Category: St Mo’s

Off to Hamilton – 20 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

… but not to “buy the wean a bell.” That cryptic message will be lost on almost everyone, but I’m not explaining it further!

After a lazy morning on what was a beautiful, almost totally dry day, we eventually went out and walked down to the shops. Scamp wanted something to take to John & Marion tonight, and also wanted a hanging basket for the back garden. We accomplished both in double quick time and walked back home.

A knock on the door heralded the arrival of the parcel Scamp was expecting earlier in the week. It was a surprise present for two of our friends, but we were both underwhelmed by it. It wasn’t quite what she was hoping for and her disappointment was obvious.

Later I took a walk over to St Mo’s to see what was worth photographing while Scamp started the ironing. It was St Mo’s that the PoD came from (not the ironing!). It is one of two real ‘keepers’ from a batch of about 50 I’d taken with the big camera on silent motor drive. A great way of filling up the SD card, but a trick that rarely seems to result in any good photos. Luckily for me today was one of those days when it worked. The ‘Marmalade’ hoverfly was the PoD. It was almost beaten by the result of another ‘blitz’ shot. This one was a lone soldier beetle testing the strength of a single strand of a spider web. Both are on Flickr.

By the time I got back from my St Mo’s Safari I just had time for a wash and brush up before we headed off to Hamilton for dinner with John & Marion. It’s ages since we’ve been there. We’ve both had such a busy year this year. Big birthdays for both Scamp and Marion. Retirement celebration for Marion and a Golden Wedding anniversary for us. Of course, she’s not really retired until the schools go back in August!

Back home late and for some reason there was a parking space just waiting for us back home. That was nice of someone to do that for us.

Tomorrow Scamp has the dentist first thing in the morning. Best time for it, I suppose. I’m waiting in, hopefully not in vain, for yet another parcel.

Gardening, shopping and organising – 18 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Not necessarily in that order, so it’s probably best to get things sorted by date and time.

The shopping came first. I wanted a bag of rolls to enclose the sausages I was intending to cook for my lunch. That meant a trip to Tesco, because The Shops only sell soft bap rolls, not the crispy Scottish rolls we like. So I drove up to Tesco to get the rolls, milk and also some raspberries for Scamp. While I was there I had a look at their selection of hardback books. I’m not entirely sold on my most recent Kindle book, so I might go for something mainstream for a change. Must ask John who the author he told me about is (and write it down this time). So no books for now, but I did get the milk, rolls and rasps. One roll with ordinary sausage and one with red onion sausage. I think the red onion sausage was the better of the two. Scamp had her usual one roll ’n’ egg.

With the afternoon came a shower of rain that looked as if it was going to be heavy and prolonged, so we took the nearly dry washing in. Of course that was what it was waiting for and the rain promptly stopped. Meanwhile I was making tomato soup. Scamp bought two packs of tomatoes that had been reduced in Tesco on Sunday and yesterday I roasted them with an onion and some oil for an hour to concentrate the taste. Today all I had to do was add a litre of water, two stock pots, a tin of tomatoes and a cup water, bring to the boil and simmer for an hour. That left time for mixing up some seaweed fertiliser (disgusting stuff) and giving all the plants front and back a bit of a feed. Meanwhile Scamp was pruning the climbing rose in the back garden. I used the loppers to chop down the higher branches she couldn’t reach, accidentally slicing off two branches with buds still unopened. One of them Scamp managed to retrieve and put in a glass with water on the window ledge. It will open. She has a knack for these things.

We walked down to the shops to get the makings of a stir fry for dinner. Back home the soup had been cooling, and I blitzed it so we could have it as a starter for dinner.

I’ve been meaning to phone Val and take him for coffee. This week I went one further I got Val to set a date and then told Fred who said he was free that day too. So we three are going out for coffee together next week, for the first time in ages – fingers crossed.

