Category: photography

A scorcher! – 25 May 2026

Posted on by Zogman

In the global stakes they don’t stand a chance, but today’s temperatures of 24ºc are impressive for Scotland.

We had a lazy start to the day, but we really must get some work done to the house. I thInk I need to sand down the back door and repaint it. The window sills also need a fresh coat of paint, front and back. The cupboard at the front of the house could do with a lick of paint too. I think that will be a good start. The carpets need to be cleaned and that seems to be where Scamp thinks we should start … hopefully tomorrow.

We watched a fairly interesting Canadian GP with a lot of mechanical failures catching drivers out. I almost felt sorry for George Russell. After his car ground to a halt at the side of the road, he threw his headrest away in disgust and that earned him an extra penalty! Not St George’s day. This new F1 rule book is catching a lot of drivers out and causing no end of misery for the ‘Old Team’. Good to see!

After the race was done, Scamp and I went for a walk down to the shops to get some essentials for lunch and for dinner later. That was when I began to feel the effect of the 24ºc and wondered how Hazy was surviving “Dahn Sarf”. Hope it wasn’t too hot for you.

After lunch and before dinner, we drove to the Town Centre for a sequence dance class. I can’t for the life of me remember its name, but we knew it well enough to dance the whole routine without listening to the teacher. That didn’t mean that we just ignored her, and we actually learned some of the finer details like the hold we should be using. Good work, Kirsty.

Back home there was just enough light to capture a bunch of Aquilegia flowers backlit by the sun. That made an easy PoD.

So tomorrow we’re intending getting the carpet cleaner out and do a ‘Scrub a dub dub’ on the living room carpet!

Sitting in the sun – 24 May 2026

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Scamp was out with Shona in the morning doing some shopping and I was off the leash for the day, or most of it at least!

We were running low on milk today and since Scamp and Shona had borrowed the car, I walked down to the shops. It was a warm day and I was regretting wearing a sweatshirt, even if it did describe perfectly the perspiration I was feeling. Back home I brought out one of the folding chairs and settled down to an hour’s reading of Brigands and Breadknives. It’s a bit strange reading ‘real’ books. They are great because the batteries never run down, but their downfall is that there is no light for reading at night. Life is full of these imperfections.

It was late morning before I realised I hadn’t had lunch, but as I wasn’t really hungry, a couple of slices of buttered bread sufficed. I’d found a couple of possible PoDs on my walk to the shops, but nothing I was totally sold on.

Scamp and Shona arrived in the late afternoon and Scamp suggested the Peony flowers in the living room might make a suitable subject and they did work. Half a dozen shots later I had my PoD.

While I was concentrating on the flowers, Scamp was making a stir-fry from some veg that was languishing in the fridge and a couple of chicken thighs. They filled the plates quite nicely.

Shona was going home to her house later with a couple of large bags containing today’s bargains from the shops. Just to be up sides with her, Scamp also managed to snag a dress and leggings. She also managed to get me a new pair of much needed jeans. So all of us were happy.

Spoke to Jamie and made final plans for their visit next month. Looking forward to that.

Tomorrow, for the first time in ages we really don’t have any plans!

Off to Brookfield for a dance class – 23May2026

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This may possibly be the last dance class for a whole month. The teachers are off on two different cruises. I won’t say I am disappointed, but I’m not.

We got a great surprise when we headed over to Brookfield and were allowed to travel faster than 40mph. The 40mph ban had been lifted and we were driving at normal motorway speeds. Even better, the roads were only partly full. We usually watch for one of the big ‘out of town’ parking areas to whizz past on the left, only half full. Today it was almost totally full. Finally we reached Brookfield, about fifteen minutes quicker than usual. That’s the difference the 40mph ban makes.

