Our summer seems to have vanished. But never mind, plenty to keep me occupied, although the constant rain makes it difficult to finish my greenhouse. At least it’s in use and the tomatoes are getting taller by the minute. All we need is fruit now. But they are sprouting, and some of the tomatoes have become quite large. Some being two. Yet they are all green. So l am feeding them on a weekly basis, watering when they get dry. I’m even leaving my banana skins close by so that the ethylene gas can assist them to ripen. Just hope we have enough heat to bring on the process before winter sets in. A high of 17 and a low of 12 tomorrow.
A friend asked for my breakfast rice pudding recipe, so decided to share it with everyone. Rather decadent, but it’s a nice way to start the day. A little pot of joy.
My breakfast Rice Pudding
- ½ cups cold water
- 1 cup uncooked risotto rice
- between 2 - 3 cups full fat milk milk
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour rice into a thick bottomed saucepan a add the water and the sugar, bring to the boil and add the butter and a little milk. Turn the flame down low.
- Then add the milk a little at a time, allowing the rice to absorb the milk each time.
- Continue to do this until you have a creamy consistency. You might not need all the milk, then again you may need more. It all depends on the quality of the rice.I prefer to still have a little bite in the rice, but that’s a personal thing. Then add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Once you have tasted, allow to cool before splitting into containers in portion sizes. It’s fine for up to four days in the fridge, but can also freeze.
- Once defrosted, add a little of milk, yoghurt or even cream to loosen it up. Eat cold or heat it up in the microwave. Great topped with berries and a little yoghurt, or honey. Can also sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon.
- For breakfast, I use little glass jars, the ones that they sell the French yoghurt in. I drizzle some of the juice from the berries that have been soaking overnight in a little sugar. Then l carefully add the rice pudding mix that l have loosened up with milk. Filling 2/3rds of the way up. Top with some yoghurt, a little runny honey and the berries with a little more berry juice. Enjoy.
Excuse the photo of a scantily dressed attractive women. It’s Kim Kardashian. The American media personality, socialite, businesswoman, model and actress in her body hugging Skims Bodysuit. As if she needs to pull and tuck any excess body fat into this shape. But more importantly it seems that not only do these body hugging outfits keep you in shape, it’s also the latest in body armour that can save your life.
A 22-year-old TikToker recently attested that she was hit four times during a mass shooting in Missouri on New Year’s Day – but her Skims bodysuit was so tight “that it literally kept me from bleeding out”. “If this doesn’t land you a Skims sponsorship,” one user commented, “I don’t know what will.”
Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course At Holy Loch
An assortment of crafts, kayaks, paddle boards, canoe
A world without a bit of mischief, risk or drama is so dull!
If there's too much sensibleness, life loses some of its colour and thrill. Agree totally.
Perhaps that’s why l like my Kayaking, although recently our Friday evenings have been rather lively. Winds up to force 8. So many sessions have had to be cancelled. And when we have got out the kayaks seem to have a life of their own. Challenging to say the least.
Nevertheless we did manage to move our full day Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course from Toward to the relative shelter of Holy Loch.
Yet the weather was none stop rain. But at least the hills protected us from the Southerly gales, so the water was flat calm.
In the end it didn’t matter about the rain, as most of the time was spent in the water, either being saved or saving someone else from their capsized boat.
Had anticipated getting wet, so borrowed a second hand dry suite. Only problem being it allowed water to trickle in, but it wasn’t long before the leg with a sealed boot ballooned with cold water. Three of the five seals had perished and let in water. Good job we kept busy, the exertion kept me relatively warm.
So much for rising ocean temperatures to record highs of 21°C . And last week the water temperatures off the coast of Florida reached 38C. Unfortunately it hasn’t reached our Scottish waters for todays immersion. We are lucky to reach 14°C. In fact it’s often only between 10°C and 12°C and feels a hell of a lot colder.
It was a great day, learning some fantastic and helpful techniques, all totally necessary when out on the water. Especially considering that over 100 people die in kayaking each year, these being mainly males, venturing out on the waters by themselves. Reaffirms the need to learn and understand the proper safety measure to be on the water.
Realistically, l can’t see me venturing out by myself. Rather be in a group, with experts around in case of an emergency. Gives you peace of mind. The course also highlighted the need for proper gear. So if, or when l buy a drysuite, will definitely make sure all the seals are replaced and in good working order. A key point, cold water quickly causes fatigue, which turns into hypothermia. Turning a little dip in the water into a serious life threatening situation.
