Latest from Innellan, Scotland . Overlooking the Clyde

It’s pleasing to see the sun out. Lifts your spirit.

View towards Dunoon as l walk in for my eye test. Fortunately l am still capable of walking miles on a regular basis, even though the need for the eye test is due to the renewal of my driving licence. Needed to prove that l was fit enough, but more importantly safe to drive a lorry or mini bus. Being elderly, a tag attached by the DVLA, l need a medical and eye test as l am nearing the 70 milestone. 

The eye test was an unusual experience, trying to read the proverbial mixture of letters whilst holding my breath under the mask to stop my glasses fogging up. Pleased to say that with the addition of non fogged glasses, my eyesight was excellent, well good enough to read a number plate at twenty paces.

After the eye drops, the fogging didn’t matter. My pupils were so large, l had to squint to stop the eyes burning under light. 

In a foggy watery mist l decided to catch the bus home, which was a whole new experience in these times of Covid. 

Yet the first hurdle was trying to read and then decipher the bus timetable. Good job, Judith was on hand at the other end of the mobile to give me, firstly the time, couldn’t  read my watch face, and then tell me how long l had to wait for the next bus. In fact, it gave me enough time to shuffle round Morrisons to buy, milk and eggs and a few more essentials. Thank god the items were easily recognisable, and not ones that needed the reading of labels. Payment could have caused a problem if we hadn’t progressed away from physical cash to the instantaneous swipe of plastic.

The bus was virtually empty, only three other travellers onboard, spread as far away from each other as humanly possible. 

The driver had the worst job due to a door malfunction. It just wouldn’t open. The driver had to go through an elaborate procedure. Exiting at the rear of the bus, stopping the engine using the external emergency stop button. Returning to his cab, waiting a few minutes, after which he restarted the system. The hydraulics kicked in and the door opened to allow the person to get off. 

I think l could have walked the four miles home in less time.

Took about six hours before my light tolerance normalised. But l lapped  up the caring attention l received from Judith. 

The following day l contacted the doctors surgery to arrange the medical, only to be informed that due to the pandemic, they would not carry these out until the autumn. My licence ends at the beginning of February. 

After a few moments of panic, and 20 minutes of searching the DVLA website, l read that the licence will be granted a reprieve for eleven months. Downside is that l will need to get another eye test done, as tests can’t be more than 30 days old. More eye drops and hours of fog.

 

Judith has been busy these last few days making curtains for our bedroom and also for the garden room, downstairs. Love the contrasting loose frill at the top. She is a clever bugger.

More Scottish photos, this time a Highland Cow in the snow. As you will see he has a runny nose, and not a handkerchief in sight.

So impressed with these Japanese milk loaves 

And quite easy to make.

And more importantly, moorish to eat. Go down to the previous post to see the recipe if you want to give it a try.

Still enjoying reading the NewYork times, especially at £1 a month. They have some great articles, without too much political bias. Plus unusual perspectives and insights into music, books, movies and activities to combat the overwhelming pressure of the pandemic. 

Recently they highlighted the best albums of 2020. 

Click to read, view and listen to some interesting pieces.Although a little too modern for me. But still interesting to listen to the selection of so called critics. The second ten seemed rather more palatable to my ear. 

Best Albums of 2020

Nevertheless, still prefer my music from the past, positive mood albums on YouTube Music, such as TumbleweedConnection, by Elton John or Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. You do get frustrating adverts from gambling companies, but it’s better than paying their monthly charges.

Give it try, it’s amazing what you can find, plenty of hidden gems from the past.

Elton https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=HEORrdw150w&feature=share

Queen https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=bSnlKl_PoQU&feature=share

As the weather becomes bitterly cold with scattered snow shows and icy conditions it’s nice to have warming hearty food. Tried this recipe today and it ticked all the boxes. Found the recipe on an American site, so the measurements are in cups, but that is fairly simple to overcome. 

