Category: Family

No excuses – 14 September 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Today we didn’t do very much. I’ve no excuses for this, it was just the way the day turned out.

It was a normal Sunday. Watched Laura Kuenssberg tearing strips of poor undefended MPs and other politicians. It was fun for a while watching them squirm, but you knew they were lying because their lips were moving. That took all the fun out of it.

After lunch I went for a walk over to St Mo’s. There wasn’t very much over there to photograph, but I did get out for a walk which was good … until the rain came on. As usual, the rain waited until I was at the furthest point from home, then it started. I didn’t mind, because I had my big orange Rab jacket on and it’s fairly waterproof and the rain was fairly light for most of the walk home.

PoD was an old favourite of mine, the view down the avenue of trees that takes you down past St Mo’s school. A bloke with an umbrella was kind enough to walk into view just as I was crossing his past. I waited a few minutes and got my Photo of the Day and he never felt a thing.

Dinner was a rump steak for me and potatoes with ratatouille for Scamp. Rice and prunes was the dessert.

Spoke to Jamie later in the evening and heard that he and Simonne are considering going away for a week some time soon, not sure when yet. This time Vixen gets to go with them which should please her.

Thanks for the hint Hazy. I’ll tell you how I got on with it once I work my way through it.

Dentist tomorrow to get a broken cap on one of my teeth fixed. Oh what fun!

Out and about – 8 September 2025

Posted on by Zogman

An early rise this morning to see Jamie and Simonne safely on their way back home.

It was a flying visit, but it was great to see them for a couple of days. Good to hear that the boys (and the girls) were all well and grown up now. I don’t think we would recognise them after all this time.

We wandered around the house feeling like lost threads. Scamp put the fold-down bed away and I put all the glasses away. Still there was a whole day ahead and no real plans for it. I suggested we go to the Kelpies and use them to recharge our energy. Scamp agreed. Also, we could take a look in at Klondyke Garden Centre when we were there anyway. That sealed it. We were going to Helix Park where the Kelpies live.

Drove over almost to Grangemouth and paid our £4.50 to park, then as we were walking on to the beasts themselves, I saw a new view of these mighty magical horses. Two heads were rising above a grassy bank that made the statues look even bigger than they usually do. I took a couple of shots anyway and we walked over to see the Kelpies.

The park was mobbed, quite the busiest we’ve seen it in years. We did the usual walk round and between these metal creatures. Unfortunately the wind was from the west today and the smell from the sewage works was almost overpowering. We didn’t tarry long and walked back to the wee restaurant for a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit each. We agreed there was just too big a crowd today and drove over to Klondyke to search out a bargain or two among the plants. Once Scamp had chosen her selection of bulbs from the vast selection, and I had picked up a fairly healthy looking Acer at a knock down price, they all went into the boot of the blue car and we went to search out some food.

I’m not usually impressed with garden centre food, but today’s Steak Burger was an eye opener. Best one I’ve had in ages. Scamp had a Mushroom Quiche and I had that brilliant burger.

We drove home and I planted the Acer while Scamp was going round dead-heading some of the fading flowers.

Kirsty’s class today was Cha-Cha. I wasn’t impressed. I used to say Cha-Cha was my most hated dance. I thought I was over it, but today, with the noise from the ghetto blaster and Kirsty shouting over the top of it, none of the instructions were going in to my head. She (Kirsty) wants to do another session next week. That gives me almost seven days to make up an excuse not to go.

When we got home there was a message from Jamie & Simonne to say they had arrived safely after a fairly easy drive. Glad they had an easy day for a change.

PoD went to the picture of the Kelpies looking over that grassy bank.

No plans for tomorrow … yet!

We went shopping – 7 September 2025

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You know it’s been a dull day when the highlight is “We went shopping”.

Some days are like that. You can have days when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you manage to capture fifty photos, each one better than the last. Then there are days where you manage to grab half a dozen shots of butterflies and are satisfied with that. Today fell into the ‘satisfied’ category.

We went shopping, as I mentioned and that got us out of the house for half an hour or so. Just the usual shopping for lunch and dinner. Mainly essentials.

Jamie and Simonne were on their way back from yesterday’s wedding but were stopping off in Glasgow to meet up with a couple of their old friends. They arrived back at the house around 5pm. By then I’d been out for a walk across the football park behind St Mo’s and had hardly taken the camera out of the bag. I did get just over 100g of brambles on the way back.

I made a hash of getting Simonne’s SD card to work in the new computer. Why do the different companies insist on sticking to their own formats. It would be so much easier for everyone if they just took the sensible approach of one size and one format fits all. Anyway, in the end we got the photos she wanted, although I’ll have to work out how we make a heart shaped background for one of them.

