Icy in Pollok Park

The week has continued very cold so the snow has remained on the ground. James and I went for a walk along the Clyde Walkway yesterday to Cuningar Loop, where we sat on a bench in the sunshine to have our cups of tea and a Fry’s Chocolate Cream (orange flavour, yum). We saw goosanders on the river, and a little robin hopping about near the path. Then we walked home via Rutherglen and Burnside. 

Today James went out for a long walk earlier than me, and I set off later and walked back along the Clyde Walkway again since I had very much enjoyed it the day before. This time I listened to an audiobook while I walked. I phoned James from Cuningar Loop and suggested that he collect me by car and we could go to Pollok Park. James doesn’t need to be asked twice to go on another walk, so he soon turned up and we drove over and parked outside the Burrell Collection. This is still being renovated, which seems to be taking a ridiculous amount of time. It shut for repairs in 2016 and was supposed to reopen in 2020 but this was delayed due to Covid until Spring 2021. But there’s no way that it will be ready any time soon; it’s still covered in scaffolding and there are big piles of building materials around it. We set off on a big circular walk around the park, but quickly realised that the paths were extremely icy. There were clear bits but they were interspersed with huge sheets of ice, which we had to circumnavigate by walking into the grass and shrubs at the edges. Even so we had some scary slips on the ice. When we approached Pollok House we saw a busker who was playing the guitar and singing; she had a nice voice but must have been rather chilly because by now it was late afternoon and the sun was low. 

Back home I made kedgeree for dinner and then had a long and very enjoyable Zoom call with Helen, Libby, Wendy and Maggie. 

Four Parks Walk

We had a lovely, snowy walk this morning in bright sunshine with beautiful blue skies. We walked a circuitous route through four of our local parks; Cambuslang, Holmhills, Overton and Quarryfield. I got a takeaway coffee at Greggs in Burnside, which revived me; they have a little Perspex window through which they sell the food and drinks; I also purchased some jam doughnuts. I took some more photos today because it was so sunny. We met a few people that we knew who were also outside enjoying the sunshine, either walking or clearing the snow from their driveways. 

When we got home we had lunch with Ally and Cat as is usual on a weekday, then they went back to work while we got on with our own tasks and errands. In the evening we watched some more “Ripper Street” - this series has been a slow burner for me but I’m enjoying it more now that I’m beginning to get to know the characters better. It’s set in Victorian London and reminds me a bit of an old favourite of mine and my Mum’s from the 1990s - Bramwell. 

Lots of Snow

It was a winter wonderland today, alternating between heavy snow and sunshine. James and I went for a walk around Cambuslang Park and Holmhills Park and it all looked very pretty. I took a few photos. Davie phoned and told me that it is also snowing in Dundee, he loves snow and is delighted. 

I wonder what the cats must think of the snow. Tom goes outside whatever the weather; he ignores rain and snow and often arrives back through the cat flap with his fur absolutely soaking. Flora on the other hand doesn’t really seem to like going out in the snow, and this morning she sat at our bedroom window batting at the snowflakes with her paw as they went past the glass. We have been spending so much time with the cats during lockdown and I think I will miss that when restrictions lift. Wherever we are in the house they turn up and keep an eye on us, apart from during their big daytime sleeps upstairs. They like to sneak in to the lounge and Ally’s room to watch Cat and Ally working too. Yesterday Tom was playing a game with James, who was getting stuff from the car. When James went out through the front door, Tom scooted out of the cat flap, round the side of the house and in through the front door. He did it twice before we realised that it was a game! 

Superbowl and Chatelherault

Ally and Cat stayed up very late yesterday evening (Sunday) to watch the Superbowl. Sandy had ordered a Superbowl box for them which included bunting, a mini American football, pizzas, snacks and drinks. Ally dressed all in red to support the Kansas City Chiefs including a red KCC hat, and he really looked the part! Cat made an American cookie cake which looked like a giant cookie! James and I headed to bed just as their evening started. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31 - 9, but I don’t think Ally and Cat minded too much. 

Today James and I woke up bright and early to find that the sky was blue so we headed to Chatelherault Country Park for a walk. It was cold but sunny and we walked up to the Green Bridge and back down the other side of the river. A cyclist warned us that there was flooding just before the bridge, and so there was, but we managed to avoid it by climbing over a fence into a field for a short distance, then returning to the path. We continued on down through Burncluith where there were some lovely old houses then over the bridge back into the park. It was a good 13 km walk. 

Gin Tasting

One of James’ birthday presents from me was an online gin tasting, with Eden Mill, who are based in St Andrews. Ally isn’t keen on gin, and I don’t drink, so Cat joined James in the tasting session. The box of gin samples had been posted out to us last week, and I received an email advising me on what mixers and garnishes to purchase. These included rose lemonade as well as tonic water, ginger ale, and also hot chocolate! The garnishes were blackberries, slices of orange, basil and mint leaves. 

James and Cat logged in and soon got started on their gins, which were all different flavours, as the tutor chatted about the tastes and what to look for. They seemed to enjoy themselves. There were 12 different samples of gin in the box but they only tasted the first seven - twelve would have been too much at one sitting! The tutor emailed tasting notes for the remaining five. 

When they were finished we all watched the last two episodes of “The Great” which was very good and ended on a huge cliffhanger. 

Starship SN9

Yesterday James and I had an adventure. We walked up to Fernbrae Meadows Park again, but this time we followed a path which took us all the way up to Cathkin Braes. I have been for lots of walks up there in the past but I have never walked all the way there from home before. It was great, we walked to the wind turbine and we had fantastic views over Glasgow. We took a few wrong turns along the many mountain bike trails before finding a path back down to the other end of Fernbrae Meadows. By the time we arrived back home via Burnside, we had walked a very respectable 13 km. 

This evening we all watched today’s SpaceX Starship SN9 Flight Test as it launched and rocketed up to its apogee of 10 km. Then it turned off its engines and started plummeting towards the earth, until its engines were supposed to relight in order to attempt to land it tail first back on its base. But only one of them came back on and it crashed and exploded (like it’s predecessor, film of which we watched about ten days ago.) So it’s still a work in progress. 

Captain Sir Tom Moore

Captain Sir Tom Moore died today in hospital with his family by his side. He raised £39 million for the NHS last year near the beginning of the pandemic, by walking 100 laps of his garden. He really captured the imagination of the nation, as he walked cheerfully up and down, wearing his 2nd World War medals on his regimental blazer. He turned 100 last April and in the summer he received a knighthood from the Queen. What a remarkable last year of his life he has had. He caught pneumonia a couple of weeks ago and then Covid-19, and was taken to hospital two days ago. The union flag at Downing Street is at half mast. He has had tributes from many people, led by the Prime Minister and the Queen. What an amazing man.