Gardening and embroidery

 I walked into Dunkeld this morning to work in St Ninian’s garden with the Birnam in Bloom group. I weeded along a flower bed and swept up leaves and after a tea break dead headed the hanging baskets. There is n mazing Himalayan lily, it must be eight foot tall. I took a second photo as it is in a shady prt of the garden and difficult to get a good picture.

I had a drink in a cafe and then went to the cathedral to do a sketch, didn’t go home because it was the knit and natter group on Dunkeld in the afternoon. I had taken my pencil case, nd that is what it turned out to be, I hadn’t put my drawing pens back in there. Haven’t done a pencil drawing in a while! Also began to have doubts about the subject matter, but you can see what it is!

I walked to the car or where the public loos re nd spotted this van.

I just carried on with my embroidery at the group, I only do it there so progress is slow. A photo when I have done more. Anya called in towards the end of the meeting as they had got the keys to their second holiday home a few minutes walk away. After the group I went along to their accommodation and she drove me home. They had been to the Hermitage this morning and there is another bear there.

I must get up there again soon.

Have watched some tennis and great to see Arthur Fery get through to the quarter finals.

We are meeting Anya and family at the ice cream parlour in the morning.

Walk into Dunkeld

 Anya and family arrived late morning. I had made a cake so we had a drink and cake before going out.

We had a wander round the Beatrix Potter garden, more interesting now than when Anya saw it back in February.

Then I walked into Dunkeld with Anya, Louis and Isobel, and Aurora of course. Talking of Aurora, Pandora made herself scarce, we think probably under my bed. But she did reappear quite quickly when the coast was clear.

I took that one from a distance and Anya took the second one.

We spent quite a while in Dunkeld, checked out the next holiday let and went into a lot of shops. Anya mad enquiries at the bike rental place, and when we had pretty much see. The shops they were interested in we stopped for a drink before returning back here. I took one photo in Kat and Kat, a local craft shop with items by local artists. This display was all fascinators and I thought it was very effective.

We all had dinner here and the family headed off soon after as they were all still tired from the travelling yesterday.

Pandora is back on her usual window sill now,

Not too busy

 Tina and I both slept in later today but that isn’t surprising. Firstly I will put the photo on of Tina’s tennis ball before I forget again.

I did some clearing in the area where Tina’s office is as there is not a lot of space for another car. Then I did a bit of clearing next to the church path as the bushes were to the point where you needed to dodge them. This handsome fella was on the gate when I went through.

A did a bit of housework and tidied the stuff we brought home yesterday. We have had a sorry tv day as there has been the tennis and qualifying for the British Grand Prix. But is did do a bit on the jigsaw when I could get to it, Darren had finished half of it when we got home.

Pandora will have a rude awaking over the next few days with a dog visiting!

I went out to water the plants that needed it Ned took a photo of this bush which has been in my old garden truck for a few years now.

Still watching tennis so may not be too early to bed! Looking forward to seeing Anya and family tomorrow.

Sleeper amd Wimbledon experience

 On Wednesday evening we set off to catch the train into Edinburgh, Darren came to carry the case and see us off. Saw this old train while we were waiting.

We were in good time to get to the sleeper train, boarding started at 10.30pm but it wasn’t leaving until 11.45pm.

The cabin was compact!

The en suite was different, you lifted the seat for the loo, but sat on it to shower, also very compact!

We had a drink in the dining car before going to bed. Tina slept on the top bunk.

Neither of us slept to well, it seemed quite bumpy and noisy, but it was an experience. We had to be up early as our breakfast slot was 6.30am. It was a very good breakfast, and afterwards we could go to the Caledonian lounge and have another drink and relax before getting across London to Wimbledon. No rush as the gates didn’t open until ten. You don’t have to buy tickets on the underground now, just tap your debit card at the start, we had to change twice and the tap again as you arrived at your destination. We had been advised to get off at Southfields where there are waiting taxis who take several people to Wimbledon for £3.50 each. Then a bit of a walk to the gate. Then, we were there!

It was very hot but we did walk around a bit.

I tried to see into court 18 where an English lad was playing, and won, but it was hot and crowded.

As we wer wandering away a man asked to move as the Princess of Wales was coming through, we caufpght a glimpse but people rushed in, Tina tried to take a pic as she is taller, nut you can only see the top of her head and the blue of her outfit! We did see her though.

Tina had ordered us a picnic lunch and while she queued to collect it I took a photo of this water feature.

The picnic lunch was delicious and came in a fab cool bag ruck sack. We ate it in a couple of sittings, managing to find benches in the shade.

Did get a picture of Henman Hill.

The time to get into Court one.

We were up high, which was good as we weren’t in the sun at all. I took some photos during the matches we saw. Just as they were starting as we were enjoying watching. The noise when the British lass was playing nearly lifted the roof!

I have the completion book, it is interesting the it had the date for that day and the order of the play. Obviously they print individual daily issues. I also bought a cap. Did get Tina a furry tennis ball , will add a photo of that tomorrow.

We were getting tired so we set off for the journey home. Tina suggested we would get a taxi back to Euston, we shared with two couples who wanted to go to different places in the city centre. One of the couples were from New Zealand who had had a personal hospitality day which cost them £3.500! When we go to Euston there had been a problem with the earlier sleeper train, so we could not go into the Caledonian lounge as we had hoped as people from the earlier trim were in there. But in the end our train left pretty much on time and we slept a little better than the night before as we were exhausted! We picked up a menu, as a souvenir even though we had only had two breakfasts and I had to have the silly train.there is a story to that but that will be my secret!

We had our breakfast delivered to the room this morning and were going to eat it in the Caledonian lounge in Edinburgh but we couldn’t find it, but luckily the LNER first class lounge let us eat in pt in there! Then the train back to Birnam and Darren met us there at about 10.20 and carried the case back for us. As usual u can imagine it has been a fairly restful day today. We are very tired but are so happy that we went, it was a relaxing whirlwind experience.

Wimbledon calling

 Have had a quiet day in readiness for out overnight trip to London to go to Wimbledon tomorrow. Going on a sleeper train will be an experience, hopefully we will manage to get some sleep.

I have done some jigsaw today, I expect Darren will do some more tomorrow.

I did go out and do a sketch this afternoon but just some tubs in the garden.

Tina and I have our overnight case packed and at the moment we are watching a depressing football match, think they may be coming home quicker than expected!

There won’t be a blog entry tomorrow as I won’t be taking the iPad with me, will tell you about the mammoth adventure to get to Wimbledon of Friday.

Getting there

 This morning I walked with Darren to Dunkeld along the river path. It wasn’t too muddy, which was good and we had a drink before we walked back. Most walking I have done in over a week and I wasn’t in too much discomfort so that bodes well for the trip to Wimbledon as there will be a lot of walking involved. While we were out we saw this plant and Darren used his phone to identify it, popular name is goats beard, really lovely, I would like to have one in  pot so it can move with us at some point.

I got the edges of the jigsaw done yesterday evening and Darren has been working on it today.

I am taking regular photos of the sticks that have now got leaves and keeping them in n album so that when I do the talk next yer I can illustrate their progress.

This afternoon I sat with the sleeping cat on my lap for some time, tried to read but I nodded off as well!

I have done a sketch.

Watching Serena ply tennis now, not as well as we had hoped.