Thursday. The DP was away very early with his bird watching mate towards Aviemore and the search for a Wood Warbler. Success.
I spent the morning catching up with paperwork for tomorrows meeting for our big exhibition in October.
I also paid for the double glazed windows and doors that are to be fitted to the shedudio in about two weeks time. Exciting!
The Haar is back along the horizon.
Herring Gulls, with one 'showing off'.
Lobster Boat.
Back home and painting.
These three are all on prepared canvas. I have an exhibition looming, whether any get finished in time..... I have three framed pen and ink ready framed to go though. Most of my work is being exhibited for two months at an internet cafe in town. Commission from that goes to the charity who run the shop and train adults with special needs.
That is dependent on whether any of mine get sold!
Is not that beautiful. Clinging on to the railings in a very cold sea breeze I get some of my sanity back.
A fair bit of sea weed has appeared.
A Lobster boat returns to the harbour.
At home I had a friend and fellow artist visit. Its a bit much when I get out of breath talking! She managed to sketch out two hens and an old fashioned enamel bucket they were drinking from. I did nothing..... but talk and listen.
Sometimes that also brings a return of sanity.
Today I admitted I could no longer wash all of me. I bit the bullet.
I was told I should get a medal. As admittance deserved that. Aye. I had the great and the good at the Doctors surgery saying this. My ankle is improving. And I received a lot of advice. So tomorrow morning I make appointments with Citizens Advice Bureau for info on possible funding and a local Personal Care company who will provide it. Apparently our poor underfunded NHS has a 6 month waiting list to provide me with the personal care..... Thank you Mrs May. Not.
After that the DP and I went to the Dunes Golf Centre cafe (no I don't play golf, although I have) for lunch. I then went for my promenade on the promenade.
What a change in the weather. It was cool, breezy and a spitty rain. But I walked.
Beach deserted.
Apart from the Gull gang.
Weather forecast for tomorrow and the days after is good.
Did a wee bit of painting. And a bit of salting too. This gives the texture for what the Shag is standing on.
Looking forward, which I must do to hang on to, the final quote for double glazing the shedudio is in and acceptable.
Also considering the future, which I must do, is to reduce the amount of stuff I do for others as I can no longer provide to the levels I would want to.
Biting the Bullet.
Another Sunny, warm day.
I did my exercises this morning. Result.
I went to the Prom. Result.
Above the sea you can see the Haar. Sea mist.
This large boat with the electronic radar whatevers is a bit hazy as the camera picks up the Haar.
The Gull Gang. Lots of Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Herring Gulls and
Oystercatcher having a bath.
As was a Jackdaw.
A small Yellow Lobster boat.
Back home I spent most of the afternoon
Drawing this....
From a photo by Les Park.
I think I did it. Result.
So - all in all a good day.
The DP does everything he cleans, changes beds, cooks, sets the fires, just everything.
As my lung disease progresses I find it more and more difficult to manage my personal care, i.e. washing. I cannot bend. I cannot reach my back. I need the emergency inhaler before bending over the bath to wash my hair. It would be a step too far for me to ask him to wash me, although he does do my back.
So I am biting the bullet and contacting Social Services. Not happy.
However I do not need to take deep breaths to paint.
His team won the Bird Race today! The Grey Partridges just off our garden were seen as they zoomed back to the finishing post, and clinched it.
Always good things to feel and see if you concentrate. And have a glass of red wine. Although the tears are not far away.
Managed to avoid the wedding, well most of, and the football.
Got to the Prom as usual. Got out of the car, hung on to the railings. Wind was plus 20 mph. In my face if I had set off, instead I returned to the car and came home.
Today has been a day struggling with breathing and moving.
So the afternoon was in the shedudio. Preparing canvases for painting on, which means painting them with ground. One I grounded yesterday I began a painting of two Gannets.
The canvases I am now preparing are bigger than the ones I have done before. Exciting.
I have a Hare planned for an even bigger one than this.
My ankle has got much better. The DP redressed it today.
Hoping tomorrow is less of a struggle.
Another Sunny day.
I did my pulmonary physio exercises this morning, apart from sit to stand, I could feel me bones disintegrating......right hip creaking. Sod it. Ankle plaster hanging on by a thread.
Managed to get to the Prom.
Herring Gulls gather at the Kessock Burn, where it enters the sea.
Lobster boat returning to harbour.
Back home, and into the shedudio.
And here is Dyson with his harem. I thought, hoped, the females were all sitting on eggs. Every other bird in our garden are frantically feeding themselves at the bird feeder and them zooming around collecting grubs and insects to feed their young. But no, this lot wander in and feed, and snooze.
We still have the pair of Grey Partridges visiting too and again no sign of any nesting.
On Sunday there is to be a 'Bird Race' by local bird watchers and our garden may well be visited. It is a timed event and who sees the most species in that time wins. So 'our team' fingers crossed.
As we have Lesser Redpolls.
And Siskins. And all the rest.
