I hitched a lift.

The DP decided I would be bouncing off the walls so he told me to get into his car.

To the Prom....

Despite severe weather warning there was not that much wind, tho there is now (9 p.m.)  It was bitterly cold but sunny.  I have so missed the vitamin sea.  So good for my sanity.

The Oystercatchers!  Welcoming me back.

Also a Redshank.  There were quite a lot of them on the beach today.

Ideally one is supposed to depict odd numbers in photograph or painting.  They were not accommodating today.

One is an odd number isnt it?

Blackheaded Gull being a ballerina. (The DP's photo.)

Also from the DP.  My new hat.  I cut the bobble off.

Back home and into the Shedudio.  Watched the sun set.

While we were out we were at Argos and collected a new tablet.  This being an Apple one which will not keep on disconnecting from the internet and does far better, sharper, clearer photos for me to paint from.  It could possibly January before I know what I am doing........It has taken me some time to click it into its case.

Oh and my car is back.  Great clatter from the door, that was the keys through the letter box, pitch black outside.  

So I will not have to hitch a lift tomorrow - yay.

Waiting.

Still no car.  Had I had the car I would have gone out as by lunch time the darkness and rain had disappeared.  And no frost today..

I got some exercise as it was Pulmonary Physio exercises which I am now faithfully doing every other day as that is now all I have to keep me going.

Not happy.  No car and nothing to say exactly when today it would be done.

The DP lit the stove, fed the birds, all ready for me to go down to the Shedudio.  So I did.  

Also I was expecting the chap who has been promising to show me shopping bags with my paintings on which I intended to be Christmas gifts.  He was also supposed to come yesterday and didn't.  He didn't come today either.  Now have steam coming out of ears.  So plan B for Christmas gifts.....  I try to shop local but plan B involves Germany. 

So this is the Lion begun.

Progressing.

I have enjoyed the painting today.  

As it got darker I watched the birds and the sky as night set in.

The sky beginning to darken.

Then a bit of pink .

Not much light now.  The birds are about ready to go and roost.

We did have a visitor after all.  A lovely friend from our tourism days.  He is still involved and he and his wife run the fantastic self catering cottages at Mill of Nethermill, which is by the village of Pennan, made famous in the film 'Local Hero', starring Burt Lancaster.  

Our friend's wife has a pottery - Millshore Pottery.  

Great to see him and he never fails to make me laugh.

A happy note to end the day.

The DP is away to his Photographic Society this evening and I am waiting for the message to say my car will be done by the morning.....

Wednesday witterings.

The DP took my car down the road to the garage which is across the field from our house.  So as I was without a car no Prom.

Bitterly cold again.  This is the front and side of the garden to the front.  Where the sun did hit the frost has nearly gone.

The DP stoked up the wood burner and I went down to the Shedudio.  

Began painting a lion.  No they don't live in Buchan but my Grandson has requested a painting of a lion.  Not sure he will like the one I am doing, so I may have to do a more normal one!  Will show you tomorrow as all progress ceased when my friend and fellow artist came to visit.  She can talk and paint at the same time, I cannot!  

Her partner came too as he was fixing some new inside walls in the living room wood burner.  He supplied and installed the stove in the Shedudio.  

My view out of the doors of the Shedudio.  At the rear of the house the sun does not get at this time of year, it is too low when it moves round to heat anything up.

3.30 p.m.

My friend departing to collect partner and go home.

I was behind her - obviously!

Sitting room windowsill Christmas fun - Santa and Reindeer.

My main achievement today was painting again.  Had a bit of a block with all that has been happening health wise and the other stresses e.g. the washing machine farce.

My car will be fixed tomorrow, not sure if that will give me time to get to the Prom.  Then Friday we have another storm tail end of on its way.  Hey ho.

Mixed bag.

Carer came to wash, moisturise and dress me.  She informed me she had reduced her driving speed to 40 mph (ye gods)  as it was icy......  The roads round and about are completely iced over.  No gritting has occurred.  Despite Aberdeenshire Council saying they were ready for the Winter.  And still hasnt.  Our garden is still frosted over where the sun dont hit.

When it was time for me to go to the Prom I discovered my car's heater fan had ceased to work so clearing the inside windscreen had to be done manually which I find difficult.  a) I cant reach and b) I havent got the wellie.  I shall be without a car tomorrow as its in the repair garage.  Bum.  I stopped 3 times on the way to make a pitiful effort but could just see.

