Prague

Last Friday 20/04/12 my longtime pal Sue and I flew out to Prague for a long weekend! Up quite early then taxi to the station we were on our way. Jet2 left on time and at 1230h their time we touched down in the Czech Republic where it was quite a few degrees warmer than Edinburgh. Jumped into a cab then off to our Hotel 'Residence Agnes' a super wee hotel on the edge of the Old Town.
We had a lovely attic bedroom with very comfy beds!
Out to eat in the Old Town Square loved the windows and the artwork on the buildings in Old Town Square.
Started to explore, amazing rooftops--got tickets for a recital in an old church fantastic acoustics. Out to dinner with Sue's chum Colleen who she knows from Canada good to meet her. She has a lovely apartment and has worked and lived in Prague for about 20 years. Went to a wee bistro for supper.
Saturday awoke after a great sleep, lovely breakfast then out on the town! Discovered a wonderful Marionette Theatre this afternoon on our travels, todays performance was Don Giovanni. We decided to purchase tickets and were held spellbound throughout the show. The theatre was in the eaves of a very old building which added to the drama somewhat:)
Walked through Prague Old Town over the Charles Bridge that goes over the River Vltava to the Castle and St Vitus Cathedral. Weather warm and sunny Bridge full of vendors selling their various wares.
Dinner with Colleenat at a lovely Riverboat restaurant on the River Vltava. Thanks Colleen!
Sunday a visit to The Old Jewish Cemetry today. It was established in the first half of the 15th century. Today it contains around 12,000 tombtones but the number of persons buried here is over 100,000. Jews were not allowed to be buried outside the ghetto so the dead were placed on top of one another up to ten layers.
Also visited the Pinkas Synagogue.
On the upper floor one can find the exhibition of children's drawings from Terezin concentration camp 1942-1944. Only 242 children of the 8000 under the age of 15 years deported from Terezin remained alive in 1945.
Sadly I cannot put into words how this affected one.
Meandered around the town had strawberry dumplings at a cafe by the river delicious, kept wandering finding lots to see in our walk.
Monday last day in Prague! Remembered to visit Wenceslas Square. Saw the statue of the Good King, then in a side street found a market selling amazing fruits for pennies!
For the last time on this visit saw this amazing clock working just before 1600 h.
Known as The Astronomical Clock.
The owner of the hotel said he would take us to the airport we accepted! Arrived at the airport, not too long to wait for our flight two and a half hours later we were in Edinburgh!
Graham had prepared a lovely curry for dinner, Sue too tired and went to bed I really enjoyed my dinner!
Tuesday back to normal today, morning constitutional with The Wonder Dog in the woods. Lots of bluebells, wild garlic still in abundance, daffodils fading.
To the station with Sue who will be heading West to British Columbia tomorrow. A great few days spent with her:)
Wednesday was meant to be allotment day however the heavens opened and the rains came down. The girls, Ruaridh and I went to Nom de Plume for lunch and enjoyed same. Later went to the supermarket to get messages, picked up G then home!
Thursday Late constitutional today as the Gas engineer came this morning to do the annual service. Interesting conversation -- he knew the Glen, relatives had a cottage there--then the talk continued with discussions on politics and religion. He also explained to me in a simple way what work he had carried out!
By the time I had made the bread dough and had lunch it was raining 'cats and dogs', however the boy needed out for a walk.
Donning wet weather gear off we set, the paths in the woods were very muddy and the male mallard in the photo (if you can spy him) was surely saying 'Gimme Shelter'.
Bella and her mum arrived this afternoon as we are looking after Bella this evening as mum and dad both have appointments.
Took the Wonder Dog for a walk and Bella had time on the playpark. Grandpa, Bella and I had fish and chips for dinner which was delicious. Then we played. Layla came had her fish and chips then they were ready for home--Goodnight!
Friday down to the beach lots of debris on the beach--stormy weather ?
The sun shone for the morning walk, we met a Border Terrier pup called Archie he and Ruaridh had a great time running into the water for stones, the Wonder Dog shwing off and his skill as he jumped for a stone.
Busy day, attempted to do some gardening but the raindrops came down--ah well another day!
Saturday In the afternoon to the 'Pink Olive' for Jean's Special Birthday celebration this afternoon. Lovely to see her and all the guests, the fish and chips in a poke (bag), were delicious, as was all the food.
This evening out with our good chums G & G to the Mussel Inn as always great company and the mussels were delicious.
Now to bed. Goodnight.
Sunday Wet and windy was the order of the day as the Wonder Dog and I walked through the woods. Wild garlic and the daffodils are fading, carpets of bluebells still adorn the woods.
Up this morning with Ruaridh, back for a another sleep then breakfast in bed with a good read!

No blog last week!

