Category: A Walk

Best laid plans – 4 August 2026

Posted on by Zogman

I had three things to do today:

  1. Drop off a sample at for the docs to poke and probe into.
  2. Book the MOT for the Blue car.
  3. Send a message to the Podiatrist.

I managed two of them, which is quite good for me. The first one was easy until I realised I’d left the sample pouch at home. Now, bear in mind that about half of the roads in Cumbersheugh just now are blocked for two weeks. I lied earlier in the week about it being three weeks. Well, what’s a week between friends? So now I had to drive through the a whole load of speed bumps to get back to the house to pick up a plastic bag. Then I had to drive round again and overt the bumps to deliver it to the sample box in Medical Centre. Task 1 completed.

Drove on to the very end of Cumbersheugh and booked the car in for MOT and promised it a scrub and polish if it behaved itself at the MOT place. That was easy!

Tried twice without success to describe a problem I’ve got on my left foot. It feels like I’m walking on broken glass, just like Annie Lennox if you remember her. I couldn’t just phone the podiatrist, because for this whole week they open at 9am and close at 1pm. There is only one podiatrist and there were already 7 people ahead of me in the queue. By the time I filled in the page explaining my problem it would be well into three figures. No, I decided to go the slow way, and type up my problem, except you only get one line to do the explanation. What am I going to say? “I HAVE A SORE FOOT THAT CRUNCHES WHEN I WAL” There is no room to finish the sentence! North Lanarkshire at its clumsy best!
I gave up. I may try again tomorrow. I might get lucky. Two out of three isn’t bad.

Really heavy rain shower in the afternoon, just as I was considering a walk in St Mo’s. It must have lasted about 20 minutes, then it tapered off and after a while, the sun shone. I did get out for a walk and grabbed today’s PoD which was a Valarian plant with a tiny little green spider dangling from it. I liked that one.

Scamp made Saag Paneer Kedgeree. Delicious, if a little bit hot. Needs some tweaking, but worth trying I can photocopy the instructions if anyone wants it. It’s got a sliced, boiled egg, Hazy, but that’s not a game changer. You could just miss it out, or Neil could.

No plans for tomorrow.

 

Out to see the doc – 31 July 2026

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Or at least the doc’s assistant.

It was time for my annual checkup, or my MOT as some folk call it. Dropped Scamp off at Tesco for her to make her way along to Costa where Isabel would be waiting for her. I drove on to the doc’s surgery and signed in. I was way too early, but that didn’t bother me, I had my iPhone and it had my Sudoku puzzle on it, so I’d have something to do.

A while later the automated voice called me to speak to the sister. It was quite a positive discussion. I knew there were a few things I needed to do, like losing weight. The sister wanted to do a PSA test and a blood test too. I’d been lucky enough to get the tests in quickly before the bloke who takes the samples away for analysis left. Better to get it done quickly. After that and after answering all the sister’s questions and after she answered all of mine, we had a plan of action to put into place next week if there are enough free spaces to get an appointment. That was my morning done and dusted, so I drove home and had a well deserved coffee and waited for Scamp.

As it happened, when she arrived we discussed what we’d been doing in the morning and had lunch. Then we solved the Wordle and all the rest of the puzzles that keep our brains active. In the afternoon the rain started and it looked like I wouldn’t be going for a walk, but later the sky cleared and I did manage a short jaunt round St Mo’s and got today’s PoD which was the seed pods of a Gorse plant, although every time I look at it, it looks like a wolf! Too wild an imagination.

Scamp made Chicken Milanese which is a chicken breast that’s had the living daylights beaten out of it. I imagine calling it “Chicken Milanese” describes it better than my example! Whatever you call it, I thoroughly enjoyed it with potatoes and a lovely ratatouille, or “Rats” as Scamp describes it.

We relaxed to Gardeners World for an hour in the evening. Actually, not a bad day.

I think we may be going dancing tomorrow.

Another warm day – 30 July 2026

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Scamp was taking Shona to have a tooth removed. Rather her than me

I took some time to myself and read a few more chapters of my latest book, The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. Strange book, but I’m only about a quarter way through it. I want to find out where it goes, but am not in a hurry.

