Category: Flowers

A change in the weather – 24 July 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Much cooler today and it rained overnight. That will save us lugging watering cans around the garden! More forecast for tomorrow.

Scamp was out in the morning for coffee with Shona. I stayed home trying to make some sort of organisation into Lightroom Classic. It seems that as the catalog gets busier and busier, more errors creep in to Lightroom. Yes, it’s a really clever application, but it can be a pain in the backside sometimes. Probably a lot of the problems are human error, but not all.

While I was walking round the garden looking for some subjects to photograph I caught a glimpse of something zipping past the Buddleia bush. It stopped once and I realised it was a Humming Bird Hawk Moth. I’ve never, and I mean NEVER seen one in Scotland. My daughter in law got some photos of one in deepest England a year or so ago, but I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d see one in Scotland. By the time I got my phone camera out of my pocket it was gone. Amazing! I’ll be watching that bush for the next month until I get another chance like that!

When Scamp returned and I told her about the amazing visitor, I don’t think she believed me at first. Then when I laid siege to the buddleia bush she knew I wasn’t joking.

Not a lot other than that to speak of. Dinner was Fish ’n’ Chips from the chippy. PoD was a Japanese Anemone and I did eventually manage to get Lightroom Classic to do what it was meant to do.

I think an early bed tonight will be good. I’ve not been sleeping well, and maybe I just need an early night for once.

A cloudy morning – 21 July 2026

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The clouds took a long time to disappear today and when we were walking in to Tesco Scamp was sure she could feel a few raindrops on her face. Either the rain was very light, or it was her imagination, because by the time we came out of Tesco loaded with our Tuesday shopping, the clouds were just beginning to break.

When we came home Scamp found an envelope sitting on our mat. It was the official invitation to Ross and Chris’s wedding. Very smart looking invite, as most invites are these days. It had hardly hit the table before we were examining it and making sure that our RSVP was sent. We’re both looking forward to it and Scamp is already making a list of potential dresses. I’ll probably wear a kilt if that’s appropriate. All being well.

After lunch, I started trying to get the Mac to read my old backups from about eight years ago. I can’t remember what I was looking for, but the Mac wasn’t interested in it. It kept telling me it couldn’t work with the 4GB of data. In fact the section that should hold the data was greyed out and couldn’t be read. I struggled with it for a couple of hours with no success. I tried using an old, slow Mac to no avail. In fact I foolishly tried to get an even older backup to read and it couldn’t be read either. I admit that I was panicking with visions of losing years of data, good and bad. Eventually I remembered a sequence I used to use to get the Mac to read the data in its own language and there were the data fields and they weren’t greyed out. Everything seems to be as it should be again. Just to be sure, I’ve written out the instructions to find it again, but that was scary.

For one reason or another, I didn’t want to go for a photo walk today, and that was before the calamity had struck. So the PoD was actually a photo from yesterday. It’s a Great Willowherb with a couple of pink flowers.

The fence next door is looking good. The posts are in and the stringers are too. Most of the verticals are in place and it looks like it’s just a bit of snagging that needs done. These guys work some amount of hours.

Tomorrow I’m hoping to meet Alex for a walk and a blether. I have no idea where he wants to go, but the weather is getting a bit cooler and Scamp may be right about those raindrops.

A busy day for a ‘tog – 19 July 2026

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Sheila’s cousin, Isabel’s actual birthday is tomorrow, but she had decided it would be easier for all concerned if she had her birthday today, the 19th of July 2026. You don’t need to know how old she’ll be on her birthday. All I’ll say is that it’s a big number.

We arrived at the party place almost exactly on time and found a table for all four of us, Shona, Ian, Scamp and me to sit. I was the one with the camera and I think I almost got away with taking lots of photos of folk without getting any taken of me. Surprisingly, I knew a few of the people who were there, and stopped to talk to the ones I recognised. A lot of the names were familiar to me from Scamp telling me about members of the choir and now I could happily put faces to the names.

Lunch was a very full board of sandwiches and rolled up things probably they would be called ‘wraps’ or ‘petit fours’, but rolled up things, although a bit clumsy, describes them better as far as I’m concerned.

There were no speeches at the party. Scamp reckons that was one of the rules Isabel had laid down and good on you for sticking to your wishes Isabel. The hall had been booked for two hours and as the time approached, most of those attending were making their way home and we were among that group. It had been a lovely afternoon and I think we all enjoyed it. We dropped Ian off first then Shona and finally Scamp and I.

I do hope Isabel enjoys her birthday tomorrow and gets to relax with the rest of her family.

PoD was a bit of a cheat. It was a photo of a bunch of cut flowers Scamp liked and it was taken in our garden, yesterday.

Tomorrow I may drive to Larky to collect my new driving glasses and hopefully I won’t lose these ones, especially if I re-find them after I’ve paid for a new pair. One pair for the car, one pair for the house and one pair to be put in a safe place for when I lose the other two pairs.

