All Blog Posts (97)

David Livingstone's birthplace, Blantyre.

Livingstone lived from 19 March 1813 to 1 May 1873 among others that worked in the Blantyre cotton mills.

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My lady friend Hazel had a shock recently when the hospital found a shadow on her lungs, pure luck that it was discovered as it was anothe problem that they were investigating. Very lucky, caught in time, and she was "fast tracked" for the op.

For several years now I have been helping her with her small garden and often taking photographs. I decided that instead of a bunch of flowers, and incidentally cheaper, about £20 delivered to your door, I made a book for her of her garden, easy…

Spotted another new bird yesterday but can't find what it is. Many similar in my bird books but not quite right.

Bird to Identify.mp3

This is the capture of the bird call I'd like to identify. Any suggestions most welcome.

For the past three weeks I've been trying to spot and identify a bird I keep hearing when I'm out and about. I've tried looking it up on many websites and listened to loads of sound recordings and just can't get it. It's driving me quite mad. Such a distinctive call. 

This weekend, I've set myself another mission. Dug out my Zoom 4 track, handheld recorder and I'll capture the call. Hopefully then I'll be able to post here and on forums to get the help I need to identify it. I'm sure…

Yesterday late afternoon I nipped across to Kirkgate Park (accessed via a little narrow road near the southern end of Leven's main street) after meeting a friend for late lunch and a spot of horticultural retail therapy at Dobbies, Kinross :)  Light not inspiring but atmospheric so enjoyed a bit of photography ...

Kat and I spent a lovely sunny (and quite warm!) afternoon in Culross on Thursday, the best day weather-wise this week.  The sea air when I stepped out of the car smelt wonderful :))  Firstly we had a snack lunch on the terrace of the pottery cafe.  It was lovely sitting there in the sunshine surrounded by plants, birds, shrubs, trees and characterful historic buildings :)  Kat then gave me a guided tour of the area where the Bluther Burn joins the Forth.  She showed me the ancient bridge…

This weekend I've set myself the challenge of capturing a decent photo of a yellowhammer.

There are loads of them around where we live so I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult. Having found a way of managing my camera and the beagles at the same time, I was all set this morning and hopeful even if it was/is a bit misty. 

They all went into hiding. Just one showed face. I caught it but the shot isn't as good as my efforts last year so I'm still on a…

Lovely sunny dry day yesterday :))  Hubby asked where did I want to go walkies ...  The choice was easy because we needed somewhere nearby as today we have the Mother's Day visit, which is a longer drive, so a longish car journey didn't appeal yesterday.  Hubby's first walk at Torry Bay.  He was impressed. :)  We didn't walk along to Crombie Point as his back was bothering him quite a bit.  Instead we followed the coastal path up the slope past the intriguing old stone doorway which features…

Mrs Elizabeth Smith who lived in Buckie, was in the tuberculosis ward of Campbell Hospital for two years and during her stay she kept a diary.

In around 1949/50 she wrote her story in a notebook. She called it, "Two Years of My Life"

I am now attempting to copy all 165 pages to a…

On Sunday afternoon we snatched a bit of time out (on the way further west to visit family) to get a bit of fresh air and exercise in the lower part of Dollar Glen, one of my favourite locations for a walk :)  Imagine my delight on arriving to discover the glen bathed in sunshine and the hill backed by blue sky and a fluffy white cloud :))  Cue photography ...  Result - a few photos taken from the same spot (no time for anything more), the best of which I've uploaded on here :)

This afternoon hubby took a notion to cross to the other side of the river.  We ended up in Cramond, having first checked out the location of Hopetoun House (impressive gates!) ...  Superb parking spot by the shore, looked fab for birdwatching :)   Wife kept quiet as he drove along the shore road through the middle of S Queensferry.  Was v busy due to the sunshine.  Hubby dislikes this!

First ever visit to Cramond!  A friend had recommended it and we weren't disappointed, although we…

Feeling pleased with myself!  Have found a way to upload the photos without having to burn them onto a cd first!  Truth be told, hubby discovered it but, semi-computer-literate that I am, I was delighted with myself that I managed to copy his lead! ;)  Is a bit longwinded - have to copy them to the desktop then delete them from there after uploading them!  If anyone knows of an easier way to do this on a MacBook, I'd be delighted to know! :)

Met up with Kat this afternoon at Torry Bay :)  She gave me a lovely guided tour of the walk along to Crombie Point :)

The light was good at the start of the walk, with some interesting cloud formations :)  I took a couple of pics; will be interesting to see if they are any good.  It was lovely to see and hear the seabirds and various countryside/garden birds in the adjacent trees, etc.  Also the numerous narcissi and quite a few snowdrops :)  Some wild flowers too :)  This is now…

I stumbled onto here whilst researching Valleyfield Woodland Park by Culross, where we walked for the first time last weekend and so enjoyed the carpets of snowdrops :)  I very much appreciated being able to see Kat's many photos of the wood, taken in different seasons, and showing its main features.  

It was a dull afternoon when we visited so it was lovely to see the valley in sunshine, and in spring when the beautiful beech trees were once more in leaf :)  

Walk by Loch…

   What a weekend Mike and I had. To start with  Abbie our grandaughter, who is 10and 1/2 please do not

    forget the 1/2 it seems to be important for some reason.LOL! Anyway she arrived Friday night her dad brought

   her after tea. Big brother in toil, so after tea,juice and bisc and some time later we settled  down for the evening.

  The plan was for Abbie to stay for one night, but we  went out for a walk on Saturday, it was lovely sunny day

  but very very…

      Mike my lovely hubby, had  a hospital  appointment today, he has a heart problem, we have  been

     concerned regarding this, and have been putting our live on hold. But we  got good new today as the

    Dr said no need  not to  do as we would like within reason, Dr said they will be keeping 6 months checks.

     The fact we have been going swimming as often as pos has helpt a great deal, and to keep active not

    too harshly is ok. So needless to say we…

       Went to our art studio, when I say our, it is really a self help  group,

       there is about 25 of us attened, it is available three day per week,

       we go one day each week. I should also say hubby paints, his painting are mostly

     of building.At the moment he is in…

A facebook campaign has given rise to fresh rumours that one of Edinburgh's finest unsigned rock bands may be planning a massive come back almost six years after they disbanded.  Corca, an indie rock outfit was operated by six people, including Scottish folk singer-songwriter, Owen as their keyboard player.  There has not yet been any official confirmation from the band or management but tantalising teasers, which suggests that there may be news regarding the future of the band in due…