Op day +1 , progress

It rained really heavily...again...last night, and was still at it at breakfast time...but I worked out that going by bus was preferable as at every destination, the distance travelled on foot was shorter! So the car went to the garage..and by their entrance gate is the bus stop!!

The rain had eased, thankfully.. another reason for bus travel, apart from taking a rest from driving, and using the car less...is getting a view of the countryside either side for a change!!

Back to the dentist's surgery to see the hygienist..and I passed with flying colours..relief. 

Then a bit of a wander around before lunch...I always leave half an hour between teeth cleaning and food and vice versa to allow my mouth to do it's natural thing...it works.

The Auld Brig...and M&S behind it

Entrance to the yard of the Black Bull, oldest pub in the Newtown area of Ayr, by one end of the auld brig.

Puns galore here...at the other end of town is "Ayr Guitar"...

And the obligatory seagull at the bus station...called Steven, with his girlfriend....

Next bus , 15 minutes ride to the hospital door, through a sharp rain shower...and of course when I reached Pirate, the sun was streaming in through the windows!!

He is recovering slowly but steadily from the op. A good sign? He is asking for two books tomorrow!! I might add a couple of crosswords...

It was good to sit and chat..

Back into town , and only ten minutes wait for the bus back home.

By which time it was decidedly chilly, having been pleasant all day, despite the showers. So nothing got done in the garden....but I did finish the orange and blueberry marmalade.

It is the colour that a good blood orange should be, but just made with Seville Oranges and blueberries..it has a tangy bite which balances the sweetness nicely...and I like the zested peel instead of sliced and chopped peel.

Thankyou all, fellow bloggers for your kind words and compliments and suggestions.  You are a great help, to taking a deep breath and carrying on...and remembering to rest as well!

Clear morning

 

Look between the houses and in the distance you can see the Clyde. Then on the right in the distance you can see the steam from the paper factory near Irvine.

That photo was taken with my tablet..the other one I took with the phone..

Near enough, but interesting.

 

The phone is different as it has three different lenses I think it is, and of course a more up to date brain! I like looking at them on the larger tablet though, easier to spot details.

We went to Glasgow yesterday for Pirate's hour on the Velodrome and the roads and fields were snow free until we reached the point where we leave the A77 by Ayr. 

Then the footpath had snow and the roads clear until where the bus route leaves our road, 100 metres from our door. Dry powdery snow. No more fell overnight but it is cold.

Bits and bobs

Pirate's birthday bouquet from fellow Blogger "Boxes &Bellows" and her lovely Eve who we met at Dumfries House for lunch over a week ago on their way home to the Western Isles.

A wall near Glen Trool. The work of the dyker is well skillful..not just a craft but an art.

Then sunset just now...I found how to get the truer colours... gradually sneak up on it, then delete those that didn't work!

 

Evening sky last night

 Brother's house has some convenient trees between his house and the setting sun...you get to appreciate the sky at sunset without the sun dazzling the camera!

From one side to the other

 Pirate had a go with the camera as we travelled...starting at Ngahere.

First stop was Reefton for coffee..and brownies of course!

And next to the café...a communal art gallery...

A handsome building

And signs on the door of a (closed) antique shop

Then onwards and upwards towards the Lewis Pass through beautiful scenery.

Along by another braided river, then up and over....907 metres above sea level at the top...and down to our recommended breather stop...

We stopped at the car park at the first end of the walkway...and were being well bitten by mosquitoes...so didn't stop long... although the history is interesting, thanks for the heads up!

And a nice solid bench!

Then on again...

About 15km before the turn to Hanmer Springs, a motorcyclist passed us, after one roadworks and before the next. Nicely done, no hurry. The second works were rather rough and lumpy....and uphill, just before the Works End sign he had stopped....

So we did too, in case he needed help....and his suspension had bottomed out , not through going too fast....and a rock had gone through his sump and the bike dumped all the oil on his back tyre.

We couldn't do much...but the next vehicle was a Ute....with an empty tipping trailer...on his way home to Christchurch, just where the motorcyclist was going too!!

So he turned round to face downhill to make loading possible and we pushed the bike on!

All sorted...Cosmic Chuckle or what?!!

We decided on an overnight at Hanmer Springs...the price was nearly twice that at Picton....and very little more for your money. In fact I enjoyed the slightly simpler camp more!

We had an evening walk..much needed after most of the day sitting down!

That is looking up to the gravel road that comes over from St Arnaud....from where the gravel road from Molesworth arrives in the town.

We like the sign by the fire station... appreciation of employers who support the local volunteers

And off again in the morning!

Coffee in Culverden...next door to the Three Bored Housewives local community craft shop...products of all levels and all crafts.

The red post being a boundary marker where different stock stations met.

And on again.....

Down through the Weka Gorge...but not being a weekend, the steam railway wasn't running...across the plains and joined state highway 1....around Christchurch and through the lanes to Lincoln and back to Tai Tapu where we stay until we fly out.

A total journey from Greymouth of 380 km...best done in two days not one!