Category: photography

Round the ponds – 3 May 2026

Posted on by Zogman

A dull start to a dull day.

One of those days that never really got started. The furthest I got was a walk around St Mo’s pond. I did get a host of photos, but the best by far was a clutch of Mallard ducklings out for a swim with their mum. That made PoD.

Scamp did a lot of tidying up and later we watched the qualifying F1 race in Miami which was a little bit short of scintillating. The commentators tried hard to make it exciting, but it didn’t work.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Hopefully we’ll get some sunshine too!

Rainy Day – 2 May 2026

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Off the leash today.

Scamp was off with the rest of the ‘Witches’, exploring the sights of Liverpool. She was due back home in the early evening, so I had a chance to get some photos and maybe even read for a while.

I finally got the first of my EDiM sketches completed to my satisfaction and after a bit of jiggery pokery, found out how I’d put them online two years ago. It wasn’t nearly as complicated as I thought it would be, mainly because the Facebook app I was using did all the hard work for me. One done and another to go.

It was one of those days when the weather didn’t seem to know what to do with itself. Rain one minute and beautiful sunshine the next. I did get a few photos in the garden, but they were quite poor.

Later in the day, I got the message to say that Scamp and the rest of the girls were on their way home. They were intending to travel up to Glasgow, but given that the city is an absolute mess now with different roadworks every week, we eventually settled on changing the destination to Hamilton for ease of parking.

A bit of frantic tidying up of my room was needed and I also managed to grab a bite to eat when I had time. Then the sun chose that time to shine again, so I took the chance to improve my earlier photos with a group of dandelion seed heads grabbed in St Mo’s with just enough time left over to drive down the M8 to Hamilton Bus Station, pay for parking and wait for the ladies.

They were all quite organised and we drove back to Cumbersheugh with partly told tales from all the ‘Witches’. How many of them were true, I wouldn’t know.

After the ladies had been returned to their doting husbands Scamp and I shared a Large Fish Supper and a wee glass of gin or whisky.

We have no real plans for tomorrow.

The first day of May – 1 May 2026

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According to my mum, I should have been out washing my face in the May morning dew. Instead I was taking photos.

I dropped Scamp off at her friend’s house and drove home to have breakfast, but I’d already put a camera in the boot of the car and it was such a beautiful day …

It would have been a great shame to go home for breakfast and then find the beautiful morning light had turned to a damp, dreary drizzle. It was never in doubt. The photography had to come first. I’d a few shots in the bag when I noticed the fisherman on the other side of the pond. Finding the best approach, down the slippery banking to the pond is downright dangerous and I was toting a new lens that I didn’t want to drop in the pond, but half a dozen and a little more photos later I’d not only not fallen in, I’d also managed to climb back up and on to the path without any slips or slides. I took a few more photos, but I knew the best of the day in the camera bag. I took the long way home and had breakfast.

The rest of the morning was collecting meds and shopping. I even took the wee Blue car to the car wash, half expecting the operator to say that famous phrase “Hopeless cases not accepted”. Instead he put me through the car wash, possibly because nobody else was using it today.

I dropped in at an old friend and stayed blethering and catching up with him for about an hour. Then I made lunch and found a note from Scamp saying her meds were due today too, so not having anything else to do I drove over to the medical centre and it was RAINING!

I’ve started my first EDiM (Every Day in May) sketch, but now I can’t remember how to post them on Facebook. I’ll need to check with my old versions of EDiF. I also planted a final batch of Maris Piper potatoes.

That’s about it. Normality will probably reign tomorrow.

A better day – 30 April 2026

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Shona was going home for a few hours. and we were going for lunch.

Shona was meeting with one of her best friends for a blether and for tea. She’s really been a powerhouse these last three days. Thankfully, the pressure on her is gradually releasing now, and she, herself, is relaxing a bit. Today she made some decisions about Paul, and that must have been hard. We, too were destressing.

We drove to Torwood for lunch. Just a couple of Toasties and a chance to talk about gardens and other simple things. Scamp got a couple of plants and they are now growing in tubs in the back garden. I’m sure there a lot more waiting to be found in Torwood!

Came home via M&S and we loaded up, on veg and things for tonight’s dinner. After that I put my boots on and went for a walk in St Mo’s where I got some photos of Larch Needles. Larch being one of the few conifers to drop their needles in the winter. One of them was guaranteed a place as PoD.

By the time I got back home, carrying more requests from Scamp, Shona had returned and we had Fish Risotto for dinner. Then we took Shona back home to prepare for more relations coming to visit and hopefully help.

I had bought a new camera bag from Amazon a couple of days ago, but it was just a little bit too small, so I bought another, larger one today. One will go back to Mr Bezos’s house and one will stay. If neither of them suit me, both will go back.

Scamp is off with the ‘Witches’ tomorrow, so it will be an early rise for both of us.

