Some good, some not so good

 Another wet and very cold day but I went out fairly early to post a letter then walked to the station. Going out this is the path we go up, which then goes round the church, to get to the road.

And I did take a picture from the lounge from the window.

There are stepped slope down to the underpass and up the other side to the train station. The were a bit slippery and would be great if you were going away with a big case.

The station is now derelict but was probably a lovely little station when it was built.

I walked through the village then as I wanted to get registration forms from the surgery. I did take photos of the bus timetables on the way. The moss on this wall brightened up the walk.

I found the surgery with some difficulty as it wasn’t well signposted and the last couple of hundred yards had no pavement. The receptionist was lovely and I got forms for Tina and myself.

Went by this statue on the way back.

I then had a couple of very frustrating hours trying to update my address with insurance and pension. One policy could be found after several different phone calls and assurances that the next one could help. Have now written a letter in desperation. I also had to register to vote as one company said they would check the electoral role to confirm my identity!I then went round to the church where they have a monthly hour of listening to music and having tea and cake. There were. Few people there but most the organisers or helpers. The singer was a young lady who lives just across from the rectory and is an opera singer.

She sung popular songs and we had scarves to wave or shakers and at the last song a bubble machine! It was pleasant hour and we enjoyed the refreshments.

When Tina got back we had a drink and set bout taking my bed part. Trying to move it when the headboard ws removed it was so heavy that is dropped nd broke one end of the foot board! Oops!

So second time we found things roughly the right height to support the sides and removed head and foot boards! Pandora disappeared again as we were dismantling the bed she hides under, and then the crash when it went down sent her running for cover again! It is now in my bedroom complete with mattress which opened quite slowly in the end. It what made me realise that I am bringing too much up here to fit in the room!

After the exertion we drove into Dunkeld and had a meal at a pub. Very loud in there, if I go gain I will leave the hearing aids at home!

Tina is watching the darts now, and I will go back to my crossword when I finish writing the blog.

I will end with a picture sent to me by a friend of a statue in Wales that I really like.

A visitor and waiting for a delivery

 I went out quite early as I was expecting a delivery at some point during the day. I went to the local shop and bought a card which needed sending today, I took a pen and stamp with me! Not a great selection of cards in the shop but I found one that was suitable. I bought a few other things, the shop is a bit like Countdown in Hornsea, all sorts of stuff. The local shop is also a post office now, that part didn’t open until ten but as I had the stamp she said they could send it rather than me walk to the postbox as it was another damp day. I took some photos, the first one is the path we take to go round the church and into the village. Then one of the most on the hills and the church.

Got my first Scottish note.

Pandora spent a lot of the day hiding under the bed, she is not happy when she is left alone. A lady called by, a church member to meet me and see how I was doing. She came in and we chatted for about an hour which was nice. She told me some of the groups and things that go on in the village. She h as said the is a gathering in the church tomorrow to listen to a singer and get tea and biscuits, I will probably go along.

I had no idea when the mattress was arriving so did a bit of paperwork and wrote a couple of letters. I also moved a chair round so that Pandora could get not the window sills and see out of different windows. 

It was quite late when the mattress was delivered, it was heavy and had on the box it was a two person lift, but a lady delivered it on her own. It is heavy and the mattress is squashed into a small space so I decided that I would not chance trying to get it out on my own and possibly get knocked out if it sprung open!

Have watched a bit of tv on the iPad this evening and played a bit with Pandora. I will finish with a couple of pics from Tina, taken in the monastery grounds.

First full day in Birnam

 Neither of us slept that well, different and not very comfortable beds and a cat that was still exploring and  landing on us now and again! We needed shopping so Tina drove us to a Tesco, a very rural twisty road with huge puddles and flood signs, about half n hours drive away. Pandora is desperate to get out and being quite vocal about it. When we got back she had hidden under one of the beds and didn’t come out to greet us! It was cold and wet but I went out to take some outside pics when we got back. First one is the view from the main door, two of the bits of garden and one of the bungalow.

We had lunch and did a bit of sorting our stuff and the took down all the pictures that we don’t want to keep. Some were quite nice but we have a mountain of pictures of our own and don’t need any more.    

We decided to go and have a coffee at the art centre much to Pandoras annoyance. She was hiding again when we got back. We picked up a program of things coming up at the art centre, it is quite a busy place with demonstrations, exhibitions and film showings. It also houses the Beatrix Potter exhibition. Tina  took this photo as we sat with our drinks.         

Tina made front page up here as well as in Hornsea!

Ii have had two messages from Jacky today showing two of my artwork pieces up on her wall.

Tina left for her conference at about three thirty, I pottered a bit, clearing away lunch things and the stuff I brought with me to do while I was here alone. Feet up with a puzzle book and a Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris cd playing. Pandora comes and joins me occasionally.

That will be about the sum of the activity for the rest of the evening!

    

                                                                                   

Hello from Scotland

 I got up early so that I could try and give the sedation medicine to Pandora as it had t be administered two to three hours before travelling. She obviously sensed the food was different but did lick some jelly off so I hoped she had taken some. I needn’t have worried, she went and rested while we got things together and Tina could pick her up and she not gave a little resistance going into the dog crate. She was calm nd s good as gold for the whole seven hours and only started to cry t us when she wanted to get out f the crate once indoors.

We only had one stop after four hours and then came the rest of the way. I took photos of Pandora and a couple through the side windows which I ws surprised turned out so well, and later through the front window. Then some of the house, but enough writing, photos and more chat tomorrow.

Last day in Hornsea

 Today has been one of checking things and generally getting ready for the big journey tomorrow. I was feeling a little anxious but that soon changed hen I went up to put some stuff in the garden bin and saw a large van parked at the top of the drive and the pots speak for themselves!

So anxiety was replaced by indignant anger. I will most certainly will not miss the number of inconsiderate drivers who all seem to live in or near Hornsea!

This afternoon I have done final checking and some cleaning and when Tina and Darren got back from the birthday lunch they had been to we loaded the car. I doubted we would get everything in but Tina said we would and she is good at it and we did!

I had a message from Jacky this evening ho has found a frame the right size for one of my drawings. She has been painting it and wanted to let me know.

I texted back with a photo of the bits I made when I had dreamed of making a Tudor dolls house. She is going to try and find a home for them for me.

Throw Down soon and I won’t be late to bed as I have to feed Pandora early nd home I can get the calming medication down her.