Category: Food

Recovery – 8 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Yesterday was a busy day that started about midday and didn’t end until just before midnight. It was all because of a wedding in Glasgow that started well, almost had a stand-up fight in the middle and ended with a very noisy and boisterous finish with lots of laughter, I’m told. We were on the train home by that time.

After standing around at the station hoping for a taxi, a good Samaritan called Jonathan, (I hope I got that right) a gentleman and a scholar managed to coax a taxi driver to squeeze us in so we got home safe. Thank you Jonathan!

Today, by comparison was quite calm and pleasant. I went for a walk round St Mo’s pond and managed to capture a nice looking cloudscape that looked as if it was going to dump a load of rain on me, but thankfully it all blew past and the sun came out again.

Scamp needed a bit of a haircut today. She was booked for a procedure that required her to remove all her hair. Thankfully she had prepared for it by getting her hair cut fairly short for the wedding, but the actual ‘bald cut’ was down to me. I can now see why a lot of people get a very close cut. I’m not sure I could manage to get such a close cut, but if needs must …!

Dinner today was Mince & Tatties for me, while Scamp had potatoes with cabbage and cauliflower. The mince had been in the freezer for some time, but it tasted fine.

Spoke to Jamie and discovered that he had dug up eight Butternut squashes to keep for the winter. I think he’s digging up his vegetable patch to get it ready for next year.

We may have an early night tonight after yesterday’s long day.

A cold day – 6 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Not a day that enticed us out, but we did go out anyway.

Drove to the town centre to meet Isabel and heard about what was happening in her side of the family. She really is an interesting person. For someone who is 90, her recall is amazing. She can tell you the names of all her families members, past and present and can tell you who married whom and also the stories attached to them. She is an entertainment!

After a couple of hours she set off with her walker to go to Tesco, but refused a lift. We drove to the much smaller Tesco on the other side of town and Scamp came back with milk and tomatoes which we needed for lunch.

After lunch I dragged myself out for a walk in St Mo’s. By that time the light was disappearing. I spotted a couple of ducks that might have been Pochards, but they were too far out in the pond to get a positive ID.

I settled for a couple of reeds that created an interesting geometric pattern. It wasn’t until I looked closely at the reeds that I noticed a slender spider waiting for an unwary insect to provide its dinner. The reed became the PoD.

Dinner tonight was Saag Paneer Kedgeree. Another of Scamp’s specialities. Hot, but not too spicy.

Tomorrow we have been invited to a wedding.

Out in Glasgow with Alex – 5 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

I got the bus from Cumbersheugh to Glasgow.

The bus was fashionably late, but the driver made up for lost time by charging along the M80 at a fair pace that got me to the bus station on time. Alex was waiting for me and we walked down Buchanan Street to a Nero where we had a coffee and discussed what we were going to do today. The rain was drizzling when we left Nero and that made us think it might be better to restrict ourselves to Glasgow today, rather than somewhere exotic like Paisley.

We walked down Buchanan Street to St Enoch’s and got some photos of the Christmas Fairs being constructed. From there we continued over to the Clyde Walkway to see what new graffiti had been added to it. The answer, wasn’t much and that made us wonder where all the good artists had disappeared to. Quite a few ‘Jakies’ hanging about the walkway and some of them were getting a bit aggressive, so we crossed the road and went or lunch.

Paesano was really busy today, but we managed to get a table for two and while Alex had a mixed peppers pizza, I stuck to Italian Sausage on my pizza. We took our time to make sure we had covered Trump’s failure to hold on to the Senate and the House in America. I have no idea what that means, buy it sounds good.

Not surprisingly, Alex wanted to go down to Guitar Guitar to look at, you guessed it … guitars. Actually he was hoping to be able to swap what turned out to be a low quality Gretch ( I think that’s how you spell it) guitar, or better still, get his money back. After a very positive response from the bloke behind the counter, we left with him feeling a lot better.

We climbed up one of Glasgow’s steep hills to get some photos of the big “Nappy Pin” that stands where Rotten Row used to be. Part of a hospital many years ago.

