Vegetarian Restaurant

Work today was fine. Layla and Joe left this afternoon for Wolverhampton to visit Lee, Jessie, baby Daisy May and Danny. They arrived safely at 2200 hours.
As we missed Grace's 'numero 60' party took her out for dinner this evening. Booked a table at David Bann's vegetarian restaurant for the two of us. We got a good seat at the window and ordered our Gin & Tonic's which tasted delicious. They had also changed the menu for the main dishes and the new ones all looked scrumptious. We chose our dishes and indeed the food was excellent, I had chick pea and cauliflower kofta's with rice and a superb dal, Grace chose a cheese dish a type of pie with vegetables. For desert I had chocolate souffle with vanilla ice-cream yummy! and Grace had a lovely fruit basket. It was good to sit and talk with Grace we had lots to talk about and catch up on. Graham and I wish her a long and happy retirement.

Shopping

Sunny morning enjoyed the walk to work, good shift had my core blood taken for Hepititis B. After work arranged to meet Layla in town. Met in Waterstone's where we had latte coffee and a 'heavy berry scone!' and a 'light lemon poppy muffin!' Just love the names they give to these goodies. Bought Alistair Cooke's new book " American Journey"-Life on the Home Front in the Second World War.
Layla wanted some new shoes from 'Office' but they didn't have her size, I will try to get them in Glasgow on Saturday. She managed to get some good moisturising cream that she has been wanting for a while.
It was very warm in the town not too many people which was surprising as the Edinburgh holidays begin on Saturday.The schools finish on Friday for 6 weeks which means the roads will be much quieter without the 'school run' traffic!

'Peace Perfect Peace'

Graham and Ruaridh went canoeing today, although they were both tired on arriving home they appear to have had a good day! Photograph courtesy of Graham.

Uneventful Day

Arrived back in Edinburgh last pm. late to bed! Up early this morning first day back at work, working all this week and two days next week. It is always good to catch up with colleagues and hear what is happening in their lives. Walked to work, lovely sunny day. Had to do a grocery shop, so Layla met me with her car at Sainsbury's, then Joe came over to the house and we had dinner, always good to see the two of them. Graham ok hoping to go canoeing tomorrow with Ruaridh.

Train Journey

Sue, Allan and Molly left the Glen Sunday morning. Graham managed to paint the west side of the house whilst I held the ladder. Then into Kyle of Lochalsh for the start of my train journey to Edinburgh, Ruaridh somewhat reluctant to let me go, or miffed he wasn't coming with me ? The first part of the trip from Kyle to Inverness was pleasant, sat with two men who were doing railtrips to various places in Scotland and truly loved this country.
The second part of my journey was a disaster! three drunken y--bs for want of a better word decided to sit with me, they had been to the 'Rockness' gig where Fat Boy Slim was appearing. As they were rude I moved seats and appeared to stop their abuse with a look of disdain. Their language on public transport was a disgrace, and they were encouraged in this by young girls from a minor public school 'egging them on.' I felt sorry for the guard on the train, but lo and behold at Pitlochery, the Transport police were waiting to take the guys off the train, unfortunatly the young girls were left on, but much subdued after a word from moi! Then to crown it all had to resort to a bus from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh, due to work being done on the railtrack. Home at last!

Predator?

Walking on the beach noticed this strange formation that looked at first glance like a claw. Who goes there methinks Tyrannosaurus Rex ? but no it turned out to be a piece of seaweed in the shape of a claw!
Allan, Sue and dog Molly arrived later on Saturday afternoon, they are staying overnight on their way to the island of Berneray, which is now joined to South Uist by a causeway, super beaches there and when the sun is shining the ocean is the deepest blue. Lovely to see them all again, good meal and gossip! Molly is now 12 years old and poor wee Ruaridh couldn't understand that she did not want to play-what a dogs life!
Heading south tomorrow to do a stint of work looking forward to catching up with old friends.

