Monday, 9 March 2026

Birds and physio

 I did some washing and chores this morning and set off to my lunchtime physio appointment. I used the bird recognition app on the way and remembered how to do a screenshot - eventually, quite a few today.

When I got to the surgery I was told to take a seat and what a great waiting room! I was there on my own and it was a nice place to wait.

Thephysio lady was really friendly and after an examination she said my hips are very tight. She has given me a leaflet about coping with arthritic hips. She doesn’t know that for sure but it seems very likely to me. A lot of the exercises I have tried on and off but never really regularly, so time to get into a routine and see if things improve. We had lunch when I got back, and although it had been drizzly when I was out  it brightened up and the sun came out for a while. So I decided to move the fir tree into its larger pot.
It had been too big for that pot for a while and was leaning at an angle. Have made a mental note for to put things you are likely to move in bulbous pots.it took me about twenty minutes to remove it but I didn’t damage the tree or break the pot! It looks happier now.
We had stir fry for tea, but not out of a packet, we had lots of veg that needed using. It turned out okay.
Nothing planned for the evening except exercises!


Sunday, 8 March 2026

A fairly quiet day

 Just pottered this morning but managed to have two dishes fall out of the cupboard when I wa trying to put a pore away and spectacularly broke two of Tina’s mugs that she uses daily, o got lunch for twelve so that Darren had a good Mel before driving home. He left just after one and we had a message when he had a stop but haven’t from him yet this evening,

This afternoon Tina took me to the garden centre, I needed a new fork, a garden broom, some bonsai soil and general compost plus a new larger pot for my Christmas type tree. Got them plus some gardening gloves and a reduced plant. When we got back Tina cut back a couple of bushes from the wall long where she drives out and I but back a bush that was growing across the path I go along beside the church. Took one photo at the garden centre and a couple on the way back.


Tina wanted to call in at M&S and there was a Costa next door so we hd a drink. Mine was a macha latte.
We have had dinner and will be watching the Throw Down semi final this evening.

Saturday, 7 March 2026

Finding out about moths

 This morning I went across to the Understanding moths workshop, worried that I hadn’t paid as it said there was no charge when I booked, then I saw an advert which said there was a charge. The lady running the workshop was in the cafe at the arts centre when I arrived, and she assured me the class was free. She has a couple more booked with have a charge. There were only a few of us nd the first hour was informative and there were photos of different moths all over the table for us to look at.

She has been doing research for a couple of years so told us bout the life cycles, how they adapt and how they camouflage themselves on twigs etc. Another lady, the person who photographs the moths for her was there and in a cool bag she had a moth that she had captured the previous night. It was an oak moth and it was passed round, very carefully in its plastic box. Then she told us about the flexagon we were going to make after the break to look round the exhibition. I took a few more photos of the amazing watercolours as they were stunning.

That one is a photograph.

I was back in the studio before anyone else and the photographer had the moth out taking photos, so I got a chance to as well. A few of her as seeing her manage to take the pics when holding the moth on a pencil was fascinating.



Then it was time to create our life cycle flexagon.



It was interesting, going to try and remember how the flexagons are created!
Had lunch with Darren when I got back and popped to the local shop, but nothing more of interest. Took a photo from the window as the clouds rolled in.


Friday, 6 March 2026

Second try

 This morning Tina sent me a picture of the mist rising.

A very blue sky today.
I decided to give the coffee morning  another try, took a photo of the mist rising as I crossed the bridge to Dunkeld.
It wasn’t too bad, although I sat  in a chair being told anywhere was okay, then had obviously sat in someone’s seat, so moved! I got to chat to a couple of different people so whether I go a third time Is in the balance. On the way back I called in at the art centre as I wanted to confirm that I have a place at the workshop tomorrow as when I booked there was no charge indicated and it is actually £50, I saw it in an advert yesterday. But no one was on reception so I will find out when I turn up tomorrow. I did have a look at the moth exhibition and it was very good. Just took a couple of photos.

I decided to get the bonsai trees out of the plastic containers and get them back on their bases. Hopefully I will her from the carpenter soon.
Then I decided to dig out a base of a shrub that protruded next to the path and was an accident waiting to happen. I got it out and have definitely killed the fork!


I cleared my bookshelf off and moved other stuff around as Darren agreed to move it for me. The bed and hallway were holding everything, I have now cleared the bed but ai still have a lot of sorting to do.


I’ll get there one day!

Thursday, 5 March 2026

Not a lot to say

 This morning I put the new mop head to use in the kitchen and bathrooms and did other chores. I did use an old double bed sheet, or at least half of it to make a new liner for my laundry basket. I seem to have lost the original one in the move. I was feeling very tired today, I have had some rough nights and it is catching up with me. The cat got on my lap and I nearly nodded off with her!

We went to the afternoon singing session in the church, a monthly activity as Coleen, one of the parishioners is an opera singer and she sings a couple of solos and popular songs which people can join in.i took a photo before we started and then a few others.




Just sat and did a crossword this afternoon before getting tea. Having a quiet evening, maybe I’ll be more active tomorrow.
On a different note, William, who is in one of the photos, was talking to me about the garden and I mentioned the bonsai trees. He had been working at The Field which is a community project and said he had found several rooting acorns which he has potted and is going to give me a couple, so that will be interesting.

Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Out and about

 This morning Tina had a meeting in Dunkeld so I had a lift as I wanted to go back to the charity shop. We had called in briefly yesterday as it is The Three Churches charity shop and Tina is meeting the different volunteers. There was a lovely little book stand for £3 in there but neither of us had cash with us!

I had also bought a blood orange in another shop and it was delicious so I wanted to get some more. It was a bit drizzley this morning but the purchases were a success.


When Tina got back it was lunchtime so we went to Dobbies for lunch. They do a very good over sixties deal, a main meal and piece of cake for £12. My meal was the same size as Tina’s and we shared the piece of cake. This morning I put the poinsettia out. I was hoping it would recover from the move, but the lads had put another box of plants on top of it in the move and it was the most fragile plant I had. Anyway, it was time for a replacement and we were at a garden centre!

Then we went to Dunelm as I needed to get a lampshade for my sitting room. Don’t worry, Tina put it up for me.
 

Then we got shopping in at Lidl and dropped some stuff at the tip. Quite enough for one day, quiet evening now.

I didn’t attach a picture earlier and now I can’t add it in the tight place! So, I saw this sign in Dunkeld this morning and took a photo of the passageway.



Tuesday, 3 March 2026

Shopping, doctors and a sketch

 We walked into Dunkeld this morning as I wanted to get a lampshade for my sitting room. Jeffrey’s, the shop wasn’t open yesterday. In the end it was more of an antique/collectors type of place. So we went to have coffee and shared a scone. They had some interesting wallpaper.

Looking at my photos I have not started at the beginning, nothing new there! I had a shower and opened the window slightly afterwards, then little miss curiosity had to investigate!

After we had a drink we wandered into a pretty little garden area, it had a large stone sculpture. Somewhere for a future sketch maybe.
On the way back Tina carried on home and I went to the surgery to made a doctors appointment as I just have a couple of weeks of prescribed medication left. I have an appointment for Thursday next week, and one with a physio on Monday to get some advice on improving my flexibility. We both got home at roughly the same time as we both met people and had a chat on the way.
I have gone slightly out of order again! We went to a shop that had a 50% sale on everything. Tina got a coat and I got and I got a mini rucksack that folds down into the front pocket. Recycled too.
After lunch I decided to use the rucksack and set off for a walk along the Birnam path and did a sketch, not the easiest of subjects.
I did take some photos along the way.



We have had tea and now I am sitting with the cat having a restful evening.