Going Home – 23 April 2026

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Waiting for the bus. The waiting is always the worst.

The bus arrived just after breakfast. Stewart did the checks and we all got on. Then some strangers, the germans who had plagued us since we arrived, decided this was our bus. After some sharp words from Stewart and Jane, they got the message and left to a chorus of expletives that I’m sure they understood!

With the germans disposed of we said goodbye to Calpe for this year and we settled down to the long journey to Alicante and the airport.

Despite the horror stories we’d heard about the queues at check-in we sailed through the new customs checks. Our plane arrived in time and that’s when things went awry. Nobody was telling us anything, but someone passed the message that a passenger on a previous flight was ill and paramedics had arrived to deal with the situation. Finally our flight was boarding after a wait of about two hours.

The flight was fine and we arrived in Glasgow late but happy to be there. We got the airport bus to Buchanan Street bus station, then got the X3 back home.

I’d say it was a lovely day, but I’d be lying.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The Germans!
  • Two bus drivers both trying to communicate with the germans
  • The lack of information at the airport in Alicante
  • How everything fitted into place when we got to Glasgow
  • Even the cases arrived ahead of the predicted time

Despite everything, would I do it again? In an instant!!

Thank you Scamp for your patience. I know I’m a pest.

Tomorrow, it’s back to Auld Claes and Purrich!

The Coffee Box – 20 April 2026

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Woke at 7am and dozed until just after 8am. That’s early for a holiday!

The lifts in the hotel seemed to be constantly full and there didn’t appear to be any stairs, then a cyclist showed us how to access the stairs that would take us down to the breakfast room. Thanks for that, whoever you were.

Most of the breakfast food was either cold or congealing or both. Not very appetising anyway. At least there was plenty of fruit and we finally managed to get breakfast.

Out in the streets there were lots of coffee shops. We chose one at random calling itself The Coffee Box. Two Cappuccinos, a Chocolate Croissant for me and a Neapolitan Crema for Scamp was a much better start to the day than breakfast in the hotel.

We walked round the bay almost to the Peñón de Ifach (Calpe Rock) which is a 332-meter high limestone mountain. We walked back to the town, admiring the amazing architecture, especially the great brown tubes with circular holes which were rooms in a complex.

Lunch was a Spanish Omelette for Scamp and a Bocadillo Especia which is basically a large filled sandwich, for me.

Tonight’s dress code was ‘Tropical’ and we managed to fulfil that task. We danced almost until the end of the night, but had to give in before the evening finished because we were exhausted

Another great day.

Things I’ll remember:

  • The poor quality food
  • Hardly any labels on the food
  • The size of that mountain
  • Bocadillo Especia
  • The Coffee Box

Busy doing nothing – 18 April 2026

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One of those days when I managed to keep myself busy, but didn’t actually do anything worthwhile. I’m getting quite good at it.

We went over to Condorrat to get some rolls for lunch and to post a birthday card to one of Scamp’s witchy friends. Wandered past what used to be called Brodans, but is now in the process of being converted into an Italian restaurant. Maybe next year at or around this time, it might open its doors. So far all that has been accomplished is a few holes have been drilled in the wall and a bit of plastering has been scraped off part of the wall. Wheels turn slowly in Condorrat.

The rolls were converted into Egg Rolls for Scamp and a Bacon Roll for me. I don’t know about the egg rolls, but the bacon rolls were the best I’ve had for ages.

I was eventually coaxed into going for a walk in St Mo’s. It had been a rainy morning, full of April Showers, but the afternoon promised some good weather. I took on the challenge and went for a circuit and a half of St Mo’s pond, carrying the wrong lens as usual. Most of the photos were of blossom from the trees in the park. PoD went to a Dogwood branch backlit with a warm background bokeh. I quite liked it.

Dinner tonight was Fish ’n’ Chips from the local chip shop. Fish was delicious, but the chips were just reheated potatoes. Could do better!

We watched an episode of Gardeners World tonight. It was about the new area in Regent’s Park. It opens to the public on or about 27th April. Looks like an interesting place to visit, Hazy / Neil. Oh by the way, Hazy, I’m still struggling through “A Drop of Corruption”. It’s a bit of a slog, but an interesting slog!

All seems to be well here. Speak in a few days.

Meeting Charlie – 17 April 2026

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Out in town with an old friend for a couple of beers.

Scamp very kindly dropped me at the station and the train arrived seconds later. Extra kind of her to arrange the transport!!

Charlie and I were meant to meet in the Horse Shoe Bar in Drury Street in Glasgow. I arrived just after midday, a wee bit early, but not much. I had a pint and waited for Charlie to arrive. I had a good view of the front door of the pub and clocked a few folk coming in, but no Charlie. I thought I’d better go and see if he was round the other side of the horse shoe shaped bar, but no Charlie round there either. After half an hour I decided I’d have another look and there he was watching the comings and going on the other side of the bar. He’d arrived not long after me and had gone to the toilet before he’d ordered and that must have been when I went to see if he was round the other side. Anyway, we had a good blether.

