Category: Family

Mountain climbing and lunch with Shona – 6 February 2024

Posted on by Zogman

Today we were taking Shona out to lunch.

Scamp and I had planned to take Shona to Cafe Bothy. It’s actually called Coffee Bothy now, but we prefer the original name. It’s a great wee restaurant in a place called Blairlogie in Clackmannanshire. Isobel was the first one who found it, being guided by her granddaughter and Isobel introduced us to it. Shona had never heard of it, which isn’t surprising as it’s in the middle of nowhere on a farm off a single track road. Shona had Fish ’n’ Chips, Scamp had Mac ’n’ Cheese and I had Mince ’n’ Tatties. All with the apostrophe correctly place before and after the n you’ll notice! That was the main course. We all opted for cakes rather than pudding afterwards and it was Strawberry Tart for Shona, Cream Doughnut for Scamp and a Gypsy Cream for me with coffees to follow of course.

Fed and watered, Scamp suggested we drive to Dollar park for a walk. Unfortunately we couldn’t find it and instead we drove up and up and up a steep single-track road to a car park for Castle Campbell instead. From there we walked up and up and up, then down the other side. We had walked up the hill many years ago, but we’d forgotten just how steep the climb is. The two ladies gave up, when it looked like we’d have to wade across a ford, but I was determined to get a photo on such a beautiful day. As it happened, I didn’t need to ford the burn because there was a bridge tucked away out of sight from the road. I did manage to get up to the top, and got the photo I was hoping for, but I was really knackered after it. The castle wasn’t open. It doesn’t open until April. We may go back then and if we can get parked again, we might take our time and go visit the castle properly.

I walked back down the hill from the castle then over the bridge and up the hill on the other side wondering all the time what kind of vehicle the custodians must have if they travel that road every day to open up. Whatever it is it most certainly isn’t a wee blue car! The drive home was scenic, but I didn’t see anything that was any better than a castle among the trees with a rushing burn beside it. Very ‘Outlander’.

We dropped Shona off at her house with time to spare before Ben came home from school. Driving into the sun was strenuous, not that I’m complaining because the sun was shining, far from it. But I decided I needed to clean the glass in the car inside and out. When I got the Juke I got a big bag of useless spray bottles as part of the ‘deal’. I used the Bug Remover spray and the Seagull Crap remover too, but I remembered as I was driving home, peering through a grey windscreen that there was Glass Cleaner in the bag. I found it when we got home and cleaned all the windows inside and out. I also cleaned the wing mirrors. Hopefully that should make driving less of a bind.

The prompt for today was “Plum”. Being a generous person I added a couple more plums to the singular fruit that was requested and just to be sure they were fresh, I ate half of one. That’s what you see here. Believe that and you’re softer than these plums look!!

Alex had to cancel our photo walk this week because he was needed at home. Hopefully we’ll get out next week. This week was tight anyway. Just one of these weeks when everything piles up.

Tomorrow we may be going dancing in Motherwell. Scamp has been talking about it for weeks and we really need to go there to see how good it is and if it’s an alternative to Glenburn.

Catching up – 4 February 2024

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I left myself with a bit of a backlog yesterday.

I needed to complete two sketches and write up two blogs today, but only after I’d had my morning coffee and solved Wordle. Wordle was just a whim, but the coffee was essential because I’d and idea to use the dried coffee residue in the cup to add some ‘real’ coffee colour to the paint I was intending to apply! The prompt was ‘Coffee’ as if you hadn’t guessed!

The coffee was drunk and the Wordle was solved, so no excuses for not putting pencil and brush to paper and getting on with things. The first sketch was fairly easy, but as this was only the third drawing I’d done since November ’23 it took me longer than I’d anticipated. Having said that, it looked not too bad at all. Pencil sketch and watercolour washes plus the coffee wash to the cup and the coffee beans. Yes, that worked.

