Kasama pottery

 A Link to a programme about Kasama pottery in Japan, with Euan Craig, the Australian potter who trained in Mashiko and has lived in Japan for about thirty years.

Twixtmas

 I managed to bake another batch of biscuits..for us this time, as the others went as presents!! Pirate demanded the camera and got evidence!!

It's been a jumbled few days, never really getting down to anything...plus housework!!

We did get out for a dusk walk though....

I have cleared my tables in the study..but no inspiration has appeared...

Perhaps just leaving it and finding a project to finish might be an idea?  Then a fresh start in the New Year.

Today the weather did exactly as it said on the tin . So we headed off to meet friends for lunch in a Castle Douglas café..through determined showers and wind buffetting the car...and by lunchtime it was dry and fairly pleasant.  We hadn't seen one friend in particular for months, so it was a good meal together.

Then on the way home we dropped off biscuits and sloe vodka ( both homemade) to friends who run a gallery.

Back before dark and before the rain returned!

Now to make supper and consider what project to finish and which corner to de-clutter next!!

Catrine again, industrial history

 Walking upriver this time, past the Voes, or header ponds for water power to the mills.

The water went from them through a tunnel to the mills and bleach works.

We walked further up from the renovated weir and fish ladder, until we could see Sorn Castle. As we turned back it began to rain lightly, and as we arrived back to the town the decorations on the street lights lit up.

Despite some places where they have silted up, there is a considerable water flow through the Voes.

Apparently these are council property apart from a single and a double flat...and there is no money to renovate them.

St Stephen's Day

 Or Boxing Day..

Greetings to you all and hopes for a good future.

We saw the sun!!

Now it's back to overcast.

We have spent the morning talking to friends here and friends in AotearoaNZ and to our neighbour in person with a cuppa.

We are planning another walk in Catrine to see what is left of industry there

Bike Ride!

 We ventured out, well wrapped up, but with a windchill of 6⁰C I decided to head for home..Pirate did a couple of miles more, with a diversion along a farm track!! I did about eight miles, he did a good two miles more...walking tomorrow I think!!

Yesterday Pirate had the inspiration to buy the last six poinsettia plants in our local nursery and present them to our neighbours as a thank you for being such good neighbours. 

It may be just ordinary to them, but it deserves recognition.

While I got fruit cake on the way, he ventured on a short walk. He is fascinated by our local birdlife..there is nothing much in the garden, probably thanks to the local cats, jackdaws and gulls, but the hedges are full of birds. Our Fife friend has lent him a small digital camera to practice with, before buying one of his own.  He is gradually deciphering the knobs and switches.

With the oven hot already, supper was done in there..baked potatoes, parsnips, beetroot, pumpin slices, and a mushroom and chestnut roast...

The idea then was to bake the batch of biscuits after supper...but a wee dram has put paid to that idea!!

Maybe tomorrow the study will get tidied....I have been trying to get there for three days...

So here's wishing you all good celebrations, whatever you celebrate! And a kinder New Year

Ayr River Walk , Catrine

 Another short walk today, and another that we would like to return to in better weather..but at least it was dry today!

We went from Catrine, seawards as far as the Howford Bridge, opened in 1962 above the old Howford River bridge. It spans the gorge about 50 metres above the river....I couldn't face the steep muddy worn steps....

Site of the old Twist Mill, now Mill Square.

This is a community centre..much better than a concrete, plastic and glass box building!

Pensioners' bungalows on the right...

Unfortunately many of the older sandstone buildings are being demolished instead of renovated

It was a place full of industry and innovation, with Richard Arkwright from Cromford involved in the mill construction.

Rouken Glen History

 Rouken Glen I found an interesting link to a local history group

Rouken Glen walk

 

Rouken Glen is a huge park in Glasgow. We met a friend for a walk there as we both had to travel for an hour to get there!  We had a good light lunch in the garden centre before a long walk in the park. He went home after that, and we treated ourselves to tea and cake!

It was good to see our friend and hopefully we can get together again next week sometime, weather permitting.