May France trip day 1

 An early start...as it was a bank holiday, it was Sunday services...7.31 bus...and the next one two hours later!! Taking the early one meant LOTS of hanging around...but taking the other could have meant cutting things fine....it was fun people watching at the airport anyway!!

A good flight, arriving ten minutes early...even after having to wait an extra five minutes to take off as boarding had been quick and smooth.

Once at Merignac (Bordeaux airport) I decided to walk to the hotel. it was less than a kilometre and easier than working out how to get a tram ticket!! Past the Sheraton hotel carpark....and a water tower!

100 metres before the hotel was a branch of my favourite "fast food" chain...Eat Salad !! and open until 9.45pm.  rice or pasta, four choices of toppings, sauce, a drink..all for €13.99. A really good feed .

I've booked  breakfast at the hotel tomorrow and it shows that it is near the airport..it is served from 3.30 to 9.30.   

Ready...

 Bag packed yesterday morning....checked again today...,what have I forgotten?? !!

I think that everything I really need is in and no extras...

I had a nice blether with a neighbour at teatime. She is great...and is only(!) 88 or so!!

Now to set the alarm....the buses are on Sunday service tomorrow as it us a Bank Holiday...the bus is 20 minutes later than the usual first bus...but then the next one is two hours later!!

update. I've been at Edinburgh Airport since 11.00....I've gone through security, now relaxing ( sort of!)...and it is midday. gates close at 16.20.....better than being late!!!!

An odd day!

 Last night we had beautiful skies after another warm day...but still chilly breeze and cold nights. 

Before going to the gallery my friends from Rankinston brought down some bags of compost and horse manure. I swapped for bags of pebbles!! We had been given a ton of pebbles years ago and I've used what I can.

Then to the gallery, with my new smaller...and homemade..plinth and three succulents that can live in the gallery.

And without my phone....which would have been handy on a very quiet day!!

I survived. No big deal. Although it was a little damp, and yet again cold!!!

No beautiful skies tonight...so here are last nights!!

Thoughts

 I met a cycling friend and one of her flatmates today in Ayr. Coffee in Puck's and a short wander as they'd never been to Ayr. They are from Aberdeen so are more used to grey granite rather than red sandstone buildings! 

We had cycling business to deal with, but also they had had their last exam of the year this morning at uni in Glasgow...so it was out and away!!!

Just a thought...they were travelling on their young person's Saltire card, so being under 22 had free bus travel. That is the glorious thing about cycling...whatever your age you have something in common and talk and equals. 

Then afterwards it can hit you...they could be my grandkids!!

Annoyingly I had to cut things short to go to the optician. I'm hoping I've just an irritated eye due to "hayfever" of some sort. No appointment available...but advice from the receptionists...and more from our village pharmacy when I returned to Drongan, plus soothing and hydrating eye drops.

Hopefully they will do the trick....if not I'm sure that I could get help in France.

These things do time themselves well, don't they?!!

some progress..possibly

 Today I went on the bus to Ayr to meet somone else who is on the waiting list for the U3a French group...coffee and biscuits and learning each other's history..and saying hello to their dog!

There are apparently 18 in the established group...only three of us willing to start a new group.  One suggestion is to ask any of the first group if they would like to join us....two smaller groups can grow, and I'm sure that the waiting list is putting people off.

I think he'll be joining the Friday group in the library where I already go!!

Then lunch in town, better than eating late, and  to back home for a rest...and turning and cutting the bigger bowl and platter.

The bowl went ok I think, but the platter may have to go in the recycling bucket and be used again. I haven't got the thicknesses right on it so it. would be a waste to fire it.

Good practice to improve my making anyway.

one of those days

 It has been one of those days where you feel that you gaven't done much...until you list it!!

LOTS of washing...sheets wash..everything that needs 60⁰ in other words..mattress protector, ordinary clothes wash, my handmade quilt. (Just fitted in the machine!!) and studio aprons and towels .  The machine did a lot of work..and the weather obliged and dried it all!!

I moved all the small plants out of the greenhouse . Broad bean plants and shallots were planted out. tomato and pepper seedlings on the shelving I made from pallets a few years ago.  It should be ok for them there..and while I'm away they'd be bound to get cooked!!

The apple tree in a pot is flowering!! That should have been potted on or planted out by now...but I'm not sure where it should go.

The bigger pots were dry enough to turn over to dry the bases for finishing and I managed to deal with the smaller ones.

So quite a bit done...plus morning and evening Duolingo.  

Not non-stop...cuppa breaks must be taken!

getting better and bigger!

 Mornings still suck....I think it is part of living alone, on my part....not having someone else there. I don't know.

Anyhow, I got myself out for a walk in the sunshine before lunch. I didn't fancy a road walk so Hannahston it was.  A floral day...one open patch is full of cowslips now! Plus the violets are lurking in the wooded sections..

Then to work after lunch.

The first two are five pounds of clay each...the next two seven . They will all lose a fair amount when I've turned and cut the footrings, but when thrown they need extra thickness there to support the shape.

When you are throwing, the most important side...is the inside. The space that is contained.