Category: Stranger

A Day in the Toon – 5 May 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Not off the leash this time, but joining Scamp on a shopping spree.

Well, a shopping spree and a bit of window shopping too. Scamp wanted to look at interesting things, like Freezers (Brrr) and Fridges ( Just Cool). Me? I went looking for bottles of descaler for my coffee maker. I know it’s just about due a decoke, I just don’t know when, exactly, but it’s best to be ready for it when it occurs. I did have a look at a new coffee maker like Jamie’s, but the prices were just a little over the top.

I’d forgotten to take my sunglasses out of the car and was half way down Bucky Street when I realised. I thought I’d be able to buy a pair of clip-on shades now that I need a pair of distance glasses and also a pair of readers. A clip-on pair can be hot swapped across both pairs of specs although it’s a bit of a faff. Also I can flip up the clip-ons and give myself Mickey Mouse ears. Scamp always laughs at that. I’d have liked a pair of clip-ons, but nobody in the vicinity of Buchanan Galleries wanted to sell me a pair. Maybe they’ve gone out of fashion these days.

I got a couple of photos while I was wandering aimlessly down and around Buchanan Street. My favourite was a couple sitting eating ice lollies on the steps of the Galleries. That became PoD.

We drove home via Tiso where I was hoping to find a pair of trainers. Maybe found one pair of Scarpa trainers, but I was getting tired by that time and just wanted to get home. Maybe go back again toward the end of the week.

Spoke to Hazy for a while after we got home and heard about folk who can’t take a hint about over staying their welcome, even if they are distant relatives (not our side of the family, by the way) and that poor Tilly needs an expensive x-ray of her back legs.

Just had time to drive down to The Link to attend Kirsty’s dance class. Tonight was a full class. Six or seven couples gyrating in a Tango. We had missed last week, but enjoyed the class tonight. Some bits of it need cleaned up, but the general shape of the dance is ok. A much more compact routine than Stewart & Jane’s, but still with all the technical terms.

Tomorrow, Scamp is supposed to meet Isobel for coffee in the morning. I might go too.

Happy Birthday to Me – 8 April 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Another year older and deeper …

Spoke to Hazy in the morning and thanked her for the clever little hanger to put apples in for the birds. I may have to reinforce it with wire to stop the squirrels chewing away the string that it hangs from. Clever idea again Hazy. I also got a new book to read, recommended by my daughter. It’s an intriguing start, I look forward to reading a bit more. Thank you and Neil for such clever and interesting gifts.

Scamp and I were off to Glasgow today on the bus, for a wee jaunt round the city with a spot of lunch thrown in for good measure. First stop, as usual, was Nero for a coffee and a plan. Also, as usual, there was no plan. A wander down Buchanan Street and that’s when I realised I’d left my glasses at home. No big panic, I could source a cheap pair anywhere in central Glasgow. After that, we walked down to Waterstones to find a book I’d been looking for, but couldn’t remember the title although it was not one of those on the tables in the book shop.

Then it was time to head for Mowgli on St Vincent Street. Scamp had booked a table and we started investigating the menu. Since it was my birthday, I get to make my choice first.

I had Sticky Chicken and Supergreen Chicken Curry with rice and two Roti. All washed down with a bottle of Cobra beer.

Scamp had Tea Steeped Chickpeas and Mowgli Paneer with rice and two Roti. She had a Pomegranate Prosecco Fizz to help it all go down.

Instead of a dessert, I had a Smoked Cardamom Old Fashioned and Scamp couldn’t resist another Pomegranate Prosecco Fizz.

As we were tidying up the bill, I dropped it into conversation that it was my birthday and was given a free, double layered Brownie topped with a ball of ice cream, with a birthday candle on top!

A lovely meal in Mowgli again.

We wandered round the centre of Glasgow and just managed to catch the bus home. We had intended sitting in the garden, but I thought it was a bit cool.

Spoke to Jamie later and thanked him for the Lego Bonsai Tree with 800 odd pieces! It may take a bit of time and a pair of tweezers to get it assembled properly, but it’s an interesting challenge. Thank you and Simonne for keeping me engaged for a while!

PoD was a shot of folk on the stairs of the Concert Hall in Glasgow.

Tomorrow, I think we may be looking for a birthday present for a one year old. I’m sure Scamp has ideas aplenty!