Smoky Lentil Stew With Leeks and Potatoes

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups small lentils, such as Pardina or Puy (12 ounces), or use any size green or brown lentil
• 1 medium onion, halved, plus 2 bay leaves and 2 whole cloves
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced 3/4-inch thick
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 medium leeks, white and tender green parts, chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1 large thyme or rosemary sprig
• 2 tablespoons pimentón dulce or smoked sweet paprika
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne, or to taste
• Small pinch of saffron (about 12 strands), soaked in 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 cup chopped canned tomato with juice
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• Chopped parsley (optional)

PREPARATION

1. Rinse lentils. Put them in a heavy-bottomed pot and add 8 cups water. Pin a bay leaf to each onion half using a whole clove and add to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, add a large pinch of salt, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook with lid ajar for about 30 minutes, until soft. Turn off heat.
2. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to boil, and cook the potato slices until just done, about 10 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
3. Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is wavy, add leeks and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Let leeks cook briskly, stirring frequently until soft but still bright green, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn heat to medium, stir in chopped garlic, thyme, pimentón and cayenne.
4. Add saffron and soaking water, the chopped tomato and vinegar. Turn heat to high and let everything simmer for a few minutes. Pour contents of skillet into Dutch oven with lentils. Add the reserved potatoes.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook covered with lid ajar for about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cook for 10 more minutes. The lentils will be quite soft and the potatoes will start to break. Discard onion and thyme sprig.
6. Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley, if you wish.

It’s handy to have some fresh baked bread to dip up the sauce.

Street art - it’s amazing and inspiring 

The roads seem full of traffic, just as much as pre COVID. My mate Alan would suggest a cattle prod to sort them out. But let’s get positive 

On a lighter note

We like to think that Britain as a whole is supporting the brewers and distillers by stockpiling and consuming their favourite tipple. We are doing our bit.

Two great chefs from my era. Both have journeyed up-to the large kitchens in the sky. 

Why not go out for a walk in the park and just leave your rubbish on the floor for someone else to pick up.

Comments on Facebook amaze me, when people say that they pay council tax for refuse collection, so they need to do their job. Da.

Judith feels that l should have a go at making these, although she balked when l explain how much a plasma cutter costs. Would be a nice although expensive toy!

Find a saw mill that provides off cuts for wood burners. Unfortunately most people around here burn softwoods. One wonders if chimney fires are more prevalent due to this practice ?

Then again, they may clean their chimneys more frequently. Still prefer to burn hard wood, after all they give off more heat.

First restoration project looks good in the new garden room/games room/snug.

At long last, finished the flooring, although the poor quality made it very difficult to lay. As they say. You get what you pay for. Although any product should fulfill the basic standards of performance. Fortunately the company agreed and refunded the cost.

Glorious picture from a regular Scottish Tweeter.

Lost many good friends last year

But they won’t be forgotten 

Snow clouds overhead. Unfortunately not enough to produce a snowman or get the sledge out.

Slight sprinkling of snow on the balcony but it’s very, very cold. Just a pity we didn’t get enough to go tobogganing down the hill.

Snow melt and heavy rain running off the hills

Sunday morning, newspaper and tea in bed. Then it’s Tia Chi, followed by a shower, then fresh coffee and croissants with oodles of butter and jam. Such a treat.

Then down to finish painting the architrave of the new panelled corridor, cum tack room.

The colour is glorious. Just need to finish the painting, add the pictures and make the fishing rod holders.

Clouds looming in the North East

But the sun comes out and encourages us to get out for some fresh air, albeit wrapped up to protect from the minus conditions.

The views to the East and West show mountain tops covered in snow. 

Nothing seems to stop the prawn fishermen

Snow on the slopes of Aran

Sun are an appearance this afternoon, as we manage to get out for a four mile walk.

Hills in the East showing a light covering of snow.

It was great getting out, but it was even better getting back in front of the fire, watching Liverpool playing United with a bottle of red, courtesy of the efficient door to door service from Aldi. Covid safe.

Very impressed with their five star rated wines. Only downside is that they restrict the bargains to England, due to Scotland’s alcohol pricing policy.

The poisoned dwarf is such a spoil sport. 

Virtually finished the new corridor out to the garden on the ground floor. Just need to build the fishing rod stand and the new area will be complete. 