The paper needed some time to dry out, so I started my next task. The wee Split Rock (Nelly) that Hazy had given me was needing potted up with proper succulent compost with a fair amount of grit and perlite added for drainage. Scamp had the great idea of covering the work surface with a plastic coated tablecloth that would be easier to clean afterwards than the work surface itself. That made things much easier. We’d bought some cactus and succulent compost last week and after carefully measuring out a small amount of it and adding the grit and perlite I could mix the whole thing on the tablecloth with (almost) no mess. The next stage, actually potting it up and getting the plant to sit up straight was the difficult bit, but eventually it settled into its new pot complete with matching saucer. A splash or two of water to encourage the roots to take hold in what is a very strange mixture of soil and stones and we were done. It’s now sitting back in its place looking out at the wild wind outside. Photo tomorrow Hazy.

It was wet and it was windy outside, but I was determined to go out for a while. There wasn’t much to photograph, but I did spot a crow high up on an alder tree and that became PoD.

Now that the PoD had been sorted out, Nelly was in her new pot and the first sketch had dried, I could start on the second one which was actually today’s prompt, ‘Lavender’. I struggled with a prop for the lavender and finally chose the wee frog I’ve used before. He didn’t seem to mind.

Spoke to Jamie after dinner and discussed a few photos he’d sent of the renovations this week to the house. It’s still a strange building with more questions than answers in its construction, however things are certainly moving along and the roof timbers are looking like real roof trusses now and the brickwork on the first chimney looks like brand new. Hopefully it won’t be long now.

It’s windy again tonight and it looks like more wind is forecast for tomorrow. I’ve an appointment with the nurse tomorrow morning to check my BP and then I’m booked to take Val out for coffee at midday. Another busy day for me. Not sure what Scamp is doing.

The wind and the rain and a parcel – 31 January 2024

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It had been a wild night again and Storm Something-unpronounceable (maybe Norwegian?) was still growling around the houses. It didn’t look like we were going anywhere today!

We weren’t. But that was good, because Hazy phoned to find out what was going on in the rest of the family. So we discussed the weather as you do in Scotland and also how Jamie’s house was progressing. She told me that a parcel would be arriving today or maybe tomorrow by Royal Mail. Then she went on to tell me that the previous parcel had had a wee accident and was now in a hundred pieces. After that, she and Scamp had a long discussion about singing in a choir, which they both had done in the past and I could sense that she wished she could have joined June and Scamp in their recent recital of the Verdi Requiem. I really felt sorry for Neil being put under pressure by his Head Teacher. I’ve been there and got the tee shirt, but didn’t like wearing it. Finally she sent me a GIF of a catbus! Google it. It’s hilarious. I must watch some Japanese cartoons some time!!!

Five minutes later, the postman knocked on the door and handed me a big box that had come from Kirkcaldy, ordered from London. Inside was a lovely plant pot that I hope my Split Rock, Nelly is going to go into as soon as I can get some compost – that’s part of tomorrow’s task. It’s a lovely blue and white painted terracotta pot and saucer. I’m sure Uncle Murdo would love it, Hazy! But he won’t get a chance because it’s mine.

Lunch was left over haggis mixed with left over potatoes, mashed together with some butter and served with a fried egg. Sort of like Bubble and Squeak, Scottish style. Very nice, Scamp. A great idea.

In the afternoon I phoned Val. It’s ages since we spoke. Probably not since last year. We discussed our health and what we were doing about it and the damage the latest storm is causing. He had just lost his garden table to one of those gusts when the glass top smashed to smithereens. Poor guy. I think he like us has had enough of Windy Willy’s carry on.

That was about it for a dull day. We did get an hour in the late afternoon when the wind dropped and the rain stopped and I wandered the garden searching for subjects. I finally settled on some rhododendron buds that are beginning to plump up. Developed in Lightroom, Photoshop 2023 and in On1 2024. It looked presentable after that.

Tomorrow we’re intending getting compost for Nelly and some bulbs for Scamp.

