planning

 Out on the bus today...saving fuel...and after two buses the first stop was the travel agents....

Tickets for the biennial trip to Aotearoa NZ sorted...and this time going from Edinburgh instead of Glasgow to avoid a 9 hour stopover in the wee small hours!Return to Glasgow as usual. 

I see no point in going from anywhere outside Scotland, as then I'd have extra fares to pay!! Here the buses are free for 60+.....

Argos...very nice lad checked the website...agreed that getting a repair via that , wasn't possible. He gave me the customer support  of the manufacturer....Yes, I know, and so did he, that the onus is on the shop.... .

But...we'll see.   If that doesn't work I can try a consumer help site...maybe Martyn Lewis' money saving expert?

A text arrived as I was on the next bus, a short ride into Ayr...the computer shop...

Off one stop early to walk to see them.

They needed to contact my brother...so they could check if the remote access app was working between him and my computer....

A couple of shops to look at then home on the next bus....

After a cuppa , down to glaze preparation...stirring out where they had settled since last time...

I need to check for a clear glaze as well..I can't recall seeing a tub ready made up, so I'll look through the recipe book for that.

The wind was roaring around the studio, no rain yet...and whistling around the back door in the house. Yet it doesn't feel that cold.

I'm supposed to be at the gallery tomorrow but I'll need to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If the wind gust level is going yo be over a certain speed for a few hours the Castle and grounds are closed. There are a lot of tall trees...and thanks to  storms over recent years there are fewer than there were.

Overall a useful day with things falling into place without any big fuss!

Shuffling

 I started tidying the sewing room today. 

I had thought of early lunch and a walk...but the weather saw that thought and said HA!!!

Every time I put my nose out of the door thinking there was a break it started raining and blowing again!!

I found yet more bike stuff...I hope it will all fit in the car...and that a lot less will come back after the cycle jumble!!

The material for the patchwork cushion cover turned up, so that has been washed.

That is to make a cushion cover with the zigzag patchwork squares that I started in Mātangi in February '24!! I bought the cushion and this other fabric last year!!

It will be done....eventually!! If I can afford to go again I should take it with me to show the fabric shop in Mātangi!!

Anyway today the internet has been fair company..keeping up with friends and family afar.  Sometimes I'm sure that I spend too much time on there...but quite a bit is useful time spent.

Plus there is learning French and keeping up the learning with news emails and reels .

I'm reading a Brief History of France..a little every night...it is fascinating how the roots of so many things that we take for granted are actually in France. 

And a small interesting fact....the company producing the seeds that I bought in a Limoges supermarket...was started in 1734...

gallery and after

 

The sun stopped hiding!!

and I saw some interesting furniture on fb

you'd have to keep the sideboard top clear..

then this coffee table.

You can see the makers' account name, have a look at them..lovely work. They probably have a website if you are not on fb.

I had nobody through the gallery door for the last three quarters of an hour!!

When I arrived home, instead of hibernating for an hour, I hard pruned the hardy fuschia bush. The birds had eaten all tbe fruit so it was time. It will grow back just as strong next year. 

There are three other bushes that will be pruned, but tve birds haven't finished tbe berries yet

Tools

 I was asked today to photograph some of my favourite tools....and found the peeler that I have been hunting for in the kitchen!!

What tools do you use "out of place"?

I look in the kitchenalia corner of antiques and charity shops...I adapt other things to suit and find textures...

I'm not sure where the orange thing came from...other textures can be from netting or the polystyrene disc under a frozen pizza...

organising

 

Getting things ready for the cycle jumble at Glasgow Velodrome a week tomorrow.

I have two days at the gallery this week, so getting this lot in one place made sense.

Mostly in mushroom trays plus a couple of boxes. This should fill the back of the car. 

No frames or compleat bikes this time.

Hopefully a decent amount will go. Even if it goes to the dealers, it will be gone!

The tomatoes are gradually ripening

and the bad news is that the microwave oven appears to be on the way out.

It has lasted 2¾ years...2½ if you take out the time I've been away..far less than usual.

Consumer rights say that things have to last a reasonable length of time....but what is that for one of these, before smoke appears from the inside works?!  

One positive thing is that if I don't get a replacement I'll have more room on the bench!! It cost £80 (special offer) in January '24, who knows how much now?! At the moment there are other things to spend money on...like the work to put in the front fence and gates that I have. (job has been viewed, just awaiting the quote)

Dragons...and rain....and fire

 Heavy sharp showers today after a rainy night then pleasant morning. You can see the next eave of rain approaching!

and when I got there it was bright sunshine!

Conversations in French today, learning some phrases that don't get into an ordinary dictionary. 

I wonder if there is a French phrase dictionary? ( of the polite one anyway!!!)

It is a special book week in the library, ad half term here starts on Monday..

I must go back and hunt down the others!!

There was also a display  in the reference library about the fire service here and its history. There were three personnel when I arrived...and they agreed that they needed a "stop press" board...

Over the past five years we have lost a number of buildings that gave Ayr history and character.

Yesterday it was the turn of Hourstons department store.

Empty for a while, but apparently plans approved for its development and use while retaining its character and history.

The first photograph was by someone who happened to be in a nearby fairly tall building...they reported the fire first...Now tell me how a fire starts on the top floor ???

organising

 After breakfast today the man from the local fencing came to look st the job of putting in my fence and gates across the front. 

I should get a phone call with a quote, hopefully tomorrow.

I gave the studio  brief sort out today , mopped the floor, put the six foot long table with folding legs out there. (This usually was used at craft fairs and village carnivals)

it only just fits....but at least the stove isn't lit yet!!

Then it turned wet and cold, which is no incentive to stay there!!

I spent a lot of today watching track racing. Do I miss it...yes, in some ways.  It would take a massive amount of work to get back to it I think.  I think getting back to riding my bike regularly will be enough!

That will build energy for furthering my art career. Which is hard work building back up alone.

So, early night tonight...while the wind whistles through cracks and roars around the house!!