A change of scene!

Gosh it's fun to have a change of scene, isn't it? 

I won't be lying if I tell you it's especially fun if that change of scene involves a visit to our favourite and most hospitable friend YAM-aunty, who lives in Dunoon, and cooks yummy pancakes for breakfast, and always has a treat ready for me too.

She also has a comfy sofa where I can relax while Gail attends to important affairs. (In this picture she is typing a comment on Beau's blog).

And of course I get to explore the environment around the 'Hutch'.

Now as you might already be aware, weather in the Dunoon area is nothing if not 'changeable'. So I'm pleased to report we did see a few patches of blue sky and even sunshine from time to time.

After a walk along the promenade Gail and I headed into the town centre.

I checked out the forthcoming entertainment options,

And paused to admire the local street art.

Can you believe that Gail couldn't identify the flag pictured below? She had to look it up later. But really, she should have known that it's the flag of the International Brigade from the Spanish Civil War, don't you think? (And yes, we too are wondering why this might be flying from a drainpipe on the side of some council house in a small west of Scotland town in 2022.)

Finally we ascended the small mound beside the Castle Museum, and Gail nearly got her comeuppance for making me pose facing into the full force of the nor'westerly gale, when a sharp gust just about knocked her off her feet!

Thankfully we both made it back to safety, and were able to continue enjoying our little holiday chez YAM-aunty.

The Usurper

As anyone can see from my blog header, my rightful place is on Gail's lap. This is especially so when she is relaxing in the study on her pre-historic (and very comfortable) reclining chair.

Apparently not all guests understand this.

My wee poodle neighbour Ella came to visit on Saturday afternoon. I sensed from the off that she had her eyes on the prize.

I wasn't too happy when she edged herself closer to the launch position but, being the perfect gent, I stood aside.

I pretended I didn't care (although Gail says my tail angle tells another story).

Before you could say "cheeky wee poodle" she was up there on Gail's knee, looking ever so slightly smug.

Sometimes a chap has to recognise that girls rule!

Later, when Ella pulled the same stunt a second time, I made sure she understood I had better things to do...

https://youtu.be/bgFiny2vnLA

A watery week

Well it's Nature Friday again, and truth to tell, I've been struggling a bit this week to come up with a coherent post, as we've been here, there and everywhere, including a quick trip over to Torridon to deal with a (Gail says) boring cottage maintenance issue.

Looking at the various photos taken over the week, a common theme did emerge.

Water! 

Something we are never short of in this part of the world. 

So here I am by the River Dee on a peaceful Sunday walk with our friends M, J and K (photo taken by M).

Then a day later, on the Nairn beach, favourite stop en route to Torridon. (These days I'm let out of the car after an hour of driving, or maximum an hour and a half, which means lots of nice little walks.)

It was a watery scene when we reached Loch Torridon.

See the puddles outside the front gate to the cottage just after dawn on Wednesday.

A bit later that morning I enjoyed the tranquil scene by the loch, for a few minutes anyway, before the wind got up and more rain swept in.

At least the waterfalls never run dry in this part of the world.

Can you see me here, showing great bravery crossing a stream in the woods at the base of Beinn Eighe, a final walk on the western side of Scotland before we set off back to the relative dryness of the north east.

 

Look! There are actual patches of sunshine on the slopes of Slioch. After our walk in the forest, Gail wanted me to wash my paws with a paddle in the clear, clean waters of Loch Maree before I got back into the car, but I did not co-operate.

Happy Nature Friday friends. Was your week a wet or a dry one?

The best laid plans...

Apparently I am in disgrace.

I had hoped I could get away simply with showing you some photos from last Friday's walk up to the Queen's Well in Glen Mark, and thus make the lovely weather and glorious scenery the focus of this post. 

But Gail, who (unlike the UK's current Prime Minister) lays great stock on being honest and open at all times, insists that I also tell you about our encounter with the solitary mountain biker.

Well this is my version. 

About a mile up the glen from the car park we came across a youngish chap sitting disconsolately by the side of the track, his mountain bike on the ground beside him. He was holding a two ends of a broken chain in his oily hands. Gail, who will never learn that young men generally don't appreciate older women offering to assist them with bicycle repairs, said "oh dear, maybe I can help, I'm a cyclist myself, shall I have a look?"

Meanwhile, I had noticed a half eaten pack of chicken sandwiches beside the bicycle. Don't you just hate food going to waste? 

Really, why Gail was so cross with me when she turned around and saw the remains of the sandwich clamped firmly between my jaws, is something of a mystery. 

I was unceremoniously dragged away in haste, Gail muttering profuse apologies (unnecessary, to my mind) as we left a forlorn mountain biker alone in the wilderness with broken bicycle and no lunch.

Gail says: Oh dear! Trying to do someone a good turn does not always work out as one intended. In the immortal words of Scotland's greatest poet, whose memory we celebrate today: 

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men

    Gang aft agley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain

    For promis'd joy!

(from To a Mouse, by Robert Burns)