Afternoon out

 After the wake in Kirkcaldy, we had an afternoon out with a friend. 

We had driven to his house then onwards in his car as he knew the roads.

As we were near the sea, the day involved beer(alcohol free as he was driving!) Ice cream AND a fish supper for them ( chips and mushy peas for me). Not forgetting the mayonnaise!!

We stopped in Burnt Island...and found that the lime kilns on a promontary had given it that name....and that the green where the fairs and Highland games were held was given to the burgh by king James V in the 1500s. 

The green and below the games grass track course

The path right round the promontary no longer goes....

Wood yard and harbour still working

And a mini wind turbine generator..also has a solar panel!

It was good to be able to see the sights of the Fife Coast as a passenger for a change!

Celebrating

 A good friend to me, a guid pal to pirate.

A lifelong cyclist, a starter and reviver of cycling clubs and teams and a hard worker.

Fitness of someone half his age and mindset of one half that!

A good celebration.

September Garden

 All the cucurbits are going jungly! I suppose I ought to trim them back, but it's lovely to see all that growth!! We are even getting more cucumbers!

The onion harvest has been strung up..but half need using now, chopping and freezing or they will just rot. The best ones were planted last autumn, so I will try and do that properly this year.

I think I need to review the freezer situation...but that will mean more bike bits selling...all pulling on time I want to use elsewhere!!

Supper was good tonight...butter beans from a tin... potatoes fro the Carpenter's allotment in Wales...but peas, tomatoes, onions, garlic, squash and herbs from our garden here. A real achievement .

Pirate is doing ok...blood test yesterday, friend staying last night, our friends funeral tomorrow. We will be going with another friend so that saves worrying about navigating new roads! Tests and dentist on Thursday... retirement is busy!!

Rain is due on Thursday, which I hope will increase our foraged crops, combined with this bit of nice warm weather!!

Back in Scotland

 A good day, a clear run and twelve hours from starting out we had arrived and unpacked.

We don't go on motorways until well over halfway...give me a relaxed drive and stop wherever I want to any day!

DiL had made a packed lunch and tea for us so no worries about food. 

We found a garden centre that had changed away from being part of a UK chain and had improved greatly..that could be one to get a gardening present on our way down next time!

That gave us Sunday to do the washing, relax, tidy around the garden and go for a walk....eyeing up the foraging to come!!

Round the village walk

 This is the old road, this side that few see..near enough to "civilization" but far enough away.

I would love to live in that house..I don't think that the family farming there live in it, but in a newer one over the road! Still, the roof is being kept sound.

Back home tomorrow...just when we have really relaxed here!

Pirate has a load of tests next week...looks like his problem is back....but at least he knows what all the tests will be and what the probable treatment too. So here's hoping it won't be too serious.

Allotmenteering

 After a short ride today we mucked in with Carpenter and family clearing out a new section by their allotment...a chicken run!

The previous tenant has long covid and his family said the chooks had to go!...so they come with the run.

Any idea what these two plants are? Woodchip planted them...and at nearly 5 she doesn't know either!!

Afternoon mountain wander

working dog!

You're 1600 feet above sea level in the middle of nowhere....

We decided that the road surface was a bit too rough from here on!

 But the woman driving the parcel company van thought otherwise...she was coming up from the other side...and not hanging about either!!

We saw someone on a gravel bike going the other way.....and after we turned back,saw a runner on his way too!

We started from Pen y Fan pond, an old reservoir with seats and a cafe and car park, not far from the village where Carpenter and family live...most importantly going there by car cuts out a considerable hill!!