Drysuite already to be repaired.
As it turned out managed to buy the second hand drysuite from one of the instructors. Presently in the throws of purchasing a full set of seals, neck, cuffs and feet. After which l will be learning a new skill. Removing and replacing the latex gaskets. A necessity as from all accounts they do need to be changed on a fairly regular basis.
Also a new pair of wet shoes. Lost one of mine in the final exercise of the day.
We had been trained how to right and empty various crafts, canoes, kayaks of all sorts. Assist people to get back in, help injured people and get them to safety. And more importantly get back into our craft without assistance. But the final scenario was different. What if everyone in the group suddenly ended in the water at the same time.
We were taken out into the centre of the Loch, and everyone had to capsize. (At which point, one of my shoes fell off and sank into oblivion.) But our coach calmly explained what needed to happen. Work as a team to right and empty one kayak. Then assist the person to get back in. Then it was a simple assist exercise. All six were back in their craft within under two minutes. Initially a daunting exercise was broken down into simple stages. Magnificent. Felt really chuffed. Just need to keep practicing all that we had been taught so it becomes second nature.
Returning to climate change, or as some say it’s only a normal cyclical cycle of events.
Despite the UK’s well-established reputation for rainfall, says The Guardian, parts of the country are bone-dry. South-east England gets about as much rain as Lebanon or Kenya, and less than Sydney. London gets less rain on average every year than all eight of Australia’s state capitals.
The Duke of Edinburgh apparently had one key bit of advice: before standing to address the audience, remember “ABC-XYZ”, short for “Always be cheerful – and examine your zip.”
A super clip from the movie The Newsroom. Has a little more content than most politicians use when answering a question. Well worth watching. Some surprising twists. Click on the highlighted text to watch.
Sun setting as l finish kayaking at Toward
Home on the prairie. What a gorgeous photo. You could imagine the back story, what the house had witnessed throughout its lifetime. The first settlers, trying to make a living in a brand new world.
Wonderful mountains in the background. You can let your imagination just run away with itself.
Scotland is lush. It has the weather to make it so.
Looking back up to the house from the wilderness garden. Old rotten stump with blackberries growing over the fallen root system of a wind felled oak tree. Ferns sprouting through the undergrowth. And a Gunnera growing into an enormous canopy. Teaming with wildlife. My idea of heaven.
Wild flowers in abundance. This one with an eager bee hunting for nectar.
What started as a small cutting has grown into a magnificent specimen
Old gnarled tree trunks have started to take on a new life
Stones collected from around the garden have been used to build seats. A perfect place to sit and watch the bees, birds and abundance of butterflies.
Freshly cut Rill transferring the overflow from the top pond down to the new small pond down the hill. When l have some time l will line the sides and base with the old roof tiles. Perhaps widen it slightly and add a sluice gate to allow the water level in the rill to rise. Will give extra areas for the frogs and toads to lay more eggs.
Initially we stacked all the logs from the fallen trees to use on the log burner. In the end we left them out to decompose, adding more nutrient into the land whilst providing homes for the wee mammals and insects
Dark clouds looming.
I won’t complain when the odd midge starts to bite in the future after seeing this photo. Although if you did this whilst camping in Argyll during midge season, l would image it could be far worse. The Scottish black mist devours everything that stands still. Did you know they even produce a midge map of Scotland these days, just so you know where to avoid. https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/
A beautiful bullfinch decided to take up residence in our garden this summer. Very honoured. Superb looking bird. Kept visiting our top deck looking for insects caught in the plethora of spiders webs festooned between the plants. Especially those next to the glazing. Perfect viewing position.
Plenty of sloe worms breeding in the wilderness garden. Normally only see them when you are moving stones. Quickly replace and leave them be. But they are prolific at present. Many with young only a few inches long.
Staying younger according to Spanish research
New research into “superagers” – anyone aged 70 to 85 who still enjoys the cognitive abilities of someone around 25 years younger – has found that alongside keeping active and being richer, two of the best things you can do are play music and get a divorce. While the Spanish brain boffins responsible for the study theorised that music practice may constitute a kind of cognitive workout, they were stumped on the benefits of being separated.
