Category: St Mo’s

Foggy – 12 November 2024

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A grey morning with mist and fog

I was off through the fog to the dentist in the morning. Just for a check-up, but I knew that I needed a filling and some work done on one of my front teeth. Too much to do in check-up time I have to go back … in January. That’s next year! At least the work was going to be done under NHS otherwise I’d be moaning about the cost as well as the wait. Thankfully the loose filling isn’t giving me any pain (touch wood) and it’s been loose since about January 2024, so no need for hurry! Drove home and the fog seemed to be lifting a bit.

We drove to M&S to get the makings of tonight’s dinner which was to be stir-fry. Then we went to Tesco for bread and milk and all the other stuff we couldn’t get in M&S.

After lunch I went for a walk in St Mo’s in the fog that was now descending again. PoD went to a photo of a bank of rushes with a tree almost fading into the background. I quite liked it. Lots of shots of desiccated cow parsley heads, bejewelled with strings of spiderwebs holding little raindrops. Very pretty and pretty cold too. Thank goodness for a down jacket.

Dinner tonight was Prawn Stir-Fry and even if I say so myself, it turned out really well.

We watched Bake Off and mourned the loss of another good baker and a great contestant. And now there were four! Next week is semi-finals week.

Tomorrow is to be foggy again and I’m sure I heard the weather man say it might be snowy next week. I’m not surprised!

It’s not every day … 10 November 2024

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It’s not every day you see a gorilla strutting his stuff to Danza Kuduro in Buchanan Street, but we saw one today. Definitely worth a couple of quid for the entertainment value alone. Of course it wasn’t a real gorilla, it was just a bloke in a monkey suit. Real gorillas dance Salsa. I know, because I’ve seen them in The Garage on Sausageroll Street.

We were in Glasgow today to look for a what I would have called a “puffer jacket”, but Jamie corrected me and told me it was a “Down jacket”. Presumably because it’s filled with duck down. You live and learn. Scamp has one and was keen to extoll its virtues for keeping warm, too warm she said. I’d seen some advertised online in Blacks and thought I’d try some out.

First I looked in Tiso as it was almost on our road to Glasgow, Scamp preferred to stay in the car, but the prices were a lot higher than those in Blacks. Tiso in Glasgow city centre was the next stopping point. They had very little as usual in their tiny wee shop.
Then we tried Blacks, but I couldn’t see anything I’d want to pay money for and that just muddied the water. Eventually I gave up, disappointed, and on Scamp’s suggestion we went for a coffee at Nero in St Enoch’s square.

When we came out I went looking for a photo in House of Fraser in Buchanan Street. Their Christmas light display is wonderful to behold. Part of that wonder is asking myself how much it adds to their electricity bill? They didn’t disappoint this year! The House of Fraser display was PoD.

One of Scamp’s reasons for coming to Glasgow was to get some clothes and toys for the new baby in Skye. That and a few other things too.

On the way home I had another look in the original Tiso shop again, the big one with the best selection. This time I took my fashion expert, Scamp, to keep me on the right track. I showed her the first one I’d tried on earlier in the day and she agreed it fitted the bill (and me) almost perfectly. I took her at her word and bought it. It was more expensive than the ones in Blacks, but it fitted me and had everything I wanted in a jacket. Sometimes you just have to pay the price.

Back home and after I’d removed the labels carefully incase I felt the need to return it. (I suffer from “Buyers Remorse”) Then I left the house without a jersey, just a shirt and jeans and a bright red (Scamp says Orange) Rab jacket. Walked round St Mo’s collecting photos on the way and didn’t feel the cold. I think it’s a keeper. Even better, Scamp presented me with a new Buff, a blue one because I’ve misplaced my yellow one.

Dinner tonight was an M&S Chicken and Ham Pie with potatoes. Dessert was the family favourite, Eve’s Pudding.

Spoke to Jamie later and heard about the “Killer Cat” and how it has not only terrorised the neighbourhood, but also caused its owner to be ostracised by the neighbours. I suggested that a visit from Vixen would settle its hash!

No plans for tomorrow apart from going out with my new Down Jacket. Did I mention that I had a new jacket?

Looong Day – 8 November 2024

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Scamp was out in the morning to FitSteps and after that, coffee with June. I was rebuilding MacOS Ventura for the third time … or is it fourth?

I spent most of the morning destroying the Crucial SSD that used to run the iMac, and with it, all the operating system and the data. Then I started again from a completely clean disk and reinistalled Ventura, the operating system. When that was done, I plugged in a second SSD and used the built-in Migration Assistant from Ventura to copy the data from the second SSD to the Ventura SSD. I knew this would take a good three hours, because, not only does it copy the data, it also updates it to Ventura at the same time. Rather than sit watching numbers and letters flying across the screen, I went out for a walk in a cold St Mo’s. Spotted two Canada Geese probably overwintering or maybe just dropping in for a rest before travelling further south for the winter. PoD went to a bunch of Flag Lily seedheads I found behind St Mo’s school. They looked like alien creatures or deformed insects, but had lovely deep brown colours.