From there we needed another coffee and then made our way home. Hopefully our next adventure will be in two weeks time, but maybe an hour earlier, because nights are fair drawing in these days!

PoD went to a snap of a bloke standing outside the GoMA. I liked the light in this one.

Scamp and I may go out for a run somewhere tomorrow.

A day in the sun – 4 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Scamp was going out with her witchy friends and I was staying home because although the sun was warm in the house, the same couldn’t be said for the outside. It was quite cool!

Before she went out, Scamp was determined to plant out the Cyclemen and Violas she’s brought from Torwood. I think that’s them all in the soil now. They don’t seem to mind the cold weather, coincidentally neither does Scamp. Given half a chance she will be out in the garden in all weathers.

After Scamp left for meeting up with her friends, I dug out my recent book and decided I had to either find out what was going on with the Jinni and the Golem or give up the story. After about an hour I was beginning to see parts of the story coming together. It still wasn’t entirely clear, but we are talking about mythical beings here and as such they are unwilling to make anything clear. In other words, the story continues.

Later in the day I went for a walk over to St Mo’s to see if there was anything I could do with the warm light and I did find a use for it in a fallen leaf with lovely orange markings backlit by the low sun. The PoD was in the bag!

Scamp arrived a little later and we drove over to Shona’s house for dinner. Today’s menu was a square slice of pizza, a round of garlic flavoured flat bread and finally a quiche which was a delight! Thank you Shona for collecting all those disparate flavours and making them work.

Shona had a load of stories to tell about Ben’s adventures and the possibility of him getting a house soon. Still not sure where, or any other details, but there seems to be a move on the way. I just hope he’s not being moved too far away from Shona.

We drove home a bit later than we’d intended, but managed to get a slot in the almost full parking place.

Tomorrow I’m intending to meet Alex for a photowalk, probably in Glasgow or Paisley. I’ve missed the banter for the last month or so.

Today was a dull day – 3 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Unlike the recent weather, today was cloudy and wet. More like what we’re used to at this time of year.

I drove Scamp over to Condorrat to get her six monthly dentist’s check up. She left me her phone because she was expecting a message from Dundee, and sure enough, the phone rang not long after she left. I spoke to the doctor and agreed a time that would suit both him and Scamp for the first checkup, next week.

We then drove home and had a coffee before we drove over to Torwood for lunch. Of course, after our lunch we had to have a walk around the plants and we came home with two trays of flowers, one of blue violas and one of a mixture of cyclamen. I took my camera with me and managed a few shots of some Hydrangeas with big flower heads. They easily made PoD.

On our way to Torwood I did a detour to see if I could spot an old plane that had been circling as we left the house. According to Flight Radar, it was a Max Holste MH151 Broussard. I’d never heard of one before and it turned out to be quite an old plane indeed, vintage 1952. Unfortunately we didn’t manage a glimpse although Flight Radar described it as ‘landed’ at Cumbersheugh. Maybe tomorrow, then!

The rain started just after we’d started heading home and the nearer we got to Cumbersheugh, the heavier it got. Driving home in the rain wasn’t the best end to the day, but Scamp had made Tattie Soup for dinner and that did a lot to cheer me up. A great filling on a dull day.

I had a dollop of dough left over from yesterday’s home-made pizza. It seemed a shame to waste it, so we had it tonight and it was one of the lightest pizzas I’ve ever made. I’ll never be able to beat that one!!

Scamp is intending to meet the ‘Witches’ for lunch tomorrow. I may attempt another bow tie. Hopefully this one will be easier to make than the last one.

I think we might be booked for lunch/dinner with Shona tomorrow. Pizza again. You can’t beat it.

I had a lazy day today – 2 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

It started with a chance to watch the Mexican GP and it was full of thrills and spills, especially the spills. One car losing its front wheel and careening into the barrier. One car almost making a complete circuit of the track before being told to pack the whole thing in and go straight to the pits, do not pass GO and do not collect £100. Really, it was like being at the dodgem cars at a fair!

