Writing ....bit by bit....

 Today I've been trying to choose photos...and write.. about Pirate....with breaks for lunch, a walk, gardening, supper.....

Daughter is doing the graphic design work...I just wish that she wasn't five or six  hours drive away!! I much prefer working face to face..

And we have photos!! 

Troon...and gardening ...and no photos

 Tomatoes went in yesterday evening...and I started potting in squash seedlings.

For some reason blogger doesn't want to add photos..this has been happening from the phone but usually is ok from the tablet.

Generally if they think you have reached your photo limit they say so!!

Today started well, cards for family birthdays written...and I have written a little more about Pirate. I need to write something brief, but there is so much about him to say, that brief is not easy!

Off to Ayr on the bus to get the cards in the post and I decided to go to Troon on the bus! Why not?!!

Lunch in a cafe in Ayr on the way back, then after a natter with a neighbour, a bit more gardening.. peas and beans planted out, carrots sown (and covered to keep cats and sparrows off) then most of the leek seedlings planted out.   

I lifted the last of last year's leeks as well..enough for one batch of leek and potato soup.

Feet up now, read blogs and watch Robbie Cummings "Canal Diaries" on television!

Memories and photos

 Pirate's dad, his eldest brother as a boy and in the RAF (killed in action March 1945) and Pirate in 2000 having won a Masters track medal.

I have been sorting photos... yesterday pulled out a shortlist....now today I have a shorter list 

I am going to take a break to plant the tomatoes in the greenhouse earth....

Then I need to choose a very small selection for his Celebration leaflet....and write a resumé of his life...a tall order 

Ayr Walk

 The day started cold and wet...and stayed that way!!

I had yet more paperwork to take to our solicitor...and more certificates...I bought a couple more copies of our marriage certificate, all these places demand proper original copies..they do eventually return but waiting would cause even more delays to sorting financial and legal matters. 

The solicitor's office was at lunch, so I went for a walk...

Once family houses in Wellington Square, now offices and some flats.

The courts..with the South Ayrshire council offices behind 

A long view of the other side of the square..a garden with seats and flower beds in the grass in the middle 

Council gate, one of a pair at the entrance to the quadrangle between the courts and the council 

Going along the road...

with a nice lobby floor

Round the corner..

And one getting some tlc..I will have to have a wander with a camera around this part of town on a nicer day...

Once a venue for dances...now Pirate Pete's, a wet weather play centre..

Not much of a view of Arran today..

And a bit of history..

So building on our green spaces is nothing new...and here's an idea for some more walking or cycling..

We rode north from here up the coastal path as far as Ardrossan once..

I must do that again, and this time go over on the ferry!

The weather turned muggy mid afternoon...and now at six pm we have a thunderstorm..which should clear the air nicely .

Technicolour

 Sunset last night...that was a cracker!

Spring Fling

 I spent today mostly driving...but also meeting friends in gallery, farmers market and pottery....and seeing another potter's beautiful garden....and enviable workshop!!

"I have been making for 50 years"....said the blurb....he started at the same time as I did....but, (especially if you are female) Life gets in the way.....

Met a friend for a lunchtime cuppa as well, after a picnic lunch with a view...

You can see the raincloud coming in from the right....I had to wait a while for them to arrive at the arranged café.... because they had got soaked in that downpour and had sheltered in a bus shelter for it to pass... before getting home and changed!!

Today was getting inspiration...and practice at a day of driving...I have to get down to Kent in three weeks time...and that is two days of driving...

Day out at the races

 Off fairly early this morning, only 15 miles away to a village that we lived in...well actually 3 miles further up the valley...to a race that Pirate used to organise, and brought the circuit and hall back into regular use..in fact he had his 60th birthday party and a race there...and took part in the race!!

This time I helped with the signing on table.

The women's race was in the morning, just 5 laps of the undulating circuit...and after lunch the men had 8 laps..the circuit is 15km,just over 9 miles.

It was good chatting with friends who organised the race, and with a friend from the village who was on duty all day in the community run village shop.

I took a video of the start of the women's race, showing the lead cars (2), the escort motorbikes (2), the bunch, another escort car, the first aiders then the Broom Wagon to pick up stragglers if needed. 

But it doesn't want to load!

It was a beautiful day after a damp start...but I think that more rain is heading this way.

Those three shots are from left to right from my study window 

Got it to oblige!!

Carrying on

I think I may need a proper camera....the phone is good..but not that good!!

The three dots are three hares in a very large paddock!! We carried on our daily walk, and hour off to one side of the village, lucky to catch a brief respite from the wind and rain.

How to birdwatch while keeping warm and dry!!

It feels miserable being back down in single figure temperature (C⁰) 

Now the Oily One has returned home I have started sorting programmes, start and result sheets, newspaper cuttings...

These are mostly from 1991 onwards when Pirate moved permanently to Scotland.

So much done...so little here...but gradually more is done online...and if you can print it off, it won't be of keeping quality.

A friend from a local cycling club called round for a cuppa and chat..she had offered a hand in the garden, but it wasn't fit weather for that!!

Now I'm waiting for a plumber to arrive to sort a leaky toilet..he said late morning, so I have time for a little more sorting...and remembering...Even the events that he went to before we were together, Pirate talked about them..passing on his memories.

 

Day out in the sun

Old or newer....

And an interesting combination...

Letter passed to my solicitor, a wander around town to show it to.the Oily One.

Over to the next town for a bike shop visit...no clear bike bottles!! We prefer those... easier to clean and to.see that they need cleaning!

Special treat, chips and mushy peas, eaten in the car by the prom...AND...ice cream!!

With a bit of time before my dentist appointment, we went to buy new wipers for my car...and he had a coffee and cookie..too late in the day for coffee for me...and not just before the dentist!!

The appointment went ok...just a small filling, but he had to numb that tooth and the ones both sides of it as the cold water was affecting all three!!  With extra injections and a white filling, goodbye £60...but he does good work.

Instead of sitting in the rush hour traffic the decision was made to go to Girvan...as he had never been there!!

And as it was rush hour we avoided the busy main roads as well on the way there!

Ailsa Craig, then looking south towards Ballantrae 

We had a little wander around the streets by the centre of the town...I saw two open lobbies...

I love tiles like that.

Then  up the Girvan valley and over the hills to home.

Fore and aft

 Such a contrast!

And the evening starling serenade..such variety...our mynah bird equivalent, learning songs and sounds from anywhere!!

The Oily One

 Aka Eldest Son....is up for a visit, a few days off as it is his birthday tomorrow.

Good to have him here..my first visitor to stay here since Pirate died.

And we went for a walk around Hannahston...and listened to the birds..

 It is good to talk, just to chat..and to have someone else to share answering the question of what to have for supper...and share making it!!