Honking geese caught my attention as I emerged from the house the other morning
Honking of geese caught my attention as I emerged from the house the other morning as hundreds screamed in a V formation across the sky. Heading North to breed in Russia.
Summer must be eventually arriving, although the temperature is struggling to get above 3°C. But it’s pleasant when the sun hits your back, and my greenhouse is managing to get up to 20°, which in turn is helping my seedlings to start sprouting.
Activity in the wooded part of our garden has also encountering a greater footfall. The red squirrels have emerged and are scurrying through the trees, butterflies and bumble bees are fluttering about. Ducks and a pair of heron have been availing themselves of the peaceful waters of one of my ponds. Hopefully they haven’t decimated my amphibian wild life. The frogs and newts of which we seem to have a glut.
My wildlife camera captured a Pine Marten weaving his way through the undergrowth along with the usual Roe deer. The deer head down off the hills each year and have their babies. It’s safe and protected. A glorious sight to behold when you see the minute baby struggling to manoeuvre on wobbly legs to get its milk from the mother.
Kilmarnock, Ayrshire
Staying at the Travelodge for a couple of nights on our way to Carlisle for our good friend, John Hannon’s funeral. Decided it would be good excuse to meander our way down through Ayrshire. Stopping off to visit the Burns Museum and gardens along with a circular walk on the Blue Bonnet path.
John and Pat had been great friends for many years. Initially met through Rotary in Carlisle. John was a director of John Lewis, and managing director of their dying and fabric printing factory at Cummersdale. We used to regularly head away for weekends up in Scotland, they playing golf, we walking. Meeting back up for dinner and cards in the evening. Most years they would rent a luxurious home on Annamarie Island in Florida for two or three months during the winter and we would normally stop off for a weeks R&R on our travels with Gwen in tow(Judith’s mum).
Pat passed some years back, and John had suffered with dementia for quite some time. Will be missed, but plenty of fond memories. Lots of fun and laughs along the way.
Anyway our overnight stay the Travel Lodge seemed to be the place to visit at weekends. The locals streamed into the car park, day and night. It was none stop. Not for the hotel l add. It was the location of the Iconic burger restaurant McDonalds. It seems that it is the place to visit to impress your loved one in this part of the world. Then again it could be that the new generation can’t abide with getting their hands dirty in the kitchen.
After a good nights sleep, the queue’s in to McDonalds didn’t penetrate the thick walls and double glazing, we headed off into Ayr. The start of the days walk.
The Blue Bonnet walk starts in Ayr Town Centre from outside the Tam o' Shanter Inn, named after one of Burns most famous poems.
It’s truly amazing how you swiftly escape the town and find yourself engulfed in the green tranquility of the Old Racecourse and the Belleisle Estate before meandering passed the golf course to Alloway's Auld Kirk and the famous Brig o' Doon before retuning passed Burns Cottage and eventually through the fascinating Cambusdoon Estate and Rozelle and ultimately along the sands back into town. Details on the Blue Bonnet walk
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The path downhill from the monument through the rest of the surrounding garden brings you to the Statue House, built in 1832 specifically to house a series of life-size sandstone statues of characters from Burns' work by the self-taught sculptor, James Thom. These remain on view today, and are every bit as lifelike and naturalistic. You can also listen to excerpts from the famous Tam o’Shanter poem whilst you marvel at the carvings.
Cambusdoon Estate and Rozelle Sculpture park.
Pity we didn’t have more time to take in all the sculptures and visit the gallery.
Technology. Each sculpture has a has a QR code that takes you to a recorded message from the artist. Seems that all the granite came from the harbour wall in Ayre when it was being demolished. Have a listen. His accent is glorious.
Tourist Tax
Seems that many cities are considering following Venice’s lead to charge tourists a daily tax. The Venice Access Fee is a new tourist tax that the city introduced on a trial. It applies only to visitors to the old city who aren't staying overnight, and costs €5 (£4.30) a day — a separate tourist tax is already applicable to overnight stays in the city.
