Lunchtime in Largs

 A day out on the bus...a longer journey than I had expected...going into Ayr takes half an hour, Ayr to Largs takes just under two hours!!

I had about two hours wandering around the town, watching the ferry to Cumbrae (next time!) and having a look and chat at the gallery Studio44.

Quite a small gallery..front room size..with a selection of ceramics, glass, paintings and prints.

She has month long exhibitions, then a complete change to the next one..and is booked up until next year.  She is interested in both my pots and prints...so incentive to get going and to start with prepare the prints for sale and work out how much to charge!   At least I do have a stock of prints...

One of the local food thieves!!

I ate my packed lunch on the bus back from Largs...I didn't fancy sharing!

Op +2 days

 I didn't do much this morning...tidied up the kitchen after marmalade making...I usually clear up every night to have a fresh start in the morning....but....

I did steam clean the kitchen floor....always a good idea after preserving!! And did our small bathroom floor too because..well, can't waste all that steam!!   And push the carpet sweeper round the living room.

Down to the garage to check with Davey about the car..it needs a wheel bearing, which he can do next week. He is up to his ears this week, so it is good he could check what needed doing and how urgent it is.

Then off on the bus again to see Pirate. I was lucky to catch the bus as it went up to the next smaller village..saved me standing on a cold and windy pavement for at least twenty minutes! Then back down and over to the hospital.

He hadn't been feeling too good this morning...you can't expect a constant improvement and it is early days..but was out in his chair. So a positive.

It is great that the staff like chatting to him ( and vice versa!) and he has a place that he can people watch all that is going on! 

Now he has his books, a Cycling Weekly magazine and a book of poems that his younger daughter published...and I have a list of what is needed tomorrow.

Off on the bus again, into town...and I am looking for more good signs...

Scotch Pies anyone😎?!

A walk over to Lidl for some bits and bobs... keeping up the exercise as it must be nearly 1 km...then back home on the bus.

I haven't done much since getting back home..but you can't dash around every day!  

Afternoon out for myself

 This morning we had the preliminary survey...with luck we qualify for a new boiler (the old one is on its last legs) and roof insulation..first hurdle cleared....

I was supposed to be having a full day out on my own....and I caught the bus tomorrow at 11.40!!

Whilst waiting....

Rookery nookery....

Who are you looking at????...

We're going....

The bus I was thinking of catching going north from Ayr was just pulling out of the bus station....and the next one ready was going south...so I caught the bus to Girvan.

Our usual small cafe was still going..so straight there for lunch..but it was heartbreaking to see the state of the town...huge lorries still going right through the middle up the narrow high street, most shops boarded up or at least looking derelict.

Even the charity shops were closed....The Original Factory Shop gone..and replaced by something even cheaper and lower quality..but better than nothing if you don't have a lot of spare cash.

So after lunch a quick wander up the high street and back..

A beautiful find to raise the spirits.

And at least the harbour was looking busy.

Excuse the computer...not behaving quite as it should...

The sight of Ailsa Craig, ten miles away in the Clyde...

I found a little history to investigate on another visit...

Before catching the bus back to Ayr. 

It started fine drizzle as we arrived...and time was short after the late start, so back home on the bus.

Not much activity...no drawing done..but time out for myself.

It was a job to think what to do or where to go!!

Going by bus!

 Another visit to Ayr on a wet and windy day...not a day for a bike ride and depressing to stay indoors.

Pirate banked money from selling tyres and a wheel, we got a few hardware bits and bobs for a neighbour, then lunch in the bookshop café....

Down to the gallery again, and with luck caught the artist I met initially and the man who runs the building. 

Back on the bus, then phone contact made with the other joint organiser of the exhibition...can I bring work in on Saturday?

This afternoon's headache is how to price my work, after not pricing any pots for ten years?!

Consideration must also be given to the rise in material prices, and the price of gas.....when you can get it...

The eyes have it!

Facebook and its subsidiaries were back on this morning. Wouldn't it be a basic thing not to do, put everything on the same small platform, even their workers' workspace?!

 We measured our sunflowers this morning...over ten feet tall!!

Then it was attack the sofa time.....

Not sure how the arm pad was fixed on the sofa, as those are large nails...but the covering was stapled on...so in what order and how was it done?!

A quick lunch and off for our eye tests, on the bus..much better than driving especially as the process included eye drops so that the optician could see into our eyes properly. That would have meant a two hour wait before driving...

All clear for both of us!! 

Then we met friends in passing and a catch up meant we missed the bus. A good reason to have a good gelato in a waffle cone before the next bus home!!

Travelling

Wizzard and Partner left the Borders in snow this morning and had a slow drive across to Moffatt and the motorway. Thereafter it was a steady four hour drive home, probably stopping at Tebay, the independant motorway services,for a break. It was good to hear that they'd arrived safely. 

We're looking forward to their next visit already!

We've just returned from the county hospital where the Pirate has been dealt with by the mole-catcher. Three skin tags and one suspicious one dealt with,and we'll need to get a couple on his back seen to next time.  Just something we keep an eye on, as you do.
Its a pity they've stopped doing these procedures at our town hospital, which seemed to be developing  well, with the local town clinics all centralizing there.
To get there is one bus ride to the hospital from our village or 15 minutes drive at the most.
The county hospital on the other hand is a three bus ride...into Ayr, over to Kilmarnock then out to the hospital. Fine,we have a bus pass being 60+...but working people have expensive fares to pay; now people have to work to 67- 70 years old, so have to take a day off just for a short appointment....

It was good that the appointment was late enough in the day that everything had mostly thawed..on the other hand it was dark and raining heavily for the 45 minute drive home. Heavy rain is forecast tomorrow and storm winds on Sunday.
Indoor jobs will be the order all weekend.

A day out on a whim...

We went to town on the bus....but instead of returning home....we went on a bus to Glasgow for an afternoon out!