Sorry no blog last week very busy week!
Monday 16/04/12 I was over at Bella's as she is still on her Easter holidays. You learn something new every day! There was me thinking the currency of the Czech Republic was the Euro, to find out today it is the Czech crown (koruna).
Lovely day spent with Bella and her chums. The sun shone though a cold wind at times, however we managed a walk on the cycle path and the girls time spent time on the playpark.
Tuesday another lovely day spent with Miss B, got my nails done then scooted along the cycle path with Bella and Ruaridh to the playpark. Bella tried some new things on the park and did very well.
Lunch with Grandpa and Daddy then leanving Ruaridh with them we jumped on the bus into town. Ordered my money for my trip looked around a toy shop then to the National Portrait Gallery.
First stop the cafe where we had a chocolate brownie and apple juice (Granny B had a latte). We then roamed the top two floors doing two more 'trails' and found everthing that was listed.
Sadly Granny has forgotton the names of the 'trails' will attempt to rectify this tomorrow:)
Wednesday The weatherman said it was going to rain from 1300h today so Layla, Bella Ruaridh and moi decided to give the allotment a miss! The sun shone all afternoon!!
The girls were very busy this morning planting sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and re- potting the tomato plants.
They came over for lunch, then this afternoon we walked through the woods and meadowland and saw carpets of bluebells, and some moorhens swimming on the pond.
Thursday Layla popped in for a coffee and to drop off the case she is lending me for my trip! When she left took Ruaridh down to the shore and beach had a super walk. Cleaned the bathroom and mopped the kitchen floor, got Sue's room ready as she arrives this evening. Packed my wee case then after taking Ruaridh a walk in the woods got ready to go to town to meet Sue and get my currency.
Two trains from York no Sue then I got a call on my mobile. As I was listening to the message I could hear Sue's voice in the station- wow eventually located her, seems she got off the train at Haymarket instead of Waverley ah well all turned out OK in the end. To Prague tomorrow morning!

Different Week

Monday 09/04/12 the family left for the city today after days of fun and games despite the mist, drizzle and rain. The cottage is very quiet!
We meandered down to the beach in would you believe sunshine. G was doing some pin-hole photography, so the Wonder Dog and I walked along the beach with some stones thrown into the sea whether they were retrieved or not is open to question!
Now getting close to G&T time. Cheers!
Tuesday we left for the city before we left G thought he had lost his light meter, so we had a walk along the river where he had last used it to no avail. Good journey down. The family left for a short break in Iceland today Joe's Birthday present-atext to let us know they had arrived safely!
Wednesday an early start as Ruaridh had an appoinment at the dog groomers at 0900h, as it is close to my chum Jane's I visited her for a coffee and once again put the world to rights! Picked up the Wonder Dog who looked good after a couple of stops walked to the allotment. It is looking in good shape cleared the greenhouse then weeded around Bella's broad beans that are looking good Very hot the sun blazed down had my lunch then walked back to the car and over to the super store, picked up Graham then home!
Thursday Ruaridh and moi over to Jane's for lunch we were supposed to be going out but when Christal arrived decided to stay at Jane's. Great lunch good gossip always enjoy the company of the girls. This evening Graham and I went to the theatre to see the play 'The Marriage of Figaro' haven't laughed as much in ages.
Friday early mornig sun breaking through the haze in the woods and lighting up the bluebells. Saw three male mallard ducks having a viscious interaction over a female mallard on the pond, with the thrashing of the water and squawking I thought her end was nigh. Pleased to say I saw her swimming around with her ? partner this evening!
Sunday lovely to have the family for brunch on their way home from their time in Iceland sound to have had an amazing timeand loved being there.
When they left for home we went to the shore and beach and to my delight I found a piece of Blue sea glass for Bella's collection.
Saturday, breakfast in bed delicious, then over to the shore at Newhaven lovely walk with Ruaridh whilst Graham did more pin-hole photography. Watched the last episode of Inspector Montalbano for the present, loved it!
Sunday the family arrived back from their trip to Iceland and visited us for Brunch, lovely to see them and they loved Iceland. When they left we took the Wonder Dog down to the shore and beach and I was delighted to find a piece of blue sea glass for Bella's collection.