Believe it may be better for the wallet and mind not to separate and try to exercise together. Keeping both body and mind young .
Have added a few well tried and tested exercise's for all ages.
“As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.”
Norman Wisdom
If you want to stay young, suggest you listen to the latest Michael Mosley podcast. Possibly preaching to the converted, but it’s great to have it confirmed.
Click on the link below to listen
On a lighter note. During the hot summer, tourists flock to Sam's Sunflowers, southwest of London, to take part in a quintessential British summer activity: flower picking.
But some are getting naked and posting images on social media. The farm has resorted to planting signs and turned to social media to try and curb the urge.
You won’t find any sunflowers in our garden, or nudes. But there is always plenty of wildlife.
At the bottom of our wilderness garden, the secret camera catches a glimpse of the deer with its new born
Camera catchers something a little older. But quite sprightly considering.
Have to resort to a wood fire on the top deck. Not sure if summer arrived in earnest up in the highlands.
Keep waiting for the sun to shine so we can utilise our outdoor kitchen and bbq.
Two heritage tomatoes. Will be interesting to see and taste the difference. Hopefully harvest the seeds for next year.
Judith’s chillies are filling up her freezer. Hopefully she won’t go over the top whilst cooking up a spicy meal.
Top pond overgrown before a fairly drastic trimming back
New rill feeding the small pond. Waiting to see if it proves productive. Hopefully a few frogs and newt’s along with dragon and Damsel flies.
We had a lovely couple stay with us earlier this year. They were up to film a wedding at Mount Stuart on Bute. A fairly new venture. Jessie sent me a link to their production. It was nothing at all like l imagined. I have been bored rigid by many wedding videos. But this offering is simply magnificent. I watched it all the way through and was totally mesmerised. And l didn’t know the family or anyone attending.
A truly professional production. So if you are organising a wedding or gathering, or have friends who are. Get them to look at the production. The couple deserve to do well. They put a lot of time and effort into the production and editing.
https://youtu.be/FAOd2p9d094
I am now positive, the world is going completely mad. A man has paid $14,000 for a hyper-realistic Border Collie costume. Footage of the dressed-up doggy taking his first walk in public has racked up 2.8 million views on YouTube. “I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside,” says Toco, the man – or dog – in question. “I fulfilled that dream.” Watch more of his animalistic antics here.
It’s sad. Is this the meaning of freedom in the modern world.
Nearer to home we have doctors who are striking, demanding a 35% pay rise even though the rest of the public sector is being given about 6%. Totally irresponsible in my view.
The young doctors always argue that they deserve the pay increase because of their commitment to patients - “if they are not there, people suffer or die”. Do they realise that when they are on strike people suffer and die. “Cancer UK says 40,000 cancer patients have experienced potentially deadly postponements to treatment.”
There must be a better way through this. The medical profession used to be a vocation not just a job.
After weeks of rain, the summer is returning, or so the BBC says.
For once they get it right. Up to a point. It’s dry and warm, but the sun is taking its time to appear. Nevertheless we head across the water to Gourock. Then walk into Greenock.
The smell of the sea (in fact it’s seaweed that we actually smell) is amazing and invigorating. After being imprisoned in our home for weeks whilst the wind and rain battered us into submission, it was glorious to get out into the fresh air and stretch our legs.
Stop off at our usual coffee shop for a flat white. Delicious. But what amazed me was this machine, not small l add. It dominated the space next to the traditional Italian coffee espresso that produced an assortment of images on top of the coffee. Unbelievable. The businessman in me wondered if it paid for itself. Would you pay more for a cup of coffee because it had an image on it. Put a smile on our faces.
New crochet work along the promenade. Fascinating.
Loved how they portrayed the water spout.
Unusual street art in the centre of Greenock. Mermaid breastfeeding her newborn. Bit fishy.
The two Gunnera are just loving their location with their feet constantly in water.
Tidy up the large pond, cut back lots of the overflowing foliage and remove many of the flag iris that seem to take over every year.
Plenty of life in the pond, especially baby newts.
The acer has really started to grow into a lovely tree. The shape and colour is amazing, considering it was dormant for many years. Must love its new position.
The cloud tree which we made from training a box hedge is looking superb. Well worth the effort, although it’s about to be overshadowed by the fir tree. Will have to top and trim to keep in under control.
