meeting

 The art group meeting today...reviewing and sorting a couple of problems and looking to the future. 

I went by bus..and went early to have a walk and go to the secondhand bookshop...which has the same opening hours as the gallery...so on gallery duty days I don't get to visit it....perhaps a good thing...

I bought four books! Two Joanne Harris, one Graham Robb about travelling in France and a bilingual book of old photographs of Aberystwyth and North Ceredigion...including the village where my daughter lives....

The meeting lasted an hour....I'm glad that I went by bus and had to leave....which triggered the end of the meeting...thankfully!!

I might make another small print card of this view. Which would make a good set of four views of Culzean

Soirée

 A little sorting andd minimal cluttering.

I found two small cameras of Pirates, one for film and the other digital..the latter with a memory card with some photos...I'll have a look at those next week.

Then to Ayr for fresh fruit and vege shopping and the French Soirée...

It isn't just those who attend the Friday afternoon sessions...but a few local French people as well. It is sad that no-one from  the U3a Conversational group has ever been. You'd think that they'd jump at the chance to have a French evening.

One of the Friday afternooners is also a good pianist and played French tunes!!

I spotted these on my way there..

The Auld Brig from the new

and the last moments of sunset with the Town Hall spire on the left....

Evening Ayr as one might say...

Meh!

 Still cold....and feeling definitely post-trip.

I've started leaving my phone downstairs at night now...earlier bedtime, with book....so far so good....sleep is a little better

The radio is there if I need it...

You come home from away, full of inspiration and ideas of doing stuff....then Meh!!!!

Good news though...the apple rings dried well. I'm still working on the peelings, but I'm not sure that they will be a success.

For lunch I went by bus into Ayr...Waterstones for lunch, Toasted Brie and Cranberry roll...and a beautifully creamy and frothy soy hot chocolate..with extra chocolate!!

No inspiration to. do anything , so back home on the bus as at 3pm it was already getting cold again.  The buses were nice and warm, a definite  positive!

The grass in front of my house, facing northwest, hadn't seen direct sunlight atall, so stayed frozen.

I need to do some artwork...and also clear the living room tables to put trays of glazed pots on them. I wont be storing them in a freezing studio...

keeping warm

 Staying indoors!! Everything was frosty white this morning, and where the sun didn't reach it stayed that way. 

Some places the sun did reach didn't thaw too!!

Indoor jobs...hunting for a lead for the camera that my bro gave me....the husband of one of the art group is a photographer and has a lead that may fit. I can borrow it to charge up all the batteries that came with the camera...and he may have one spare that I can have.

I made a large batch of lentil, squash and vege stew, using the smaller squash...all this and a serving for now!

This is the new wee pan, picture as requested!

I've started processing some of the apples that I foraged...

I'm trying a new thing...instead of throwing the peel on the compost, dry it to a crisp, crumble it and use the powder...I've heard about it ..no harm in trying!!

I could mix it with ice cream....or make a tisane with spices....we'll see.

Back on track

 Yesterday I had a sports physio appointment.

Nothing bad, just, as he put it, "getting you back on track"!  Not just the 800 miles driving ( in seven of the 17 days away) but six different beds and pillows!!

I celebrated that with a coffee and Morning Bun ( a baked cross between a  pain au canelle and a doughnut!!) then a wander around the back streets that are between the sea and the Sandgate street.

found a bit of history

more chimneys!

Home, then out the washing on the line..and discovered two scallies ( 14 years old?)climbing over the rotten fence from nextdoor, behind the kiln shed!!

I asked them if they'd like me to come and climb into their garden?! Flea in ear duly given...the one who had to come out through my garden did ask if he could..and apologised...and shut the gate after himself. So I thanked him for that. 

Half the runner bean crop has dried enough to pick.

and the sunflower head that I left out has been picked clean

Beautiful patterns.

I had intended to go for a walk after lunch ..but it was "Baltic" out there....so I stayed indoors, getting things a bit tidier ..and increasing the contents of the recycling bin for paper!!

Then half an hour on the trainer, to counteract all that sitting down.

Now what can I have for dinner.....

Home again, home again

 A fairly good night's sleep in Oswestry last night.

I delayed starting this morning as the route map said fog!!! Leaving at 8.15 it was just mist..borderline in some places as fog is technically less than 1 km visibility. 

A stop at Wrecsam Sainsbugs for fuel...a bit confusing despite checking the map and streetview..getting out was worse than getting in, but I managed!!

A good smooth run, averaging 55mph ..the car is being nicely economical too after its dose of tlc.

The "fog" lasted all the way to Junction 36 of the M6 where you turn off for "South Lakes" and Barrow in Furness...then a nice but of sunshine for an early lunch hour at Tebay services

It was a bit brighter than those photos show.

Then, refreshed, on again.

At Gretna I went off past the outlet village and onto the old road through Annan. I usually do, but today the A75 was shut at Annan...resurfacing?

It is a nice road and makes a change from busy main roads.

A stop at Thornhill on the A76 after leaving the A75 at Dumfries for a break and a co-op shop...it is an hour from there to home.

And home before dark!

The garden had been blown about a bit in the storms a fortnight ago...my stock of spare beansticks was spread by the wind!!

Some of the baskets and trays had been moved too!

I harvested the beans that were dry enough, and brought in the squash in case we get frost...the leaves on the plant had started turning so hopefully it isn't too soon. The stalk is greener than I'd like on one...and the other had fallen off!

Now I've been back for just over two hours...

Dealt with a parking fine from parking at Cherwell Travelodge...the computer wasn't working when I ( and 50+ others) was there...apparently it still isn't working and the hotel group has been having stern words with the parking company....I've appealed and sent a copy of the hotel invoice...parking comes free with your stay there...so hopefully it will be ok.

It was good to arrive to a lettercard and prints all the way from blogger  Fresca in Minneapolis..posted on 21 October...

but it feels odd to be alone here again.

ok....time to prepare a meal....

nearly halfway

 After a bit more car tlc....and a two mile walk to the end of the trading estate and back....keeping the exercise going...

a tiling and roofing company's brick built office...with dragon!

fire hydrant

not a real tyre

a real tyre with a real Oily One!!

I was off at midday....missed the exit at the far end...he did say that someone had wiped out the sign last week! so had to come back down again to the exit/entry I knew!!

An uneventful drive up through countryside after leaving the M4 by Tongwynlais with a view of Castell Coch...all the way up the A470 to Llanfair ym Muallt (Builth Wells) then up the wiggly A483 all the way to Croesoswallt (Oswestry) yes...in England...just...from after Llanymynech...borders move....

Yes, I did have a break about halfway!! 

134 miles done today....