After-----!

Up and about this morning wondering If I could fit everything into the day -- I did. After breakfast and a wash, Ruaridh and I had a lovely walk in the woods where the council have been busy taking down trees and sawing up fallen branches-- the road is now clear!
Made bread, sorted quite a bit of business out, then to the supermarket where our favorite 'Red' is on offer took advantage of this!
Then The Wonder Dog to the groomers to have his hair stripped --takes two hours, so I tootled off to the Asda and got the messages I require. Had a nice latte and a brownie in the cafe then went to get Graham before picking the dog up-- he looks great:)
Just having a G&T then dinner!

Come Dine with Me!

Today that is what Jane and I did at the home of Christel and what an amazing lunch she put on -- three courses indeed!
Lovely to see both my chums, we alway have a good time when we have a meet and today was no exception. Last time we met was at mine when Gittan (MissRAble) from blipfoto.com was visiting. Then the conversation appeared to be more serious, today we had a great laugh.
Christal provided soup with garlic bread, main course, her dessert was delicious -- strawberries, double cream, meringue and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. All washed down with a glass of Merlot, we finished with a nice cup of coffee.
G kindly said he would have the Wonder Dog so after a shower and hairwash I took Ruaridh to the beach and what a great time he had-- I must have thrown about forty shells into the sea he brought them all back!
Then we drove over to the studio and I popped in to see Graciela who is carving away on a 'Heraldic Sculpture' hard work but she is winning.
At long last managed to get my cutting board from the 'Owl and Lion' nuff said!!

I do like to be beside the seaside!

Bella, Ruaridh and I set off on an adventure today to South Queensferry on the bus. Armed with bucket and spade we were going to the beach to have our picnic, make sandpies and have a paddle. Imagine our surprise on getting off the bus and going to the little beach it wasn't there as the tide was in! silly granny didn't check before we came.
However we had a super day, lunch sat on the rocks, then we managed to collect sea glass from the rocky beach, met two nice women who were having lunch at the cafe we were at when we were there to see the Burryman.
Threw stones into the sea for Ruaridh who also appeared to enjoy eating the seaweed ? met a nice man with a dog who told us about another beach. So we set off to find it--on the way there bought ice cream chocolate for Bella, raspberry ripple for Granny.
We found the beach not much sand but lots of bricks, bella had a great time building with these, Ruaridh run into the sea, I sat and enjoyed the sun.
Tired and happy we caught the bus home. Family here for dinner, another lovely day.

Happy Birthday!

Today Graham celebrated his Birthday, he got some lovely gifts and for a cake a BIG surprise --Bakewell Tart fairy cakes made by Layla and Bella yesterday. This morning Bella and I had the pleasure of icing them and putting a cherry on the top, all top secret until this evening.
We all enjoyed the Birthday Dinner at Pizza Express at Ocean Terminal, first time we have been there, Bella chose the venue!! and I have wanted to visit since it opened.
Then back to the family's house for the singing of Happy Birthday the blowing out of candles by Grandpa helped by Bella, then the eating of the special cakes which were delicious, and a lovely cup of coffee.
Happy Birthday Graham--Fondest Love and Peace for your year!
On the photo four cakes already eaten!

Angus The Weaver of Grass

Today Layla and I went to The Scottish Storytelling Centre to See the play with puppets 'Angus Weaver of Grass' what an amazing story.
Angus MacPhee’s life is a tale of illness, lost traditions and magical hats of grass, stunning like sunbursts. Raised on South Uist, and traumatised by WWII Angus spent 50 years in a psychiatric hospital. He did not speak; instead he wove remarkable costumes from grass. This work is now in the Collection de l'Art Brut, Switzerland. Featuring Gaelic singer Mairi Morrison and grass replicas by Joanne B Kaar. Using sounds, songs and images of the Outer Hebrides this is his tale. ‘Physical, emotional and aural beauty ... their collective artistry is awesome’ (Stage).

I coudn't have described it better just amazing.

The theatre company that performed the show is based in the town where I grew up. Their venue is the old 'Cozy' cinema where my paternal Grandmother who loved films used to take my Pa in the 1920's. The films were silent and my grandmother who could read used to read out the subtitles, people used to gather round to listen as many people were illiterate at this time. I remember my Dad telling me it was quite strange to hear his mothers voice through the sound of all the people breathing around them!

Quick Change!

Arrived at the beach the sun was shining we left under a cloud with the rain starting! Had a lovely walk though, meandering along in the sun managed to throw a few stones for Ruaridh without getting to 'mud bound'.
Making bread then going to listen to the afternoon play on Radio 4 at 1415h. Managed to get some business matters sorted this morning!

Hairy Maclary

Bella had a sleepover with us last night as today Bella and I went to see Hairy Maclary and Friends at the George Square theatre.
An amazing show with great audience participation encouraged. We sang, clapped hands and stamped our feet and shouted to Miss Plum and Mr Stone where the pictures were they were trying to find:)
We the went to buy some sweets before going to have a look down the High St at some of the acts. Caught a bus to the studio to pick up Ruaridh and the car.
Lunch was a bowl of Sainsbury's delicious chips with lots of tomato ketchup.
Thank you Bella for a lovely day:)