In the UK , Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) could become the UK’s first seasonal tourist hotspot to introduce a local visitor charge. They are proposing, a charge of £2.40 to be added to a guest bill per room, per night, equating to roughly £10 over four nights. Manchester and Liverpool already charge a similar nightly tax.
It won’t be long before we follow in the footsteps of the America hotels and start charging resort fees, the most deceptive and unfair pricing practice in the hotel industry.
It can add up to $45 plus tax to your room bill. What is a resort fee.
The charge covers amenities and services that are normally included in the room rate, such as newspapers, in-room coffee, and use of the fitness center and pool. The only difference being, the hotel reaps the rewards, not the local government. Resort fee checker.
Rod Liddle’s piece in the Times sums up his views on the matter of managing tourist numbers.
They’ll miss us ghastly tourists when we’re gone
I first noticed it when I saw a photo of a “snarling, snaggletoothed, pink-haired Spanish harridan” in Tenerife, brandishing a placard that read: “Tourists go home.” Last year I took the family there, and now wish I had followed the rabid woman’s advice. “It’s an absolutely awful, seething place, almost as bad as Dubai.” The locals are “even more obnoxious than Greeks”, and we spent the whole time either with food poisoning or “knowingly contracting it”. Yet apparently it is we tourists who are the problem. What would old snaggletooth prefer? To go back to “catching the occasional sardine and herding goats for a living”? Tourism is the Canary Islands’ lifeblood: “they have nothing else whatsoever”.
This “vacuous opposition to tourism” is spreading, largely among a leftish younger generation who don’t understand how bad things were before we northern Europeans arrived with our “unbelievably vast amounts of money”. In Venice, locals “hate the Brits, Germans, Russkis and Yanks who come to gaze at their stinking canals” so much that they’ve introduced an entry fee for the city. It’s so self-defeating: all Venice has is “people who misguidedly wish to spend 100 quid on an ice cream while looking at some pleasant architecture”. But there is a tranche of the population in all developed countries that “resents almost everything” – like the Extinction Rebellion kids, who wish to tear down the economic system that provides them with “security, pointless degrees in resentment studies, cocaine and skinny lattes”. They will miss it when it’s gone
What we have been watching on the box.
Wisting chanel 4, scandi noir, Walter Presents
Crime drama series set in Norway. Series one sees William Wisting teaming up with the FBI in the coastal town of Larvik when they realise there is a serial killer on the loose who is possibly an American.
Like all good murder mysteries, the characters and their back stories tie everything together. Enjoyed the first series so much, sat through a further two series. All just as memorable. Well worth viewing. Feet curled up on the sofa. Glass of Highland Park malt whisky in hand.
Culture in Glasgow
Unusual find in one of the most depressing parts of Glasgow amongst the tenements, seedy back waters along side the river Clyde. If you look hard enough there are still amazing pieces of architecture and fantastic archeological finds to be discovered in the most unlikely places.
A visit to the Govan stones was totally mind blowing, enhanced by dedicated enthusiastic volunteers who had plenty of time to bring to life the Local history. Learnt about the Vikings taking over the Brittonic fortress at Dumbarton Rock. They used the area as a slave collection point prior to shipping them to Dublin. From all accounts the Viking fleet of 200 ships carried over Britons, Angles and Picts to be sold as slaves.
The Govan Stones, a unique collection of early medieval carved stones, which are now housed in the church. They once stood in the churchyard, where they commemorated the power and wealth of the royal dynasty of the Kingdom of Strathclyde.
Archaeologists believe the original entranceway to the churchyard lined up with an ancient processional path that connected the church and royal burial ground with the now-demolished Doomster Hill. This large, artificial mound once stood 100m east of the church and survived until the mid-1800s. It was used by the Kings of Strathclyde as a focus for royal ceremonies and public assemblies.
The Hogbacks are burial monuments that have a distinctive curved back reminiscent of the roof of a Viking longhouse. Some people think they represent houses for the dead.
Such 'hogbacks' stones are only found in areas of Britain where there was a Viking influence. They are common across much of northern England and southern Scotland and could be seen as the 'calling cards' of Viking settlers.