A day at Kelvingrove – 24 January 2024

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It was another windy night last night. Maybe just marginally less disruptive than Monday into Tuesday, but now Jocelyn has joined Isha and good riddance to both of them.

Today I was meeting Alex in Glasgow and we were going to get the bus to Kelvingrove to take some photos and have some lunch. First I checked in with him to make sure he was good to go after last night’s wind. Of course he was, but it’s always good to check and not just assume all is well in the centre of North Lanarkshire. For once the bus was on time and I was away into Glasgow with Kevin Bridges in my ear, telling me some stories. I’m a fairly slow reader and I suppose I must he a slow listener too. I generally only listen to the Audible track when I’m on the bus by myself. That way I can concentrate on the story.

We met at the bus station and went for a coffee. Allegedly Nero’s dishwasher was broken, so they were using disposable cups. I wouldn’t mind that, but they put their usual amount of coffee into a big paper cup and then topped it up with way too much hot water. I go to Nero to get good strong coffee that tastes of coffee. If I wanted weak watery coffee I could go to Costa.

I struggled through the gallon cup of dirty water and then we headed off to the West End. The posh end of Glasgow, or at least it thinks it is. Noting that the scaffolding and plywood panels were still in place where they’d been for about six months now, we entered this otherwise beautiful building. I was delighted to see that the portrait of Ann Pavlova was back in its rightful place. Such an energetic looking portrait of the dancer.

We went up to the gallery to get some photos of the gigantic pipe organ an some of The Heads. Over 50 different grimacing and laughing heads hanging as an installation by Sophie Cave. One of them became the PoD after a fair bit of work to get it looking the way I wanted.

Lunch was next in the conservatory. We both had the same thing. Scottish Beef Burger on a bun with chips.

Another walk round the main ground floor and then we were off outside because the light on Glasgow Uni tower was really worth a few shots. I just missed a shot of a squirrel running in front of a burger van. Not the source of our burgers, though. I did get a shot of its fluffy tail (the squirrel’s, not the burger’s, you understand) sticking out from under the skirt of the van.

Waited ages for the bus back to the bus station and then we parted our ways and I listened to more of Kevin swearing through more stories.

I’d messaged Scamp on the way home that I wouldn’t need any dinner tonight and instead had a plate of soup. The last plate from the big pot. Watched Landscape Artist and correctly predicted two of the three finalists, but didn’t pick the winner.

A great day with my brother. Had a long discussion with him about the merits and demerits of the new lens, but finally decided to keep it. I was delighted with my 86 photos and only 9 of them rejected. That’s a good percentage. More will fall on the cutting room floor before the week is out, I’m sure.

I think we may go dancing at the tea dance tomorrow if the weather is kind to us.

Coffee with Isobel – 23 January 2024

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We drove up to the town centre today and were entertained by Isobel for an hour and a bit in Costa. I risked an Americano that actually tasted of coffee. I was shocked!

Life is never dull with Isobel. She always has stories to tell and doesn’t care who she insults when she’s telling them. Today’s topics included falling church attendance, losing a church minister, gardening and a useless new cooker. She did give Scamp some instruction on pruning roses and rudbeckia. She was making arrangements to have the wax removed from her ears by going private. I’m beginning to think that I need it done too, because my hearing has been getting worse recently. Anyway, after we’d heard all her gossip and she had heard all of Scamp’s, we gave her a run home because the rain was torrential. She wouldn’t accept any help and toddled off pushing her walker once we’d dropped her off. When we were coming out of Costa

Back home it was tomato soup and toast for lunch from the never emptying soup pot. I did consider going out if the rain stopped, but it didn’t and I stayed in. PoD was a photo of my Window Ledge Garden with its green spike of ’back from the dead’ Spring Onion and a clove of garlic that has white spike and also roots that weren’t there when it went into the water pot a couple of days ago. Both plants are growing in nothing but water. The pot, with its little floating island that holds the plants, was a Christmas present from Hazy. It took me a week or so to find the time to read the instructions and test it out. Amazingly for me, it worked first time. I’m intending growing beetroot and leeks next. Thank you Hazy.

