Of mice and men

 Plenty planned today...but not a lot happened!!

I had promised all my wire coat hangers to a neighbour (all 5 !!) but she didn't turn up.

I did process the apple juice while I was waiting...11 wine bottles full.

Greenhouse tidying didn't happen.

I did go to town...I had the return envelope for my old modem....and I discussed savings accounts with our nice bank manager...you know you are getting older when you realise that they are all younger than you....

A bit of shopping here and there...nice not to rush...and seeing a friend in Mountain Warehouse shop!! We had both been thinking of the other.....

And then home via the lanes...

The hill on the left in the distance are the Brown Carrick hills, above the Heads of Ayr. The airport is in line with that group of trees I think.

And home....to try the night setting on my phone camera later..

And to listen to the birds settling down for the night..I think you may be able to hear them....if not I can think my fingers may have been over the microphone.....!!

And apart from supper mainly from the freezer... nothing much has been done!

Apple day

 Juice now settling in a 2 gallon bin 🙂

Floor steam cleaned!!

Progress, progression...garden and life

 Ankle (and other slightly battered bits) inspected by the doctor this morning..both of us were relieved at no breakages..but I don't have a brilliant history with ligaments.  The good news is that if needed they now have a physio at the surgery.

Taking advantage of a dry morning I planted garlic cloves..88....and planted out four chard plants.

And the bees were busy on the oregano 

The To Do list

Is gradually moving over to the Done side!

And Pirate's elder daughter has just sent me a gift

Just what is needed after gardening!

And it is six months today... Still doesn't feel right...but you just have to keep on keeping on.

Stroll

 I laced up my ankle boots, drove to Irvine harbour and went for a stroll....

And saw a new mural by the river

And came back with half a big bag of sweeter apples to balance out the sharper ones in this year's apple juice pressing. 

I took it easy...found the other bits of my anatomy that had been tweaked where they shouldn't have....

I did have a siesta after lunch.....

Oops

 I managed to trip over yesterday in the garden... distracted by a noise as I finished clearing some of the borage plant (STILL flowering and with bumble bees on it) that has sprawled everywhere including over the soon to be garlic patch.

One scraped forearm (aloe Vera gel applied)

One slightly sprained ankle, saved by wearing ankle boots (arnica cream applied)

Dark chocolate applied internally for shock!

At least the future garlic patch still has lightweight ground cover over it!

I am so careful now....but everyone makes mistakes...

And with today's weather...

I'm not going anywhere!!

Printer cartridges replaced.....back to some genealogy....

Photo for John "stargoose"

 

Pirate's father and grandfather were waggoners at Hinxhill near Ashford in Kent.

His father then became farm foreman. I think that this is his father, taken in the 1930s. He was born in 1894.

Glasgow University . Saying thank you

 Glasgow university was founded in 1451...and was on the High street until the 1800s...now the new, built above Kelvingrove park, is the old!!

Looking back to the museum over the park through which the river Kelvin flows.

The "new"... And the even newer 

More contrasts...the skyscraper University library and the Hunterian Art Gallery 

And there was a coffee bar...just after the gift shop...a university with a gift shop?!

And the toilet had a lovely floor..

And to the chapel...built in 1927, between the two Victorian wings, where there had been a wide flight of steps leading to a square....

This is the Memorial Chapel where the Thanksgiving service by the Anatomy department is held annually.

People from every level spoke , from the principal down to a third year student...if their experience, and their thanks to people like Pirate who gifted themselves for research.

The service wasn't especially religious...it had Christian and Jewish and Celtic aspects with a couple of readings and the music that the choir sang.

The acoustics are good, the choir very good indeed....very balanced...not often do you hear bass voices like that.

Pirate's elder daughter had flown up from Bristol to be there, with her husband...whose mother had just died...I gave her her toy duck which Pirate had kept...and him a card and a hug....

They had been round the museum in the morning and spent the afternoon at a cinema.

But the service brought it home to them just what Pirate had done...and what it means...and why.  Her attitude certainly changed and she was naturally nice.

Then it was off on the bus...I didn't have time to stay for the refreshments...

Back into the main bus station with a quarter hour to spare...and then the express bus to Prestwick, and car home from there...a journey of 2¼ hours that would have been over and hour longer, had I chosen buses all the way!

So a very long day...and a very full day ! But worth doing.