GOVAN
The kingdom was ruled from nearby Dumbarton Rock in the 6th-9th centuries AD. It was one of a group of realms in southern Scotland and northern England that spoke Old Welsh. This was the language spoken across much of Britain before the Romans arrived. In the early middle ages, it was still spoken across western Britain, from Cornwall to Clydeside.
By the 9th century, the kingdom was hemmed in by powerful neighbours. Standing between the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria to the south and the kingdoms of the Picts and the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata to the north, Strathclyde was a contested land. Finally, it was attacks by the Vikings that led to the first collapse of the kingdom. In AD 870 Dumbarton Rock was besieged for four months before falling.
This was not the end of the kingdom of Strathclyde. A new kingdom arose, centred on Govan and Partick. Near to the church a ceremonial meeting place is known to have stood at Doomster Hill. This flat-topped hill was destroyed by industrial expansion in the 19th century.
It was only in the 12th century, when King David founded a cathedral nearby at Glasgow, that Govan finally began to lose its political importance
The Govan sarcophagus is a finely carved monument depicting hunting scenes and mythical beasts. It is believed to have been made to hold the relics of St Constantine, to whom the church is dedicated.
Having exhausted our sense’s, with our brain in overload from all the dates and facts surrounding the various changes of power in Scotland we head out into Govan.
From the heavy incense filled church, full of tales of wealth and beauty we emerge back into the drab down at heel urban slums, which thousands call their home.
There are areas like this all over Britain. A mixture of working class families, immigrant new comers and high level of long term unemployment.
It’s a place where you need to keep your wits about you as you walk past busy pubs full of people trying to drown their sorrows. Especially if their local football team, Rangers has fallen to their rival Celtic. Ibrox home to Rangers is not far away. But that’s religion again, Protestant against Catholic.
It’s an area of antisocial behaviour, graffiti, litter and an abundance of heavy set, robust statement dogs. You could imagine people huddled together in a dark out of the way warehouse, gambling on the outcome of a brutal dog fight. Unfortunately it still happens. Statistics show that there are over thirty illegal meetings each month in the UK. Sickening.
Fortunately a bus arrives and we jump on board for the ten minute ride to the Premier Inn at Pacific Quay. Normally we would have walked, but we weren’t comfortable.
Checked into one of our favourite hotels on the Southside of Glasgow. Then out for a late lunch at the Horseshoe Bar. Well that was the idea. But soon found that the kitchen had closed early. But that’s another drama.
Photography
The shortlist for the 2024 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition has been announced. Nominated snaps include tins of tomatoes arranged on a checked tablecloth; a man clambering out of a wine-making tank after pressing some grapes; figurines arranged on marshmallow to make it look like snow; munching pilgrims at a Hindu festival in northern India; and a cake topped with figs and syrup. See all the contenders here.
Film on the big screen
THERE'S STILL TOMORROW
A FILM BY
PAOLA CORTELLESI
There's Still Tomorrow is a 2023 Italian black-and-white comedy drama film in neorealist style, directed by Paola Cortellesi in her directorial debut. Set in postwar 1940s Italy, it follows Delia breaking traditional family patterns and aspiring to a different future, after receiving a mysterious letter.
It is amazingly written, directed and acted. It's powerful, original and you NEED to watch it. It tells a dramatic story with bittersweet tones, keeping it extremely real and revolutionary.
Recipe
Found my sisters recipe for ginger beer recently, so will be giving it a try. Seems fairly straightforward. Although, who knows how it will turn out. Let you know, once it’s matured and ready to pour.
Root ginger 1 1/2 oz
Sugar 2pounds
Lemons 2
Tactic Acid 1/4 oz
Water 1 Gallon
Brewing yeast 1 tablespoon
Pare the rind thinly from the lemons, taking care to avoid the white pith.
Squeeze the lemons and put the juice and rind together in a polythene vessel.
Add the sugar and the well-bruised ginger, and cover with 1 gallon of boiling water.
Stir well, and when the liquid is just comfortably warm, add the yeast and the tartaric acid.