Butterfly

We have a large bunch of chives in what was once our herb garden, they have the most lovely purple flowers that act like a magnet for the butterflies, especially the Cabbage White. This morning the flowers were covered by the butterflies and the colours looked amazing together, time for a photocall.
Making bread this morning and the telephone rang, I thought it was Layla but no it was my old friend/colleague Cindy calling from Bournemouth. Haven't spoken or seen her in an age so we had a good chat, her daughter Lauren is going to be 10 years old this year how time flies, especially when one is having fun! Anyway she is hoping to get up North this summer so hopefully we can meet up.
Ruaridh did a runner today and disappeared into the common grazing, we called and called to no avail, Graham got the whistle out and eventually Ruaridh decided to stroll home, needless to say he was in 'The Dog House' for a wee while, all is now forgiven.

Leeks 2

Found out that our missing messages had in fact been left behind at the Co-op in Broadford. As it was another rainy day and we also required gas for our 'midge magnet' decided to go and get the gas and at the same time pick up the messages.
Uneventful journey, but worked out that this round trip of about 58 miles takes us two hours!
Done about three slug rounds today the blighters love the damp, humid conditions that are prevailing in this area at the moment. Vegetables planted outside appear to be growing well, planted my leeks into the raised bed the other day and am pleased with the results, hope they continue to do well.

Midsummer's Day

Midsummer's Day bah! we awoke this morning to a torrential downpour, mist and winds of up to 50 mph. more like the shortest day than the longest! Had planned a canoe trip and overnight camp weather permitting, that idea soon knocked on the head. Second plan, if reasonable we would hike further into our glen with a picnic lunch, as we couldn't see our hand in front of us that plan was aborted.
Couldn't even wash my face in the morning dew, might have been washed away, instead had a long luxurious bath, and shaved my legs!
Decided to go to Broadford to shop, believe we left a bag of messages at the Coop, put it down to Midsummer madness! Went down to the beach, Ruaridh delighted with all the debris thrown onto the shore, with the high winds.
Had a lovely meal tonight, Italian leek quiche, roast potatoes and broad beans, swilled down with a bottle of half price Chardonnay.
Roll on "Here comes the Sun." Photograph courtesey of Graham.
Our friend Rose is 18 years old today. Love and Peace be hers today and always, a big hug and Happy Birthday!

Copenhagen to Kabul

Just finished watching an amazing programme on BBC 4. It chronicled a journey by Simone Kaern an aviation enthusiast, who had a fantastic belief in the joy of flight. She would have loved to have been a fighter pilot-not possible, so she learnt to fly and bought an elderly 'Piper Colt.' She then read of a young women Farial in Kabul who had the same dream, and decided to fly down to Kabul and take her for a spin!
She was accompanied on the flight by her boyfriend who did the photography. The journey was as one can imagine quite hazerdous, but Karen appeared to be a determined women. She was refused permission to fly over Sarajavo, Istanbul welcomed her with open arms, and we saw shots of her flying her tiny plane with Turkish fighter planes flown by women pilots, accompanying her. She eventually got permission and a visa to fly over Iran and landed at Mashad in the East, however difficulties arose again when she was refused permission to fly over Afghanistan. She took the 'bull by the horns' and just did it, eventually flying over the mountains at 10500 feet to get the plane over and arrived in Kabul. She met up with Farial and took her for a spin, which the girl seemed to enjoy. However the next day Karen was disappointed when Farial, did not arrive for a pre arranged flight with two Afghan women helicopter pilots, her excuse being her uncle did not approve?
The tiny Piper Colt hitched a flight back home with its owner!

'Baghdad Burning'

Weeks ago Graham mentioned the Blog of a young woman in Iraq, 'Baghdad Burning.' I have just recently started to read this Blog and it makes harrowing and soulful reading, especially the following words "I'll meet you round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend." I have been against the invasion of Iraq from the beginning, realising that the chaos that has ensued there was inevitable. Yes Saddam's regime needed to be dismantled, but could have been achieved in other ways, but the continuing flow of oil is essential to the west!

