Monday, 11 May 2026

A tree day

 I prune the bonsai tree roots regularly, well, every other year, but I have never trimmed the branches as much as I should. So today, I bit the bullet and decided to do some pruning. I have got wound sealant so all should be well.

Trimmings and trees!


After lunch I went for a walk and took the sketchbook just in case.
I went to have a look at the repaired sign, it was well received so I may have made a rod for my own back!
I walked into Dunkeld and picked up a small canvas for a small donation. There is going to be a display of these canvasses when painted to raise money for a charity. You get the canvas, paint on it and submit it. They are displayed and sold for £10 each to raise the money. A very different idea, I will take a photo when it is finished. Then I walk to the cathedral, I hadn’t been in it before, or know much about it.





The information said they have visitors from all over the world, and at the back they had information sheets in numerous languages.
The grounds are lovely and plenty of benches.


I have never really felt conquering drawing trees, but decided to try sitting on one of the benches.
The rhododendrons up here are splendid and everywhere. They are coming into flower now.

I had a drink and then walked home. May do some jigsaw, yes, still the secret garden, when the cat decides to move!
Will finish with a photo that Tina took a couple of nights ago.


Sunday, 10 May 2026

Walk and repairing

 Before I went out for a walk with Darren I did some sorting in the kitchen as I wanted to clear the table as I had a repair job to do for Tina, well, for the church really. When we were ready to leave William had left two tiny oak trees for me to bonsai, so that will be interesting.

We walked into Dunkeld, had a coffee and looked in a few shops before getting something for lunch. We walked back along the river path and I took a photo of Darren by the sycamore tree, I know I have mentioned it’s girth before but having someone stand by it gives a better indication of its size.
After lunch Darren set off for Hornsea and I spent the afternoon tidying up a material sign for the church. It was a flimsy material and the eyelets had rotted and torn the material. So I cut those off and cut out a made edges with the material Tina bought in Blairgowrie yesterday. She had ordered some eyelets that don’t need a machine. I did have to cut the holes in the material but they worked well.





Hanpve done a bit of the jigsaw, but leaning over the swing and the jigsaw has made my backache!
Just watch a man win half a million on Who Wants to be a Millionaire!

Saturday, 9 May 2026

Blairgowrie and not much else!

 This morning we went into Blairgowrie, Darren had some business to do there and we had a wander round, stopped for coffee and cake and visited a fab book shop that we went to last time we went. Also went to The Nest which sells donated art and craft stuff, we just got some material so that I can tidy up a sign for the church. A couple of photos, a building that would have been lovely in its day and an unusual bike rack.

On the way back Tina drove us to Polney Loch which is a walkable distance from home, don’t know bout walk back as well though! It was lovely and there was an old building which used to be a curling shed. In England people skate on frozen lakes, in Scotland they curl!



We have had a relaxed afternoon. Tina and I both bought jigsaws at the book shop, I got the next one I will attempt, it will probably be more tricky than the previous two! I also got a mini 50 piece one which I did this afternoon. Tina bought one for her Aunt as it is her birthday next week.


After dinner we watched some tv together, I thought about going out for a walk but it rained!

Friday, 8 May 2026

Short walk and gardening

 This morning I decided to get the bug hotel put in the garden. It is a bit wonky but pretty secure!

I needed to go to the surgery to order my repeat prescriptions and noticed this stone wall, they are everywhere here but I liked the end pillars.
I went into Dunkeld and had a drink and then walked back along the river path.



I put the camera on night to photograph the inside of the Birnam oak, amazing it has a cavity this big and is now in leaf.
I took an another narrow track and found another area with a beach.


I pulled up three small sycamore seedlings and am going to try and bonsai them
After lunch I worked for an hour or so on the garden pulling out ivy from the back on the bed this rock fell down, luckily missing my feet. I think the ivy and ground elder are keeping the wll behind the bushes in place!
I sat down for a rest on the opposite the area I was working on.
A last photo of a Californian poppy.
Darren arrived before four and we had pizza from mobile pizza van. I have watered the garden and will now have a quiet evening.



Thursday, 7 May 2026

Voting and singing

 I haven’t been full of energy today, but better than I was feeling yesterday evening. The plumber arrived this morning so the kitchen sink tap so no longer in danger of falling off! He also had the flooring inthe boiler cupboard up and we how have an outdoor to which is good. Pandora did get in the hole once so we were then struggling to keep her way! I went out to cast my votes, we had National as well as  local elections to vote on. It was quite busy when I went and I took a photo of the Kirk, a pretty little building.

This afternoon was the monthly singalong in the church. Tea, cake and singing, ending with I’m forever blowing bubbles s usual.
We went into Perth to have tea this evening and I tried to take some photos from the car on the way home.
Hopefully I will feel  bit more energetic tomorrow.