Rapid improvement

Today’s guest picture comes from my older son Tony and shows a view of Oban, where he was having a short break with his partner Marianne this last weekend.

We had another lovely day here today and I was in a much better state to enjoy it than I was yesterday.  Happily, most of the aches and pains have disappeared as swiftly as they had arrived and after breakfast, I was able to potter about doing some useful tasks in the garden.  I dug up a couple of rows of quite productive potatoes and shredded some of the obstinate decorative grass that takes an age to compost of you put it in untouched.

I took a few pictures too of course.

Yet another clematis has appeared.

My good humour was further bolstered by some excellent scones which Dropsocne brought round to go with a cup of coffee or two.

Mrs Tootlepedal had been at a church choir practice while we sipped and chatted and when she returned, she cast a weather eye out and decided to cycle to The Hub in Eskdalemuir for a cup of tea and a bacon butty.   I was not feeling quite confident enough about my own fitness to go with her so I waved her on her way.

This turned out to be a good decision because I was just getting organised to go out on a little ride of my own, when my watch alarm went off, reminding me that it was time to go and do my stint in the Information Hub on the High Street as the tourist office is now called.  I had completely forgotten about this.

I had time to set the tripod up and watch the birds for a moment or two before I went.

Two rapid exposures caught this chaffinch sticking on the brakes as it approached the feeder

Two separate exposures caught a siskin and sparrow manouevering for position

My afternoon at the Information Hub was not busy but also not entirely wasted as I was able to offer some information to a couple of tourists and I received visits from Ken, the data miner, and Sandy which both helped pass the time.

When I had locked up, I went off for a short walk with Sandy.  We drove to Whitshiels and walked up one of our favourite tracks.  I was hoping for fungus.

We found fungus.

We peered into the hidden world of insect life…

These are soldier beetles but I don’t know what the very tiny one at the bottom of the picture is.

We peered at plants…

And we peered at the fantastical world of lichens.

When we emerged from the woods, we were able to enjoy the view as ever….

…and among the grasses, we could see the tiny moths that fluttered about….

Hardly bigger than a stalk of grass

….and the much more visible stock pens….

…and once again, we marvelled at the three trees just beyond the pens.

These trees have the slenderest connection to the ground imaginable.  I always expect to find that they have upped sticks and walked away but they seem to thrive.  All three have only half a trunk and are completely hollow near the ground.

We didn’t have the time or energy to complete our usual circular walk and when we had enjoyed the sunshine and the views, we walked back down the track.

I got home just before Mrs Tootlepedal.  She returned from her 29 mile cycle ride in good order and in very good spirits.  She had chosen an excellent day for the outing with warm sunshine and light winds but the road to Eskdalemuir is hilly all the way and it is not a doddle by any means, even on a good day.  My admiration for her is unbounded.

In the evening, my flute pupil Luke came and considering that we have not met for a few weeks, he played very well.  I am looking forward to a productive autumn  with him.

After a nourishing fish cake for my tea, I went off to play trios with Mike and Isabel.  I didn’t take my flute as my hands are not entirely ache free and holding and playing the recorder is much less hard work than puffing away at a heavy flute.  As a result, I enjoyed the hour’s playing a great deal.  Because I make many less mistakes on the recorder than on the flute, I think the other two enjoyed themselves as well.

I am hoping to feel even better tomorrow and I have a cycle ride planned for the afternoon.

The flying bird of the day is a siskin.