Worth the effort.  Beautiful day.  No wind, never got above freezing.  I walked from one patch of sun to the next.  Then its lean on the railings and control breathing.

Vitamin Sea and Sanity booster.

Rather them than me.

Redshank.  Love them.

Fishing boat - Achieve- returning to the Harbour.

Back home battling with modern technology - again.  The tablet refusing to connect to the internet so I ended up not painting and came up from the Shedudio early.  

Ordered central heating oil.  Set up payment for the visa.  Tablet connected to the internet.  Googled why it wouldn't when I was down the shedudio..... things to try tomorrow.  Phoned the hospital.  I have an appointment with chest consultant next week.  She was fully booked but has offered to see me in her lunch break.  How wonderful is that!  I love our NHS. My problem was that the low dose antibiotic I was prescribed runs out on Christmas Day and I really need to know what happens next!

So to end the day a bit more Christmas Bling.  The banisters which flash!

Meandering on a Monday.

Monday.  Today I do not have to do anything.  No visitors.  Everything is working.  Exercises tomorrow not today.  Breathe.

Howling wind and light showers.  Which became heavy and turned into hail.

To the Prom.

I had to wait for the hail storm to stop.  Decided not to walk any further than the railings as if it started again I would not be able to run to the car would I.  Wish I could.

The sun is low in the sky when I go, about 1 p.m.  

The Gull Gang with lovely reflections.

So you have seen to the right of me, here is straight in front.

And slightly to the left.

The Brown Hare got his first coat of varnish.  I use watercolour in this case on canvas which has been prepared with ground.  To protect the watercolour it has to be varnished with watercolour varnish.  

Thought you might like to see these Bikers.  They are an amazing group of mature bikers, who raise funds.  At Christmas time they dress themselves up and their bikes and deliver £75 worth of vouchers to every child living in a childrens home.  Fraserburgh has two homes.  They go to other towns too. Sunday they were in Fraserburgh.

Amazing are they not!

Christmas Decorations begun.

Pulmonary physio exercises done - just a day late - so better than before.  Also washed my hair.  I am supposed to wait for personal carer to do it, but thats Tuesday.  I managed.

Bitterly cold today but no wind or rain.  

Beautiful.

Some of the Gull Gang.

Not many people out and about today.

Lobster Boat.

Tide on the way in.

The Boat is called Guide.  Bit bigger than our Pilot Boat.  So not sure what it does.

Sith cat sitting in front of the Christmas Tree.  Now with lights and some baubles.  The DP is in sole charge of the decorations.  When he goes out shopping tomorrow there may well be some tweaks.  His mantra is it does not have to be as it was last year and the year before.  Mine is well it will be so there!

Sorted and destressed!

This morning I messaged the joiner.  Explained the problem with two washing machines in the kitchen and apparently down to the laminate floor being fitted after the, now broken, washing machine was installed.  So could he come and look at how to remove the floor.  Said he would be here in half an hour and was.  Like a whirling dervish.  He chopped the feet off the old washing machine, got it out. No damage whatsoever to the laminate floor.  He and the DP got it out onto the drive.  
I was going to phone the council to take it away next week -  which we would have to pay for.  
The lovely joiner then came back in and fitted the new washing machine, refitted and adjusted the cabinet door, all done!

He left.  Ten minutes later the door bell went.  Our neighbour up the road, 1/2 a mile away, aged 74, said did we want the machine to go to the tip as he was going there.  Well yes.  Declined any help in putting it in his van.  And off!  Amazing.  How lovely people are.  

So a very happy woman went off to the Prom.

Very cold, sunny but not giving out any heat!  No wind.

Gull Gang.

Blackheaded Gulls abluting.

Fishing boats away out on the hunt.

The cyclist and the dog and the 4x4.  The 4x4 gets thrown into the sea and the dog brings it back.

When they leave the dog carries the 4x4 in its mouth.  Really is an amazing dog.  The man told me once the dog belongs to his girlfriend.  Well I know who the dog prefers!

A Rock Pipit.  Really pleased to get this photo.  These birds are so quick. Sit, fly off, sit somewhere else, focus, fly off.....

Well - this years Christmas Tree.  We always have a big, real tree.  This year, the shame of it, a small, real Christmas Tree.  But it will be planted outside once Christmas is over, if it hasn't curled up its roots.