So long 2025. It wasn’t the best year.
Hopefully 2026 will be an improvement.
Not much time to talk, The clock is catching me up.
See you in 2026.
Category: Uncategorized
Out for a walk – 26 October 2025
I decided I’d go for a walk around St Mo’s again.
Before that, I had to go round the house, changing all the older clocks because it’s only the newer, digital clocks that can auto adjust to Daylight Saving Time. I always remember the mnemonic Spring Forward and Fall Back.
Walked over St Mo’s hoping to find some inspiration. The lighting was good with the low sun creating great textures on the grass and the trees. A little gentle use of warm yellow lighting back home helped greatly. It would have been even better if the clouds hadn’t started massing, but I was quite happy with the final result.
Spoke to Jamie in the evening which felt a bit strange with Scamp being in Aberdeen, but I gave him a disjointed description of our October holiday. I found out that Ori, Scamp’s favourite dog of all time was going away to live in Canada with Simonne’s sister. He wouldn’t be alone as there was another of Jaime’s dogs going with him. I hope they both enjoy their new home. Hope it’s not too cold for them, after being used to Trinidad’s warm weather.
PoD was more of the man-made channels in St Mo’s pond.
Scamp returns tomorrow and is determined that she’ll get the bus home from Glasgow.
Auld Claes – 22 October 2025
In other words, it was back to normal today.
I went for a walk and Scamp started the unpacking from her case. Another week or so should see us back in the old routine again.
PoD was a photo of the fallen leaves in St Mo’s.
Thunder, and torrential rain – 14 June 2025
Of course it was! It was summer in Scotland! What else did you expect?
We had been well warned by the Met Office and they got it right. During last night we got heavy, thumping rain, but thankfully no thunder or lightning. The rain tapered off during the day, but we weren’t going out, we’ve been caught like the before and got a soaking. Instead we stayed at home and read for a while, just because we could. No dancing class today, because the teachers were off on a Mediterranean cruise. They call it working, but we know better.
The day just sort of dragged its feet all afternoon and then late in the afternoon we heard the first rumbles of thunder in the distance. The rumbles got closer accompanied by a couple of louder bangs, then only rain to remind us that it wasn’t quite finished with us yet.
Dinner tonight was divided between two eateries. Scamp wanted a small fish supper with pickled onions. I chose chicken chop suey with fried rice. Each were produced from two different shops and both were deemed delicious. On the walk home I did catch a few heavy drops of rain, but it didn’t come to much.
The PoD came from a short dry spell in the garden and is a Polemonium Scamp recently purchased. I like the shape of the flowers which remind me of Aquilegia flowers, and the little yellow stamens catch the eye of passing insects.
Watched another episode of ‘GOLD’ on iPlayer. Quite an intriguing story although, how true to life it is, I wouldn’t like to say.
Hoping for a drier day tomorrow, or at least a less wet one.
Remembering Dancin’ – 3 May 2025
Today for the first time in ages, probably more than a month, we drove to Brookfield for a dance class.
Quite a big class. At least half a dozen couples ready to strut their stuff … and us, almost ready. Willing too, in as much as, willing the big hand to go round the clock one and a half times and set us free … or maybe that was just me. Ok, enough with the ellipses, lets get started.
We started with Scamp’s absolute favourite, the Tina Tango danced to Shivers by Ed Sheeran. That was us hooked. From there we went into a Foxtrot, not just any foxtrot, the Gershwin Foxtrot. The one we both liked. Much better that those chopped up foxtrots Jane invents in an attempt to make things ‘easier’. This was the full strength one with the “Continuous Hover Cross”. Don’t let anyone convince you that it’s a ‘lot less bovver with a Hover’. It isn’t, at least not with this one. However, after two lessons from Jane and one set of instructions from Stewart the whole thing was becoming possible. Not every time, but at least half the time. It’s a really elegant dance and one both of us like.
Next up was a Blue Angel which we first learned with Kirsty, in fact, one of the first things we learned from Kirsty. Now it’s just a wee easy dance, then it was very complicated.
Next was a Viennese Waltz. You know the one it’s just continuous spinning, first one way, then the other with a bit of straightening out to prevent the participants throwing up or spinning into a wall. What one of the dancers a long time ago called “A Burly Roon”!
