and went to the gym in the morning. After the workout, I went for a swim, but the pool was full, so I sat in the sauna instead. Fifteen minutes in total silence in a hot environment. Absolutely fantastic. Came out and the pool was quite a lot quieter, so I managed a few lengths before the Monday hoardes returned.

After lunch and while the Gems were gathering, I went for a walk down the Luggie. Not the best day, but there was warm sunshine and a little bit of a breeze, so I got some photos.

After dinner we went to salsa which was quite good, but for once the bachatta was even better. With the moves we have learned in the past three or four weeks, we can build a fairly decent combination. That’s something that Scamp has wanted for a while and I can see the possibilities in it.

Sore tonight. Sore shoulders and back. I’m doing something wrong with the upper body machines in the gym. I may go for a swim tomorrow, but no gym. I might even manage another fifteen minutes in the warmth of the sauna.

Stirling in the Rain – 20 February 2016

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combo bStirling in the rain is like anywhere else in the rain, it’s a bit dismal. We’d only come here because we couldn’t face going to Glasgow again, we’d been to Embra yesterday and let’s face it Hamilton, Airdrie and Motherwell are pretty depressing. Not as depressing as Cumbersheugh, but nowhere is really. We couldn’t be bothered going far, but wanted to get out the house for a while and Stirling would be better than anywhere else within the 30 mile limit we’d kind of set.

When we got to Stirling the rain actually stopped for a while. Did some shopping, Scamp got some Euros to celebrate Big Davie Cameron’s Battle for Britain. Nah, she got them for going to a sunny place next week. I’m not going, I’m not invited. This is a girls only do. I’m going to stay home and paint and maybe fix the battery in the Mac Book Pro. I might even go out a run in the car, but not to Stirling and not in the rain.

There was a break in the clouds when we got home and I ventured out to St Mo’s to get some foties. Got soaked on the way back, but that was ok because I had a few shots in the bag. Well, to be pedantic, the photos were on the card, in the camera which was in the bag.

Made chicken and prawn pasta with rocket pesto, and made it better than that tasteless Brown’s concoction. If they want my recipe I’ll sell it to them. Had a first attempt at chicken pakora tonight. It tasted ok, even Scamp agreed. Maybe veggy pakora tomorrow, but deep frying in a wok on a gas hob is a bit scary.