When I returned, so had Scamp. We had lunch and discussed the morning’s events. I think the ‘tronics stuff went completely over Scamp’s head, much like her dance instructions fly over mine, but it’s still good to discuss these things! The computer seems to have settled down and everything works this time, touch wood.

Then out of the blue I got a message from Ray. I don’t think I’ve had a conversation with him since last Christmas. It seems he has medical problems and is in an old peoples home in Douglas waiting for an op. I was shocked. He asked me for Val’s email address and after confirming with Val that he was happy to give it, I sent it to Ray.

We went to Crawford & Nancy’s for dinner at night. Lots of news exchanged by all of us. Crawford is waiting for a cataract op and has his pre-op next week. He was a lot quieter than his usual which has probably got something to do with the operation. I know I was a bit jittery about my first cataract op, but I did enjoy the month off work it gave me!
Good meal and lots to talk about. We left just before midnight and it was almost straight to bed.

Tomorrow we’ll probably be dancing!

 

Back tae Auld Claes … 4 November 2024

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… and Purrich.

It means Back to Normal, and that’s what today was. We went for the messages. That means essentials. Just potatoes, milk, and bread, with a very few treats. Life returning to normal again after the days of rushing here and there and hours of dancing. It was good to get back to normal whatever that is.

We watched an exciting and occasionally terrifying São Paulo GP. I’ve driven in torrential rain in the past, but never at 200mph in an open cockpit V6 powered racing car, but these folk were doing just that and most of them stayed on the track. How they managed to keep their cars on the black stuff is a mystery, but, not only did they do that, Verstappen even managed to cut through the pack from starting in 17th place and finish the race in first place. I don’t like him, but there is no denying his talent.

I went for a walk in St Mo’s in the afternoon and picked up today’s PoD which I think is a birch leaf trapped in some branches in St Mo’s.

Dinner tonight was Giovanni Rana Tortellini with a tomato sauce. First time I’ve tried it and although it wasn’t perfect, I’d attempt it again.

Watched Sunday’s results from Strictly and agreed with the judges decision.

Tomorrow we may go out somewhere for a walk if the weather stays fine.

The Last Dance – 3 November 2024

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Saying goodbye to The Salutation and Perth for a while.

Breakfast in the morning and then the inevitable final hour of dancing with about half of yesterday’s contingent. It was like a Tea Dance without the Tea. Fairly gentle workout after yesterday’s marathon. I remember watching a film, years ago, called They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?. The plot revolved round a marathon dance competition in Depression era America. In retrospect, that’s what yesterday felt like after a while. Today’s hour passed quite quickly and was a combination of all the dances we learned over the weekend.

We drove home, managing to avoid most of the roadworks this time and I was feeling just a little bit down, a bit flat after leaving all those other dancers. I’m sure a lot of them felt exactly the same. Arrived back home to drizzly rain. What a welcome!

The bags were emptied and dinner was discussed. At least, our dessert of rhubarb and custard wouldn’t taste of onions.

I went for a walk in St Mo’s and got today’s PoD which looked from a distance to be yellow flowers beside St Mo’s pond, but which was actually bright yellow leaves.

Spoke to Jamie in the evening and learned that their week had been uneventful and totally different from ours.

An early bed.

Hoping to sort out a computer update tomorrow.

 

 

A working day – 30 October 2024

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I was making a bow tie today and Scamp was gardening.

In the morning, Scamp decided to go shopping by herself. I started planning out the making of the bowtie.

I was using what some Quilters and Crafters call “Fat Quarters” and the fabric was cotton with a repeating Star Wars stormtroopers patter n because I thought it would fit in well with an upcoming “Black & White” evening dance.

But first, Scamp had returned and it was time for lunch. Banana sandwich for Scamp, Sunday’s stew reheated for me. Then it was back to the bow tie.

After carefully measuring a previously successful bow tie, and checking it twice as all good craftspeople do, I cut out the four patterns needed for the tie. It was then I realised that maybe I should have been more careful with the orientation of the ‘Stormies’, but it was too late now.

I ironed on the interfacing which stiffens the tie on one side only of a matching pair of parts. From then on it was just a case of joining pairs of parts together (right sides together), stitching all round the perimeter apart from a pinkie length of gap on one side and easing the entire bow tie right through the gap and shaking it out. Ironed it next then sewed up the gap. Then it was time to see if it fitted, and if the storms would be sitting right side up. First attempt was a bit of a disaster when the tie unknotted itself. Second attempt was a success. I’d even managed to get the Stormies sitting the right way up!!! Delighted.
Although, if it had been Sewing Bee, the participants would have sewn a full outfit in the time it took me to make a bow tie!