Once we’d watched the winner become The Champion of the World and once we saw the champagne being poured over the winner’s head (It’s actually ginger beer I’m told) Scamp started in the garden and I began sewing up a seam on my latest bow tie. By then it was lunch time.

Scamp continued where she’d left off in the garden and I thought I’d go for a walk in St Mo’s. I really need to find an alternative place to go searching for photos, but St Mo’s is local and there are usually some interesting shots to take.

The PoD went to a back-lit tree standing amongst some trees. We don’t get the leaves from the trees for very long, so I try to make the most of the golden lights.

We had previously discussed dinner and I suggested a home-made pizza. It sounded easy, I’ve made them umpteen times before, so with a bit of luck I was sure I could knock one out. For once it worked. I had just enough dough for two pizzas. One is now chilling nicely in the fridge and the other one produced a big, fat, chunky pizza base that was covered with cheese chunks, liquidised tomatoes and some sliced mozzarella. For once I didn’t use anchovies, that would have been too much of a good thing, but the baking of the pizza was almost perfect. I was very pleased with it. Even Scamp agreed it was excellent.

We watched Mastermind and University Challenge after dinner and left Only Connect for another day.

Scamp has the dentist tomorrow and we we may have some time to spare after that, so we might go for a drive somewhere interesting. We can look forward to the other Pizza!

On Golden Pond – 1 November 2026

Posted on by Zogman

I was out for a walk round St Mo’s pond when I came across these pines reflecting the low sun. It was an easy PoD.

The rest of the day was equally good looking. Warm sunshine and some decent light for a change.

I admit that I just did my usual walk around the pond, across the football pitch and into the woods to see if there were any more Yellow Iris seeds, but most had gone by the time I reached their usual place. The birds had been making a feast of them. Can’t blame them. It must be a tough existence scraping a living in the woods, especially when the school kids are using the area as a free dumping ground for their chip bags and sandwich wrappers.

Still, there are areas worth investigating if you have time to look for them. Farther into the woods there are deer tracks if you have the time and patience to watch for them. Not as many songbirds in the woods now. It appears that the Magpies are commandeering the best food areas and they are dominating the area. I imagine only the strongest will survive for a few years before the cycle returns. That’s what makes the world go round I suppose!

Walked back home and found Scamp making tonight’s dinner which was Salmon & Fennel Risotto. It came from a cookery book, but tasted great. Even better it was washed down with the remains of a bottle of yesterday’s Bardolino for me and a small bottle of Prosecco for Scamp. Altogether a decent dinner. My compliments to the chef!

Spoke to Jamie later in the evening and heard about his least favourite time of the year, having to decide who gets the “+ rating” and who has to suffer the “- rating”. I’m so glad that I’ve passed that stage of my life.

No real plans for tomorrow, but I think it will be my turn to cook!

Blue skies and sun – 31 October 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Just for a change we had blue skies and sunshine today.

We were too lazy to get up and make the most of the day. Instead we stayed in bed and read for a while. No rush to get up today, we weren’t going to dance class today. In fact we’re not intending going to dance for four whole weeks. It’s mainly due to hospital commitments.

It was actually quite good to be able to set aside a Saturday morning for things we need to do. Scamp chose to start cleaning up the back garden which needs some attention after three storms in a row. That took up most of the early afternoon. She has now to decide where her new found space is going to go. I think she’ll settle for a new plastic greenhouse, but I could be wrong

While she was doing that, I was trying to place four pieces of fabric in the correct places for a bow tie, then add in two pieces of interfacing between those four pieces of fabric. It sounds very complicated, but it actually quite simple … until you realise you’re placing most of those pieces in the wrong places!! That’s when I had to resort to Hazy’s “Frogging” tactic, or Rippit as she calls it. Which means Ripping It Out. A restart, in other words. Second attempt was better, but when I thought I’d assembled the bow tie correctly I discovered I had to rip it out again and this time, finally it all went together.

Scamp was heading for a trip to the shops and I was so fed up with bow ties, I walked half way there with her and then walked round St Mo’s to get a photo, despite the failing light. My PoD was a the remains of a Yellow Flag Iris which was beginning to lose its seeds. I think I may collect some of those seeds and plant them for next year.