Beachcombing

As we go to the beach most days, due to the heavy rain here in the N/W Scotland at this moment in time, I have started to pick up various things that are washed up on the beach. I have found various pieces of broken crockery, some of which must have been in the ocean quite a time as they are worn down and smooth. When walking on after picking it up, as I touch the different pieces I start to wonder what they had once been, and what were the people like who had owned them. Were the pieces old, were the families rich or poor, how many different hands had held them? the mind could run riot thinking about all the possibilities.
When I returned home I placed some together and it reminded me of the shore where I had found them, sky-sand-sea, took a photograph so people can make up their own mind!

Anne Bronte.

On my recent trip back to Scarborough, I was able to visit once again Anne Bronte's grave in the graveyard of St Mary's Church which is situated atop a hill in the South bay area. As a child of seven I had visited this grave with my parents when we were in Scarborough on holiday. I had always remembered that visit albeit at that point in my life knew nothing of the Bronte's. On return visits to Scarborough as a student never took the time to visit the grave, so this trip I was determined. It was not as I remembered it, only the colour of the stone, passing years cloud the vision one once had.
In the intervening years I read 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte and 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte, visited The Parsonage at Haworth where they all lived with their father and brother but never realised that Anne had written novels. Two of the best known are 'Agnes Grey' and 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' so will try to obtain one and settle down to read it.
Anne died in Scarborough age twenty-nine years although on her gravestone it states she was twenty eight years. R.I.P.

Blue

As reported in an earlier blog, the beginning of this week saw us in Broadford on the Isle of Skye. As we were about to leave the Co-op carpark after getting our messages, I decided that the view was worth a photograph. It was a warm and sunny day so I focused the camera and took the shot. When I got it home and put the photograph onto the computer I noticed the tones of the photograph were remarkably blue, and looked amazing.
Today the mist has encircled us here in the Glen, could have been a "Blue Day" but have had fun doing nothing much. Chatted to Layla for ages which is always good, took Ruaridh for a walk on the beach and did some 'beachcombing' nothing to exciting found. Caught up on reading the newspapers, did the slug rounds in the garden catching lots of them, received emails from Jess in New Zealand, and Jo in Edinburgh, good to get their news. Still got three walls to paint, bought ladders today so hope the weather impoves so we can finish the house.

"Happy Birthday to you--"

Today is my chum Grace's 'Numero 60' birthday, just a few more days till she semi retires, bet she can't wait! Grace is not having any birthday presents but as mentioned in an earlier Blog, Grace is treking to Machu Picchu in aid of Multiple Sclerosis and is receiving donations in lieu of gifts towards this. Well done! there is a ceilidh in Edinburgh on Saturday evening, unfortunatly we will not be able to attend in person but will be there in spirit. Tonight we settle down to view the "Johnny Cash" movie and take a wee dram to Grace--Happy Birthday!

After- Before

Awoke this morning and jumped out of bed thinking it must be late as sunlight was flooding the bedroom and we don't face east. Looked at Graham's watch and to my surprise saw it was only 0650 hours! The bedroom door had been left open and the sun was flooding in through the study velux window which does face east.
On this note had for us an early breakfast then set out for Broadford on the Isle of Skye to buy paint, rollers, rectangular bucket and poles to fix the rollers on. Yes we were going to start painting the outside of Troutmask Cottage.
Started to paint the front of the cottage around 1515 hours and finished at 2000hours. Graham was up the ladder doing the top and I trundled behind painting the bottom, it was hard, hot work but worthwhile. Ruaridh was a star and behaved himself even though he wondered what we were doing, he only got paint on his rear end and nose.
Hope the weather stays sunny, only three more walls to go!

Red Poppy

Yesterday besides taking a photograph of the Meconopsis Poppy I also too one of the Red Poppy growing in the garden. The Red Poppy also known as the Corn Poppy, is a wild poppy associated with agricultural cultivation. The origin is unknown but maybe comes from Eurasia and North Africa both places having long agricultural histories. The seeds can be used in baking, and the petals used to make Red Poppy syrup a traditional beverage from the Mediterranean. The Red Poppy has an old symbolism and association with agricultural fertility.
I just love the colour of both these poppies, especially in the early morning or late afternoon sun when the petals appear to be translucent.
Planted the fennel seeds today, also got part of two beds ready for putting the leeks into, still quite light outside and it is 2252 hours, soon be Midsummer.