I went for a walk around St Mo’s while Scamp interrogated June over the phone about her weekend with Shona. I’m glad to say the bus trip went well. My photography gave me a few insect photos, one of which got PoD. Must get out and do more landscape photos. Insects are ok, but this time of year is great for landscapes too.

The soup was the best I’ve made for a while, but the stir fry didn’t turn out all that well. The pork which was the protein in my share was a bit tough and Scamp’s veggy version was just a bit too spicy hot for comfort and also she thought the veg needed more cooking. I had to agree about the veg, but the sauce was just spicy enough for me. Foodies! Never happy.

So, you see, Gardening, Shopping and Organising, but not necessarily in that order!

Tomorrow if the weather is favourable we may go out somewhere.  Otherwise we’ve got some more shopping to do.

More rain again – 16 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

It seems we are in a cyclic weather pattern. Wet in the early morning which continues to mid afternoon when the sky brightens a bit and the rain gradually fades out. By evening, around 7pm the sky clears and there is colourful sunset. By late evening and into the night the clouds reappear and the cycle continues.

This pattern has continued for more than a week now with little change and we’re really becoming quite fed up with it. I think it’s time the powers that be had a word with the weather fairies and told them to get the finger out and give us July sunshine in July. That’s what we pay our taxes for and we’re just not getting value for money! Get It Sorted.

Today followed that pattern, albeit with the addition of some wind, surplus from that presently being handed out to those in the south west of the UK. We had two plans for today. One for a damp day and one for a dry one. We implemented the Damp Day Plan and drove up to Tesco to “Get the Messages”. Came home with a boot fairly full of essential foods, beverages plus assorted household stuff.

After lunch I took my recently waxed boots for a walk in St Mo’s along with the A7 and the big, heavy macro lens. I was looking for ‘beasties’. I got one long shot of a Common Darter dragonfly and just over 30 shots of a Wolf Spider. That’s what happens when you forget that you’ve set the High Speed Motorwind. Even worse, I had switched the camera to ‘silent shooting’, so I didn’t even have the machine gun noise to warn me that I was filling up the SD card at a frightening rate with shots I’d just had to ditch in the bin later. No wonder the camera felt heavier when I was going home. I’d dressed for the rain we’d been promised, but the weather fairies got it wrong again and I was sweltering in a, supposedly, breathable rain jacket. Still, I did get the shot of Wolfie, the female wolf spider with her egg sac dragging behind her.

Dinner was Fennel with Cod and Prawns. It’s a long time since I’ve made it and, even if I say so myself, it tasted great. Even better was the fact that there were individual pots of ice cream for dessert! Scamp had Salted Caramel and I had Chocolate.

Spoke to Jamie after dinner and heard that we may indeed be getting a visit from Simonne this coming week as she’s on a whirlwind tour of labs in Central Scotland. Also heard that the plans for the new roof of their house may not be ready in time to get it replaced until spring. The wheels of English Heritage do turn slowly.

Watched Sewing Bee later and commiserated with the contestant who didn’t quite make it to the semi-final. Good to hear in the news that Djokovic was beaten by Alcaraz in the mens final at Wimbledon.

Hopefully we’ll get some good weather tomorrow and we’ll be using the Dry Day plan!

 

 

An early rise – 15 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Well, definitely an early rise for me.

We were up, fed, watered, washed (and in my case shaved), dressed and out the door by 9.45am, ready to drive out to Brookfield for our first dance class in a fortnight and only the second dance class in over a month. We were both a bit apprehensive about how we would get on with this dancing lark. We had had a half hour practise last night and it had gone fairly well. I’d remembered more than I thought I would from the Quickstep and we’d pushed it beyond that up to the end of Scamp’s knowledge of the steps.

We had our usual sequence dance to start with. Then instead of the quickstep, the teachers took us through the Rumba routine we’d been learning a fortnight ago. It’s similar to, but not the same as the rumba we learned during Lockdown. It’s our “Zoom Rumba”. Today, as usual they inserted new figures and then tweaked some of the elements we already knew. That worked well, mainly because we already had a good basis to work from.