Dinner tonight was the remaining Mowgli curry with my take on Flat Breads. Both were delicious.

Tomorrow I may go looking for the Flag Iris seeds. Scamp is probably working in the garden.

Dancin’ – 24 October 2026

Posted on by Zogman

A wild day with a lot of enjoyable dancing for a change!

We were a bit late for dance class today, mainly because of the heavy rain, but thankfully we did just manage to get Brookfield just as the class was starting. Also, just by luck, I managed to avoid the ‘Rhumbumbumba’ a dance I hate!

The first ‘Real’ dance was the October Waltz that I’m getting used to. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to perfect it next week, all being well. As for today, well, it was a bit of a mixture. Most of it worked, but there are some awkward bits that need looking at. It’s a work in progress.

Next was the ‘X Line’ Tango. A dance we learned during Covid, watching it over Zoom. That was back in 2020 when the world was young and we were ready for anything to do with dance. In other words, what I’m saying is that I’d forgotten most of it, and it’s only recently I’ve gone back to it. It’s almost there in my memory, but not quite all in the right places. I’m assured that it will come back … soon.

The Feta Foxtrot was the next on the agenda. One of Scamp’s favourites and I must say one of mine too. A nice gentle foxtrot with nothing too difficult to remember, but a lot of clever tweaks that make it much more interesting.

We finished the class with the Midnight Jive. This one is definitely embedded in my little brain and I sometimes think I’ve danced it in autopilot. Whether that is the case or not I’m not willing to say, but it’s all to do with Muscle Memory, I’m sure of that.

We weren’t driving straight home. Instead we were booked for lunch at Coast, a restaurant that sits with wonderful views across the Clyde Estuary. Of course it was pelting rain today, sot those views were mere blurs on the horizon. Still we had a decent lunch there, even if the first piece of steak from my steak and sausage pie was all gristle and completely inedible. Scamp was much happier with her Sea Bream with Risotto. I think this is only the second I’ve had bad luck with meat from Coast. Next time I’ll remind myself to have something else instead, all being well.

Instead of driving home by the M8 as we would usually do, Scamp remembered there were long delays near Glasgow Airport, so we went via the Erskine Bridge instead. I don’t think we gained any time by going that way. It would probably be just as quick risking the M8. No matter, we arrived home safely and got parked.

Not long after we got home, we could feel the wind rising. Storm Austen was handing over to the much stronger Storm Boelo. It’s blowing a hoolie just now with gusts around 50mph. Hopefully tomorrow it should calm down.

Today’s PoD was the view from the front window with the rain sheeting down. Brrr!

No plans for tomorrow.

A really dull day – 23 October 2026

Posted on by Zogman

Thankfully we went to Tesco in the morning and missed most of the heavy rain.

Rain had been predicted for us, but after that early deluge, everything calmed down and we saw very little of named storm Austen. However we did have a continuous drizzle and that’s almost as annoying as rain.

I restarted cutting the fabric for the reversible bow tie. I thought I had it sorted, but now I’m thinking I might try a different version. I don’t want to waste any more fabric and end up with nothing. Maybe tomorrow I’ll do a dummy run with some cheap fabric and photograph each step so I can always come back to it after I’ve got it the way I want it. Assuming that I get it right this time around!

Hazy: I bought a packet of clips (Clover Wonder Clips) that seem to be easy to use for holding fabric layers while you stitch them. Much easier than using pins and less likely to draw blood!

I did manage to get just three photos taken today. The best of a bad lot went to a shot of some red flowers that were hanging from a pot that itself was hanging on the fence in the back garden. It was drizzling and I wasn’t hanging around. That was PoD covered.

Scamp was clearing out the fridge yesterday and found a plastic tub of home made tomato soup. That, and a Fish Finger Sandwich was dinner. The soup was excellent, but I would say that, because I made it! So was the FFS!

It looks like we’re going to have a windy couple of days tomorrow and Sunday with the next named storm, Boelo. High winds and heavy rain. Oh what fun.