Moncreiffe Island

 Darren had an appointment to get his car MOT done in Perth this morning. The garage is about a mile from the steps at the riverside that lead up to the train track/ walkway across the river to the island in the middle of the Tay river. Anya and I had walked over the path and looked down at the allotments on the island but we didn’t go down and explore. We had a couple of hours so made our way there. We had a walk and came to the golf course after passing the allotments. It is a truly amazing place, so quiet, like being in another world.

You could see the river very close from both sides of the golf course.

We went into the club house and had a drink ( not from the bar!). They have a cafe part as well and welcome visitors.

There was a gallery, well, the sign was still there, but it was closed. There was still this statue outside.

We passed a skate park on the way back to the garage, and the prison.

The car was waiting when we got back, so Darren settled up and we came home.

I haven’t done a great deal since, I did plant three ‘elephant ear’ cuttings that I brought back from the gardening group on Monday. I have had them in water and they look very sad, but hopefully they will liven up.

Have done more to the jigsaw and Darren and Tina have done some too, so the end is nigh!

Plants and concert

 This morning I repotted a couple of house plants and trimmed the dead leaves. They have both had a drink and will hopefully flourish.

I was going into Dunkeld for the concert and wrote a letter first and cut it fine, so I got there much quicker than usual, probably why my knee and hip and complaining this evening. It was the cathedral choir and friends, some of the St Mary’s choir were there including Tina. The choir sung some pieces, the church band played a few and a string quartet played a couple, so quite a variety. At the end the choir mistress played a couple of pieces on the organ.

I had some lunch before walking home at a much more leisurely pace. Got a new quiz sheet today so have been pondering the questions, which this time rate to maths.

May do some jigsaw in a bit.

Out with Darren and evening walk

 On Friday when we were in Blairgowrie I saw a book I liked, made a note of it and managed to get a second hand copy from Awesome books for just over three pound, postage free.

I got the steps put to clean the inside of my sitting room window but the outside is really dirty and as the floor in the bungalow is raised I won’t attempt the outside on steps so have ordered an extending pole cleaner for those.

Late morning I went with Darren to Perth, he had a voucher to get money of fuel for the car at Tesco, we had a look in store while we were there. Then we went to Dobbies and had some lunch, sadly still no fish and chips! I bought some feed for the indoor plants, taking looking after them seriously, hopefully too much attention won’t finish them off! After that we went to B & Q where Darren looked at shelving and bought a tool box. I resisted buying a pineapple plant! While on there one of the staff was using the machine that let him get to the top shelves for reloading items on the shop floor, I said that must be fun!

They also hd one of the mini bears there.

We detoured on the way home to have a scoop of ice cream at the dairy.

I had been going to have a walk this afternoon but decided to phone a hearing clinic to see if they would take me on a a customer when my yearly hearing test is due. The number I phoned covered all their branches so the lady said she would contact the audiologist at the Stirling which is nearest for me to get to.

As she said she would phone back I didn’t go out, but she didn’t phone back today so hopefully I my her tomorrow. 

So I went for a walk along the river path this evening. Sadly the ancient sycamore was taped off as one of the branches (more like a trunk) had broken, filled on the sign several feet away and demolished it. Very sad.

As I passed the bench I usually hve a rest on there was a robin on the back.

It moved and I over zoomed but will put it on anyway.

I walked along to the next two benches and managed to get down to the beach.

I had taken one of the walking poles with me to help me get back up from the beach!

As I had to go round the back of the ancient sycamore I sat on a low root for a selfie!

I will finish with a sketch I did this evening,

Group day

 This morning the garden group were meeting at the green near the doctors surgery and not at St Ninians garden. They wanted to tidy up the large flowerbed on the green before the Birnam games in a couple of weeks. i got there fairly early and said I would use the fork to dig the long grass away to make an edge for the bed. The council mow the lawn but don’t get to the edges so the grass had grown long and yu couldn’t actually see where the bed started. I was probably digging for about an hour and an half and you can certainly see where the bed is even though it could be tidier!

The ground was very hard and dry, and we have had a little rain but it hasn’t made much difference.

I was weary when I walked home, good excuse to take a break and take a photo of the progress at the Birnam hotel.

I had a rest and decided I would walk back and go to the afternoon group. I did a little more to the new embroidery.

Tina had been on reception for the art exhibition in Dunkeld so we walked back home together.

Quite enough hip exercise today, have done a little more to the embroidery.

Makers market and bowls

 Today has been quiet, there was a Makers market in the arts centre today and I had it in my head it was from 10am. 

Went across with Darren and they were setting up as it started at eleven! We had a drink while we were there and then came home for a bit, returning at just after eleven. I didn’t buy anything although there were plenty of temptations!

I check the trees every day. The three saplings I potted a couple of months ago are all doing well. Sadly the Birnam oak still looks more dead than alive!

I went across to the Makers market again with Tina, this time I bought some nice blank inside cards.

Then I went down with Tina to watch the end of the bowls match.

Darren seems to be really enjoying it.

For a while we were buying frozen Yorkshire puddings but the last couple of weeks I have gone back to making them. Haven’t forgotten hoe!

Have done a bit to the jigsaw today but not enough to warrant a photo!

Watching the last evening of the athletics now.

Indoor and outdoor gardening

 It has been a stay at home day today, haven’t even been to the local shop. I spent all morning getting all the indoor plants watered individually in a tray of water, in fact the final one is drinking as I write! I also did some rearranging and had to take down the ornamental bird cage I had to free up another stand! I don’t want to part with it so at the moment if is on the floor near the pants at least two need repotting but that is a job for another day.

I did have plants on the closed gate leg table but now there is space I have the house plant books and the journal on there.

This afternoon I weeded the long flowerbed and the square one as they had become quite overgrown and trimming and dead heading needed doing now. Didn’t take a photo but t looks a lot tidier. After dinner I went out and watered before coming in to settle down and watch the European athletics. We have both done some jigsaw today so slow progress is being made.

I imagine I will venture away from the bungalow tomorrow.