By the time I’d checked in with Alex and discussed tomorrow with him, then processed and posted the PoD, it was time for dinner and for the second time this week it was fish. This time it was Leek and Smoked Fish Risotto. Unfortunately I’d cut the bottom off the leek before I remembered that I could have coaxed it back to useful lift. The resulting risotto was a bit wetter than I’d intended it to be, but we ate almost all of it.

We watched University Challenge later and got the nominal two or three correct answers each. Feeling quite pleased with ourselves. Then we watched The Secret Genius of Modern Life on the history of microwave ovens which sounds a really boring program. But with a thoughtful approach to delivering this information, it was interesting and informative. Infotainment at its best. I commend it to you. Accessible from iPlayer.

I saw that Isobel had a pair of sheepskin mittens in her bag and said, without thinking: “Oh, pawkies!” One of my mum’s words for mittens. Funny how you remember these random words.

The wind is wheechin’ round the house again tonight, and I hope it calms down a bit before tomorrow, because I’ve got a possible appointment for a photo walk with Alex in Glasgow which I don’t want to miss because I called off last week when I wasn’t feeling well. A dry day would be nice, but that may be a wish too far.

 

Windy Willie – 21 January 2024

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It sounds very much like Windy Willie is running around the house!

Since about 6pm the wind speed has been rising. According to the BBC the winds will peak at 65mph around about 11pm and then start to reduce gradually until tomorrow evening.

Earlier in the day we had torrential rain blown along on simple gale force winds. I’d decided early on that I wasn’t going to go outside looking for photos. Instead I took a photo of of a tray of tomatoes fresh out of an hour in the oven. They were destined to be made into tomato soup, and that was to be the starter for tonight’s dinner. Actually they looked quite good in the photo and with a bit of delicate adjustment the photo became PoD.

The tomato soup itself was a winner. One bowl tonight as a starter for the main course of Trout Fillets with Baby Potatoes and Marrowfat Peas. I’m not a great ‘fish person’, especially oily fish like salmon, but the trout tasted just like fresh caught trout tastes. I think it may have been rainbow trout rather than sea trout. Scamp is an expert fish cook and she cooked the trout perfectly. Crispy skin that I enjoyed just as much as the fish itself. No pudding tonight, just a cup of coffee each, laced with Kahlúa.

Spoke to Jamie who sounded much more like himself tonight. It seems that they may manage to recoup some of the money they lost on the repairs that are needed to the house. He also seemed a lot more settled at work. He sent us a few photos and videos of the work that has already been done to the roof and it does look a lot more secure than it did a couple of weeks ago. Still a lot to do, but work is progressing.

I really don’t know what the weather will be like tomorrow. Hopefully it will stick to the guidelines and behave itself.

Old friends – 14 January 2024

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It was a cold start to a colder day.

Ice and frost welcomed us to the start of another winter day. Nobody seemed to want to go out and that included us. However, after lunch I did put my boots on and walked over to St Mo’s. Not surprisingly there wasn’t much change from yesterday, so I went for a walk in the woods and that’s where I found two old friends. Two sixteen spot ladybirds, each neatly tucked into two different crevices in a tree. I’m sure they hatch in the late summer or early autumn and hibernate through the winter months. Always the same variety with orange wing casing and white spots. Totally different from the ‘normal’ ladybirds we usually see with red wing cases and black spots. Usually I find them in groups of two or three, huddled together, but todays ones were each in their own little hollow. Maybe they weren’t talking to each other.

Two trees away I found a green shield bug. That’s a rare occurrence in winter. As far as I can tell, they hibernate in grasses and leaf litter during winter months, but this one was half way up a tree.

