Category: Garden

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.

Blue skies and sun – 31 October 2026

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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.

Dull again – 29 October 2026

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Not a lot to say about the day. We just seemed to be running around in circles and not getting anything done. Some days are like that, I know and sometimes you just have to grin and bear it. Today was one of those days.

We should have been going to a Tea Dance, but never quite got round to it. Nobody’s fault, just a dull day.

Green theme today. Just green leaves.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

A quieter day – 26 October 2026

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We took advantage of a much calmer day, and we took stock of the damage done to the garden.

There wasn’t much damage done, really. Our old battered and bruised plastic greenhouse had blown down and most of the contents were strewn across the garden. We took one look at the carnage and decided it wasn’t fit to be reused. Too much damage to the metal tubes that held it up and too much rust on them meant it was no longer worth repairing. It has lasted a long time, so it will be going in the Council Tip at the first opportunity.

Most, if not all of the plants survived the wind and rain from the last few days, although my potatoes in their plastic pots were ravaged by the wind and rain. I don’t know if they will be worth digging up. We’ll see once everything returns to normal

We watched the American F1 GP and weren’t surprised with the winner. He was always going to win, it was only a matter of time before it happened.

Later we wiped off the load of leaves and branches that the Blue car had collected over the last few days and drove to Tesco. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that shop as busy as it was today. People wheeling trolleys everywhere and long queues at all the checkouts. All because of two days of heavy rain and strong winds. We only had a few things in our trolley and we got through the smaller checkout quite quickly.

No wind today, but a continuous drizzle kept us in the house most of the dull day, although I did get a few photos in the back garden of Scamp’s Cosmos flowers. They looked great even when they were soaking wet. Such cheerful blooms. The Cosmos flowers got PoD.

The weather tonight is beginning to get noisy again. The weather fairies say it will be more rain than wind this time, but we’ll wait and see what happens. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as the past few days. –

Dancin’ – 24 October 2026

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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

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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.

Dancin’ – 17 October 2026

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Late getting out today, partly because it was cold. Ice on the car windscreen is never a welcome sight!

We drove to Brookfield to a busy class. The first dance, if you can call it that, was the Rhumbumbumba. I’d tried it last night and, with Scamp’s help, I could stumble through the routine. I knew the ‘real’ version was a lot faster, but I just couldn’t keep up with this manic monstrosity. Halfway through the routine I made my exit to the toilet and didn’t come out until the ‘music’ had stopped!

I put the Rhumbumbumba behind me and attempted the October Waltz. It was a lot more reserved and slower in places but quite twisting and turning. I managed to get through most of it with a lot of help from Scamp. I was beginning to think I’d lost this one too, but there was a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel that gave me some confidence that all was not lost!

Jive was next and it was a combination of the Bowtie, Spanish Arms and the Mooch! No, I’ve never heard of these dances, either, but some of them were remarkably like Glasgow Jive routines we’d learned from a previous teacher an also there was a hint of Salsa in there too, so basically, I felt I was on safer ground.

The final routine was an X-Line Tango. We had learned it from the TV when we were in Lockdown, all those years ago. We used to be quite good at it, even if I say so myself. Of course the routine had been changed since then, but the basic dance was the same. By the end of the class I was feeling confident of two of the dances. That’s a pretty good average for me!

We drove home and after lunch, Scamp was hoping to get the front grass cut, but a heavy dew was taking a long time to dry out and eventually she gave up on it. I went for a walk over to St Mo’s and got a few decent photos on, what was a lovely day. My favourite, and PoD went to a Dogwood bush (Cornus alba) that just glowed in the sunshine. The brown seeds of the Yellow Flag Iris were coming into their proper weird shapes that looked like worms, so I took some photos of them too. The photos will become useful for those days when it’s raining or if I can’t see anything worth photographing. It’s always good to have a fall back.

We watched Strictly and although some of the dancers were worth watching, a lot of them seemed to have lost their interest. Maybe Christmas pantos and shows are dragging some of the contestants away.

No plans for tomorrow, but the grass will still be needing cut!

What a dull day – 12 October 2026

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I don’t believe the sun got out of bed today.

For once I was up fairly early today, waiting for The Gates of Midnight to land on the carpet. It actually did arrive quite soon afterwards. I was a bit disappointed at the state of this ‘new book’, but then, after some research, I found that the soft, seemingly hand cut look was what the author had intended. I’m glad I got the hardback version or I would have missed the hand-made effect! No, I haven’t started it yet, Hazy. I might start it later tonight.

