Windy.

Gales. Rain. Cold.  

Got the booking form done for our Annual Visual Art Exhibition and booked the room for the next meeting of the Art Group.  Minutes to do and thats it.  

Took myself off to the Prom.

I sat in the car for a while.  Then thought I need evidence I made it!  So I got out and walked to the railings.  I left the chariot in the car.  It is a lighter weight than my original one and would have been in the sea carried by the wind I am sure.  So minus my prop I made it.  Wild!  But I took photos to prove I had been there!

I now know I can cope with the wind.  Which is good, but today it was so cold.  The rain had been very heavy but there was this brief interlude with just the cold wind.

As the tide came in more the wave were going over the Golden Horn.

Photo by my mate Mark Grant.

Sheltering by the rocks.  Oystercatchers and Blackheaded Gulls.

Just to make myself leave the house, drive, look at the sea, breathe the sea air, never fails to improve my mental equilibrium.

Then it was back to the Shedudio for the Great British Garden Bird Count.  Every year the RSPB ask you do one hour watching and counting your Garden birds.  Usually the hour I choose is a waste of time!  But not too bad this year.

Blue Tit -4.  Coal Tit - 1.   Great Tit - 5.  Goldfinch -16!  Chaffinch -  4. Blackbird - 3.  Dunnock -1.  Tree Sparrow - 20.  House Sparrow - 20.  Crow - 2.  Normally we would have a few more but in the hour that was it.

                           

Not much room left!

Then - despite saying I was not going to start anything new......

A Short Eared Owl.

And a Sparrow Hawk which didnt visit today.

My own photograph.  Sitting on the fence across the road from our house.

Just it's face in the sun.

Hopefully a good image of what is to come weather wise!

I am a fool.

Heavy rain forecast and that is what we got.  

However to the Prom.  The rain ceased!  So I got out of the car.  And walked.  No wind and not cold.  

Not many people.  The Gull Gang on the Kessock Burn.

Out at sea a small boat.  And a big one on the horizon.

Then the Oystercatchers landed.

Quite a few Redshank again today.

Footprints in the sand!

I think its the legs!  I love depicting both birds.

Once back to the Shedudio, as the rain was then coming down heavily, I made myself concentrate on work in progress rather than starting something new, but I soooooooooo want to!

Pulmonary physio exercises, the walk on the Prom and the painting I felt the stress tightened from yesterday eased.  I am a fool.  I shall do the booking for the exhibition in July.  The minutes for yesterdays meeting and then that is it.  She said.

Where am I now?

So today was our Art Group meeting.  I am still secretary.  Although with promised help.  Hmm.  At least we got in and met the new caretaker.  

Got through the AGM and the normal meeting.  With lots of decisions made.  So I now have a pile of work.... Minutes.  Social media announcements.  Pleas for Crafters... 

But I did manage to keep my gob shut when projects were agreed and did not volunteer for anything extra.  Tick.

The DP and I then went to the Prom.  Much later than I would normally have done.  It was cold, but the wind from earlier in the day had subsided.

Still a bit of frost on the beach where neither the sun or the salt water reaches.

Not many people so plenty of the Gull Gang.

Oystercatchers too.

No sign of the Puffin.  Quite pleased really as I have no idea how I was supposed to scoop it up from the middle of the bay to be rescued or whatever.  And the DP wasnt keen either.

He took the following photos.  A container ship on the horizon.

No idea what this boat is.

Definitely a painting on its way from this photo!

My youngest child is shop coordinator for a shop called Shrub.  In Edinburgh.  They get donations from supermarkets and other shops with food still in its sell by date.  Customers join costing £1 a month then can come and collect food and just  pay a donation.  Its a new job for my youngest but exciting and already started in Leeds it works.  Mainly to stop wastage in food going to landfill, legally fit for sale but doesnt meet the supermarkets or whoevers requirements.  Lots of publicity on their opening day, try googling EdinburghLive. And then Shrub, the article went out today.  I have tried to find a link but I am not very savvy with this.  Brilliant idea.  I didnt realise that bakers of bread binned all their bread every day.  Madness.