Cover and leave to ferment in a warm place for 24 hours.
Strain into sterilised beer or cider bottles and seal off with corks (not screw caps).
Ginger beer can be drunk immediately.
Having had a bad experience with elderflowers champagne bottles exploding, l would rather use plastic bottles. You can see if they are expanding under the pressure and unscrew the cap to allow some of the gas to escape. Previously l had purchased a dozen bottles with wired down stoppers from IKEA. All exploded in the cupboard. Hell of a mess.
Alternative Ginger plant starter method
The former journalist Tom Whitwell has published his much-shared 2023 list of “52 things I learned” this year. Top discoveries include the fact that there’s been a colony of 15,000 wild scorpions living in the walls of a dockyard in Kent for over two centuries; that the US defence department earns around $100m a year operating slot machines used by soldiers on their bases; and that fake bellybuttons are all the rage in China – apparently if you wear a high-waisted skirt and stick one on halfway up to your sternum, it makes your legs look longer.
Have chosen a selection that is most pertinent and applicable to myself.
See the full list here.
Don’t save up the good stuff (fancy wine, or china) for that rare occasion that will never happen; instead use them whenever you can. Have started drinking all the best wines in the cellar.
• The best gardening advice: find what you can grow well and grow lots and lots of it. Still experimenting. But mainly plants that can tolerate the high winds, wet and heavy clay earth.
• When shopping for anything physical (souvenirs, furniture, books, tools, shoes, equipment), ask yourself: where will this go? Don’t buy it unless there is a place it can live. Something may need to leave in order for something else to come in. Judith is on a regime at present to throw out all unwanted items. Think l am on the list
• You owe everyone a second chance, but not a third. Too right. And with vengeance.
• Where you live—what city, what country—has more impact on your well being than any other factor. Where you live is one of the few things in your life you can choose and change. Unfortunately the bank balance and immigration criteria doesn’t always allow this to happen.
• There should be at least one thing in your life you enjoy despite being no good at it. This is your play time, which will keep you young. Never apologize for it. Too proud to own up to anything, other than my singing.
• What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. To get the important stuff done, avoid the demands of the urgent. As you get older, everything becomes urgent.
• You have no obligation to like everyone, and you are free to intensely dislike a person. But you owe everyone—even those you dislike—basic respect. Common sense, do unto others and all that.
• There is a profound difference between thinking less of yourself (not useful), and thinking of yourself less (better). Still trying to get my head round this one.
• Best sleep aid: first, get really tired. Not a problem
• For small tasks the best way to get ready is to do it immediately. Would love to do this, but l am totally hooked on lists.
• If someone is calling you to alert you to fraud, nine out of ten times they are themselves the fraudster. Hang up. Call the source yourself if concerned. From all accounts it’s good to tell the people that you are aware it’s a scam. They then take you off their list.
• When you try to accomplish something difficult, surround yourself with friends. It seems to be the other way round, but l always have my best friend near me. Judith.
• If you are out of ideas, go for a walk. A good walk empties the mind—and then refills it with new stuff. Nothing is better than a good walk to inspire, enlighten and enable you to fully relax and unwind.
• The cheapest therapy is to spend time with people who make you laugh. Our door is always open.
• The more persistent you are, the more chances you get to be lucky. Great mantra for life itself.
• You’ll never meet a very successful pessimistic person. If you want to be remarkable, get better at being optimistic. Trying my hardest. Like think l am always half full not half empty.
• You can’t call it charity unless no one is watching. So right.
• Get good at being corrected without being offended. Depends how you are told.
• The week between Christmas and New Years was invented to give you the perfect time to sharpen your kitchen knives, vacuum your car, and tidy the folders on your desktop. Far better to head down to Southampton and jump on a cruise ship.
• There is no formula for success, but there are two formulas for failure: not trying and not persisting. Try, try and try again. Fail our isn’t a word to accept.
• The very best way to win a friend is to be one. I hope l am.
Finally You have to laugh
Judith’s new name for me. Think l will use the photo for my Facebook page. Put a few people off.
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