Decimated Kale
Our garden vegetables and salads have been quite productive, although mainly for the slugs that seem to be devouring all our pak Choi and kale plugs that l had nurtured from seed for weeks. Have tried everything, pellets ( don’t like using these as they poison birds, but l do cover them with a slate)beer trays, even putting the plugs into raised beds. But the army of intrepid shell-less terrestrial Gastropoda mollusc seem to have pure cunning on their side. More importantly a swift breeding programme that can replenish the hundreds that commit hari kari in my beer traps every night. Next year l will invest in Nematodes, especially as you can purchase them via Amazon. These are watered into the beds and multiply in the soil. They work by entering the invertebrate's body and releasing bacteria. This results in an infection causing the death of the invertebrate, the nematodes then feed and multiply on the decomposing body. Yuk.
To be honest, in the past the frogs have kept the big black buggers under control, but the frog population has been devastated by climate breakdown, which caused the ponds that they breed in to dry up. Even in Scotland we suffered water shortages during the breeding season. The times are a changing.
Verbena is attracting all manner of bees. Just sit back with a coffee and take in their none stop activity. Along with masses of butterflies.
There is always something to see whilst walking through the wild garden. This Golden Ringed Dragonfly is amazing, measuring at least 6 inches long.
We have a plethora of dragonflies and damselflies over our main pond. Red little devils, hovering , then shooting after one another. Think they are red darters, but can’t be sure. Just so wonderful to see such life in abundance.
Judith has a few solar lights on the upper deck. It’s only at this time of year that you can see them. Earlier in the year, it doesn’t get dark until very late, if at all. Soon it will be dark around 5pm and not getting light until 10am.
The sky had really strange highlights. Presume it’s clouds reflecting the setting sun.
Lots of marine traffic heading up and down the Clyde, especially cruise ships. Including Celebrity Silhouette, Mein Schiff, MSC, Royal Caribbean, Spitsbergen, L’Austral, Regal Princess, Norwegian Dawn, Le Dumont D’Urville, Seabourn Venture, Costa Favolosa, World Traveller, Silver Moon, Britannia, Queen Victoria , Celebrity Apex, Azamara Pursuit, Carnival Pride, Holland and America, Disney Dream to name just a few. It seems that we are hosting a cruise ship virtually every day of the week.
Then we have all the navel vessels, submarines, minesweepers, submarine hunters, coastal protection vessels and all the usual container vessels.
Always something to see.
But watching all these ships heading out to sea, makes me feel that l am missing out. Totally jealous. Love sailing on a ship, not just any ship though.
Need to have all our wants & needs covered, provided for. Good food, plenty of choice, entertainment, great speakers and plenty of outdoor space for exercising. Need to stretch my legs. Not too concerned with ports of call if the ship ticks all the others boxes. Won’t be long now before we head off on a Norwegian ship around Ireland.
Nuclear submarine heading back to base with its close security vessels near by.
Carnival Pride heading towards Glasgow. Surprised that Carnival have decided to run party ships around the U.K. Everything is geared up for outside activities. Scotland isn’t renowned for its tropical weather. Especially this year. Four weeks of sun during June, then constant rain through July and the first part of August.
TS ROYALIST is the Sea Cadets flagship, a training brig that takes twenty-four cadets to sea for six day voyages. Exciting stuff.
Small submarine heading out for exercises
Celebrity Apex. We keep trying to get back onto Celebrity, but they are just not visiting the places we want to go. Plus, their prices are quite high, as they seem to always include, all you can drink. No benefit to us. At our loyalty level, we already get free drinks, so there isn’t any real incentive.
Love my coffee, especially strong Nespresso. But it’s difficult to get through the volume within the Best before Buy dates. The last 100 pods were well past their best by dates. Not that anything had deteriorated. They were gorgeous. Strong, full of flavour. Just as l like them.
But it’s now nearing the end of August, so we will be away soon. So silly to buy another 1000 pods.
So we are into the espresso machine that Alan gave us. The old fashioned Italian system. Must say it’s great but the coffee isn’t cheap. In fact it’s expensive. But so what. Life is worth living. Cheaper in France. Will have to ask our French friends to bring us a supply over when they visit.
Coffee prices will skyrocket as demand increases and supply diminishes so the FT forecasts.