Sunny Day

Our first day at the cottage the sun shone we have had a great day. Bella slept well and came in to visit Grandpa and I around 0830, no show withour punch and Ruaridh is back up on the bed too. Breakfast then Layla, Bella, Ruaridh and I had a walk along the river and a wee paddle here and there. Bella then did some puzzles in her book with Grandpa, we read some stories and played games Later in the afternoon we went down to the river again this time Bella had her swimsuit on and managed to sit in the water:) We saw little fish darting about but couldn't catch any! Ronnie the crofter has spent the day cutting the grass for silage.
Friday it rained no problem as we had planned to go into Kyle of Lochalsh anyway to go to the pool for a swim. Got all our gear and off we went--the pool is amazing and was empty, Bella had a great time. We got dried and dressed then met grandpa and Ruaridh and spent time on the fantastic play park at the side of the pool.
Home for lunch, then Bella and I watched 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' which she loves. Just before dinner Bella, Ruaridh and I had a run around the newly mown field and played tig Bella won!
Started to watch a film 'J Edgar' but the DVD is ? kaput and kept stopping and jumping--no joy!
Saturday we had breakfast then even though there were showers we drove down to the beach, had a walk, threw stones into the sea for the Wonder Dog even a ray of sun popped out. We also found a lovely fire burning in the rocks--left over from a Friday night party ?? Had a good warm by it.
Down to the village shop, back home did puzzles, read, played games---made lots of bread.
Layla made delicious pizza's for dinner.
Watched the last two episodes of 'Wallender'. Excellent1

Busy Day!

As we are heading up to the cottage later this evening quite a lot had to be achieved today. Up with the Wonder Dog, then after breakfast a shower and hair wash. Various supermarkets and the wet fish shop visited to get messages then took Ruaridh a walk along the shore at Newhaven.
The haar (mist) was quite heavy in places and there was a chill in the air, I was surprised when the haar cleared a little and looming on the horizon was this ship with a tug at the back and one at the front, it was the 'Saga Ruby' must belong toe the Saga Group! We watched until the pilot on the leading tug had got her into the harbour then over to pick up Graham.
Just packing the car having dinner then when Layla and Bella arrive we will be off!
Looking forward to a long weekend away!

Au revoir

Today we said au revoir/goodbye to Gittan who has been visiting us from Sweden--she lives in the city of Malmo.
Breakfast then Gittan and I got the bus to town so that she could get the Airlink transport to the airport.
We have had a lovely time and I hope she has enjoyed it -- what adventures we had on various days I have recorded on my blipfoto.com/BB blog.
I then walked through Stockbridge to meet Graham and Ruaridh, walked through Inverleith Park where the Wonder Dog had a great play with a labrador puppy before heading home.
Gittan arrived home safe and sound.

Dickens' Women!

Today Graham, Layla, Hilda, Gittan and I went to see Miriam Margolyes perform 'Dickens' Women and some Men' absolutely brilliant. Her facial expressions and body language are amazing and I could have sat and watched her for at least another hour.
Left Gittan in the town to do some shopping G and I had to get back as the Wonder Dog was by himself.
A new recipe for ratatouille for dinner with homemade tortillas-delicious.
Then settled down to watch and read (sub titles) to a new 'Wallander' well we do have a swedish friend staying with us:)

'Appointment with the Burryman'!!

Today the sun shone and it was hot so Layla, Bella, MissRAble, Ruaridh and I hopped on the bus to South Queensferry to hopefully see the 'Burryman'. We had a lovely day first we found a beach and Bella and Ruaridh had lots of fun then, we then walked along the High St and sat outside a lovely cafe and had drinks before popping into an amazing Children's clothes shop were the clothes had 50% off a great find.
Lots of weddings in the 'Ferry' today saw quite a few womam guests taking off their high heels as they rushed/walked to the venues!!
Lovely lunch courtesy of our chum Gittan, sat outside at the 'Boat House' restuarant and enjoyed our fish and chips.
Then we collected lots of sea glass on the rocky beach.
At 1515h The Burryman with his helpers arrived at Scotmid and got his token drink of whisky--great to see this figure of folklore.
Also bumped into fellow blippers Dave H, Meles and their chum 'Doc'. Nice to meet you guys.
A super day had a really lovely time in good company.

'Appoinment with The Wicker Man'

Today along with fellow blippers Red, MissRable, Buddy Yamaha and Mrs Cyclops I attended the social media call for The National Theatre of Scotland production of 'Appointment with The Wicker Man.' The cast performed from a couple of scenes and then came to have a chat with us--they were excellent.
Red, MissRAble and I had a sandwich picnic in the sun in Princes St Gardens before going back to watch the show which we got a freebie for. Excellent show my face ached from laughing. Thanks to The National Theatre of Scotland for the invite.

Visit

Today Gittan and moi visited Graciela's workshop so that Gittan could meet her and we could have a look at the work she is doing which is amazing.
Graciela is a sculptor/conservator who we met years ago--in fact Layla did her work experience with Graciela so we are going back a few years.
The work she is doing at the moment is very impressive and we appreciated being shown some of it and the lovely coffee she gave us.
Had a walk on the beach this morning with the Wonder Dog--lovely!

Walk to the Beach!

Our visitor from Sweden and Graham went to town today to get some messages from 'Valvona and Crolla' to make some Pizza that Graham found on the interweb this morning!!
The Wonder Dog and I walked to the shore and the beach, as we were walking down the hill on the approach to the shore yours truly tripped over the kerb and landed flat on the ground. Needless to say lots of blood everywhere but no bones broken. As I didn't know where the blood was coming from I stopped this woman and asked her she took one look and said I had better come to her house and have a wash as she couldn't tell. Washed up--bruises starting to appear on my face and a tooth had gone through my lip hence the blood. Thanked the woman who gave me a bag of ice for my lip and Ruaridh and I continued our walk. The pain hadn't set in yet so had a lovely walk with shell throwing for the wee fellow. Amazing what an outpouring of adrenaline will do. Had phoned Graham and told him so he knew what to expect on his arrival home.
Chickpea curry and homemade nans for dinner, the we watched Wallander on BBC 4.
Very sore now popping paracetamols -- to bed.