Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

I trained at the Westminster @Penny_Forthem. It has moved since then and is the Chelsea and Westminster now.

 

Good afternoon everyone. Ihope everyone is well and or recovering well from lurgies and ops.

I used to live just off Baker Street and loved it then moved out to Lewisham then Blackheath and finally Harrow when our company moved offices from Soho square to Harrow via Greenford. These days when I spend a day in London, going in by tube, I come back feeling filthy and needing a shower and hairwash and I find the attitudes of staff and customers in shops utterly horrendous. Vicious circle of stressiness.

Much prefer open spaces and big skies out in the country.

Sunny here with occasional clouds but dry for the next couple of days so we hope to get some gardening done tomorrow, if only to pull up all the tomatoes and clear the beds to let the chooks in to dust bathe and peck at pests and seeds before it's used for over-wintering the citrus plants and co. I suspect it'll be far too soggy for any other gardening given the amounts of rainfall we've just had.

We have lorry tracks and tractor tracks to try and sort out too but that can wait till things have dried out a bit more but I'm very pleased to have the anomalous lone poplar gone and the mimosa that shaded my polytunnel cut back by half.

 

We've had a sunny day in Scotland today. Ideal for castle hunting.
We plotted to visit five different sites. However, one was hidden away and very private. If I'd been on my own, I'd have walked up to the front door and asked for permission to take a photo or six, but with my wife, she won't let me be so forward, or give me 15 minutes to try it my way.
Another castle said it was open to visitors, but actually was closed Thursday and Friday.
Still, I got photos of three - although my wife found one highly amusing, given that not much exists anymore.
Photos to follow later.

 

Grand dog is well and truly at home (or should that be at caravan?).

All pooches are sleeping off an afternoon of running, followed by a delicious tea of brown rice and fish kibble with a sardine garnish!

 

What a beautiful dog @Penny_Forthem.

Good evening folks.

I lived in London for a few years in my 20s and loved it. @Busy-Lizzie I worked in Royal Free and Royal London and lived next to Brick Lane (curry central). I wouldn’t have the energy or patience for all the bustle now (never mind be able to afford to live there). I felt safe there, but I wouldn’t now. Maybe youth versus experience?

Thinking of my love of curries - I’m having a cheat dinner tonight as I saw some new Indian curries in Diddly Dee so going to try out the biryani and lamb rogan ones. I usually like to go traditional Welsh style with ‘half n half’ (rice and chips) but obviously biryani has rice so I’ll have to work out the proportion.

Enjoy the evening folks.

 

Good evening everyone. We had quite a busy morning at the Food Bank but the cupboards were well stocked for a change so we were able to fufill each person's/family's requirements. Our next stint is not until 21st of November so we have a bit of breathing space. It was a pleasant, sunny day but decidedly chilly despite the sun so I managed to get some washing done when I got home. I've just brought it in and its almost dry. Fingers went into dead spider mode again as the temperature has plummeted. @Penny_Forthem, I did a double take when I looked at my BBC weather App this morning and read about 'Hurricane Winds'. I was relieved when Carol Kirkwood, on breakfast TV, explained about the data glitch.
Fabulous pictures once more @RowlandsCastle - thank you. The first castle picture reminds me of the scene in the film Dracula, when Christopher Lee is crawling on the wall near Jonathan Harker's bedroom.
@Liriodendron, you have reminded me that I have some rattle seeds to sow too. Now I wonder where I put them?
@Obelix-Vendée, are those the ruts where the tree man got stuck the other day? They are a bit like some of the potholes in the roads round here. The temporary 'gunk' the council fill them with will probably lift as soon as there is a bad frost.
Such a handsome 'grand dog' @Penny_Forthem!
@Busy-Lizzie, I don't notice what time I fall to sleep but nowadays I don't go to bed late. I read, which usually sends me to sleep and I set my radio to turn off after 90 minutes. I am never awake when it does turn itself off.
I have to say that I do not like city life at all. I am definitely a country person at heart. I think I would fade away in any large town/city.

 

Yes @Ladybird4, that's where the left rear wheel got stuck but the others were OK so he came forward, moved right a bit and got all slippery again even after dropping his load.

The dogs must be having a blissful time @Penny_Forthem so I hope your weather holds.

I have yet to find yellow rattle seeds here @Liriodendron. i may have to resort to weedkilling some grass to plant wildflowers and pollinator friendly annuals in my "orchard".

Yoga this evening - much kneeling invloved and my trusty cushion is not sufficiently padded for much of that. Titanium knees are great but not comfy for kneeling. However, by the end of the session I could do the mountain thing - - much stretching of backs of knees - with my feet flat on the floor. Not bad for just my 4th session. Will have to see if there's any after effect tomorrow.

Have a good sleep and a peaceful night everyone.

 

Redhouse Castle.








There is now a tea-room and plant nursery on site.

 

Appropriately named by the looks of it @RowlandsCastle. I am signing out for now and I'll catch you all tomorrow.

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My camera is not the best for night photography

 

Saltcoats Castle, which is a substantial ruin in the middle of a farmer's field.

 

Good morning everyone!.

 

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A very good morning @Tui34 and all arriving later. Oh my goodness @Penny_Forthem, I am so envious of your views of the Northern lights! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us. Thank you too @RowlandsCastle for your castle pictures. It amazes me how these structures actually manage to stay standing - they look so fragile. Respect to the builders!

 

Kilspindie Castle, just a few stones in the middle of a field, mostly overgrown.

 

Morning @RowlandsCastle. Years ago, with my siblings, we would have loved coming across something like Kilspindie Castle. What a brilliant den that would make!