Meconopsis

Today up quite early, so as the sun was peeping through the clouds decided to take a photograph of the meconopsis growing in the garden. It was about three weeks later appearing this year, compared to last year and the year before. Having said that it is the best one we have had, with the most flowers ever, it is a lovely plant.
Down to the beach where once again it was very windy, the ocean looked amazing azure blue with white cap waves.
Made bread, then went out to help Graham who was busy working in the greenhouse. Started to fill one of the fishboxes we had found on the beach with sand and compost ready for fennel seeds, when the heavens opened, the rain cascaded down I got soaked, suddenly the wind increased moving from blowing South to South/West to North/West strange weather indeed!

"Dog Day Afternoon"

Yesterday was 29C here in the Glen, Ruaridh was not interested in doing too much, he just appeared to want to chill. Found him asleep on the back lawn with the bottle between his teeth, had he drunk the contents and was sleeping it off? or was this just another toy?
Today we went down to the beach, where there was a warm breeze that we all appreciated. On the way back to the house we have to drive on a single track road, with passing places. As we were driving along we met another car coming towards us with a moterbike behind, the car had just passed a passing place but it soon became clear the driver could not, or would not reverse. Graham did the honourable thing and reversed, the car drove by-should the person have been driving? The motorbike stopped opposite us and the couple on the bike were grinning at us who was it? with the helmets on we couldn't tell. As the guy released his helmet we realised it was our friends from The Isle of Lewis Pete and Sheena. We were delighted to see them and after hugs all round and introducing them to Ruaridh we went back to the house. They have now moved to Inverness so hopefully will now be able to visit a bit more often.

"Side by Side"

Yesterday' s Blog has some additional material added, sorry about this so tired last night after the early start, a glass of red wine and a beer! fell asleep writing the article.
Another super day here in the Glen, we had thought to go canoeing, but stayed in bed too long this morning. Too hot for the pup he just changes his habitat, from lazing in the sun, going into the shade and then various cool places in the house are used. It was so hot had to take plants out of the greenhouse and erect a makeshift blind to keep the sun off!
Graham and me, especially me made good use of our deckchairs both yesterday and today, they are so comfotable have to be careful not to doze off for long periods. My chair is red and Graham's blue, they were bought for us by Layla and Joe for our birthdays years ago. However using plenty of sunblock lotion (factor 15) sat in the sun and enjoyed its rays, skin red but slowly going a good shade of brown.
My buddy Sue is returning home to British Columbia today should be landing in Vancouver shortly, great to meet up with her, as she says wished we lived close enough to meet for coffee once a month, c'est la vie.

Return to the Glen

Hi sorry there was no Blog yesterday but had a problem getting through to Blogspot, but tonight we can Rock'n Roll. Left Edinburgh at about 0600 hours this morning with a thick haar nestling over the city, this continued until the other side of Perth, when suddenly the haar lifted and from then until the Glen travelled in amazing weather, warm and sunny. Going up the hill towards the viewpoint in Glengarry saw this fantastic sight of the loch, mountains and trees with a good layer of 'Scotch Mist' making its magical way betwixt them all! Had to stop to take a photograph, even though this big tourist coach had just pulled in! I took my photograph and this woman approached me, "Are you on vacation?" she asked "No I am returning to the Glen and home." She told me she was from Southern California and I agreed it was good on the West coast and the East, but in between? She quickly looked around and seeing nobody in earshot stated that The United States had got to change the way they run their elections, smiled and left me to ponder this!
On arriving at the house Graham and Ruaridh were there to meet me. Got lots of hugs and kisses from both, in fact wee Ruaridh almost licked me away! Weather fantastic 82F, went for a walk on the beach, but today it was too hot for Ruaridh so we only walked a little way then came home. Tired after the journey, and the late night trying to sort out my Blog. Very saddened to hear of the deaths of the "People" on the beach at Gaza, will this mayhem ever cease?

