Trying hard to chill out. I am exhausted from being so anxious about stuff. Silly.
I should start doing lists of things I have done instead of ones of things to do.....!
Prom. Tick.
Cold, windy and wet. Wet was not forecast.
Plenty birds.
A mixture of Blackheaded and Herring Gulls.
Lots of Redshank in various poses. A painting in mind here.
Redshank running!
Oystercatchers.
The only others on the Prom were, in the main, smaller than me.
Back home. Looking out on the gloom and rain and wind.
In the warm.
Making room.
To start painting.
And chill.
This morning I had the weird experience of 'seeing' my physiotherapist via the NHS Grampian video screen. I ditted in everything as instructed, checking connection, sound and vision.
Then I was asked to enter the waiting room...........So I pressed that one - and there was not a picture of rows of empty chairs. Huh.
But then Ross appeared..I told him I was pacing myself so as I was talking to him I was not doing the exercises! He laughed.
To the Prom. Windy, cold and gloomy.
No sun at all. Lots of sea birds. Sadly we had a stupid child who thought it was funny to chase them all off. Not sure why she wasn't in school, she was in uniform, and old enough to know better. Hey ho.
Tiger Hill our biggest sand dune. Over the other side of that is Fraserburgh Golf Course. Termed as a Links course as it is on the edge of the sea.
Blackheaded Gulls, Oystercatcher, and Herring Gulls (Skurries.)
Blackheaded and Oystercatchers.
Oystercatchers landed, after being scared off, a bit further up the beach.
On the way back to the car. I saw there was another group of my favourite sea bird.
So I paced my walk. Enjoyed it. I had been instructed to watch out for a Mediterranean Gull by the DP. He had seen it earlier at Cairnbulg. I didnt see it.
This is what he saw and photographed.
After he had posted this photograph the bird world went berserk. It is actually an Ivory Gull which normally lives in the North Arctic feeding off blubber from things caught by Polar bears!
Apparently there was a dead dolphin at St.Combs just south of us and it could have been feeding off that. A rarity for these parts. So kudos to the DP. I am glad I did not pace up and down the Prom looking for a Med Gull. And nor did I see an Ivory Gull, never heard of them before today.
Now then remember the Short Eared Owl?
I sold the painting! A lady in America bought it. If you remember the owl was taken to the New Arc Rescue Centre at Ellon in Aberdeenshire. They look after wild animals and return them to the wild when they have recovered. So the money I got for the sale of the painting I am sending to the New Arc. They are thrilled as they are raising money for a hospital for the wildlife, I am thrilled to have sold a painting and hope the recipient is thrilled too! All done through my art facebook page Buchan Birds and Beasts.
Now I have completed all hospital/physiotherapist visits/chats I am hoping to start painting again. I do not have to pace myself when I paint. Ha.
But how do I do that?
We were at Peterhead Hospital which is 12 miles as opposed to nearly 40 to Aberdeen. Car park full. I was thrown out at the entrance while the DP went to park the car. So I go in, register at reception walk down the corridor and into the waiting area. Sat down and then called immediately, even though we were half an hour early. Into the nurse and peg put on finger, 77 out of 100. Well I am not surprised. Why wasn't I given chance to control my breathlessness before being called in? So we sat and eventually oxygen went up to 92. Then it was measure height and weight don't know whether it had altered at all since September. As I never got chance to ask. Straight in to the blow job. Deep breath - pardon? -and blow. Four times. Once to make some pointer move. Then 3 times into a computer read thing. Back into waiting room. Then into the consultant. Continue on low dose antibiotic for another 2 months. Wants to wean me off for summer.
Counselling? If I want to go to Aberdeen? No thanks. So consultant will find out if there is anyone local for me to access and also I have to ask my physio. Then it was I have to PACE myself. Right. Any advice?
I havent had a Macdonalds for some years and was so looking forward to it. The only thing I recognised as tasting the same was the gherkin. The DP was totally phased by having to dit the order into a screen. The cappuccino was foul. The place was full of very small children who all had a screen to play on. What happened to the colouring in sheet? The staff were wonderful. A lady who cleaned things removed a chair so I could have the chariot alongside. She had very apparent false teeth. I suppose she was helping me to PACE myself. But I actually felt like I was being patronised.
Couldnt get out of there fast enough.
Home, well, second home. The Prom. Cold. I breathed.
I was pacing myself so stayed hanging on to the railing. So the following pics are by the DP.
Oystercatchers.
Redshank.
Redshank having a bath.
Surfer of the day.