Today was a high energy dance class. It started with the Electric Slide which only about fifty percent of of the class seemed comfortable with. I was just lost – thinking it was The House of Bamboo with different music. Then we were into the ‘meat’ of today’s class with “Celia’s American Smooth Waltz”. Every time I start this dance, I think I’ve got it sorted in my head, then it falls to pieces. Today if took me a couple of rounds of the floor before I managed to join all the units together correctly.

A couple of sequence dances came next to give us a bit of relaxation, then it was time for another of Stewart and Jane’s less complicated dances and we finally ended up with another exhausting sequence dance that left most of the senior dancers gasping for breath.

We walked out of the hall into sunshine. It was such a beautiful day. We drove home in very light traffic for a Saturday. We even had enough time to go to M&S for some messages.

After lunch, Scamp wanted to work in the garden and I wanted to go out to St Mo’s in the hope of finding a damselfly ,,, and there it was, a Common Blue damselfly. It was very agitated and kept flying away. Eventually it settled down and I got a clear, if distant, view of the insect. The first damselfly this year for me! That became the PoD.

Tomorrow I have no plans.

Out to lunch today – 22 May 2026

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Investigating a restaurant in Paisley. Scamp had heard good reports from it.

It’s a complicated journey to Paisley from Cumbersheugh. Bus to Glasgow. The inevitable coffee in Nero and a walk through the streets, busy on a Friday morning. Then we needed tickets to take us on the train to Paisley. With tickets in our hands we just managed to get on to the train with seconds to spare. The train took us the four stops that we needed to get to Paisley Gilmour Street station and we walked into the sunshine of Paisley.

We did a quick wander round the shops in Paisley, just in case they had different shops that we have at home, and surprise, surprise they did have a dress the exact size for Scamp and another top that might just fit Shona. It looked like it was going to be a good day.

We were actually too early for lunch, but Scamp said she was sure they’d fit us in, and they did.

Scamp’s Lunch was: Cullen Skink Croquettes then Beer Battered Haddock washed down with a glass of red.

Mine was Crispy Chicken Tenders then Gourmet “Scampi” & Chips ( the Scampi was actually King Prawns, but it was clearly labelled as such, so no problems there) Also washed down with a glass of red!

To finish we had Vanilla Ice Cream with Homemade Tablet and Hot Caramel Sauce. Delicious.

We’ll be back!!

I had a view of Paisley Abbey and Scamp had a panoramic view of a wedding party walking into the restaurant in their finery.

We walked to the station and caught the train to Glasgow, then a coffee for me and a peppermint tea for Scamp before we got the bus home.

Quite a tiring day, I did over 11,000 steps and Scamp did a lot more.

PoD went to the Golden Torch Rhododendron that’s flowering in our garden.

I think we are possibly going to Brookfield for an hour and a half of dancing tomorrow.

Photobombed – 21 May 2026

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A lazy start to a day that seemed to be constantly threatening rain.

The result was that I didn’t do much, although I did plant out a couple of flowers that had come in a bundle of dried flowers for my birthday. Most of the flowers were desiccated and didn’t show any way of producing roots or leaves, but a couple of them did manage to produce a coil of roots, so I gave them a chance and potted them up. They are now soaking up water in the bird bath. I’m sure the birds won’t mind.

I went for a walk after lunch and was just lining up on a string of cygnets that have appeared in St Mo’s pond when I was photobombed by a couple of Mallards, one male and one female. It’s something to do with the time of year. Spring is busting out all over and that sort of thing. I kept the shot and liked the way all the birds and reflections lined up nicely. That became PoD.

Dinner tonight was half a home-made Quiche for Scamp. The second half of the quiche she’d made yesterday. My dinner was Mince ’n’ Tatties. Again it was half a dinner Scamp had made for my yesterday because I hadn’t told her I was dining out with Alex yesterday. I think it was probably better today.

We had a meeting with Shona and the Celebrant in the evening. The celebrant that Shona had chosen was the same one that spoke at her mother’s funeral and he was really good. I think we were all impressed with the way he collected information and collated it in such a way that you would have believed he knew the person he was talking about. After an hour or so he had all the information he needed, but told Shona that she could contact him at any time to add more information if she wanted.