For dinner, Scamp and I had Chicken Milanese with our own potatoes and Scamp’s speciality, Rats, which of course is short for Ratatouille. Jamie & Simonne shared a pizza. We all had Passionfruit & Raspberry Cheesecake for dessert while we watched Lando Norris being humiliated by being given a derisory second place as compensation for having had a slow pitstop. Poor guy was very noncommittal in the interview.

We’re expecting the young ones to be leaving early tomorrow to take the road south. Hope they have a problem-free journey and arrive home safely.

Us? I think we might be going looking for the elusive bread bin again, with maybe the chance of dancing Cha-Cha in Kirsty’s class later.

Visitors – 5 September 2025

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Visitors means tidying up, hoovering (or Dyson-ning) and maybe some dusting. So it was today when we realised that Jamie & Simmone were on their way to Scotland.

Scamp was off to FitSteps and I volunteered to hoover the stairs and the downstairs area. You forget just how much clutter there is in a house until you have to tidy it up and remove all the dust and paper. I know now just how much Scamp does in the house, while I’m swanning around pretending to be useful. But we know all that work will be short lived because I’m plain lazy.

With a bit of the work done and a space created in the back bedroom that could almost be described as “liveable in”, I changed from ‘cleaner mode’ to ‘shopper’, and went to find the articles on my shopping list. Meanwhile Scamp ‘Sorted the House’. I think that means she undid all the work I’d already done and made the house look like it was made fro humans to live in. I just let her get on with it.

Late in the afternoon the travellers arrived in Cumbersheugh and we could all rest for a while and hear about their plans for the weekend. They were coming up to Scotland for a wedding. Two of their friends were getting married on Saturday up north, near Oban. They had finally met Andrew, our business man and part-time comic.

Dinner tonight was Spinach & Chickpea Curry. I’d been the first person to make it a few months ago. Made from a book that Scamp had bought for me and a mine of useful information. It took a bit longer than I’d anticipated, but although it was a wee bit hot, it was almost as good as the first one I’d made and also tasted quite like the one Scamp had made too. I like it when a plan comes together like that.

I gave Simonne my A6500 with the kit lens a new SD card and a quick explanation of the vital bits and pieces she’d need as she was going to be photographer for the wedding. She seemed to understand most of what I was saying and, because she’d used an old Nikon before, had a fairly good knowledge of the basics of photography.

After that it was early bed for the travellers who’d driven about nine hours to reach Bonnie Scotland and were tired out. Tomorrow was going to be another long day, I feared!

PoD was a bunch of acorns hanging from a low branch on an oak tree I passed on the way to do the shopping. Not very inspiring, but at least I had something done.

Tomorrow will be an early rise for all. Then, when the youngsters drive up to meet the rest of the wedding party, we might go back to bed for another forty winks.

Out to the East – 21 August 2025

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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.

 

Drilling in the Sun – 17 August 2025

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The whole thing started out because Scamp wanted a hook to hold one of her sweeping brushes for use in the garden.

I’ve had an old Black & Decker with two NiCd batteries for what must be 20 years now, if not longer. Anyone who has used NiCd batteries will know how quickly they lose their charge. I’d been looking for a better drill for some time. A DeWalt for preference. Today I got one. It feels better balanced than the Black & Decker and hopefully it will last as long as the old B&D, but with better electronics. And yes, Scamp did get her brush hook. Now she’d like “ A few more things done in the house.”
No Comment!

Both of us took the folding chairs out and sat in the front garden with a book and a drink or two until we had cooked enough. Then, when the heat got too much we headed for the back garden where there was more shade.

Dinner tonight was Sea Bass with Potatoes and Sweet Corn. Dessert was a Peach Melba Trifle from Lidl at the new Westway retail park. So much cleaner and cooler than the overcrowded one in St Maurice’s Gate. Badly named, because it doesn’t have any gates!

We spoke to Jamie later and heard about the Birthday Barbecue. Really glad you had a good time, Jamie.

PoD was a photo of “Kelly Anne”. A pretty pink geranium, closely related to Rozanne.

I’ve deliberately not mentioned computing today. I’m having a day off from it. Tomorrow I may dive back in and try to workout where I am.

Also tomorrow, I’ve a dentist’s appointment in the morning. Fillings will be the order of the day. Just in case she need to drill it out a bit first, I have a DeWalt drill she can borrow!

A lazy start to Saturday, but … – 16 August 2025

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… then it got busier and busier.

This was the first evening dance for months. At least the first one we had a chance to go to. We didn’t do very much, but we did both remember to send Jamie a Birthday Message, just because it was a special one.

We spoke to Hazy in the morning and heard about the goings on down south. She and I talked books for a while and I told her of the problems I was finding with the iMac. I realise this isn’t your forte now Hazy, but thanks for trying.

