Staying indoors

 I dislike staying indoors all day...but....

I woke again at 8am (there are some interesting programmes on in the wee small hours, especially by 5am!)...as it was so grey and dull compared to the past few mornings.

So I missed the recycling collection..no big deal, I don't have much in the recycling bucket stack.

I planned to go for a walk before the wind got up again...did my French practice..then as I made a cuppa in the kitchen I missed a call....no name but the number was half familiar... eventually I received another call and it was from a friend that I haven't seen for years..last time we did a trip through North Wales near where I used to live..she had met Pirate on that trip...and like everywhere he made a lasting impression. She hadn't realised that he had died...

We ended up chatting and catching up for about 1½ hours....at least !!

So next year must have a north Wales trip...so many friends to see there.

As I had my belated lunch the clouds roll in and the wind started whistling around the house again...

One job to be done outside...lift the last of this year's red beetroot..there are a few yellow left to come yet.

Then get on with cleaning a couple of chainrings to sell, as the next loaf baked...I'm trying the middle sized loaf this time. After that finished, time for the turbo..

Just over nine miles in 35 minutes...and the resistance up to 3 for the last 15 minutes...

The knack is to have the radio on and concentrate on that!! 

I'm not keen on it...but if it means better sleep and a healthier fitter me...I'll keep at it.

Walking a Lang Way

 I had a sale!! At last...another bus journey to Ayr to post it...and another new bus journey...on the bus that heads out towards what was Butlins holiday camp...and is still a holiday camp...I got off the bus just before the bridge over the river Doon..the second bridge down from the one in the poem "Tam o'Shanter"...down to the coastal path...

The pole is the marker for the national cycle route, in this case NCR7.

There were blackberries.! Looking ripe and juicy but still quite sharp, needing more sunshine...as do the apples on the tree that we have foraged from every year.

As I went further north the clouds began to hide Arran.

And I reached the beginning of the Lang Scots Mile...

It got much busier..just a couple of weeks school summer holidays to go...and the ice cream stand and playground were busy as was the beach!... mainly for running around!!

The path cuts between new flats and skirts the walls of the old Citadel...and the newer one..a sports centre...

 To be continued tomorrow..it is getting late and blogger doesn't want any more photos....

Garden update...

 Yesterday afternoon was fine enough to sit outside and sort through the pots of cuttings which have been sitting there for 18 months...not all survived of course..but those left should be hardier for not being cosseted!

The day's exercise was pushing the lawnmower...safer than going for a walk from the house as it was still showery.l

Just ticking along

 Just doing the ordinary things...trying to get a short walk in for Pirate morning and afternoon. Working on his cardio vascular fitness and rebuilding muscle. Use it or lose it comes home at times like this, for both of us.

The weather isn't much help..dreich...damp, cold, and Easterly with a windchill bringing the feel down to freezing.  Which means walks are even shorter!  So having stairs is coming in handy. Ad break on the TV? Up and down stairs once or twice...keeps the circulation going, keeps him feeling warmer! 

One day at a time....and if it ends up being two steps forward and one back....that ends up as one step forward!

Meanwhile I am trying to do jobs for me...starting to clear out the kiln shed, sorting things to go to the cowp, hopefully listing more things on fleabay...in between house sorting...making feel less cluttered as well as decluttering... and increased washing. 

Getting to the town on the bus is a relief..a break from home and from driving!  A good chance to get the car in for a bit more work, getting jobs done bit by bit instead of a huge amount before it's annual MoT test.

We have just watched the final of the Pottery Throwdown Programme.

A worthy winner, but close. Good to see, and inspiration for me as well.

A slow day

 We started late..and a lie in always unsettles me, even after a late night.

Pirate vacuumed the stairs...he has to do his share, and insists on that...then had a nap...very sensibly. He wanted to do more, but I said No!! 

A friend called by on his way back from a bike ride..it was good to have a cuppa and natter, the three of us sitting in the sun.

Another short nap..and lunch.

While the light was good, I photographed a few more items...

The day was heavy and humid..but the washing still dried, before we took a walk over the fields to pick some good apples...and some plums on the way back!

That was today's exercise as well..all the better for being in the fresh air, and back before the rain.  Looking at the clouds, and the radar maps, any heavy rain went each side of us. The garden needs rain, but not heavy rain.

Decluttering!!

 We have both been decluttering this afternoon!

I started this morning while Pirate went for a walk to check on the dippers and wrens that he sees regularly. My exercise was going up and down stairs!

 Both living room and bedroom look slightly better, but one corner of my study has the eBay and Etsy stock boxes in a stack!! 

The greetings cards are down and the wall decoration changed! There is more to do yet. But it is now dark outside and we have had enough!!

It has been raining most of today, so I had little incentive to go out. Apart from forays to  put out paper and plastic for recycling.

We are considering going to a local small private gym.... getting back to the sort of exercise we used to do. However with Covid cases rising fast, those plans are on hold.  Just do what we can at home and keep walking and cycling is the best plan I think. If nothing else, that costs nothing!!