Next was quickstep and we struggled through it, and again they added new figures but explained them well and allowed us to film them so we could go over them at home.

Overall, it was a worthwhile morning with a lot of consolidation of what we already knew as well as adding in new material. I felt we got round the floor quite well, not perfect by any manner or means, but adequately.

Drove home and after discussing what lunch and dinner would be, we settled on going to the Red Deer on the way home and having a late lunch or and early dinner, call it what you will. Scamp had fish ’n’ chips and I had gammon steak, both served with chips.

It had been raining during the night last night and although it was dry and bright, it looked like it might return to rainy weather later. However, the wet weather stayed away and we had a dry afternoon. I went out for an hour in St Mo’s and got some insect photos. Scamp said she was reading, but I’m sure she was poring over those new moves we’d filmed.

Watched the first night of the Proms and disagreed about a new version of Finlandia. Scamp thought it was too fast and I liked it.

PoD was a cobbled together photo of mating Burnet Moths, technically it’s ‘focus stacking’ and it worked.

No firm plans for tomorrow. If the weather is good we may go for a walk, otherwise we’ll go shopping. Either way, an early rise is not on the cards.

Rain again – 13 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

This wasn’t a day for doing a lot, although we did prune some roses and deadhead a few more.

For most of the morning we watched the rain showers roll in from the west, dump some rain and then fly off to the east, only to be joined by more rain clouds arriving from the west. I really do believe the Scottish rivers and lochs, that were predicting drought conditions a month ago, are no full to overflowing!

Eventually we dragged ourselves out for a walk to the new(ish) retail park to do some shopping during a dry spell. I carried the bag half way home and then Scamp took over while I went for a walk in St Mo’s. There wasn’t much insect life around. Lots of soldier beetles making more soldier beetles, but very little of photographic interest. I had taken only the A6000 and came home with 30 images which were whittled down to 9 keepers, and even those were only just worth keeping. To supplement the 9 I took some shots in the garden using the A7iii. That gave 8 images from which 7 were keepers. Today’s PoD came from those last 7. It’s Scamp’s Roxanne geranium which seems to have taken over a large pot in the garden, sprawling over on to the grass. It’s lovely!

We watched the final of Glow Up. If you haven’t seen it, is is the most outlandish collection of potential Make Up Artists (MUAs) all vying to outdo each other with the most outlandish make up ‘creations’. Worth looking for on iPlayer.

No more rain after the morning’s heavy showers, but the weather fairies all agree we’re due for more tomorrow, and the next day. Hope June and Shona don’t get caught in any of them on their three day holiday.

No plans for tomorrow yet for the reasons given in the previous paragraph. It all depends on the weather.

More rain – 11 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Another wet morning, but then the sun shone for a while.

I think it must have rained all night. Certainly, any time I woke during the night I could hear the rain thumping down. That rain lasted all morning, after which the sun did shine for a while, sometimes through the rain and sometimes it seemed to attempt to dry the pavements.

After lunch, Hazy phoned and we had a long discussion about holiday homes with family, not our immediate family, but Neil’s. I liked the idea that Neil’s school finishes a week before the rest of the English schools. Is that really only to allow them to avoid the higher priced school holidays or is there a less sensible reason. Whatever it is, more power to their elbow. Good to know that Penny is getting better and we did learn some interesting techniques for getting cats to swallow medication!

After we’d finished talking, and after I was sure that it was safe for me to take a camera over to St Mo’s, I dressed for the weather and went for a walk. I took the A6000 which isn’t particularly water resistant and not at all waterproof, so the weather check was necessary. I was hoping to get some dragonfly photos. There were a couple of them buzzing each other over the ponds, but neither of them wanted to settle for a portrait session. What I did find were some hoverflies and damselflies and a beautiful Clouded Border moth. White with dark chocolate brown spots on the wings. At first I thought it was dead, but now I’m not so sure. I’m pretty sure it was just resting, almost hidden in the grass. It’s a night flying moth apparently so probably best not to disturb it in daytime. The moth got PoD.