We finished with a Mayfair Quickstep danced to “500 Miles” by The Proclaimers, which was appropriate because it felt like we’d danced 500 miles today!
Drove home and risked the lengthy roadworks at the Barrs factory, but we didn’t have to wait too long to get through, then we found a parking space outside the house. How convenient.
Scamp wanted part of the old blackcurrant bush chopped down, so I took a saw to it and cut out a fair chunk of the diseased bush. Hopefully that will open the bush to the air and possible encourage new growth. Later in the afternoon I planted three potatoes in the fancy two part pot. I’m intending to plant the remainder tomorrow or maybe Monday.
PoD went to a lovely pink Aquilegia flower I photographed, growing beside the path when I was going over to Condorrat to get dinner which was a Special Fish Supper with two Pickled Onions (one each).
No plans for tomorrow, but temperatures are set to fall. There is even a chance of snow in the north. Brrr!
The start of the long drive home – 25 April 2025
A great week of weather and family had almost come to an end. Jaki had brought Grian to say bye-bye before we left. One last wave from the end of the drive and we were off. Heading south on a cooler day than the last ones, but probably better for that. Scamp filmed the hoards at Store and I tried to avoid most of the potholes. You can never avoid them all, but if you miss the majority, you’re doing well.
PoD was a photo of Ben Nevis from Neptune’s Staircase.
Things I’ll remember from today:
- Feeling that summer was over when the clouds rolled in.
- Filling the tank at Portree almost to overflowing.
- The drive over the Skye Bridge, feeling like we were flying.
- Climbing up the hill after Cluanie with no cars in front of us.
- Going out for a walk up Neptune’s Ladder with Scamp before dinner.
- Disappointment with the Chicken Tikka Masala served to us by what might have been an Indian family.
- Wishing I’d had Scamp’s Fish ’n’ Chips!
Tomorrow we are intending to have breakfast in Morrisons, do some shopping in Fort William and driving home.
Over the Sea – 22 April 2025
After breakfast we said goodbye to our B&B host and also to Fort William for a while and we pointed the blue car north for a couple of hours. We had agreed to stop at Eilean Donan for a comfort stop. For the first time in ages, we had to pay to park at the castle also known as the Biscuit Tin, because it is on more biscuit tin lids than any other. I think the charge was to help pay for the massive car park that had sprung up in the last couple of years.
- Lots of decent patient drivers.
- Lots more crazy drivers driving at 30mph on the A82.
- Coffee at Broadford when we were on Skye.
- Saw a bloke sitting on a seat at the back of his truck in Broadford.
- Looked like a home made job.
- On the lookout for potholes all the way to Staffin.
- Got caught on two potholes just before we would have turn off.
- Drove down to the slip and went for a walk.
- Busy place now. New buildings where the old slip used to be.
Ham, Cabbage and Potatoes for dinner. Hoping for a lazy day tomorrow.
Keeping Fit – 28 March 2025
Scamp was out early this morning to go to her Friday morning FitSteps class. That left me with the opportunity to read a bit more of my book. I’d done my bit this morning by driving up to Tesco to ensure that that wee Blue car had enough fuel to take Scamp to her class.
As I said, I had done my bit by making sure the car had enough fuel to get Scamp to her class. The next thing I had to do was make a decent cup of coffee and find my place in my book. A quick review of the photos in Flickr and a solution to Wordle and I was done until Scamp returned.
I’d received a text from JL to say that my new bedside lamp had arrived in Glasgow and was ready to pick up. Once Scamp returned, we drove through heavy rain, then hail to get to Glasgow. Wild weather these last few days. Lots of thundery rain and high winds too, but we got to Glasgow without too much bother and collected the lamp and the bulb which was almost as expensive as the lamp at just over £7. Seven quid for a bulb? What is the world coming to?
We went for a coffee in JL where there seemed to be a lack of cups in the cafe and we were handed our coffees in paper cups. No reason given, so it’s probably something else to blame Mr Trump for. Well, we can’t blame Boris this time and Starmer hasn’t a clue what’s going on, so DT is the easy fall guy.
We took a walk down Buchanan Street and on to St Enoch’s Square where I found a view of the old subway office and the new magic greenhouse that is the new entrance and those two buildings made the subject of PoD, along with a guy looking serious as he avoided stepping on the lines as he walked past. You can’t be too careful these days.