So where am I .  Planning the work I have to do tomorrow.  Hey ho.

Thursday - mixed bag.

A bit earlier tonight.  The DP has gone off to his Photographic Society meeting.  There is nothing to watch that I have recorded that I can do on my own, well I could, but thats unfair isnt it?!  Or I would have to watch it all again.....

A few days late but I did my Pulmonary Physio exercises today.  Struggling with my breathing so serves me right.

Then the Prom.

Not as cold today.  Although the frost still lies at the bottom of the Dunes.

Lobster  and Mackerel fishing boats returning to harbour, one after the other!

The sea was calm so they were going in quite fast.

Then I spotted this bird.  It wasn't until I later looked at it on the computer I realised it was a Puffin in winter plumage, so not as bright and beautiful as we all know it.

I posted the pictures up on North East Scotland Wildlife page.  I was then advised it was not well.  Could I catch it?  Well no.  It was moving well, they have big feet so I assumed it was heading somewhere.  It was quite far out too.  And I am not sure how I would have done it!!!!

Anyway I shall look out for it tomorrow and if it is still there I will contact the New Arc Wildlife Rescue as requested.

Back home and to the Shedudio.

Preparing four canvases to take watercolour paint.

Experimenting with different shaped cards.  These will fit into an A4 envelope as opposed to my usual A5.  I dont have the cellophane envelopes for this size so will have to source them before continuing production.

The DP had bought me a present.

Outside the birds were eating -  a lot......

So.  Sitting here listening to Classic FM on the tele.  You dont get news or adverts interruptions as on the radio.

Goodnight.

Wednesday Witterings.

As I was still stressing out about the Cooncil not replying to my emails, the DP, who is also the chair of the Art Group took over.  In no uncertain terms he told them their non action was totally unacceptable.  Well no apology but I then got email confirmation of the meeting this Friday.  And the dates for our annual exhibition also.  So they had found my emails which they denied having.  And breathe.

To the Prom.

Never got above freezing today.  But no wind.  And sun.  So not all bad.  You can just see the frost still lying at the base of the Dunes and halfway up Tiger Hill, the big dune.  Where the sun dont shine.

Not much wildlife to see as the tide was coming well in.

Lots of dog walkers, but not on the beach as there wasn't much beach.  I was at risk of severe injury as balls whizzed past me, hurled by those strange ball whanging things that no-one seems to be able to control or aim.

The Lone Surfer.  With no surf.  Just as I got back into the car he caught a wave and showed how good he was.  He was.  But I was in the car and cannot leap out and run and take a photo so you will have to just take my word for it.

My afternoon was with my friend and fellow artist.  She paints I talk.  So not very productive.

Ah Catriona Mason you really set off the memories.  Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

We used to live not far away.  Indeed our wedding party was in the village hall at Bretton.

We married on Midsummers Eve and our guests came to the evening party here as characters from Midsummer Nights Dream. almost 39 years ago.  

Sweet dreams everyone.

Calmed down now.

My lovely carer  washed, moisturised and dressed me.  She also washed my hair.  Most importantly she made me laugh.  Going beyond the call of duty, as she was off to ASDA, she went and collected the dressing gown!  So thats one thing sorted.

I spoke to my physio and rebooked another video call so another sorted.

The Cooncil I still await a response.....

I donned my windproof, waterproof over trousers and went to the Prom.

Cold and a wind.  I was fine.  I walked.

The lovely Redshank gave me some poses to paint.

This is a Stonechat.  About the size of a Sparrow.  It flits so quickly.  So difficult to capture on a photograph, so I am well chuffed with this.  Although I did have to delete a lot of blurred pics!

De-stressed.  

Progress on this.  It is a Little Egret.  Captured and I cannot remember whether it is sunrise or sunset.  More likely to be Sunrise.  Hope I can do the photograph justice.

Some card production for the rest of the daylight.

Totally calm now.  Battle recommences tomorrow......Cooncil here I come.