When he left we sat with a cup of tea and talked with Shona for a while. I think we’re all feeling the pressure now, but Shona is feeling it more than most of us.

Thanks for your message Jamie. I’d forgotten about Val’s massive antenna.

Tomorrow we’re planning on going to Paisley for lunch.

A day in Paisley – 20 May 2026

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I had suggested a walk round the Abbey in Paisley and Alex agreed.

Scamp gave me a lift to the station and I caught the train to Glasgow and met Alex at the bus station as usual. After we had our morning coffee we decided that the weather wasn’t looking great, but there was just the chance that it would improve in an hour or so, and it did, for once.

We got the train to Paisley and walked to the Abbey. We wandered around the building for a while, but there was a meeting of some group in the building and we both prefer empty spaces, without people wandering into shot, so we left them to it and headed for some lunch.

As usual we went to a wee cafe we’ve used many times before. The food is ok and fairly cheap, so it suits our purpose. From there we walked to the waterfalls on the White Cart Water, with the impressive Anchor Mill building in the background. The six-storey, red brick Anchor Mill was built in 1886 and was home to the largest thread manufacturer in the world, J. & P. Coats Ltd.

After we’d taken all the shots we wanted, just over sixty in my case and closer to seventy by Alex, we headed back to the station and caught the train back to Glasgow.

Getting into and out of Central Station in Glasgow is a bit of a mammoth operation since the fire earlier in the year. One entrance and one exit in the station that’s operating otherwise normally makes for a lot of congestion, but we should really be impressed by the amount of work that’s been put into getting this busy station operating at all!

We walked back up the hill to the bus station and went our separate ways. We’ve agreed the next venue will be in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Scamp had been cleaning and tidying some of the flowers and plants in the back garden and generally just getting everything ready for summer which, hopefully is just around the corner.

PoD went to the Anchor Mill with its surrounding waterfalls.

Tomorrow we have an almost empty day. I’m sure something will fill the space.

Dancin’ – 14 May 2026

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Looking for windscreen wipers unsuccessfully this morning.

I was out fairly early and drove over to Halfords for a pair of much needed windscreen wipers. “Yes sir, we have that size in stock”. First problem was that their tablet that allows you to check the wipers if you know your reg number wasn’t working. That meant I had to work through all the wiper boxes only to find that one I needed was empty. “Ah, I think we have one in the back shop.” He didn’t. His boss appeared and looked at the empty rack and then tried raking through the boxes on either side of it to no avail. “We do have this stainless steel version. It’s blah blah blah …” I asked him what the price difference was and he said with a smile “It’s twice the price of the one you’re looking for, but it’s stainless steel.” I didn’t buy it, nor did I buy the other two blades they did have. Moral: Don’t buy from Halfords!

Drove home and had just enough time for a banana sandwich before driving to Glenburn for a very empty looking Tea Dance hoping it wouldn’t rain! Apparently, some of the regulars were on child minding duty and some were on holiday. A few folk did trickle in after the first dance was called and eventually the floor filled up. Stewart played his usual selection of merry melodies and Scamp and I managed to struggle through the sequence dances. We left a bit early to avoid the worst of the queues from schools finishing and also from office workers leaving early.

I had intended going out for a walk after we got home, but those scattered showers the weather fairies keep talking about were upon us again, so today’s PoD was a Rhododendron called “Golden Torch” from the garden, an old favourite.

Don’t know what we’re doing tomorrow. Maybe looking for windscreen wipers (not Stainless Steel ones!)

 

Out for a walk – 13 May 2026

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Today we picked up Shona and took her to Helix Park to see the Kelpies.

It was an awful day for a walk. Torrential rain with lightning, hailstones and sleet. All within about fifteen minutes. It did clear up, but only so the weather could get its breath back before the next deluge drifted in. We decided that would be a good time to grab a seat in the cafe and avoid the next shower. One Mac ’n’ Cheese for each of the ladies while I had a pretty tasteless large Sausage Roll.