Scamp had been strimming the edging of the front grass and was tidying the pots and together we put them back in their places.

There was just enough light left by then to have a walk in St Mo’s. Today’s PoD came from there and is Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericia)

Today’s sketch prompt was “Violin”. Not much leeway there, but luckily I’d drawn one before, although this is a poor comparison when viewed with the original. Still, it’s finished and just about to be posted.

Lovely piece of haddock for dinner tonight. Great fat chunky pieces of fish with some chips. That’s a good midweek dinner.

We were dancing Paso La Paz tonight. Lots of stamping of feet and posturing. The jury is still out on whether it was taught correctly or not. I’m not going to be drawn into that argument.

We may go dancing tomorrow or we may not. We’ll wait and see.

Silence – 21 October 2024

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When I woke this morning it was to silence.

The wind that had been driving the rain and battering the windows was gone. Off to Scandinavia the weather fairies say. I don’t care where it went, I’m just glad to get a bit of peace and quiet in the morning when I wake.

We watched the US GP after we rose. A fairly exciting one this time and a fast track too. I wonder what it’s like sitting at the start line staring up at that great hill in front of you. Verstappen showed his skill by keeping Norris in his place. I think the road is clear for him now.

We didn’t have much else to do in the morning, just the usual Wordle and Spelling Bee with a cup of coffee, watching the clock because Scamp was off to get her Covid and Flu jags in the afternoon. I drove her to her appointed place, Muirhead and dropped her off at the clinic then parked the car at the Co-op as agreed. Then I went shopping at the butchers in the village. I was looking for mince and stew, but it’s such a temptation in that shop, I knew I’d buy some other stuff too. I got the mince and stew, then added beef olives, a nice meaty spare rib, a salmon fillet for Scamp and a bag of Tattie Scones. Expensive, yes, but it’s good fish and meat, that’s why I go back.

By the time I got back to the car, Scamp had returned and we drove home by the back road, hoping for some photos of the Campsies, but the parking place was occupied by one of the folk who keep their horses there, and it was feeding time, so I didn’t stop.

Back home I got dressed for the weather (Still wet and windy) and walked round St Mo’s. Got a couple of decent shots in the low afternoon sun. PoD went to the low level shot of leaves in the woods.

I had a bit of a sore stomach when I got back and my dinner as a result was tea and toast. Better to keep it simple and not aggravate anything. Scamp had a mash-up of yesterday’s leftover mash and haggis, formed into little black and white burger shapes and dry fried in the frying pan. For once I wasn’t interested. Maybe I will be tomorrow when hopefully my stomach will be back to normal.

Today’s prompt was Rhinoceros. Not the easiest thing to draw, but I was quite pleased with the first attempt, not so happy with the second, but in try Goldilocks style, the third one was just right. Sketched in ink with a fountain pen and then given a quick wash with clean water to bleed the ink into the dark areas. You don’t realise just how prehistoric these animals look until you start working with the details.

We have no plans for tomorrow … yet.

Expect Strong Winds – 20 October 2024

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That’s what the weather fairies have been saying for a few days now.

Well, it didn’t look like the weather fairies were telling the truth in the morning. Dull to start with followed by sunshine and occasional showers, but we knew it wouldn’t last, and it didn’t.

By early afternoon it was clouding over and the gentle breeze turned into gusty winds which blew in some ragged showers. Luckily we didn’t really need to go out anywhere because we had agreed on a Scottish favourite, Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. With an addition of Carrots to add a wee bit of colour to the feast.

While Scamp was getting the veg ready,I went for a walk in St Mo’s. I’d offered her the chance to walk with me, but she preferred to stay at home in the warm. It was a sensible choice, because there wasn’t much to photograph today, but I enjoyed the walk, which seems a stupid thing to say when you’re walking into driving rain, but with a good jacket and lots of layers, it’s a fairly pleasant walk twice round the pond at St Mo’s. PoD turned out to be an old favourite, looking down the boardwalk and catching the clouds being driven on by those strengthening winds. Converted to monochrome it looked distinctly uninviting!

The prompt for today was ‘Uncharted’. I’ve drawn a subject similar to that a few times for the monthly challenges, so this one was already in my head and it turned out to be a Treasure Island theme with an island with the actual treasure part torn from the map! “Arrr, Jim me lad!” Any other piratical comments are equally happily accepted. Drawn on cheap Cass Art absorbent paper with a Lamy ABC children’s fountain pen that Lamy no longer make! Why? It’s a great pen to keep in your pocket. Rarely leaks and if it’s kept clean it works really well.