I walked back after that, happy that I’d managed to get something other than trees and reflections in the pond for a potential PoD. Then I found when I opened the computer that my reflection photo from a couple of days ago had been awarded “Explore” which is the Flickr equivalent of ‘going viral’. Suddenly the whole Flickr world wants to ‘like’ your photo and some folk comment on your photo. It’s kind of embarrassing, because it’s usually a run of the mill photo that gets the accolade. I have no idea who chooses the photo to get the award and I have no idea what formula they use. I just accept it and say thank you!

Dinner tonight was a rather strange M&S packet of DIY Fajitas. We heated up the chicken and veg packet in the microwave then did the same to the packet of tortillas spread the tortillas with the supplied tomato salsa and sour cream then put a layer of the chicken and veg mix on top before rolling them up. The kit made four fajitas, two each and although a bit messy and awkward to eat, they tasted ok, a bit spicy, but nothing too hot. Would we try them again? Maybe not. Not really very substantial and messy to make, although that might be down to my lack of fajita making skill.

Spoke to Jamie later and heard about the problems commuting to work while fields on either side are temporary ponds and how they are having to contend with the cold winds from the east while their roof is being replaced. I don’t envy them.

PoD was the green shield bug. Two images merged in a program called Affinity Photo. It’s what photogs call a Focus Stack. Too complicated to describe here and too boring for non-photogs.

We had a flurry of snow in the late afternoon and if it returns tomorrow, that might change our plans for driving to Larky to get Scamp’s glasses fixed.

Another year over – 31 December 2023

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Well, almost over.

The day started with a visit to Currys in Coatbridge to get photo paper and a chance to browse the shelves for a new toaster. The one we have must be about 20 years old and has worked well, but lately it’s been struggling to hold the bread carrier against the force of the spring. I reckon it’s an electromagnet that either has crumbs or dust on its contact, or the wiring in it is getting weak and cannot pull the full magnetic force. If it’s dust, the portable hoover might just manage to clear it. If it’s the coil in the electromagnet, it’s beyond my ability to repair. The prices Currys were asking for a fairly ordinary toaster were in places eye watering. Who pays £200 for a toaster? I got the photo paper, but the toaster will have to wait until Tuesday at least, when the shops re-open.

We drove home and Scamp encouraged me to go out and take some photos before the light started to fail. That would be a sensible thing to do. After all, this was the last day in 2023 and a decent photo for PoD was compulsory. It arrived in the shape of an old park bench in St Mo’s. The bench is made of recycled plastic, but it has lichen growing on it. It must be something that’s added to the plastic mix when bulk it up or maybe to strengthen it. Surely ordinary lichen wouldn’t grow on pure plastic. I must ask a scientist some time. The photo wasn’t impressive when I took it, but separating it into its constituent parts made it a lot easier to work with and I was happy with the result.

Spoke to Jamie and heard that the weather down south was much better than we’ve been having. Hope Vixen’s leg improves soon.

I think that’s all for 2023. I believe 2024 is approaching rapidly, so I should really draw this last blog of 2023 to a close. I wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

 

Glasgow in the rain – 28 December 2023

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Based on Annie Lennox songs, it wasn’t so much “September in the rain”, more like “Here comes the rain again”!

I took the bus in to Glasgow this morning to meet Alex and to get some shots of the lights in George Square and maybe St Enoch’s Square. I did think of driving in, but Scamp might need the car and besides, I’d still got half of Kevin Bridges monologue to listen to, so I would be entertained on the way.

We met at Buchanan bus station and walked down to our usual starting point at Cafe Nero near the Royal Concert Hall. A cup of coffee each and we planned our day. It was all all covered by the square mile of Glasgow city centre. We’d been here before and there was no point in heading out of town on such a dull, wet day. Best to stay central and be able to nip into a shop if it got too wet.

First stop was Princes Square just in time to shelter us from the first deluge. A few shots of the escalators, still done up in their Christmas regalia and a walk round the painting gallery and by the time we walked out the rain was gone and the sky was back to grey again. I had thought of sheltering in the Apple shop which would have been nearer, but I could just hear Alex’s cries of “How much?!”

