Sunday 28 March 2021

The March of Time

Where does the time go? A year goes by and we're still playing a game of "Pandemic". I woke up the other day and thought to myself, "If you had a friend who would say anything to get attention, and as soon as one drama was over they moved on to the next one, if they constantly criticised and blamed people, would I want them for a friend? No I wouldn't. But that's what the News does and I listen to it every night. Then another strange window into the world is the world of "Social Media" and the opinions that sweep across that landscape. I try not to involve myself because it never gets you anywhere, just arguing with people who want a fight. I wouldn't mind a fight, but an honest old fashioned one with fists out. That's a lie. I've never had a fist fight in my life. Men are terrible at the moment anyway. If you're a man, you should have a word with yourself. 

The other day I ran up to the Castle again, ostensibly to try to take back my rather soft Strava CR on the way. I didn't get my CR back and I didn't enjoy the view. It was an awful lot like last March. I hate Edinburgh Castle and the forecourt and the views over Edinburgh. My eyes need to see Spanish things. It's a health condition. LOOK IT UP!!!






A friend of mine from school - Inga - said the other day that one of her children called Chaffinches "A chaffincher". Ever since then I've been singing to myself "I am the Chaffincher" Iggy Pop Style.


Peter and I went a nice run to South Queensferry the other week there. We took the car to Cramond just to see if it still worked and I was very relieved that it did. The brakes hadn't jammed on. The battery was still bright. It's having a dull pandemic too. The sun was shining bright, although it was breezy.





I saw my first and only butterfly this year.







We discovered a new way to go through the Dalmeny Estate. Well Peter found it on a map and suggested it and I didn't veto it. Quite often I veto any kind of exploration because it always ends up wading through weeds up to your armpits. See exhibit A below.

Exhibit A - damn I look mad in this picture.

Anyway, we went up a road that we normally just breeze past. There was a sign saying that the road was going to be closed from March 20th - June 20th and we just slipped through the day before. It was refreshing to be on a road we'd never seen before.














lockdown haircuts








It has been so sunny and spring-like. It was disappointing to cover some of the same ground yesterday and find it grey and cold and windy. We ran up the cycle path and dodged the people and the bikes. It was irritating. We were tired.



I think this is a barn owl.

I have no idea what this is.

We both got a dose of vaccine last week. I had no.2 Pfizer and Peter had no.1 Astra-Zeneca. I was more worried about him because he reacts to stuff some-times and there are allergies in the family - and he really tempts fate a lot. I needn't have worried though, he was fine. My arm was sore but not as sore as with the first one, and I think we were both a bit tired yesterday but when you put together the cold and the grey skies and being trapped in the city and working, it's hard to know how much of the pie you would apportion to having your genetic code monkeyed with, and how much is just old age and disenchantment. Talking of which, I better go and do the dishes, and think about tea, because it's Sunday night.









Wednesday 10 March 2021

The Rest of February

 

All the Best of February with 'Never let me Go' by Bill Evans


So once again, it's taken me a while to blog - but it's not about the quantity. It was a nice surprise to go through February's photos and see all the magical days out we had. Not that life is ever friction free - long days out plodding in the snow can be hard going, but still...well just look at all the lovely things!

Peter has been out a lot more than me. He's been unable to work under the strict lock-down rules, so he has taken to hanging around the cemetery taking pictures of birds every time the sun shines. There are worse ways to spend your time!
















I think this is a wee gold-crest

One of the worse ways you could spend your time is watching the news. I was going to write my own critique of the news and the horrible view of the world and other people it gives you but I can't be bothered. I don't want to give it the time. I've just remembered  a song by Bauhaus that expresses some of my frustration with it all although I've no idea what it's about really. Have you ever listened to this?


Enough Screaming Whores. February was more about snow, cute little robins, and I, for one, learned some new birds. I can now tell my tits apart. Well mostly. Also I know a nut-hatch when I see one, and a chaffinch, and the man and lady Stonechats. 















Yup, I'm not very sure what flavour this is. A Dunnock maybe?
























This snow gentleman was showing a clear enthusiasm for the Royals.









Lee Hutchison from club appeared one day when we were doing a perimeter of the park. It was a clear, cold day so absolutely stunning I could have yodelled.



















One day Peter persuaded me to put in the extra leg work to get all the way out to Cammo and back. It was a 16 mile trek in the snow and ice but when we arrived at the bird-feeding bough we were well rewarded.






Nothing here to see!






We returned through Inverleith Park and caught the sunset.







I've seen some impressive igloos.





My friend Paul McPhail