Demand keeps increasing, thanks to the growing middle class in Asia and Africa who see the drink as a status symbol. But warming temperatures mean that “up to half of current coffee farmland could soon be unusable”. Turning what used to be a staple beverage into a luxury item.
Didn’t find time to visit the Fringe in Edinburgh, but the Top 10 jokes are worth a glance.
I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah - Lorna Rose Treen
The most British thing I've ever heard? A lady who said 'Well I'm sorry, but I don't apologise.' - Liz Guterbock
Last year I had a great joke about inflation. But it's hardly worth it now - Amos Gill
When women gossip we get called bitchy; but when men do it's called a podcast - Sikisa
I thought I'd start off with a joke about The Titanic - just to break the ice - Masai Graham
How do coeliac Germans greet each other? Gluten tag - Frank Lavender
My friend got locked in a coffee place overnight. Now he only ever goes into Starbucks, not the rivals. He's Costa-phobic - Roger Swift
I entered the 'How not to surrender' competition and I won hands down - Bennett Arron
Nationwide must have looked pretty silly when they opened their first branch - William Stone
My grandma describes herself as being in her "twilight years" which I love because they're great films - Daniel Foxx
Nights are drawing in. View over to Wemyss Bay, with the lights of Largs to the right. Can’t miss my new shed/greenhouse taking centre stage. Just finished building a large raised bed and water butt
in the front.
Spent a couple of days in Glasgow. Had one of the nicest Sunday lunches at the Carinthian in Merchant City. My roast beef was delicious, cooked rare, full of flavour and melted in your mouth. Served with a giant Yorkshire pud and cubed root vegetables. Wonderful roast potatoes and a proper gravy, not out of a packet. Judith had mouth watering roast chicken with all the trimmings.
Will definitely visit again.
The architecture was classic, the former city judiciary courts, it’s truly spectacular, a Victorian masterpiece. Very plush.
The following day more food. This time at Brewdog in merchant city for giant burgers, and the odd beer.
Wetherspoons for a drink before heading back to Innellan. The place is called the counting house, the old bank of Scotland building. A large spacious Victorian building designed in the Italian Renaissance style.
Always lively. And with the sun out, the outside area was just as busy with a few hundred people enjoying the unexpected warmth.
Just getting over the effects of our Yellow Fever vaccination. mild fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea, soreness at the injection site. Judith was worse than myself. And l felt like shit for four days.
We were warned not to have them, especially as we are over 60. In fact, if we had known that we required the vaccine prior to booking the cruise, we would have definitely not booked it. We have never required the precaution when visiting the Panama Canal. Perhaps there is a heightened risk. Who knows.
Phoned P&O and they said it was obligatory. We wouldn’t be allowed on board without the appropriate paperwork.
The nurse who administered the injection explained the following.
Vaccination in Those Older Than 60 Years of Age
If you are 60 years of age or older, you can receive yellow fever vaccine, but only if you are fit and well, understand the risks of vaccination and have a real risk of yellow fever virus at your destination (rather than requiring the vaccine just for certificate purposes). Sure that it’s the latter we’re P&O are concerned.
Rarely, serious complications occur after receiving the yellow fever vaccine. These are more common in those over 60 years of age. These include:
Yellow fever vaccine associated neurological disease (YEL-AND) is a condition affecting the brain and nervous system, causing symptoms such as confusion and problems with movement and co-ordination.
Yellow fever vaccine associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) is similar to yellow fever itself with multi organ failure and death in approximately 48% of cases. The risk of YEL-AVD is estimated as follows:
- over 60 years of age = 1.2 cases per 100,000 doses of vaccine administered
Fortunately, 14 days on, the majority of the symptoms have disappeared, just the odd headache. So we can now relax with the knowledge that we aren’t one of the 1.2 people in 100,000.
Looking forward to our January trip to the Caribbean and the one day in the Panama Canal.
A new initiative by the NHS is to offer blood pressure checks at barber’s shops, churches and other community hubs, in a bid to cut heart attacks in men is soon to be rolled out.
Largely due to lifestyle factors such as drinking and smoking, from all accounts men are twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as women.
When l lived in Carlisle, the Rotary club spent a day in the city centre taking blood pressure readings of shoppers. It was amazing how many people had to be urged to visit their doctors, due to dangerously high readings.
The exercise is a step in the right direction in protective medicine.
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