When Scamp returned she started a conversation with Jackie and not wishing to earwig, I put on my rain jacket and put three new windscreen wipers on the blue car. What a difference that made. Wish I’d dine it weeks an ago. With that done, I drove up to my favourite photography spot to get some wild sky photos. It was quite cool up on the moors, but I did get a few photos I liked.

I drove home and after I’d been brought up to speed with Jackie’s comings and goings and Murdo’s possible need for a new cataract op Scamp made dinner. Salmon, Potatoes and Corn on the Cob. Very nice, I really enjoyed the salmon slice, Scamp.

Tomorrow I’m booked for my annual checkup and as usual, I’m not really looking forward to it. At least it’s going to be in my usual place and not in the main surgery.

We are hoping the wildfire down near Dunwich burns out soon, or the wind changes direction.

PoD went to a landscape that brightened up my day.

Oh yes, and Shona did get her tooth out without too much trouble.

 

Raindrops on Roses – 29 July 2026

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Another of those days when the rain just forgets to turn off.

It started in the morning, just a drizzle that wouldn’t go away. As the day progressed, the rain got heavier and then it disappeared, but I knew it was just waiting for me to go out, then it would return again … and it did.

In a short dry spell we drove to Tesco, and found for some Peppadew spicy peppers. Next thing I needed was a set of windscreen wipers in Halfords. The last time I went looking there they had hardly any.Thankfully, they had all three in stock. When I came out Scamp was heading for Aldi where I got a packet of Butteries (also known as Rowies). I’m sure two of my readers remember them from their time in Aberdeen. Scamp got a couple of Carmel Custard Doughnuts.

On the way home there was a long, long queue to get round one of Cumbersheugh’s roundabouts and the reason was some roads were closed and those that weren’t were restricted to one lane. Scamp had noticed a warning when we were heading out that claimed the all the roads round the roundabouts would be close for three weeks THREE WEEKS! I can just imagine the chaos that will bring. Anyway, we did manage to get back home … just as the rain came on. I wasn’t going to get those windscreen wipers fitted today.

We put the Peppadew peppers into yesterday’s Carrot & Lentil Curry and that made it taste a lot better. Also, Scamp just had to test the custard doughnuts and I had to do a similar test on the butteries. Both passed with flying colours.

After dinner the clouds blew away and the sun shone and I got today’s PoD in the garden. A rose branch covered in water droplets.

Tomorrow, Scamp is intending to take Shona to the dentist to get a tooth removed. I hoping to stay well clear.

Glasgow Merchant City Festival – 26 July 2026

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It being Sunday, we knew we’d get parked at Croy station and from there we would get a train to Glasgow. That sounded like a plan.

It was a very good plan, because although the train was a bit late, it was an express that didn’t stop after Croy. Unfortunately once we got to the Merchant City, there was very little to see. For once we were too early. We decided to walk round to a Nero and have a coffee. A cake would also be a good idea.

Scamp wanted to have a look in M&S for something for dinner, but she seemed to drawn to the dress department too. There is a wedding in the offing and I suppose she needed to see what was fashionable these days …
We did spot some things that would work well for dinner too and then we walked back to the Merchant City. In the time we had been wandering around M&S and having coffee, lots of stalls had popped up and the place looked much more lively. Two large balloon shaped people were running around the stalls. The Show was on.

Scamp stopped by one of her friends who was selling bangles and to quote her, “… one just jumped out at me!” So she bought it there and then. It looked good on her too.

We stayed for a while, watching a street artist hauling folk around on a long wooden rod (much more interesting than this description), listened for far too long to a tuneless jazz style band and a group called Brass Aye who could play proper, interesting music. PoD went to a group of ladies in yellow robes demonstrating why you can distort things with Chinese Whispers.

When we were finished, we went back to M&S, bought some food for tonight and got the train home.

I think we might go back again to the second Merchant City Festival next week, if we have the time.

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.

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.

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.