brief visit

Our friends' visit was far too brief, but they have spent much time in Ireland researching their mother's forebears...MacDonalds...and they hope to return next year!
They arrived at 11.30 am on Sunday and left at 11.30am today..we stay with one sister and her husband in Whanganui...and they stayed with a friend of ours here.
Her sister and husband stayed near central Ayr and had two days leisurely wandering and resting.

We showed our friends where we've lived around here, where we married, and places they'd heard about..great to spend two days in their company.
We showed them buildings, narrated history and talked and talked....

Hopefully we'll see them next visit to NZ...but we'll have to find new places to stay as they'll be downsizing as soon as they can-funding their next travels!

We're tired out...but happy...I've been nursing a sore throat for a couple of weeks...now its taking over!!  Doctor's surgery visit tomorrow.....

printing small blocks

First one..

then some....then many

Ten of each design...fifty cards.  It will be very good when these sell!!

I've worked late, but my study turns into a bedroom for two nights from tomorrow. It was a good incentive to get moving on this.

a visitor..and yet more progress

The Oily One is here, his first visit since I moved north in June 2012 !

and has made himself useful...Ta Daaaah!!

three of us, a scaffold plank as a lever and wooden blocks for safety.

Then lunch, and an afternoon as tourists....

waiting for friends

Almost ready, we're to be a staging post on their travels. Lovely to see friends,however briefly.

Another friend staying next Monday night too. 

Incentive to stay tidy, sort things, keep up the good work....

Pirate needs visitors. The treatment drags on,is depressing him and thinking "only four more injections, finished next June" only helps so far.
This part of the treatment is the "belt and braces" part....not necessarily necessary, but no-one can be certain.

Deep breath and carry on, practice being mindful...

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.

getting ready

More cards in production, looking forwards to the Craft Fair at Ballantrae on 28 March...

The Black & White images are coming along...but they are from Girvan!.
I'm only happy so far with three of those from Ballantrae.

We're suffering a bit from "Cabin Fever"...life is getting us down a bit, especially The Pirate.
What better reason then to go out in what sunshine we have, NOW !!!!

Hormone Therapy can bring depression....and influenza...and getting older....
The Pirate feels Sad.     Giving him plenty of hugs and getting him away from The Cabin !!
So, get the firewood in for later on (stove is ticking over nicely already), pack a bike in the car to give to a friend near Ballantrae and be off....and even if it rains, we'll get good photos!!

Keep thinking positive...In two weeks we'll be at the Scottish Potters' weekend get together.....I've just booked for the Kirkmichael Gala Day on May 30th.....  and a young friend of ours from New Zealand will be here for a few days on his travels as a WOOFer at Eastertide.