Vera Macdonald

Yes, and it’s one of my own ones – a beach in Shetland which is just known (by Mary & I anyway) as the ‘eggy’ beach because of the shape of so many of the pebbles.

Just in time for X Factor!

My first flat screen telly, so I decided to buy the red cabinet I’ve been looking at in Ikea for about 2 years now. And I’m really happy with it, now I hope it doesn’t show the dust too much. And Callum has smartened up my bog to go with this new sleek style. It’s just all so smart, isn’t it?

Well i,m on a surprise holiday in Side, Turkey. So far the weather has been hot, very,very windy, thunder and lightning and cloud, but not all in the one day. What more could i expect? But i try to look on the bright side – the wind is blowing so much sand over me it,s lıke the scrub treatment i had at the Turkish baths. Side is a predominently German resort so i have to try with my Turlish and that,s always fun when you get it all wrong. No photos till i get back as i can,t connect the camera to the computer at the ınternet cafe.

Went to beautiful Beauly then on to Thurso with the fabulous 55 club (that’s £15 return anywhere in Scotland if you can prove you’re over 55). Yet again, I spent most of the sunny times on the train and when I got back sweltered from Inverness, the rain started before I got to the supermarket for my shopping. What is it with me and weather. It has since rained for a week, then got a bit cooler, now so-so! Thurso is famous for stone slabs and slate, as you can see they put it to good use

We also went to Fort Augustus where the town was full of Indian and Chinese visitors – a sign of the times. Fort Augustus is at the end of Loch Ness, hence the Nessie sculpture which will be topiarised (?) in due course. It gets pretty hot in that hat in summer, he tells me.

Had a great time with smooth flights and reasonable weather. Saw miles and miles of excellent roads with a running commentary from Mary to keep me in the know. My favourite things were stones so I took some home from this beach – and I don’t want any of you eco warriors to give me a hard time – I got through customs, so it’s ok!

Didn’t see otters, whales or puffins, but did see a seal just outside Lerwick but it’s so far away it’s the bump on top of the furthest rock!

Wish I had been allowed to take a photo at the airport as the Massey Ferguson tractor drove out to pull the plane to its parking spot!

You can use a boat as a garden too

Had a swimming lesson yesterday and I did really well – either that or the instructor is really kind! Even got my face wet, so I might re-join the gym and try to swim regularly. But only if the pool’s a bit warmer, my teeth were chattering when I wasn’t actually moving about. Still it might be good preparation for Shetland – going there on Tuesday and at the moment it’s snow and ice, so not what I was hoping for. There should be some good wildlife photos to come soon!

Had a great day out at the Scotland Street School Museum, a beautiful building designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh, then on to the Tramway, a theatre complex with a Hidden Garden, full of art & design features.

A fine example of Macintosh design

garden art

This installation lights up when you stand under it, according to how much metal you have on your body. It also ‘talks’ to you while you’re there and stops when you leave. How clever is that?

Arty divider, hiding the working area

This is a simple, rough wood panel which looks great and is really functional, dividing the work area from the main garden. And nice to see somewhere which still has an honesty box for buying plants.

Planes are flying, boats are sailing and the folks I know who were stranded are safely home again. I’m home after visiting the rellies and they’re all well, so it’s good to be back to ‘normal’