More skies

 Monday morning the clouds rolled in after a clear start

This next was  after an hour

And this at the front 

I was hoping for a parcel delivery...looks like it would be today, which meant escape for some daylight!!

Berries by the bus stop..still a few left after the fieldfares , redwings , starlings and blackbirds.

A two bus journey to Troon for a special shop..and for some reason I went the other way around the block...and met one of my best friends!!

After the shop, hot chocolate was in order..and in the café the woman serving us used to work (pre covid) in our favourite café in Prestwick!!

Cosmic chuckles all round!!

There happens to be a secondhand bookshop by the bus stop....another Joanne Harris book...and a ceramics book. Do I need more books? !!

Cleaning

 Washing first, on before breakfast..and by 3pm it was half dry. 

So it is luxury evening with the central heating on low and the dehumidifier by the clothes rack and kitchen radiator!  The house needs a bit of warmth and airing once in a while anyway.  I am mainly keeping the living room warm enough. No point keeping all the house hot!!

A warm living room was needed today as I have been sitting cleaning bike bits..rather cruddy bike bits!! One derailleur ready to sell (and photographed) and the other clean except for one jockey wheel which I need to undo, but the nut is resisting...I have left it to soak with WD....and cleaned and old Campagnolo chainring. It won't bring much in, but it is still usable...and a clean piece sells better.

I've had enough now...more tomorrow...now for French lessons...and then a book!   

I found a Joanne Harris ( of "Chocolat" fame) book in a charity shop yesterday...and it is following the same main character again....The Lollipop Shoes"...

Tidying and reducing

 I think I have found a way around the computer and printer not talking to each other....I have been battling through this for a day and a half....and remembered that I could use WiFi.....and just after 10pm I found the email. 

That will be tomorrow afternoon's job!

Meanwhile I have started the painful job of rehoming my old friends......books.....

Marking time, and reducing

 Pirate's tests proceed...one, not so good....but that could be affected by other things so may be irrelevant.

He is preparing for tomorrow morning's as I write. Shall we just say that this evening has seen a drastic spring clean and tomorrow involves a camera. At least he has had one before and enjoys watching the action on the screen..it is his body after all! We both will be glad to find out what is his problem and where to next. Whatever it is hasn't been helped by long Covid 

This week has been cold and wet and windy, with an occasional respite to keep us going!

The kiln shed now only contains the kiln and flue sections...and one car full has gone to the Cowp...the recycling and dump centre.

I have kept busy with attempting to tidy and reduce. Clothes done...but I did get rid of a large suitcase full last year so there wasn't much to go!

Books..now that is a difficult one. I probably have too many..but they are my friends, prompts for memories and also useful.  With each move over the past twenty years I have found new homes for books so that I have half the number that I used to.

Now I am weeding again.   

When did I last read you?  Am I likely to read you again soon?  Are you useful reference.....

A few are quite valuable....do I sell them now?

My daughter would like a few...and hopefully will visit this summer and choose some more. I don't know if my sons would want any atall.  It feels odd, for several generations we have been book people, especially my family.  Now, perhaps, the internet is taking over.  There is nothing like a real physical book, though I agree an electronic reader would be useful on public transport journeys. 

Skies and bikes

 We had such a beautiful sunset last night, changing so fast... imagine it just a wee bit more pink on the very bright bits, and a bit less bright.....

And at 7am this morning, the mist had flowed down off the heights of Bushey Park on the opposite side of the valley and joined with the river mist....and by 8am was gone and it was sunny!!

Then it clouded over and we had heavy showers with thunder over lunch...Pirate gave up and went for a nap.

I started reading the  book that I won in a Secret Santa, at a cycling group's Christmas party...

The Big Loop, Biking Coastal New Zealand, by Dunc Wilson.  Says exactly what he did!!

That was done in August 2015...and is a very good read.

 No, change that to an afternoon sleep!  So he missed the weather window, and we started fettling the bikes anyway, in the shelter of the car tailgate. It was only light showers by then! 

It being warm and wet, and under the Pohutukawa trees...the clegs came out and started biting!!! At least my bike is now ok, I have new pedals and cleats. Just pedals to go on Pirate's borrowed bike..but as we were being eaten alive we beat a hasty retreat!!

A book to read....

I am looking forward to the end of April...and the release of the follow up to "The Salt Path" by Raynor Winn...The Wild Silence, I think it is called...

Reading

I read a whole book today.
Wilding by Isabella Tree.

To be read and then thought about.

About an estate reverting to natural habitat over nearly 20 years, and the return of flora and fauna.

Books

I have chosen nine books from the collection..I will use them and cherish them.

Perhaps I should look at my own collection and wonder how many could be passed on to another good home.
I keep on trying, but they are all good old friends, holding useful information, good memories and all cry out to be kept!

In move after move in the past twenty years I have had to reduce their number, but I still seem to have a lot...

Garden construction

Last minute garden building...the bed nearly has all of its edging, and we have a new waterbutt..which is getting on for full after 24 hours rain...and off a not very big shed roof!
Meanwhile I sorted out our voting...brother will vote postally by proxy for us...relief! People have fought and died for the right so we should use it.
I have been sent a list by a late friend's brother, of what is left of his book collection (family and closest friends have had their choices already). We have been offered to choose books....such a difficult task. Many I have already read... choosing bedtime reading when staying at Garden Cottage sometimes took over half an hour there was so much choice!
It is two and a half years since Big Pete died...too soon...and the best I can do is think What would he think I should choose.....

Book recommended

I am trying to remember who recommended reading The Salt Path....one of you Out There!

It was worth reading, the story of a couple who have lost all, and being homeless decide to walk the South Western Coastal Path...all 600+ miles of it...with the added complication of illness...and mostly wild camping.
I will be reading it again....

On a magic carpet

We found a second hand bookshop in Ridgway Street in Whanganui.
Bliss!

New Beginnings

We had a day to recover from our travels before we were off again...meeting the Pirate's younger daughter and her new (to us!) man . 
They came to stay for a weekend before going to the Nederlands to do on the ground research for their new life together and joint project...it sounds good and we're wishing them success.

We had a cultural weekend as fortunately their visit co-incided with the Spring Fling in Dumfries and Galloway.

We practiced before they came....by going to a photographic gallery opening in Lauriston. A lovely village, but without a shop atall.

After collecting them from Glasgow Airport, The Pirate suggested something new to us all..The Burrell Collection in Pollockshaws...marvelous!!

 A marvellous building from natural materials.They've been having some leak problems...but not surprising,the rain they've been having in Glasgow!!

 dutch brushwork...

 on this painting.....

 slip!!!....they have a Toft plate there too,  "The Pelican in her Piety"....

 Beautiful....

 This looks very much like the handles and shape I like making.....but with one difference...

 It is considerably older!!....

 He enjoyed himself....

 and so did they!

The next day we headed South, away from the rain....first stop Hannah and Doug to say hello and see the kiln in action. 
Then another first for us all,a visit to Kirkcudbright.

Couldn't resist snapping that one....we found a good cafe and saw a print shop and workshop.

Onwards and upwards,along new roads to me,to Newton Stewart and then to Wigton....Scotland's Booktown.

 Thinking of Dan Finnegan....just needs a bird each side of the door....

We can recommend the Old Bank Bookshop...most welcoming and helpful, and not just because they sold us a book on printing!!

Being a booktown has brought some hope to the town, but it still leaves a few very thin months in the year.

We were sad to wave them off to the plane on the Monday morning...but it had been a happy weekend.