This blog is titled Land of the Big Sky. I don't actually post that many pics of the sky but am forever looking up at it. This was taken the other day and I have never seen anything like these clouds before. Often there is similar but coloured dark grey and indicating rain falling. Still don't know how these developed or why.
Out at sea there are often some strange objects.
This is part of an oil rig being towed by the boat to its right.
This is a boat which services buoys and navigation marks.
A wee Lobster Boat returning to harbour.
Another beautiful day in the Broch (Fraserburgh).
Putting one foot in front of the other. Each step was not without pain. But.....
.......I walked the mile.
Being thankful my legs still work!
At last my exhibition is complete! The DP took the rest in this morning while he was doing the shopping.
The final two 20 x 20 cms canvases.
And the Harvest Mouse. (I cannot find a photo of the finished painting. DOH.) Plus some for the browser. Sigh of relief that it is now all up. The exhibition is on until the end of April.
I managed to wash my hair this morning. I also managed to shower the whole bathroom.... I use the shower head unlatched and bend forwards over the bath. It hurts. But I did it. For the rest of me, in the olden days - which I remember - it was a tin bath. In the even older days it was with a jug and a bowl. Which I do not remember. Its the latter theme I do at the moment.
After lunch it was time for the walk. Spitty rain, a bit of a breeze, and very overcast. Perfect for me. I managed the .59 of a mile walk.
There's me just turned to do the second half of the walk on the Path of Doom.
And here is the DP taking the photo.
Hardly any humans or dogs out walking so plenty seabirds.
The above shows two Lesser Back Backed Gulls. With three juvenile Great Black Backed gulls. The Lesser ones have just returned from I know not where as I have forgotten but they breed here and are not around in the winter.
Masses of Oystercatchers all posing for me to paint. I took loads of photo but I won't bore you.
Returned home to paint down the shed and view the garden birds. Here is a group of Tree Sparrows on the spray of Rambling Rector rose, just beginning to bud.
Also saw the rat. Know exactly where it lives. Reluctant to kill anything. So discussions ongoing as to how to get rid of it humanely. So far my best idea was to tip the water filled trugs under the wee shed where I think it lives and make it uncomfortable. But then it would presumably move to live under my shedudio. Which would make me uncomfortable. Any advice gratefully received.
I had a laugh tonight. While viewing to see if I had any new comments there were two from ANONYMOUS re a blog I did in 2011 !!!! Have they nothing better to do ? Needless to say I am not publishing.
Tomorrow is another day.
Woke this morning for a loo visit. My scream rattled the walls. I will not bore you with how I managed to get upright, suffice it to say I made it to the loo in time....
Total agony. Eventually after pain killers and moving very slowly, but moving, as that is what one is supposed to do, it became bearable.
This afternoon we decided to chance going to the Esplanade. With the DP promising to go round corners slowly so I, hanging on to the bit on the car door, which doesnt open it, did not wrench or stretch.
There was a lot of spray from the waves. But not much wind and not cold either.
Redshanks.
Oystercatchers.
And me.
Note the upright posture.
Walking really does help. We didn't go far. But I got back into the car and out of it at the other end much easier.
I am making no plans for tomorrow tho!
Awful weather today. Heavy rain and strong wind. No walk for me today.
I am feeling much better. Probably more a mental thing after seeing my GP yesterday. I am going longer between taking painkillers and am able to move much more without bad pain. Thank you for the lovely, supportive comments.
Weather forecast is much better tomorrow. So plan is I drive, with the DP as shotgun, and then walk. If I find it hurts then the DP can take over the driving, altho I feel bad at him having to come with me . He is off early in the morning to hopefully see a couple of rare birds which are not on Fraserburgh beach ! He will then be back in time for me to walk.
I spent the morning getting the rest of the exhibition stuff labelled, wrapped and packed ready for taking in. The afternoon I was painting.
A ram. I think this is my star sign? Aries.
I also tried out my new Pens on Botanic Paper. No pencil drawing first so pretty scary. You can't make a mistake as you can't erase.