Dancin’ – 18 July 2026

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It’s Saturday and that means we were dancing in Brookfield. It was another warm day, but with a lot of clouds hiding the sun.

Quite a full dance floor. We started with the Electric Slide. Just a repetitive piece of nonsense. Next was the American Smooth Waltz. It’s beginning to fit into place, but not as fast as Scamp would like. That took up about a third of today’s lesson.
For a break we danced the Sally Ann Cha-Cha. Also a bit of fun, but much more interesting that the electric slide.
Jane’s favourite, Rona’s Rumba was next. It was to commemorate a dancer called Rona who passed away a couple of years ago. It’s probably a lovely dance, but I’ve now heard a few of the old hands saying it has too many turns and it doesn’t flow well. They could be right. I just find it hard to dance. That was another third or more of the lessons gone.
Two more sequence dances, The Mayfair Quickstep and the Melody Foxtrot finished the class.

We drove home through very light traffic and were home in no time at all. Unfortunately I didn’t time it this time.

I didn’t want to go walking in St Mo’s again after yesterday’s disappointing walk. Instead I helped Danny, the bloke next door, to rip out the old wire fence that separates our two gardens. He’s determined to get a fence up to allow his grandkids to play in the garden. It was a tough job, but I got the remains of the old Blackcurrant bush removed and a lot of weeds and invasive flowers removed. It’s half past nine just now and he’s still working away at it. Not me. I’ve had enough for one day.

We’re hoping to go to Isobel’s 90th birthday party tomorrow. I’m intending taking my camera to record the event, although I’m sure Isobel will complain bitterly!

PoD went to a Calendula flower from the garden.

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!

Sun Catchers – 15 July 2026

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I think it was the angle I used that made it look like the wild geranium flowers were all pointed at the same spot.

We drove out to Larky today because Scamp needed to have a checkup at the optician. It also gave me the opportunity to get a new pair of glasses to replace the one’s that had disappeared when we came back from Skye. Different glasses from the last ones, just for fun. And because I was replacing a pair I’d lost recently, I got the new ones for half price.

Once all of that was organised and Scamp was having her eyes checked I drove up through Larky and found a petrol station that I’d forgotten was there. Put some fuel into the tank before the beepy noise told me I was running low. I drove further up the road and remembered that there was a Lidl at the top of the hill and Lidl sell a lovely, cheap bottle of gin. Two birds, one stone!

As I was driving out of Lidl with my bottle, I got a message from Scamp to tell me she was sorted and ready to be driven to Brookside cafe and garden centre. It’s an old fashioned cafe that’s been there for years, but one that sells Rolls ’n’ Flat Sausage and also Rolls ’n’ Scrambled Eggs with cups of real coffee. None of your fancy ground beans, but real coffee, out of a jar I think. While we were there Scamp found a perfect present for one of her friends, so we bought it on the spot and then drove home before she could find anything else to purchase.

Back home I changed into Shorts and Tee Shirt and while Scamp sunbathed with lots of sun cream in the garden, I walked over to St Mo’s to get some photos. There wasn’t much to shoot today. The swans were hiding in the bushes from the sun and there was only one dragonfly in the whole of the pond that I could see. The PoD I chose was a bunch of wild geraniums, they looked like scanners pointed in the sky searching for signs of rain that didn’t come.

Annette came for dinner. I was chef for the day and Scamp had chosen Fish Risotto. Easy to make and the oven does most of the work. Good conversation with a good friend.

Later in the evening, Scamp found the ‘lost’ glasses. Oh well, another pair of driving glasses won’t go amiss!

Hoping to dine with Shona tomorrow.

Off to feed the Vampires – 14 July 2026

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I decided I’d better go and feed the vampires before they came for me.

It was almost a full house in the health centre this morning and I thought I’d be waiting for ages to get my bloods taken, but then remembered they are a multi-functional health centre now catering for all sorts of injuries and problems. Mine was fairly simple and took almost no time at all. Back home the weather was beginning to improve from the dull heavy clouds we get used to in Scotland. There was still a cool east wind blowing until the sun made an appearance.

Scamp and I drove to Tesco and filled a trolley full with essentials for a weekly shop. Nothing new, just the basics with little to add. By the time we got back home the sun was shining fully and the whole place felt warm again. Just a comfortable warmth.

The breakdown cover on the blue car was about to run out, so I spent an hour or so in the afternoon working out who was the best choice for the cheapest price. It’s always a conundrum finding who you can trust for the least amount. At the last gasp, I finally settled on the one I had last year for a decent price. Now I just hope I never have to use it. Isn’t it strange that we pay good money for something you hope you will never use? That’s what keeps us going I suppose.

Dinner tonight was home made Paella. As usual I made far too much, but Scamp suggested we freeze, or at least chill the remainder to use, perhaps tomorrow.

We watched University Challenge in the evening. It’s usually an autumn program, but this year all three, University Challenge, Mastermind and Only Connect have started already. I think it makes the year appear to shrink. They are the only game shows we watch.