I am trying very hard to think how I can pace myself. I am pleased I have a future here but I really do not know how to PACE myself.
Thankfully no wind.
Cold. But then it is December.
The birds really amuse me. They can all fly, but as the sea comes in they all run - away from it!
Oystercatchers and one Redshank, there were more of the latter, but not in shot.
Redshank.
Turnstone, again there was more than one. Having a bath, making a splash. These birds run.....
Not much sun today but some lovely reflections.
Turnstone! Gotcha.
And again.
A solitary Surfer.
Tomorrow I meet up with the chest consultant. Hence the header How long have I got. My warped sense of humour. But I think we are at the end of the road now. One thing I will be asking about is counselling. The Black Dog is visiting rather too often for my liking... But I have been promised a Macdonalds tomorrow which I havent had in years! Just hope its not dog in the burger. Sorry. Goodnight.
Very strong winds - again.
I know I feel better mentally if I go out. Even if it is just to drive to the Prom, park up and look. Perhaps open the car window and breathe in the fresh air.
But once I get down there I watch for the odd person to walk past the car. If they remain upright I get out of the car.
Wild sea. No Surfers and No boats!
The tide was well in, but just on the turn.
So some birds were gathering as the beach was revealed.
At the other side of the bay the Gulls were gathering.
A feeding frenzy. Sand Eels. Sometimes happens when the seas are rough the Sand Eeels must be scooped up to the surface where the birds can just gulp them down.
It was windy but I was not blown about. It was coming off shore on a slant. Very invigorating! I walked a bit but it was tiring. I went back to the car. There were not many other people out of their cars.
So mentally recharged, and oxygen levels!!
We recently had our oil tank filled up. Where we live, despite having North Sea gas piped in from the North Sea, we are not connected, and not many others in this area are. They will only connect you to gas if there are more than x amount of people doing it. In rural Scotland it is not worth their while installing the infrastructure. Daft. So it is either electric and or oil. Some people have calor gas. Not many.
Most places in the countryside here have oil. The DP dips the oil tank on dustbin day which is a Tuesday. Once it gets below half I order a top up. This can be delivered the same day if you phone early. This time it was afternoon before I phoned. So first next thing next morning the tanker came. We had delivered 681 litres. Few days later I got the bill. £349.66. I have to pay within 30 days. They are so laid back up here! That oil will last well into the Spring time before it goes to half and we top up again. That does the heating and the hot water. Our electric is with Octopus who supply us with green energy and we have been with them for 2 years now. I renegotiate with them each year for a fixed term (and check it against other suppliers.) We have a wood burning stove in the sitting room and one in the shedudio. A load of wood cost us £90 last delivery and will see us through the winter. Should there be a power cut we have candles. The Woodburner which we can cook on, boil a kettle on.
It might also be of interest to you frugals that we have a septic tank so do not pay any sewage rate to the council. Water rates yes. But it is not a lot compared to in England. Water here is publicly owned.
Living in Scotland is good for many things.
Even our Wild Weather!
My car is back and so am I!
Windy and wet. I parked at the Prom and waited a while with the window open taking in the sea air. Then the rain stopped so I got out. And walked. A bit.
Four Surfers in total. Two at one side of the bay and two at the other.
This chap was on the left and was amazing.
Never seen a surf board with this thing below it. I assume it gives him some speed hurtling through the water and then he jumps up and away he goes. Gob smacking. I know we have a champion surfer in Fraserburgh and this could well be him.
Very excited to see Turnstones. Two Blackheaded Gulls and darting about around them there were the Turnstones. I have never seen them so close. I have painted them from others photos so was thrilled to capture them myself.
Smaller than Redshanks, which are smaller than Oystercatchers, they dart around fast so are difficult to focus on.
Oystercatchers.
Turnstone.
Back home and the continuing battle with the new ipad. I am certainly happier with stuff I am familiar with and get totally stressed out with the new. But I will get there. One day.
You remember the new washing machine? And the total failure of the delivery chap from Hotpoint. We bought the thing from Argos so our contract is with them. So we asked them for our money back for installation and removing old one. Well. It is another battle. What happened to customer service? The DP watched the delivery man zap into his hand held computer effort that he hadnt removed old one or fitted new one. But they havent informed Argos, and Argos are not saying they do not believe us, but until they hear from Hotpoint they cannot process our refund. Really? Meanwhile we have had to pay for installation by someone else, removal of the old washing machine and it being taken away. A week ago.
I wait for freedom from all this bloody stress which the older I get I cannot cope with. Rant over. Goodnight.
