Category: St Mo’s

No Snow – 24 November 2024

Posted on by Zogman

When I woke around 6am yesterday’s snow had disappeared. All of it, just gone!

The rain during the night must have been torrential because there was no sign of the snow that was still lying when I went to bed last night. The temperature had risen during the night, but not significantly, so it must have been the rain. It’s a strange climate we live in these days. I blame Global Warming … and Kier Starmer.

It was a usual Sunday. Solved Wordle in four and found the Pangram. Struggled a bit with Angry Birds, but completed the day’s test. What Now? Well, there was the Las Vegas F1 GP to watch and we did watch Verstappen collect his fourth championship in a row.

Scamp decided that there was too much sitting around going on and we needed to get out and go for a walk. If that walk also mean shopping, then so much the better. So that’s what we did. We walked down to The Shops. Not a soul had moved their cars, but I shouldn’t complain, because we hadn’t moved ours either.
We picked some veg and fruit and a bag of Jam Donuts, then we headed back up the hill. Scamp offered to take the message bag home if I wanted to go for a walk in St Mo’s. I took up her offer.

Almost immediately I found my PoD. It’s just a man-made hill that creates the start for the BMX track. I used a low angle and a wide angle lens to make it look even higher. I knew you’d like to know that!
Not a lot of interest to see today and the wind from Storm Bert was beginning to ramp up. Plus there were jam donuts waiting for me!

Back home it was lunch time and today dumpling was the star. Scamp had Egg and Dumpling, I did too, but I added a slice of bacon to it. It’s the saltiness of the bacon with the sweetness of the dumpling I like. The jam donut was lovely too with a cup of coffee.

Both Scamp and I were baking today. She was making an Apple Tart and I was making Bread. It’s a long time since I’ve made bread and it showed with the strange football shaped loaf that came out of the oven. Too much butter and a dough that was too wet. Scamp’s apple tart was delicious with the crisp shortcrust pastry.

We spoke to Jamie later had heard that he is safety officer for his office at work and they are being inspected this week. I know how you feel, Jamie. I’ve been there and done that and came out of it alive. You will too.

Storm Bert is blundering around outside the window and will be doing so until about midday tomorrow, all being well. I don’t like wild wind, so I think I’ll just go to bed and read for a while before I go to sleep.

Another fairly early rise – 21 November 2024

Posted on by Zogman

Well, it was before midday. That’s early for us.

Scamp had managed to get an appointment to see the doctor about the tremor in her right hand. After examining her and checking her arm movement he told her to make an appointment to get some blood tests done, to rule out the possibility that it was her meds that were causing the tremor. Luckily we managed to get an appointment in the afternoon to get the blood letting done.

I also spoke to one of the receptionists about the results of the ECG I had done last month and found out it was normal, which is good. It must be the first time I’ve been described as ‘normal’. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a slur! You’ll be happy, Neil. You were the one who convinced Scamp to set a date to get some awkward things done we both used “Neil’s Rule” today

Back home it was coffee time and also time for a slice of dumpling. A dumpling Scamp had made yesterday. Partly cooked in the slow cooker and partly nuked in the microwave. The smell yesterday was a powerful reminder of ‘clootie’ dumplings my mum used to make by tying the mixture up in a cotton tea towel and then boiling the dumpling in the pressure cooker, the biggest pot she had. I never liked the thick skin on the dumplings, but I do now. Isn’t it funny how your tastes change as you get older.

Scamp had a piece ’n’ egg for lunch and I had a smoked fillet of mackerel. It was lovely at the time, but it does repeat quite a lot and comes back on you, tasting more and more oily every time. I’ll maybe give it a miss the next time I’m looking for something ‘different’ for lunch.

I went for a walk in St Mo’s but couldn’t find anything interesting to photograph, then as I was about to walk home I saw today’s PoD through the trees. Someone managed to push a shopping trolley about half way across St Mo’s pond. The ice on the pond isn’t really very thick, but the water underneath is at least waist deep and very cold. Maybe the contents of the empty bottle gave them Dutch courage to try this dangerous game.
Don’t try this at home kiddies!

No snow yet here, but we are getting worrying weather warnings for Friday and Saturday. Maybe someone should tell the weather fairies that it’s still Autumn and not Winter for more than a week.

No FitSteps this week because the teacher has a bad cold. I think Scamp may be intending to meet Isobel for coffee at Costa.

 

 

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

Posted on by Zogman

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

Posted on by Zogman

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.