Today’s PoD turned out to be a photo of a Blue Eryngium from the garden. It’s quite a startling flower. I took it with a lens that I don’t use very often. It gets terrible reviews, but does produce some great images. Best of all, it’s cheap … if you can find a good one! I did and I’m sticking to it. See if you can spot the spider!

Tomorrow we’re hoping to drive to Larky for Scamp to get her eyes checked. The last time the went the optician thought her eye pressure was a bit high. Hope it’s settled now.

Annette is intending to come over tomorrow for dinner. It will give Scamp someone other than me to talk to. I’m hoping to go out for a walk with the camera and leave the ladies to their chat.

Out looking for plants – 13 July 2026

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Scamp had a few spaces in her front garden that ‘really’ needed some colour to brighten the day, so we headed off to Klondyke to see what they had to sell us.

It was a lovely day. In the morning the sun was having a late lie in, but by the time we were on the road, it had dragged itself out of bed and started to shine. Klondyke was busy. Lots of plants, but we had to be careful as a lot of the offerings were a bit long in the tooth and we wanted flowers with a fairly long life ahead of them. We did find some. Most with unpronounceable names. Some even sticking to their latin names, probably to make them sound more glamorous.

We settled on

A Berberis bush
A Monardo (don’t know what that is)
A Cosmos Plant
6 Antirrhinums (Map-Maps was what my mum called them)
A Doormat (not me!)
A Bag of Perlite.
A Bag of seed potatoes to grow for Christmas (all being well)

We bundled all of that into the wee blue car and then went back into Klondyke for a coffee and a scone. Then we headed back home, where we unloaded all the above into the back garden. Then, for the rest of the day, Scamp was silent. Just too busy planting all the new plants, apart from the seed potatoes.

I took a camera out for a walk in St Mo’s later in the afternoon when the light was better, and got today’s PoD which is a bunch of Wild Geraniums. I really like them, they just seem to keep flowering with no maintenance at all.

The bloodthirsty vampires liked my blood so much last week, they have asked me to give them some more. I couldn’t really refuse them, so tomorrow I may go to the health centre and donate some more blood so they can test it again. At least that’s the story they tell me. I’m not sure I believe them.

Bleeding – 10 July 2026

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Well, not exactly bleeding, but being bled by the vampires of Central Health Centre. All in a good cause I’m told.

Scamp was meeting Isobel for coffee and a blether and once my bloods had been drawn, I joined them for a blether and a coffee too. Isobel was showing off a few ancient photos of her family, one of which was quite familiar to Scamp and me. It was a photo of a large family group at a wedding many years ago and I think it was a scan I’d made of that same original and then I’d used Lightroom or Photoshop to add colour to it. The clue that it wasn’t my original was the lines that crossed the print. I’d never leave them if I was printing copies.

Despite the heat today, Scamp wanted to work in the garden. It was mainly weeding and I wanted nothing to do with it. Instead, I put on shorts and a shirt and walked over to St Mo’s to grab some photos, because it was lovely and warm. In addition to grabbing some photos, something grabbed me on the leg. It was a dirty big Cleg, also known as a Horsefly. I didn’t hesitate to give it a big slap, flattening it onto my leg. I don’t think it will be biting anyone again. It had managed to bite me and the swelling was there for everyone to see.

The Soldier Beetles were out in force. They don’t bite humans, but they do mate on flowers everywhere. A couple made PoD.

We sat in the garden later and watched the wee fountain in the back garden spurting water at random. After that it was time to go back to the house for dinner which was a Pizza Express pizza. Too sweet and not worth getting again if you ask me.

Tomorrow we’re due to go dancing at Brookfield.

 

Two go dancing – 9 July 2026

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Today we drove to Glenburn for an hour or two’s dancing.

This was our first Tea Dance in about six weeks and we were rusty. Thankfully most other people were too or we may not have survived the comments. As it happened, we acquitted ourselves quite well. Not amazingly well, just enough.

I think we talked more than danced today, but most people were talking more than dancing. That’s what happens when you miss out on your dancing and struggle to remember what comes next in the sequence. At least, I felt that today. Of course, Scamp hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon.

We danced a few sequence dances and a few ballroom dances. No waltzes and certainly no quicksteps. We stayed for the entire class because the schools are on holiday for a month and the traffic is a lot lighter than usual, as a result. If nothing else, today was a good way of catching up with faces we knew.

I grabbed a few shots in the afternoon, mainly from the Schoolgirl rose in the front garden. It’s really past its best now, but it is still flowering. That made PoD. Scamp made a mixed salad for dinner with tuna chopped into it for some body. I was tested to see if I could spot the ingredients and I got them all with the exception of Oregano which was Scamp’s mystery addition. Of course, after she told me, all I could taste was the Oregano!

I have promised one of our neighbours that I’d keep her plants watered. The first couple of days were easy, because the constant rain did the job for me. Yesterday and today are different. The poor wee plants need all the liquid they can take, and that’s where I’m heading now, with a full watering can.

I need to see the vampires tomorrow to get bloods taken for my annual checkup. Oh what fun!