There were a few spots of rain while I was out, but they didn’t come to anything and, in fact, it’s stayed dry all the rest of the day. Probably that will be enough to bring on another deluge!

Dinner tonight was an old favourite, potatoes, cabbage and bacon. Scamp, of course had no bacon. It’s an odd mixture which I remember my mum making and I hated it then. I’ve changed my opinion on this old fashioned food now.

Scamp is booked for lunch with Annette tomorrow and I intend to tidy up some loose ends.

 

Sunny – 9 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Not only sunny, but warm and dry too.

I went out in the morning to grab a photo of honeysuckle flower. Not far away, just literally a five minute walk. I’d photographed the flower yesterday, but wasn’t happy with the result. This one was better, but still not what I wanted.

We did a bit of gentle gardening later in in the morning. Nothing severe, just a bit of pruning of the branches the rowan tree. Branches that had wind damage or maybe damage from the hot weather when we were sailing the Adriatic. To keep balance, since we’d removed some things from the garden, we paid back by feeding the rest of the plants in the garden. Scamp did the feeding of the roses, the rhododendrons and the Azalea. I had the messier job. Of feeding the vegetables and the rest of the plants with seaweed feed. It is like strong tea once it’s been diluted, but take my word for it, it doesn’t smell anything like tea.

We walked down to the shops in the afternoon for a chicken and some odds and ends. When we got back, Scamp was determined to get the grass cut. I was determined to go out and get a photo for PoD. It was warm enough to walk without a jacket or even a jersey. On the way to St Mo’s, I had one last try for the photo of the honeysuckle and that’s what you see here. It didn’t make PoD, but that’s because I saw an, apparently abandoned, bike in the BMX track in St Mo’s. Actually it wasn’t abandoned. What you don’t see is the owner’s mum walking up the hill to retrieve the bike!
Yesterday’s PoD was a shot of a little shelter for a spider’s babies. Today I noticed the shelter was completely closed up, protecting the beasties from wind, rain and predators.

Roast chicken for dinner with roast potatoes and roast veg. A roasting day, finished off with a choux bun!

Spoke to Jamie today and hear that Simonne might be visiting a factory near us later in the month. Oh No! That means I will have to clear up the back bedroom. I’d better start on it tomorrow!

No plans for tomorrow.

 

Thunder and Rain – 8 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Beautiful morning, then it clouded over and thunder came rolling up from the south.

It didn’t last very long, especially after the heavens opened up and released some torrential rain, but it grumbled around to the north for a while just to let us know it hadn’t gone completely.

We couldn’t agree on what to do with the day, then Scamp suggested we walk down to Broadwood Farm for lunch. The seemed a good idea, so off we went to a fairly quiet Broadwood. Quiet, as in there weren’t many people in the restaurant, but there was a kids birthday party going on in one of the children’s rooms and they were having a great time. For once I didn’t mind it too much and we both enjoyed Fish ’n’ Chips with Mushy Peas. Scamp had a glass of Malbec and I had a pint of Tennents Not exactly in the same category as Banca da Roma on Wednesday, but neither was the price and there wasn’t a 12.5% invisible cover charge either.

It’s good to see that the wee Broadwood Farm isn’t totally in the shadow of the MacDonald’s megalith. There is room for both in the area as both serve different demographics. Also, I’m beginning to develop a taste for Tennents lager!

Once we’d been fed and watered, we walked home via The Shops. Just odds and ends and a plain loaf. Enough to keep body and soul in harmony. Back home we watched the live qualifying for the British GP. After all the roaring and shouting was done, the usual recipient was in pole position. I was hankering for a chance of a photo now.