Wonder Dog and Seal

Awoke to a dull day however breakfast in bed courtesy of G. was very cheering. A visit from our neighbour Christine, after a cup of tea and a blether G, Ruaridh and moi set off to the village then the beach.
Had lots of fun watching the Wonder Dog swim out to play with a seal, who disappeared underwater on seeing him! At one point when we shouted him back Ruaridh kept on going, eventually he heard our 'screams' and turned back. The seal came in quite close to the shore lovely to see, amazing watching how the dog and seal react to one another.
Tuesday had a lovely walk in the woods today with the wee fellow, the sun shone. Snow on the paths and on North facing trees, wild primroses pushing up towards the sun.
A new road since we were last in the woods. The Wonder Dog is home! Getting ready for the girls coming tomorrow.
Wednesday up had a leisurely breakfast before heading off for Inverness to meet up with the girls, good journey there. Then we hit the supermarket -- a new one for me was I lost -- yes! Managed to get all the messages we wanted and needed, I went to check-out and paid G dashed off to meet Les Girls at the station-- Ruaridh sat in the car!!
We then went to Pizza Express and had delicious pizzas before hitting the road for home!
Arrived at the cottage unpacked the messages then, after a cuppa Bella and moi went to feed Sprite the wee horse, Bella loves him and was stroking his nose, I gave him a carrot! We then had dinner.
Thursday brought the rain Bella came and cuddled into bed with Grandpa and moi and we all had an early morning cuppa. We played and ate then when the weather became a wee bit better we hd a lovely walk along the river, Bella found some old vertabrae and marked the spot with one of the numerous pine cones that were lying around!
This week Radio 4 is broadcasting for its afternoon plays 'The People's Passion'. Each day is a story relating to a Cathedral juxtaposing the present day situations that arise, with the problems encountered 1000 years ago when the Cathedral was built.
Interesting to me not for the religiosity, but for the life of the Cathedral now and then.
Have listened to two plays--so tired and late to bed last night I could only manage twenty minutes listening. Hoping to catch up now on iPlayer--Goodnight.
Friday Decided to go swimming today with Layla and Bella, what a lovely surprise we got when we saw a new amazing playpark at the side of the Leisure centre. Bella was very happy and swooshed right off the slide, we also all enjoyed our time in the pool--not forgeting the pokes of chips with tomato ketchup we had on the drive home.
Joe arrived late afternoon altogether again!
Bella had a long lie--misty and drizzle were the words to describe our weather in the Glen today. Never daunted we scrambled down the dirt track to Sandaig. The Romanticism of the walk down to the bay has to some degree gone due to the forest being desecrated.
However once at the beach the spirit of the place is still there.
Had a super day just watched 'Ides of March' film OK somewhat shallow. To bed Goodnight.
Sunday the weather today varied from drizzle and mist to the sun showing a watery presence to the wind blowing icy rain in our faces.
Never daunted Layla, Bella, Ruaridh and moi set off to the river to see the vertabrae that Bella discovered there the other day.
On the way saw lots of primroses and to our surprise small clusters of Wood Anemone's.
The Easter Bunny came and lots of chocolate has been ingested.

The Gig

Thursday was another busy day. Out to the woods with the Wonder Dog, then over to watch Bella in her play which was charming, all performed so well. Quick lunch then into the car with Ruaridh and off to get my hair done, after this a quick Asda shop then to see Layla and Bella. Graham came to pick me up, home quick supper before G, Layla and moi went to see Gallagher and Lyle at the Queen's Hall.
Fantastic music as well as being poignant and nostalgic, they are the best--loved it:) This was a superb performance they Rock!
Friday after a very busy morning into the car and heading North to attend the evening reception of the wedding of Ross and Susan in Strathpeffer. Great journey up there in lovely warm sunny weather with a stop at dalwhinnie to visit the lavatory and eat our sandwiches. Stayed at the Strathpeffer Hotel--nuff said.
What a super night G and I had and what a shock when we saw our Wedding Photo on the screen at the back--thanks Susan--:)
Great music from Martin Stephenson--amazing.
Then after two G&T's we danced until my new red shoes could dance no more.
Great company, great chat, drink and food.
Much happiness to this lovely couple--they Rock:)
Saturday saw us leave the Hotel quickly!! and head to Dingwall to the supermarket for a shop and breakfast. Enjoyed our toasted teacakes and coffee--got the messages then hit the road again. After the fun of last night we set off this morning for the Glen.
We were too early for the convoy to take us through the roadworks so went to Lochcarron where we enjoyed our Alfresco 'snack'!
Lovely sunny day passing through amazing scenery. Now at the Glen for a weeks R&R.
Cheers!
Wednesday busy day shopping, walking the dog, allotment work, shopping again, drinking G&T, making dinner --says it all!
Tuesday I feel Ruaridh myself and the Heron are becoming old friends, as we walk around the pond in the meadowland the Heron is allowing us to get closer all the time!
Love the warmth and the morning haze of sunny days.
Today I met an old friend I haven't seen in years, locale and the kids going to the same school were paramount in us getting to know one another.
Today we chatted and exchanged news-- some sad, some joyous, but then that is life.
Hope to meet up again as I always enjoyed her company.
Managed to start the gardening today ___!
Monday my intention was
to drive down to the beach today--the car didn't start. Never daunted the Wonder Dog and moi went to the woods in the lovely morning sunshine.
The pond in the meadowland was quiet, a lone moorhen having a lazy swim, with all this warmth and sunshine new pond growth is appearing.
A very busy day!
Sunday now at the cottage relaxing and having 'a do nothing day' so able to catch up on my Blog cheers!