Spoke to Jamie in the evening and heard about his ‘normal’ week and we told him about our ‘normal’ week. It seems like his weather is a bit like ours, but without the really high winds.

The forecast says the winds will calm down a bit tomorrow. How quickly and by how much is not clear, it depends on what app you read. We’ll go with the best one and ignore the rest.
Strangely, I was just reading last year’s blog for the 20th Oct and the weather was much like I was describing today!

Tomorrow Scamp is booked to go to Muirhead just after midday to get her Flu and Covid jags. I have to wait until Sunday to get mine.

Lunch – 18 October 2024

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Scamp was off to FitSteps in the morning.

While she was out, I decided to make sure I got a PoD, so I went over to St Mo’s. The sun had been shining when we woke, but by the time I got out, the sun had disappeared and the clouds were rolling in. I got quite a few decent shots, but the low light meant that they were all going to be ‘gritty’ looking with digital noise. Not a big problem as Lightroom is excellent are smoothing out the grit.
Just as I was heading home, the rain started and it was coming down in sheets. You could see it against the dark of the trees blowing along in waves. Thankfully I had my new jacket on and it was proving its worth as it shed the rain easily.

Scamp was a few minutes ahead of me and after we’d done Wordle and Spelling Bee, we had an hour or so to read before getting ready to walk over to Brodens for lunch with June and Ian. Fish and chips for three of us and Mac ’n’ Cheese for Scamp. I risked a pint of Guinness as I didn’t think I’d be driving anywhere in the afternoon. It had been some time since the two sisters had been together for a blether so Ian and I let them talk amongst themselves and gave Scamp a chance to show off the latest baby photos we’d been sent, the ones June hadn’t seen yet. The two ladies had fairly large desserts while Ian had a latte and I had another Guinness, a half pint this time.

We paid up and made plans to come back again. June and Ian walked round onto Condorrat Main Street to get their taxi home and we started walking back. Next thing, John, the taxi driver, pulled up and gave us a lift to the house. That’s just the kind of person he is. He and Carlyn had been shopping and I offered to help, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Although it was just a short journey, It was kind of them to stop for us.

Today’s PoD came from St Mo’s and was a baby conifer with raindrops beading on its needles. Lovely blue/green which contrasted well with the warm yellows and oranges around us.

Today’s prompt was “Drive” and I sketched, not one, but two Hard Disk Drives. It should have been three, but I couldn’t be bothered to add the last one. One drive could probably be formatted as an extra storage medium. The other two are really only fit for the skips.

It looks like there will be enough folk for a class tomorrow, so I think that means we might be going to Brookfield to join them.

Cardigan, Doll and Sketching – 16 October 2024

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Scamp was off to meet Isobel in the morning. Just before she left, she got an “Ur ye in?” text from Hazy, to which she replied “Phone dad. Ahm gaun oot!” Those of you who are englanders might not understand this and I’m not explaining. We had a three way discussion of the week so far, then Scamp was off to drive up to Costa for her meeting with her cousin. Meanwhile, Hazy and I had a discussion of books, new cars and Bake Off. Nice to know we’re on the same footing with Bake Off. Thanks for the recommendations, H.

It was a fairly lengthy phone call, almost an hour by my reckoning and I really enjoyed it. My task for the day was to find my Lamy Safari fountain pens, refill them with black drawing ink and get a sketch done. I actually cleaned and filled the Safari and the ABC child’s pen, although I only used the Safari for today’s prompt which was Grungy, not Grunge as I thought it was. Grungy was much easier for me. Just pick a face from Google that looked lived in and sketch it with a lot of corrections. That did the trick. By the time Scamp had returned, I was done. Fifteen minutes later the sketch was scanned, resized and posted.

After lunch, Scamp parcelled up a cardigan and a woollen doll Isobel had knitted, then I did the addressing of them to Grian and Scamp went off to post them. She’d already posted a couple of cards. One to Allan & Jaki and another to the new Gran & Grandpa.

Later in the afternoon I went for a walk to St Mo’s. On the way I dropped in at Brodens and booked a tab for June, Ian, Scamp and I. St Mo’s was a bit dull by the time I was getting there, but I did manage to get a couple of decent shots from the batch I took. Just leaves showing off their autumn colours. Lazy photography.

Tonight was a simple dinner. We had the last of the Butternut Squash soup from a couple of days ago, then Scamp had home made Ratatouille, “Rats” to us, and I had a veggie chilli which had been maturing nicely in the freezer and was blinding hot once it was reheated!

No dance class tonight. It seemed to be a last minute decision by Kirsty. No reason given. Maybe it was because it was October Week and she thought there wouldn’t be enough folk. We don’t know.

Tomorrow we’re hoping to go to the Tea Dance in Paisley.