Not going anywhere - fast.

I have a tendency to forget my disability.  Until it involves me wanting to go somewhere. 

 Still fighting over getting the 'Blue Badge' so I cannot park near to places even though the whole ethos behind the scheme is for people with a disability to  retain their independence  -  I had to ask the Dawn Patroller to come with me to Gardenstown.

 As you can see its on a cliff side.  Which involves hills, and steps.

I was very flattered to be invited to exhibit at a gallery in the village as part of the 

 weekend long art extravaganza.  But how to get there?  Having to park at the bottom end of the village, push the wheeled chariot up hills to the top of this was just not on.

The DP dropped me off at the top of the steps and then drove the car to the bottom end of the village to park it.  Had I had a Blue Badge I could have parked much nearer and on my own.  Hey ho.

 I discovered the brakes worked very well on the chariot going down steps...  And eventually got down to where the bunting was.
 

 And into the gallery.

 Thats me in the corner, Gannets, Black Horse and behind the reflection a seal pup.

I then had to manage the rest of the steps down.

I should say that able bodied persons can park at the bottom of this and climb up.  Ha ha.
 
On the way home we had a not very nice lunch but a good mosey round a garden centre.  And I bought some plastic covered table cloth. a)to protect the tables I use in the shedudio and b) to brighten it up a bit..

The lovely DP has also cleaned  all the windows in the shedudio so  much brighter for me, as poor tree feller we had booked is ill.  So trees remain shading views and light.  The lovely DP has also promised to finish painting the interior of the shed which will further lighten it.
 

 Also a sign to hang on the wall.

And why not spend some pennies.  We have realised we aint going anywhere.  But here.

Fraserburgh Beach (Broch Beach).

The Dawn Patroller, recently, won a wee photographic competition.

For some time, on Facebook, there has been a page for Fraserburgh Photos through the Years.  Which is really very interesting.  Did you know that there were more bombs dropped on Fraserburgh than most places?  As this was the last bit before the Germans returned home so they jettisoned what they had left. 

But new photographs kept being put up.  

On the original page there were lots of comments about, "Ah - what the beach was like.....what the town was like.. " and so on, and as more recent photos crept in they DID NOT LIKE IT.

So alongside that page we now have New Fraserburgh Photos.  Which to be honest show just as much beauty, activity, etcetera as the old.  (Without reference to the war.)

Each month there is a heading, last month was Harbour and Beach.  The DP won the months competition with the above.  Which went somewhere to silencing the "We wont see the beach like that again."  (in the 50s.)  Well, no, different clothing but still plenty people.  Although I am told the vast majority of people using the beach are not from Fraserburgh.  But TOURISTS.  Which for some is a surprise.  Tourists?  Why would they come here?  How long have you got for me to tell you why?

The last weekend saw the Scottish Windfest Tour.  Kite Surfers Gathered, had competitions, (apart from there being no wind at all on day one!)

Fantastic fun.  On Fraserburgh Beach 2014.

If you cannot see the funny side....

.....Do not write about it.



Thanks to those who commented about my absence and good wishes.  I didnt publish the comments but they warmed my heart.

You now have me back ha ha.  I am fine.  

Very happy as I sold this painting.  Somewhat  mixed happiness as I really liked this one as it made me smile.  But hey ho.  And I did really want to smile recently.


Been a traumatic time here recently and there is no funny side.

Minerva McGonnagall Cat recovering from dislocated hip. Caused by stray interloper.

Cait Sith Cat who is wasting away.  Also attacked by stray interloper.  His abcess responded to treatment but his severe weight loss was not down to old age as we had hoped.

We thought we were losing them both.

So for once I could not see a funny side.  So I didnt write about it.

 

Not moving fast.

So far we have only had one viewing of our house.  Sadly although they were most complimentary it was 'not for them'.  One is hardly going to say "Your taste is appalling and you have a nerve asking that price."  Common courtesy prevails.

Equally sadly the house we were interested in has finally been sold after three years on the market.  Three Years!

With that in mind we have had to gird up our loins and for the DP power up the lawn mower big time.  A task he was hoping not to have to do again.  But boy does the grass grow.

As does everything else of course.  Including the trees.  

 The view from the shedudio where I sit to draw and paint I suddenly realised had become gloomy.

These two Poplar trees are the main culprits.  At around noon the sun is above the house on the left and then moves right during the afternoon when I do the art rubbish.  

 

The Cherry Trees to the right of the Poplars are now blocking out light from there and as the earth tilts will block the sunset.

We both love trees.  Indeed this was some cause for concern in moving to the coast as there arent many there.

So in came our friend the tree surgeon.

The Poplars are to be lowered drastically in the next few weeks.  We will have the wood chopped for our wood burner.  ( Still seem to be paying for the chopping and the wood .)
Advice has been given re the Cherry Trees.  Ornamental ones these are, the ones at the front of the house grow cherries, and thats another story when we race to beat the birds  - and lose.  So we have to wait til the leaves are off the ornamental ones then start to prune.  This will apparently take two years.

About right for a buyer to come along......

Highs and Lows of Lifeboats.

The North Sea.  The Sun and a golden beach.   Mix that with kids.

