Where have I been???????

GOSH!! - I've just noticed that the last time I blogged was in October.  
What happened?   Well work got in the way.  
 
I know excuses - excuses and I had promised myself that I wouldn't let this happen.  

Note to self - must try harder!

I have almost completed the Christmas shopping so that must go in my favour a little bit and on that note here is a Christmas card to all and any of my readers.

PEACE AND JOY TO EVERYONE

Sexism and double standards challenged

I AM A FAN OF JULIA GILLARD THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER!

I watched the youtube video of her challenge to the opposition and this was a 'tour de force'.

It is an education of the highest standard delivered with great use of timing; clarity and effect.

A Turner like sunset

Yesterday was one of those glorious end of summer turning to autumn days that are lovely and crisp.   Often days like that have spectacular endings and I was fortunate to catch the sunset.

I took this photo not quite sure how it would turn out as sometimes the image captured doesn't do justice to what you're seeing.

Just sometimes I catch my breath...................

Rock Choir - autumn term has started

Another term has started with Rock Choir and the numbers have fairly grown since last summer.   Quite a number of new faces and a few have joined the altos section where I sit - I'm really a lower alto so do try to sit close to the bass section.   If I sit too close to the sopranos I try to sing higher than I ought or indeed can.

Songs this term - How deep is your love -  a Gibbs classic and Rolling in the Deep - Adele.   Looking forward to that one!   Something inside so strong - Labi Siffre; Anytime you need a friend - Mariah Carey; All over the world - Jeff Lynne.

Roll on Monday evenings!!

An anniversary of blogging

This month marks a year of blogging for me.   How time flies in anyway;  however when I started I wasn't sure if I could sustain an interest.

As it has turned out blogging has become an excellent way of keeping touch with friends; making new ones and gaining insights into others lives; loves; dislikes and just general doings.

What a world has opened up - I've also learned that sharing the odd rambling thought or opinion is rewarded in friends and other readers commenting and sharing theirs.

In a way blogging reminds me of one of those pictures where you look through into mirror upon mirror upon mirror.   The reflection slightly changing as you get deeper allowing you to notice something not seen before.

I hope to notice and share more as this year unfolds.

How to connect sewing to natural history....

Last weekend I spent time with my granddaughter and helped out with the summer childcare arrangements.   

Here are a few pictures of our play results:

after the bike ride I always treat Rebecca and we go to Costa - I had a coffee and she enjoyed a fruit cooler.  Rebecca then cycles back and enjoys counting the other cyclists she sees on her journey.   On this day it was very busy and we counted 32.

Rebecca painted my toes - and a week later they are still painted so not a bad job.

Jigsaws all completed by Rebecca with no help.

There is lots of lavendar in Rebeccas garden so we, well I really thought, it would be a good idea to make lavendar bags.   Rebecca's mum doesn't do much sewing so the next day we went into town on the bus to find a haberdashers.

We purchased some cotton, thread and sewing needles and made three lavendar bags which Rebbecca filled with lots of lavendar that we picked dodging bees who were collecting nectar to make honey.   Rebecca didn't mind them one bit and insisted on getting really close to see how they drank the nectar from the flower heads.  

Who would have thought sewing could connect to natural history - now you know!

Sorry no pictures as face painting was next on the play agenda.

  
Roll on the next visit.

I'd like to intorduce you to Jim.....

Some time last year I wrote about Cloch Road huts in Gourock likening them to the seaside version of the garden shed.   This is the link to that original post:

http://avoidthejellyfish.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/gourock-cloch-road-huts.html

Yesterday I walked from Wemyss Bay to Gourock and determined that if I saw anyone at the huts I would say hello.   How fortunate was I to meet Jim who was using his hut alongwith some friends who were busy preparing mackerel which they had caught earlier in the morning.

Keen to know some of the history of the huts it transpires that approval was given to local people to build these huts as a way of helping to improve peoples diets after the 1914-1918 Great War and into the 1920's.     The huts gave people access to fishing in the waters of the Clyde and if anything like todays catch was to go by it sounded like a good plan to me.

The huts are passed down between families and speaking to Jim this hut as been passed through his family since the 1920's.

Eager to catch a glimpse inside Jim invited me in and allowed me to take some photos which I share with you.

Let me give you my impressions before the photos.    From the outside there is a ramshackle look about all the huts and as I entered my first surprise was that it had electricity evidenced by the wiring and plug points - for some reason I didn't think there would be any and Jim pointed out the generator outside.

To the left of the entrance is a storage area for all the bits and pieces needed for fishing and what looked to me a whole host of other odd and ends which might come in useful some time.   Moving on into the hut I entered the living area which was done out with bench seating down each side of a lovely wood burning fire.   A real home from home.

On turning round towards the entrance I could see a small cooker; microwave and TV - all the comforts of home.

The bench seating with shoes warming by the heater.

All the comforts of home

The outside - now I must say on Jim's behalf that he is in the middle of removing this old red paint before sprucing the hut up again.

Thank you Jim for letting me browse round your escape from the hurly burly and long may you enjoy it.