In between painting I watched the birds.
A Coal Tit. Smallest of the three tits we have in our garden.
Catching the seed that falls from the feeders above.
Saw the rat again. I have now declared war.
While the DP went off into the wilds of Aberdeenshire for the third attempt at finding this Shrike bird.
Which you can see from the above it was third time lucky.
I remained at home. Not allowed to drive until I can apply the handbrake without screaming. I concentrated on finalising the last items for my exhibition. This consisted of varnishing two on canvas. Cellophane wrapping mounted originals for the browser - 6 I think. And of course painting another !
I then spent some time on taking photos of the garden birds for another set of paintings.
Collared Doves.
Blue Tit.
Robin.
And - a bloody rat.
Jessica from https://www.rustyduck.net you think you have problems!
My friend across the park (field) has offered to bring her two Jack Russells but I worry about Sith cat.
I had thought about playing my harmonica "All in the April Evening." Frequently... I am pretty good at that one. It certainly got rid of starlings in a loft of a house we once lived in.
Someone on the facebook page NE Scotland Wildlife said it didnt look long for this world anyway.
At least it isn't in or near the house.
Sleep well. Ha.
As I frequently tell my daughters, or indeed anyone who is down in the dumps, things never stay the same.
I phoned the Doctors at 8 a.m. and got through on the third try. Appointment with my own G.P. !! 3. 20.pm.
Yesterday I had received an email then today a telephone call.
I have been invited to be the Artist featured in a brand new magazine called 'Your Fraserburgh' being launched in April.
Set up by the newspaper company which does most of the daily newspapers in the North East of Scotland. Ours is called the Press and Journal and covers Aberdeenshire.
I spent the rest of the day sorting through photographs of my paintings to narrow it down to 8 for them to reproduce.
The magazine will be free and 8000 will be printed.
Whooooooooooooooooo.
So off to see my lovely doctor. I have one cracked vertebrae and two compressed. I will have to go for a scan for Osteoporosis. But the Orthopaedic Consultant did not think it was bad. It will heal. Just do things and stop when it hurts. Take the pain killers when needed.
What a breath of fresh air to have a list of questions and have them all answered with straight forwardness and humour. When you need the answers now not in three weeks time by which time one would be out of it mentally - totally.
The appointment offered for the end of March was based on the comment by the Consultant as 'non urgent'. Which was interpreted by the clerical staff as she doesnt need to be seen. But she did - hence the list of questions. Do they cease to be human beings these clerical staff?
Ah well.
And theres more. One of my framed paintings has been sold at the exhibition of my work!
Part of my exhibition.
But no bungee jumping.
The DP had his hearing test today. As was expected he is joining me and having hearing aids. So we will not be fighting over the volume control on the t.v. any more !
After that we went to the Esplanade for a walk.
A beautiful day with little wind. Although the sea said otherwise.
Whoops.
At the other end of the beach -
Redshanks.
The tide was going out.
On our return home it was down to the shed and painting. In between I watched the birds feeding. Thrilled to bits to see the Greenfinch have returned. They are susceptible to some
avian disease and I was concerned we had lost them all.
This morning I cancelled my hair appointment. I have no idea whether leaning back into a sink at the hair dressers is a no no. Nor do I know whether I should drive or not. Walk or not. How long I should take the pain killers before I become addicted. etc. etc.
So I decided to phone the doctors. Having heard nothing from them.
Apparently a letter had been sent to me on Monday ? The first appointment with the doctor who referred me for the x ray 23rd March. Really.......... I can however phone at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning and see if there is anything. If not I can have a telephone appointment when my GP will phone me at 4.55 p.m. tomorrow. So I booked that but was also told to phone at 8 a.m. to see if there were any appointment face to face. I will try for that and get continuous engaged and then be told all appointments gone no doubt.
A friend advised me to cry on the phone. I did cry - after I switched the phone off.
Sith cat with the DP. Glaring at me. How do you explain to a cat you can't pick him up. Or perhaps I can - but I don't know whether I can or not....