This was the moment that one of the crew, all volunteers, of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat went into the water to rescue a teenage girl.  She and others had been swimming in the sea.  They were at a part where tides, currents, all combine to prevent one from getting back to the shore, in a particular area.  Ignorant of this three of them nearly drowned.  One managed it back to shore, one had a rope thrown and the last the only way to save her was the volunteer lifeboat man going in for her.  All went to hospital with hypothermia and having ingested sea water.  All now well and came back to thank their rescuers.

Then of course there is the silly season.

Days after the dramatic event above.

 Fraserburgh Lifeboat was launched this afternoon after a report that a capsized boat had been spotted in the bay in the vicinity of Cairnbulg Beacon. They were stood down some time later when it was ascertained that it had been a false alarm with good intent and the crew returned to the lifeboat's temporary berth.

I have mentioned previously that at Cairnbulg there is a wreck, the Sovereign, been there since 1985.

 Photographed by the DP during the big storm.

Along comes a tourist who sees the wreck and contacts the Coastguard. (  If you dial 999 here you are asked, police, fire, ambulance, coastguard). 

There was apparently a three way conversation between lifeboat, coast guard and concerned tourist.  And although the lifeboat coxswain was sure it was the Sovereign the crew were all paged, dropped what they were doing/working and personned the lifeboat (there are women as well as men - hence my personned...) and zoomed off to have a look see.

Are not these volunteer Lifeboat persons magnificent.  

 
1915 Fraserburgh rescue
On the 8th August 1915 the lifeboat Lady Rothes made her first rescue. The first motorboat for Fraserburgh RNLI crew had been donated by a Titanic survivor’s father only 4 days earlier. Following a report that a submarine had been sighted near two ships some 15 miles off shore the lifeboat was launched and made a search of the area.
The lifeboat found the steamer SS Glenravel, and 14 crew on a boat nearby, who had been fired on by the submarine.  Bombs had been thrown on board, presumably to save torpedoes and shells. The 14 crew were all saved.

Next year, in August, we will have the RNLI exhibition celebrating the heroic actions of the volunteer lifeboat persons in World War 1.  The exhibition will be at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.  A great honour for us to celebrate the ongoing work of the RNLI in Fraserburgh.  There are many stories of heroism in the first world war.  Fraserburgh was chosen as one for the exhibition amongst others.  We are all very proud of being chosen and still continuing to save lives.

Art - Camera and Brush.

Allelulia.  Pleurisy banished.  Thanks to my GP who had prescribed antibiotics for me to have at home ready for it.  PLUS my pulmonary physio reckons the fact that all my efforts (listening to Abba doh) in exercising has increased my oxygen levels, decreased heart rate, and generally fitter all over meant I could fight the .... I will not swear.

So the enforced rest has been not unpleasant.  

Eral the Great Horned Owl number 2.  Her' horns' are flattened behind her head.

 

Bit of fun in betweenst the serious stuff.  A Friesian Coo .  When finished it should look as if it is looking through a window, or over a fence, havent decided yet.

 

And finally Whooper Swans coming in to land.  I have had quite a few goes at this from a photo by the Dawn Patroller.  Perhaps this time I will be happy with the end result!  Not there yet.

More on the arty front.  The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses has the wonderful photographs by Ian Cowe.  His aim in life is to photograph every lighthouse up here.  Only a few left which tend to be inaccessible unless you have either a boat, helicopter or parachute.  How the Stevensons managed to build the damn things is a fascinating story.

Rattray Head Lighthouse above.

Kinnaird below, when the light was lit for the Queens jubilee.
 

Exhibiting at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses for the next two months.

In September it is the North East Open Studios.  My Wednesday morning art group take over.

Better crack on with the paintings.

The Owl and the Pussy Cat Centre.

On Monday evening the Dawn Patroller was asked to go to the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses to photograph a very important visitor.

He took loads.  I am only showing you two.

Eral is a Great Horned Owl and appeared in the Harry Potter Films.   She delivered the letter to Harry in the first film.  Above is her outside the Lighthouse, on the roof of the castle, within which the Lighthouse was built.

This is another of Eral out on the balcony of the lighthouse.  She was being screamed at by Skurries (Herring Gulls) and is watching them intently.

On the 9th August there is to be an event at the lighthouse with Eral and friends as a huge fundraising event. The website is www.owlandpussycatcentre.co.uk.  You can get full information from there, perhaps one of the events on that day will be near you.

 They also have a facebook page.  

The owls and their handlers do a lot of work with people with mental health problems.

Here is Hedwig, from the website, not taken by the DP, although the website is now showing lots of his pictures of Eral.

I have been asked to paint a picture and donate it to be auctioned to raise funds.

So here is my first take on Eral.  (The 'frame' is just me playing about as to where I eventually want it to go.)

The next is on the drawing board. 

 I have had great fun and pleasure having a go at these paintings and there are more to come.

I have been able to sit and paint quite a lot as I have had a return of my old enemy pleurisy.  Fortunately my G.P. prescribed my antibiotics some weeks back so that I can have them ready for any such visitation.  It has made a big difference and although ill it is nothing like as bad as in the past.  But all the meetings and doings of this week I have still had to cancel.  So - plusses and minuses.

All I need now is one of their cats to paint!