As you will have gathered, this is a catch-up, so I’ll cut to the chase:

  • We both sent birthday wishes to Jamie.
  • Spoke to Hazy in the morning.
  • Scamp noticed that Karlyn and John, our next door neighbours, were dressed for a wedding.
  • I offered to take their photos and got half a dozen decent images.
  • Later in the afternoon Scamp watered the garden, both back and front.
  • Then Scamp was getting ready to go to the August Dance
  • That meant I had to too.
  • Actually enjoyed the dance, but the room in Brookfield was really warm, even with the doors open.
  • It was a lovely drive home after the Last Waltz. Very few cars on the road. It was like Glasgow had become a deserted city!

No PoD’s worth posting. Sorry!

Tomorrow I’m hoping it will be a more relaxed day.

Connections – 15 August 2025

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Scamp was out at FitSteps in the morning as is usual on a Friday.

After her exertions in the exercise class she went to meet Isabel for coffee. I can’t believe we’ve been calling her “Isobel” for years and nobody told us we were wrong, but as Scamp says, it’s not a thing we really think about. Anyway, apologies to Isabel.

Isabel was joined in the coffee shop by Shona and I was so glad to hear that. Two women blethering would have been bad, but three would just too much. Guys, just think of all that cross-talk going on for an hour or so!

<Technospeak>
While the ladies were blethering over coffee, I was worrying over the new iMac. I keep my Lightroom catalogs on an SSD, and I wanted to try making the catalog more versatile, so that it could be used on two computers at a time. I was worried that if I was swapping catalogs between computers, the data would get corrupted, especially if the two computer were running different OS versions. Eventually I decided to bite the bullet and try it. Surprisingly it worked perfectly. Another problem solved.
</Technospeak>

Eventually the ladies broke up. Isabel was going shopping and Scamp and Shona were heading to Broadwood Farm for lunch. Thankfully Scamp phoned me just as I was finish the test on the SSD catalog and I agreed to meet them at the restaurant. Restaurant is maybe too fancy a word for Broadwood Farm. It used to be pretty poor, but recently after a fair bit of upgrading, it had some better menus and decent food. Also, because I was not driving today, I could have a pint of Tennents!

Scamp had Fish ’n’ Chips and Shona had Mac ’n’ Cheese. I was the odd one out, not having a ’n’ meal. Instead I had a Traditional Carvery, which was a couple of slices of turkey, a Yorkshire Pudding, with a couple of chunks of ham. It was fine for what it was. The cauliflower cheese was a bit lumpy and the stuffing was made from cardboard, I think, but it filled a space.

Shona wanted some drinks to take to Ben and I wanted a box of mini ice lollies. Scamp drove Shona home and I walked back home. It was another warm day again. I’m getting used to this heat now, just as long as it doesn’t go mad and climb up into the mid 30s Centigrade.

PoD was another photo of a Red Admiral on what’s left of the white Buddleia bush. I think that might be the last of those flowers until next year DV.

Tomorrow we’re not going dancing in the morning, but may go to the evening dance.

Getting there – 10 August 2025

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I’m hoping I’m nearly at the end of the struggle against the iMac M4. Always hopeful.

It seems like ages since I wrote a blog, but it was just over a week. In that time I’ve driven to, and also caught the train to the Apple store in Glasgow. The Geniuses there have been very helpful, but it really time they started making it easier for the general public to deliver their problematic hardware. It would also be a bonus if they actually tested their iMacs after repairs and changes had been made, considering the distances some of us have to travel and expense of the equipment.

Complaints apart, the M4 iMac really shifts. An Enhanced Super resolution that takes about that takes about 2.5 minutes on average on my old Intel iMac takes about 3 seconds! That’s one of the things I spent the high bucks on. It looks like no more making a cup of coffee while the machine churns through the heavy duty computing.

Scamp has been a tower of strength during the last couple of weeks, offering sensible ways to tackle what I saw as impossible situations. Thank you again and again for being there pushing me in the right direction and telling me it was time I took a wee walk … in the rain if need be!

All in all, I’d say I’m happy with results now. Of course there are always things that need tweaking, but once the majority of the new iMac is stable and probably against Scamp’s better judgment I’m going to do a backup, a sensible Apple backup on an ssd. For seven or eight years I’ve made them and then when I needed them I realised I’d forgotten to make one. Don’t forget the backups.

Spoke to Jamie tonight. I did take a bit of ribbing from him and Scamp, but I deserved it. I’m hoping the blogs will be arriving more often, but no promises.

PoD was a wee red dragonfly.

Thanks for your patience. I’m told I don’t have any!

Dentist tomorrow!