The Birnam Oak

 This morning we were up reasonably early and it wasn’t raining. We drove to Dunkeld before Anya set off for home so that I could get some shopping in for the rest of the week and she could go back to a couple of the shops we had been in on Saturday.

I didn’t stay dry for long, it was a bit drizzly again when I decided to go and find the Burnam Oak, which featured in a Shakespeare play. It was less than a mile but quite a twisty route.

The Birnum oak was amazing but I thought the elderly sycamore was amazing.

This sculpture was just by it.

A couple more of the oak, some branches were supported.

I was more fascinated by the sycamore, the diameter of the trunk must have been six to seven feet.

This next photo has the sycamore in front and the oak behind, they are quite close.

I went over a small bridge above a burn leading to the river.

Then I followed the rather muddy path alongside the river which led to the bridge into Dunkeld.

Then up the rather scary steps to the bridge.

Those amazing views from there.

I had a drink at the community cafe we had gone in at the weekend before walking home.

This afternoon I had a frustrating couple of hours trying to update my address with government departments. I have never been sent so many codes via phone and email!

I filled in my registration form and questionnaire for the local doctors and went out again to hand it in.

At the weekend there had been a bag of veggies left at my door seemingly from someone’s allotment. No big saucepans so I cooked up a soup/stew in the frying pan! It was very tasty.

Feeling weary so won’t be late in bed. Anya arrived home safely after hitting some heavy traffic. It had been a really lovely weekend.

This should have been under the sculpture!

Trip to Perth

 We went for a walk in Birnam and we’re going to call in to the art centre but it opened later than we thought. We did wander round the Beatrix Potter garden. Iwill start with a few photos from yesterday that Anya forwarded to me.

We drove to Perth and it rained all the way, quite hard before we arrived. But soon after we arrived it stopped a pnd we even saw a bit of sun.

We were on a bridge when we took this picture on our way to a garden on the other side. Where the river forks there is quite a large island in the middle, I am suing this as it will be relevant a bit later in the blog.

There were some walking trails round thes gardens and on showed that you could wlkk right across the river nd over the island. There was a narrow path along side a railway track! It was amazing.

We even had a train go over while we were on thr trail.

One of the most fascinating things was that there were people on the island, we didn’t venture down the steps, but there were even allotments on the island, how cool is that?

We walk back to the city centre and had a quick look round the museum and a wander along  a couple of streets.

It started to rain on the way home so we were very lucky with the weather. 

We have watched a film this evening and had our tea. Just taking it easy now. Anya will be on her way back to Peterborough tomorrow.

A busy day and a lot of photos!

 I am not going to write a lot today, I will let the numerous photos do the talking for me!

This morning we took a walk into Dunkeld, went into a lot of the shops and enjoyed getting the feel of the place, so photos from the morning now.

We walked home and had a snack of stuff we had bought at a nice bakery then we got into the car to drive to The Hermitage which is a Scottish National Trust area. Tall scotch pines and beautiful raging water in some parts. Again, I will let the pictures do the talking.

We were even there when the train went over the viaduct!

Back indoors and not doing a lot this evening, it was so nice to do this initial exploring with Anya.

Damp day but sunny visitor

 This morning I went out and it was raining for a change! I went and had a drink at the arts centre n went and did some shopping as Anya was driving up to spend the weekend with me. I moved the mattresses to a different room so that she could have a sleep and access to a bathroom without being pestered by Pandora.

I too a picture of where you turn to get onto St Mary’s Road, which is really more like a track. The village shop and post office is just to the right of the photo.

Tina had set off fairly early to make her way back to Hornsea. I did another address update over the phone and then sat and sent off fifteen change of address cards with short messages on the back. Got them posted and up here they have an afternoon collection.

Tina got home safely and Anya arrived about 5.30pm. We had a chat and something to eat and then we got a 250 piece wooden jigsaw with odd shaped pieces of animals and stars.

We had Monarch of the Glen on the iPad and finished the puzzle about 9.30pm. Jensen me doing a late entry today.

The forecast for the weekend is rain, but we both have raincoats and boots! Hopefully a good nights sleep to be ready for a nice, if wet day.