Once our lunch was over and we were sure the worst of the weather was past, we went for a walk round the Kelpies. I think it was the first time they had met Shona and they seemed to approve of her visit. We had walked almost to the furthest north part of the park when the heavy rain drove us to shelter under the bridge that crosses an offshoot of the canal. Not the most comfortable place, noisy and with a cold wind blowing through it, but at least it was dry.

After a while the winds wound themselves down and lo and behold, the sun shone from a blue sky and the weather remained like that for most of the rest of the day. We walked over the canal outlet and down the other side of the canal to get a different view of the Kelpies. Once we’d seen everything that interested us we drove back to Cumbersheugh in the rain that had decided it wanted to splash us again. We dropped Shona off at her house and drove home. I completely forgot that I was going to treat the Blue car to a new set of windscreen wiper blades. That’s now been relegated to tomorrow morning.

PoD went to a clutch of cygnets with their mums and dads, out for a swim. All, that is, all except the couple who were sheltering on their mum’s back. You might not be able to see them from the photo, but I swear they are there. I also got a clear photo of a Grey Heron. Truly a birdwatcher’s day out.

Happy Birthday, Neil. I hope you had a good one!

Maybe we might just manage a trip to Glenburn tomorrow for a tea dance.

Dentist – 11 May 2026

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I had an appointment with the dentist this morning.

Thankfully it was a painless one. One gentle scrub with the dental grinding wheel to take the roughness off one of my front teeth and I was done until nearly the end of the year. No fillings today mum!

Back in time for lunch, then an almighty struggle with MacOS and Microsoft to transfer half a dozen photos from Mac to a Microsoft computer. Eventually I managed it by copying the Mac OS file on to an old SD card formatted to MS-DOS (FAT32) the lowest version that works with Mac OS and Microsoft. Why do different operating systems have to be so bloody minded.
The files copied easily to the SD card and transferred to the Microsoft computer.

I went out for a walk after that. Just one circuit of St Mo’s, but failed to find anything interesting for PoD. That went to a photo from the garden of a Dodecathon ‘Shooting Star’. A beautiful short lived flower whose origin is in the US, but which grows well in the UK and comes back every year (So far!).

We were dancing in Kirsty’s class this evening, our first time in about three weeks. Tonight it was Foxtrot which she had chopped into three parts. We managed to complete part one tonight with the possibility of more next week.

We’ve some family business tomorrow, but other than that, our dance card if empty.

Lazy Sunday – 10 May 2026

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Breakfast in bed on a Sunday morning. Nothing to beat it!

In the morning we watched Laura Kuenssberg doing her usual Mrs Nasty impersonation and trying to keep those excitable politicians in line. It was a tough job today. Some were bemoaning their losses and others were just their usual smug selves. Wouldn’t you just hate to be a politician? No matter what you do there is bound to be someone who wants to burst your balloon.

It was such a lovely morning we walked down to the shops to get stuff for lunch and dinner. Scamp had it all planned out.

Lunch was our usual fried offering black pudding and / or haggis, with an egg for Scamp and some tinned tomatoes for me.

After lunch I went over to St Mo’s to walk off the excesses. The warm air from the morning was beginning to cool down and I was glad I’d taken my Rab jacket with me. PoD was a grab shot of a head-on shot of a bunch of Larch needles. From a distance I was sure I could see two eyes and a furry nose looking at me, but maybe I was mistaken!

Dinner was Prawn Cocktail followed by Jersey Royal potatoes, Sea Bream and Griddled Red Pepper as the main.
Then Fresh Fruit Salad chopped up neatly by Scamp.

Spoke to Jamie later and got the itinerary for their intended visit north in a few weeks. We also saw some of Simonne’s beautiful photos from their recent holiday. Made us jealous.

Tomorrow I have a visit to the dentist to look forward to.