Now that Charlie is retired he seems to be having a great time. Driving all round the country and claiming he’s going to work at getting his weight down. We discussed the different folk we’d worked with. He had been my apprentice for a while, before I left to go down to the Borders with Scamp and Jamie, hoping for more secure work. Hazy being the tiniest sparkle in her mum’s eye.

A couple of pints later we went upstairs for lunch. Gammon Steak with Chips and Onion Rings. About a tenner each. He paid, I’d paid last time. Only two of us because Steven couldn’t come as he was looking after his mum who was just out of hospital. More beer and more catching up, then the long walk up Buchanan Street for Charlie to catch his bus to Gourock and me to get the train to Cumbersheugh where Scamp would be waiting for me. The weather was terrible. Lashing rain and a strong wind. Not the nicest weather for April. We said our goodbyes and promised we’d do it again some time soon, if he can find the time!

While I waited for the train to arrive, I grabbed some ‘people photos’ and although today’s weren’t as good as I’d hoped, they filled a page on the blog. PoD went to a shot of the hopeful travellers waiting for their trains.

The weather didn’t improve in Cumbersheugh, but I didn’t think it would. Scamp drove me home because I’d definitely be over the safe driving limit.

Tomorrow I’ve a bit of tidying up to do.

 

Dancin’ – 16 April 2026

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Back to Glenburn this afternoon to get some exercise, dancing.

Before that, I went for a walk in St Mo’s just in case I wouldn’t have time to grab any photos before we left for Glenburn and I was quite happy with my little collection of flowers and plants. A fair amount of sun to make things bright and cheerful. I even managed to get my PoD which is a Horse Chestnut candelabra just opening up to expose the flower buds.

I had been allowed 45 minutes to get to St Mo’s, grab my photos and get back in time for a quick lunch and an even quicker change before we made our way over to the outskirts of Paisley. I made it just in time with a few seconds before the cutoff time.

The hall was only about half full when we got to Glenburn, but gradually the cars arrived and the hall ended up almost as busy as it usually is. The usual mix of Ballroom, Jive and Latin in the first half, then in the second half it was almost all sequence. Since the schools were still on holiday, it was safe for us to take advantage and dance for almost all the available time. If we’re running a bit late and the schools are open, our journey home takes much longer with parents ferrying their little darlings home.

Dinner was from M&S and was Scottish salmon all butter en croute. It was remarkably good. I think we may have it again some time

We watched an illuminating episode of Grayson Perry interviewing folk about their adventures with AI in America. It really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What are these folk thinking about? Do they live in a different universe from us? One woman claimed she had married her AI ‘boy friend’. The more I hear about AI, the less I want to hear.

Note to self: Thursday Prezzy was a box of grapes, which were deemed to be great!

We watched the final of The Apprentice and agreed that the best woman won. There were no men in the final!

Tomorrow I may be meeting Charlie McKillop for a beer or two and a catch up. Steven may be there too.

Feeding the birds – 15 April 2026

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Another wet day in Glasgow, but the lady feeding the birds didn’t seem to mind.

We got the bus in to Glasgow. Scamp was looking for a pair of sandals and I wanted to get my hair cut. We went separate ways to achieve our goals, but only I was successful. A Number 3 for the top and a Number 2.5 on the sides and back. Ten minutes later I was walking out of the barbers.

Scamp and I met up again on Sauchiehall Street and walked up the hill because she thought I should be looking for a new camera bag. Admittedly, the bag I use is a good age, and it does let in the rain sometimes, but for the most part, it works. Reluctantly I went to WEX, but I already knew I wasn’t going to find my ideal camera bag there. I’m pretty sure I’ve whittled it down to two models, neither of which are available in Glasgow. Empty handed we walked back down the hill again and dropped in at Waterstones, not for a book this time, but for a coffee and a shared cake.

Then instead of Scamp dragging me around, I dragged her for a change. She wanted to find a pair of sandals, so we went in to most of the shoe shops on Buchanan Street, but again, came away empty handed. I think it just wasn’t our day today.
Luckily as we crossed the road to the bus station, the doors in our bus home were just opening and we hopped on. The roadworks are still going on in Glasgow and the bus took us on yet another variation of routes round the city. I really don’t know how the bus drivers remember all these different routes on different days. Well done to the lot of them.

Back home I made Smoked Haddock & Leek Risotto for dinner and it was hailed a great success even although I’d forgotten to add the Crème Fraîche at the end. Maybe I should ignore it in future. Anyway, it’s too complicated to remember all the accents 😉.

PoD went to a lady feeding her flock of pigeons in Sausageroll Street, completely ignoring the rain.

Tomorrow we may be going looking for dance shoes for Scamp and we are hoping to go to the tea dance too.