Just added paintings and Grannie Myland’s three needlepoints 

You can tell that winter is here. It gets dark early and the sun doesn’t come up till late morning in Scotland. 

So instead of rising at 6am, l wait till 7 then rush to make a tea, returning to the warmth and comfort of the quilt. Lazing around reading articles about everything other than the pandemic. Realise that these only make me stressed, which then leads to rants. Ultimately ending up with me being totally dismayed with the direction in which humanity is heading.

At this point l could go off on one, but instead l look to the future and read about places we can visit in the future, once this pandemic has been controlled. Realistically, l believe we will need to stay nearer at home initially. That’s not a hardship. There are masses of interesting destinations on our doorstep.

So it will be a stay at home vacation. These are a few things that l found that interest the natural side of me, the open spaces, wild life, history. The glorious natural earth in the U.K. 

Here are a few that l found.

Rye Harbour’s Discovery centre

The sheer expanse of Rye Harbour’s coastline – dotted with faded military outposts and Henry VIII’s crumbling Camber Castle – can make it seem desolate, but in fact, this 465-hectare nature reserve is among the most biodiverse places in Britain. Shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, marshes and reedbeds create habitats for more than 4,000 species, 300 of which are rare or endangered. To celebrate the reserve, the Wildlife Trust is opening a visitor centre at Rye Harbour in April. The low-lying building will have sustainably sourced sweet chestnut cladding to blend into the landscape and offer accessibility for all visitors. It will also have a cafe to increase its year-round appeal. 

• ryeharbourdiscoverycentre.org.uk

Wild on the Isle of Wight

White-tailed eagles have been reintroduced to the Isle of Wight. Photograph: Nick Edwards/Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation/Forestry England

The Isle of Wight’s coast and ancient woodlands are home to species rarely seen elsewhere in the UK. Glanville Fritillary butterflies, hazel dormice and red squirrels thrive, and a successful reintroduction in 2020 means 11 white-tailed sea eagles now soar overhead. Having earned biosphere reserve status in 2019, in 2020 the Wildlife Trust launched a Wilder 2030 vision for the island. By acquiring more sites for wildlife restoration, the Trust hopes to make nature recovery work for local people. The plan started in 2020 with the purchase of a run-down 40-hectare farm, Little Duxmore. Once restored, the site’s wetlands and downland will become a haven for wildlife and welcome visitors and volunteers. 

• hiwwt.org.uk

New tour operators embrace slow travel on home turf

The Deerstalker train, part of the Caledonian Sleeper, near Corrour, the UK’s most remote station. Photograph: Joe Dunckley/Alamy

Once tourism is possible again, flight-free adventures in (and near) the UK should be easier to arrange with some new tour operators. Byway hopes to champion lesser-known destinations by slow means. Founder Cat Jones’ favourite itineraries include a solo rail and ferry adventure around western Scotland, including stays in Corrour, the UK’s most remote railway station, and on the eco-minded island of Eigg. Wilderness Scotland has branched out to offer self-guided walking, driving and cycling tours across the border, working with Wilderness England. The more adventurous may be interested in Natural Britain, which promises to provide a carbon label for each trip and hopes to raise the bar when it comes to adrenaline-packed adventures close to home.

Community buyout and nature-based tourism

Members of the Langholm Initiative with local residents on Langholm Moor. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

In 2020, the former textile town of Langholm, in Dumfries and Galloway, proved that passionate communities can change a landscape’s history. In 2019, after grouse shooting was deemed economically unsustainable on Langholm Moor, the landowner, Lord Buccleuch, sought a quick sell. United by the cultural and natural significance of the moorland – which is a site of scientific interest – and backed by the likes of the John Muir Trust, the Langholm Initiative bought 2,000 hectares. The community will now create a new Tarras Valley nature reserve, which will restore the globally significant peatlands and ancient woodlands, and use nature-based tourism to provide local jobs.

• langholminitiative.org.uk; tours, when possible, at wildeskdale.co.uk

Finally, try dreaming of future places to visit. The NYT came up with a list of 52 spectacular places to visit.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/travel/places-to-visit-vacation.html?referringSource=articleShare