Lunch with Scamp was in Paesano. It’s usually Alex and I who eat there every couple of weeks, but this time Scamp seemed happy to be my guest. The pizza place was very quiet, as was the town in general. That is, except for a bunch of wahoos who were toting banners and singing songs. No polis to be seen, so they weren’t Rangers or Celtic fans, just wahoos!
The lamp seems to work well, and I’m off to bed now to see how easy it is to work with its touch technology in the dark!
Tomorrow there may be a return to ballroom dancing. Oh dear!!
Going home – 27 February 2025
After breakfast we packed what was left to pack in our bags. Most of the packing had been done last night.
We booked our Ember bus and handed in our keys then we were off into the town. I took a few shots on a lovely, but cold day with the blue skies we didn’t get yesterday. We walked along to the bus stop and watched a wee boy dressed in wellies and a waterproof jacket splashing through the fountains lit from below with coloured lights. I don’t suppose he noticed the cold. He was having far too much fun to care. Got the bus and before we knew it we were stopping at the bus stance at Broxden in Perth. Under an hour later we were arriving in Cumbersheugh and had to wait another 20 minutes for the bus home.
Scamp was feeling the cold when we got in and that’s really strange for her, so I walked down to the shops to get potatoes and some fruit. Tonight I made potatoes and cabbage for dinner with some fried bacon for me.
We watched and complained about The Apprentice and I know I wished we had stayed another day in Dundee.
Just over 30 photos taken and PoD was The March of the Penguins.
Some things I’ll remember:
- Clean, fast Ember bus
- The view from the 5th floor of the hotel
- Generous dram of whisky with just water
- The views of the V&A
- How ugly the V&A is from certain angles
- The fast jets practising near Leuchars
- The food in the Dundee Rep restaurant
- Helpful, cheerful staff at St Andrews Castle
- Cheerful staff in the hotel
- The cold east wind
Tomorrow it’s back to the old regime.
Dancin’ – 22 February 2025
Another Saturday. Another drive to Brookfield for dance class.
For some obscure reason, I was actually looking forward to today’s dance class!
It started with the Hobie Quickstep which delighted Scamp because she likes it and it pleased me, because I can almost dance it. Just almost, but not quite! However with Scamp hauling me about we just about made it look ok. I find it hard to fit the steps in sometimes, but I actually treat the quickstep like I would, Salsa. I just dance the steps as they come into my head and then hope that Scamp knows where I’m going. Admittedly, sometimes I don’t do the expected move and that annoys her! Today I was trying really hard to do it properly and it almost worked. Probably the closest we’ve come to dancing a quickstep.
Next was a complete change of pace with a Rumba Italia. Very slow and precise movements that I don’t think we are doing properly. Scamp thinks I’m rushing through it and at times I admit I am, but sometimes she’s too slow, or that’s how I see it! It works, but only just. It’s a fairly short dance and I often get it mixed up with another rumba we used to dance.
Third dance of the day was a Tango, a Ballroom Tango. Not to get it confused with an Argentine Tango which is a totally different kettle of fish. I struggled with bits of this one. I could see Jane getting angry when for the third time I finished a figure with my right foot when it should have been my left … or was it the other way round? By that time I was getting lost.
We finished with the Square Tango to the Head Lice song, so called because the line “🎶 Starin’ up the road and pray to God that I see headlights 🎶” sounds like “… I see head lice”. Its real name is Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker. Find it on Spotify, play it and tell me I’m wrong if you dare. It was a good track to finish on. Dead easy and it just rolls along nicely, just like a Wagon Wheel.
Said “Bon Voyage” to all the lucky folk who are hoping to fly to Calpe in Spain around 6am tomorrow. About thirty of them, off for a week’s dancing in a warm place (20ºc). Scamp thinks it would have been good, but I wasn’t sure I could stand five days of dance classes. So blame it on me. I was the one who said “No”.
The rest of the day was just another Saturday. Scamp did a bit of gardening and I took a camera for a walk. Only really got one photo and that’s what you see at the top of the page. Whin bushes (known as Gorse outside Scotland) with bright, cheery yellow flowers.
High winds and heavy rain forecast for tomorrow. I don’t think we’ll be going far.