Coffee

Just a short Blog tonight as there have been some problems with Blogspot.
When we were in the cafe at Chambers Street Museum Friday last I asked for a semi skimmed latte coffee, when it arrived not only was it great to look at but tasted good too.
Went for a massage tonight with Fiona my masseur and acupuncturist from years ago, haven't been for ages but it feels good, makes me relaxed and dozy-ready for bed, after a pretty gruelling day at work.
Went to Layla and Joe's for dinner lovely stir fry courtesy of Joe.
Magnus and Rowan's baby, Max arrived on the 3rd June a brother for Felix well done all.

Visiting Scarborough

Sorry no Blog yesterday. Busy getting my mother back home on the train, then hopping on the train myself to Scarborough. As I travelled there suddenly realised this was my first visit back in 39 years! The reason for my going was to see my buddy Sue over from British Columbia, visiting her elderly aunt and uncle, who are respectively 92 years and 86 years old, last time I visited they were younger than we are now! Had a super visit, the fish and chip dinner with 'mushy peas' and two glasses of white wine last night was delicious. Sat in this old fashioned restuarant on the sea front, the windows were open and you could look out to the shore and the ocean, even got a whiff of the sea. Today the sun shone we walked along the shore, and into the old parts of the town, visited with Mabs and Derek, most importantly chatted and gossiped with Sue, an enjoyable trip all round. Just arrived back in 'Old Reekie' work tomorrow and so to bed.

Allotment Time.

Today mum and me drove over to Layla's to pick her up and then on to her allotment. Not as sunny as yesterday but still quite warm. Plenty of weeding to do, got mum sat down on an upturned bucket with a trowel, and bingo the bean and pea bed was soon in good shape. We worked away then had the sandwiches that I had taken over, somehow food always tastes better in the fresh air. Tried to tidy the paths and cut back some of the grass, the area started to look much more together. I watered all the beds as we have not had much rain, unlike the N/W where Graham was able to show me the mist surrounding the house when we were on iChat tonight.

Remember this

Many years ago (sounds like the opening to a Fairy Story) 32 years to be precise, Graham and me owned a car exactly the same model as this one, a B.M.W to boot! We bought it for £25 when we lived in the Shetland Isles, and when it decided to go we had great fun in it. Most of the time though I remember we had to push it up hill and down dale. This one is on show at The Chambers Street Museum Edinburgh and really is very shiny.

Driving along in my automobile--

Sunny and warm today. Went up to the city, did some shopping with mum then we met up with Layla in the Grassmarket, did some more shopping! Had a lovely lunch at Chambers Street Museum courtesey of mum-gran, then Layla whisked us away in her super wee car to 'Matalan,' that is a shopping experience not to be repeated too often! Though did purchase Egyptian cotton bed linen at an amazing low price. So hot when leaving had to put the roof down on the car, couldn't resist the photograph of mum and Layla in the front seats.
Went out for dinner tonight with Joe and Layla 'Pizza Express' in the West End always delivers the goods, good food, good company, everyone appears to enjoy and no moans about the cost when we come out. Chatted to Graham on iChat tonight what a super way of communicating, and so to bed.

C.P.R mandatory update.

To the hospital again today for my mandatory update. This involves two sessions Cadiac-Pulmonary Resucitation and Fire Training, which I have to attend once a year. The C.P.R. was interesting this year, audits show that this actually does not have much success, so research is being done to try and establish why? In Basic Life Support now the most important thing to do once established that an arrest has taken place, and help is called for and acknowledged, is to start chest compressions. The woman who took us for this session was brilliant and made the whole thing so much clearer.
Fire training was good usual stuff, but the two guys try and make it interesting. Big thing on the agenda today was 'The No Smoking Policy' and how this is affecting patients and staff alike!
Layla was over for lunch, later mum and me went a walk in Ravelston woods, seemed strange without wee Ruaridh. Met Rosie and her dog Cooper, earlier in the day had met Dorothy with her two Labradors, all ask for Graham and Ruaridh!