Scamp had realised she’d forgotten to replant one of her Heuchera plant (Lime Marmalade) yesterday, so she managed to get it split into four parts and divided them up round the garden. I’m sure she felt better for that, especially because it didn’t rain while she was out. After that it was the usual start to the day with a cup of coffee and the puzzles, we had lunch which was toast and beans, mainly because the beans were just passed their sell-by date and it seemed a shame not to use them. Scamp had wanted to go for a walk in the morning, probably a walk round Colzium Estate, but on checking I realised the rain had started and neither of us wanted to go for a walk in the rain. The rain seemed to be on a start/stop routine, because it couldn’t decide whether to go for the full rain option or for the drizzle. It settled for the drizzle.

We eventually walked down to the Shops for bread and stuff. Just essentials, because we were walking, not driving. On the way back, Scamp took the shopping bag and told me to go and have a walk round St Mo’s and that’s what we did. I went for a walk round the pond and she carried the ‘Messages’ home.

PoD went to  spider looking for food to fill its larder.

There wasn’t much to see in St Mo’s today. The swans came over to see if I’d anything worth eating, and then left when they realised there was no food to be had. There were lots of spiders on all the trees and desiccated branches and one of them got PoD. After that I just made my way back home. By about 4pm, the little light there was had disappeared and we amused ourselves by searching for a new kitchen carpet to replace the old charred one that’s way past its useful date.

We may go looking for a replacement kitchen carpet tomorrow. That has to be a better plan than today’s.

A lovely morning – 11 October 2026

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It was a beautiful morning today. The light was shining across the front garden lighting up the Rudbeckia flowers which have become a bit tatty these days, but still catch the light.

I managed to grab a few shots of the Rudbeckia while the good light lasted, but it didn’t stay for long. Big black clouds began to cover the sun and I took as many shots as I could before the sunshine was lost for the day. One of the decent shots became PoD along with some well worn Hydrangea Paniculata called ‘Switch Ophelia’. They start off pale pink and end up months later a light brown.
So, that was the photo shoot for the day. Nothing really wild, but it was a tick in a box.

Scamp spent most of the morning and early afternoon pruning the plants in the front garden. It’s really looking good, especially since we’re well into October now. It’s still cold in the morning and for a few days there, we had some light frost. Most mornings now there is the hint of frost. It’s hard to believe that last year at this time we were sailing around the Mediterranean!

Spoke to Jamie in the evening and heard that their ongoing fight about the problems whit the roof of the house have been settled. Maybe not as amicably as they’d have liked, but at least it’s finished.

No real plans for tomorrow, but we’ll make the most of the time, because it’s going to be a busy week for us.

Dancin’ – 3 October 2026

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It was Saturday and that means we’re probably dancing … somewhere.

We were off to Brookfield for our usual Saturday dance class. The first topic was Rhumbumbumba. It’s my least favourite stagger across the floor, tangle yourself in knots waste of time. I could give it the real description I use, but Scamp doesn’t like swearing! Suffice to say it’s absolute rubbish.

Next was the October Waltz. I’m not entirely sure we’ve done this one before, but Scamp likes it and I’m coming round to it now. After a few practices I think it and me could become friends. A fairly gentle waltz that glides along quite easily.

After the October Waltz was a Melody Foxtrot, just to loosen us up, or to be more precise, to loosen me up. Waltzes, especially fairly new ones make me tense and I end up leading with the wrong foot or even worse, standing on Scamp’s toes, but the Melody Foxtrot (which doesn’t have a Foxtrot in it) is an old friend. One that me and it get on well with.

The last part of today’s repertoire was a Butterfly Jive. I’ve never actually seen a butterfly jiving, but if I know the session is coming to an end, I’m quite happy to stagger round the dance floor copying those around me.

That should have been the end of today’s routines, but of course, Stewart was determined to squeeze in a final Rhumbumbumba. I noticed one of the men in the class was sitting it out. That was all the excuse I needed and I sat down facing him. Two old guys smiling at the antics of the dancers and not caring what they thought.

Drove home through a very quiet Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon. I think we only took about 40 minutes to get home. That must have been a new world record.

Scamp was tidying up the back garden when we got home, then Hazy phoned to ask me for some details that she needed for checking some come computer stuff. After a while I phoned her back with the numbers she wanted and she phoned back to confirm that the computer stuff checked out. A big thanks to you and Neil for clarifying that, Hazy. I was pretty sure I’d already checked it, but a second confirmation is never a bad thing. Next check is in April if all goes well!
If all that sounds a bit disjointed, don’t worry. It’s just computer talk 😉.

I went for a walk later and found the seed heads of the Yellow Flag Iris plants in St Mo’s were ripening and some of the seed pods had split open allowing the seeds to turn a rich brown. They appear every year around October in a variety of distorted shapes. That became PoD.

No real plans for tomorrow, at least not yet.