Just as I was leaving, the rain started, but it was like holiday rain, warm splashes of water on the paths creating that smell you only get after rain hits warm tarmac. I smelled the same scent on Thursday when Alex and I were walking into Dunfermline town after a deluge. The rain didn’t last long and by then I’d found my potential PoD. It was a spider’s nest to hold its baby spiderlings. The first time I saw one was in June last year, and while the design was slightly different this time, it was basically the same. It’s a reed leaf pulled over by many silken spider threads to provide some shelter for the spider and spider babies. That was an obvious PoD.

Now that Andy Murray and to a lesser extent, Cameron Laurie are out of Wimbledon, that’s it finished for another year, so instead we watched the penultimate part of Stanley Tucci’s travels round Italy. Tonight it was Sardinia, and just as interesting as all his previous ports of call.

More thunder in the evening and although the rain wasn’t quite as torrential as in the morning, it was heavy enough to clear the air again.

No plans for tomorrow as yet. We’ll wait and see what the weather brings.

Fourth of July – 4 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Another day of thundery showers followed by warm sunshine.

Scamp decided we should go shopping and I went along to make sure it was done properly! We arrived back home with a sight more than the milk, potatoes, fruit and veg. Stopped on the way to get the makings of tonight’s dinner which was stir-fry. We just got in the door as the rain started.

Yesterday Scamp decided the bed needed changing and the mattress turned. Today she decide the upstairs rooms should be hoovered so between us we hauled out the bed, dusted behind it then hoovered there too. Finally we put almost everything back in place. Some things though, including my ancient but totally shot leather slippers didn’t go back. They went into the bin instead. Poor things were almost worn through. I’ll never find another pair like them.

We were just relaxing with a coffee after our work when the rain came on again and it really did come down like stair rods. The weather fairies had warned of thundery showers and for once they were correct. I waited until I was sure the rain had stopped then booted up and walked over to St Mo’s with the A6000 in tow and took a few insect and flower photos. The flower photos won today. The ultimate winner was a photo of a branch with Snowberry flowers. Delicate little pink bell shaped flower that will produce bunches of white ball shaped fruit in the autumn. Managed to get back dry, apart from the drips coming from the trees after the heavy shower earlier.

Got an email from Nissan asking me to Pay Up or Put Back by September. Still considering what the final fate of the wee Blue car will be.

No plans for tomorrow as yet.

Rain, Sun and Wind – 2 July 2023

Posted on by Zogman

Three words to sum up today as far as weather goes. There was rain. Sometimes heavy sometimes light, but always there on the horizon. Then there were occasions sunbursts, sometimes while the rain was falling, but welcome when they appeared. Lastly there was wind for the third day recently. Gusty wind blowing in from the west. Very unseasonable weather after a Flaming June.

Scamp was out planting her new flowers. They are a white Salvia and a white Penstemon. Both in the new pot she bought (but didn’t wear) yesterday. They are now ensconced in the front garden to strengthen the barrier and hopefully prevent the Scottish Terrier from round the corner from crapping in our front grass. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll have to resort to digging pits with sharpened spikes at the bottom, between the pots or the ‘nuclear option’ – Land Mines. Anyway, for now the flower pots are doing a good job of keeping Hamish at bay. In the afternoon I swear I saw Scamp out in the front garden watering the plants while the rain was tipping it down. I now have seriously concerns about her sanity.

Later in the afternoon I put my boots on and went for a walk in St Mo’s, hoping to get some photos of some yellow Flag Irises, but was disappointed to find that they were long gone. That spell of hot weather had forced the flowering of these elegant plants way ahead of their usual blooming time. What I did find was a couple of Batman hoverflies, so called because they have what looks like the Batman symbol on their thorax. Then a Five Spot Burnet moth feeding on its favourite knapweed flower. After some discussion with myself, the Burnet moth got PoD.

Watched a crazy Austrian GP with almost half the field succumbing to five second penalties for exceeding ’Track Limits’. For once, Charles Leclerc didn’t find the wall!

We don’t have any plans for tomorrow.