St Enoch’s was a bit of a let down. Not enough stalls, not enough fairground rides and because of that, not enough folk to become models for us. It was time for lunch and as usual that would be in Paesano.

Paesano, is the pizza shop for folk who like pizza. It was rammed, as I knew it would be, but there is almost always a table for two. For four or six or eight, you’ll have to wait, but two can usually be squeezed in. Alex is settling in to the rhythm of the place and has his two favourites. Either a number 3 (with anchovies, olives and capers) or a number 5 (cooked ham and mushrooms) both with tomato sugo but no cheese. I’d also go with a number 3 or a number 5 (but with sugo and cheese), but I’d add a number 7 (with Fennel sausage). In reality I’d have any of them, bur realistically, not all at the same time! When we left, the queue was out the door and along the street. We must have just hit the sweet spot!

George Square as getting busy when we walked up to it and we did get a few shots. Mostly we both seemed to be concentrating on the roundabout with the traditionally painted horses on spiral poles and the stalls selling vastly overpriced sparkly fairies for hanging on the tree. No use to Alex as his tree had come down yesterday to prevent his grandson, Olly, from doing any more damage to it. I did find more interesting material in the Chair-O-Planes, especially the close-ups of the uncomfortable looking shiny chrome seats reflecting the coloured lights.

By late afternoon, the light was failing and for a ‘golden hour’ there was enough light to shoot by, but not enough to dilute the colours. After that hour, it became too dark and we resorted to taking photos of the reflections of the decorations in the puddles of rain water outside the fenced off square. My PoD was one of those reflections. It looked good on the big 21” screen, but on the laptop it looked a bit dull and disappointing. It still held its place of PoD.

We walked back to the bus station and said our goodbyes, agreeing to meet again next year. Which hopefully will be in two weeks or so!Another hour of Mr Bridges life story carried me home, again in the rain.

I didn’t really need any dinner, but Scamp’s “Just Soup” was too much to resist. We watched the first semi-final of Celebrity University Challenge later in the evening while Scamp watched Antique’s Roadshow while processed some of the 200 odd photos I’d take today.

Tomorrow looks like a bright sunny day for a change. A glimmer of light in the darkness. Let’s hope it works out that way.

And so this is Christmas

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“… and what have you done:”

Christmas is such a strange time of year. Just after the equinox we, in the northern hemisphere, are looking for signs that the days are lengthening, while those in the southern half of the globe are preparing for autumn. It’s the same every year, but it still makes me think of John Lennon’s song. It’s a mixture of hope and sadness.

We had almost an hour’s worth of Zoom time with Hazy, Jamie, Neil and Simonne (alphabetically arranged – fairest way!). It was great to speak to and see everyone and to find out how everybody was getting on. Zoom is a great way of keeping in touch. I felt a bit down after the call was finished. The house seemed a bit empty, that’s the only way I can put it.

I had some lovely presents from everyone and Scamp’s “12 Days of Christmas” with a small present to open every day is a great idea. We tried not to spend too much on each other this year. In the past we’ve gone overboard, but that’s not what Christmas is about.

After a light lunch the rain that had been torrential for most of the morning just disappeared and left us with blue skies and a bit of sunshine. I made the most of it and took the A7 out for a walk in St Mo’s. I also had a bag of wildbird seed in my pocket and left handfuls here and there along the side of the path. I took a few photos, but one of the first ones I took of the river, that was running down a path through the woods, got PoD.

Dinner was an overcooked steak for me and also overcooked salmon for Scamp. Dessert was individual trifles. I thought they were a delight. However I think I might need some Gaviscon tonight with all the overeating and a bit too much drinking too that I’ve done.

I think that’s enough for tonight. I’m off to bed now, so thank you all for a wonderful day. Thoroughly enjoyed it, hope you did too.

Speak soon.

No plans for tomorrow, but the weather looks like it might be improving.