Falkirk Wheel and Callender

 Today's trip is listed as Callender and Falkirk Wheel. 
We were looking forward to a walk round Callender, we had passed through many times on our way to somewhere else.   We called in for a comfort stop on the way to the Wheel so that precluded us having a walk round!



The wheel was amazing, every way as good as I expected.  
Big, Bold, Modern, Beautiful!!
We were booked onto the Wheel so we were on without queuing, onto a big ferryboat.  Apparently it doesn't matter what size boat ascends/descends the water acts as ballast so that each side is equal, and the balance causes the movement.  Too scientific for me!!!
I climbed into the boat and took my seat ready to move.....



The Stewards were very good, entertaining and informative. 
then we were off ....




We travelled along the canal at the top, through the tunnel and out into the sunshine again .


We slowly sailed along the canal until we reached the wide turning basin.



We turned round and started the return journey back to the tunnel and the Wheel.


This was the view through the length of the 'boat' as we approached the tunnel.


As we waited to journey back down to the lower canal we had time to look around at the views...

..... towards Stirling ...

.... towards Falkirk .......


... and, of course, our coaches all lined up ready to take us back to the hotel.  

We spent some time looking round the shops and having an ice-cream before we boarded them but everyone agreed it was a super visit.
We would love to go back one day and sit and watch the wheel in motion .......... one day .......

New Fishes

We had this idea ..... collect C and take her along with us to buy some fish food and plants .....  We wandered round and I chose the plants, PJ found the gear & food and C looked at fish.... not a good idea!


C loved the yellow koi and decided to buy two, saying they can live in our pond!!!!


So here is C with her two koi ...... Scramble and Egg.......

don't ask!!

She lowered the sealed bag into the water but couldn't get it to float 'right' so ........

......... PJ came along and let some of the air out of the bag.

C was intrigued to see what would happen........

The bag floated!

Scramble and Egg looked very interested in their new surroundings.

After a couple of hours of chatting, we remembered the two fish and went outside to set them free.

C hauled the bag to the side, opened it up and emptied it gently into the water.

'Goodbyee' .....' thank you for giving us this new home' ...... no!   They just swam off...............

The two fish took off out into the centre of the pond.

Soon we had all the fish gently swimming round, with the two new fish swimming together as they viewed their new abode.

A great shopping time

This is what happens when you follow blogs .....

I saw a stamp used on a card and I thought  .... 'what a smashing stamp!'

A few days later I spotted another stamp by the same artist used on a card.

I have to get myself some of these I thought.  I followed the link of the blog and, once on the website, I found a link to Pink Tulip Creations ...... a few miles away from where I live!!!!

So off we went on a day out, and eventually we found the site - just before a junction so there was a quick left turn!!!!

Once through the gates the store is signposted right opposite!!!



We parked up and trundled ourselves into the shop.  It was just as it is pictured on the website!!!  I was in heaven!!  PJ followed me in and we stood amazed, all this and right on our doorstep ... sort of!

We started off together but then PJ wandered off on his own.  I found the stamps I wanted almost straight away, most unusual for me, and so I began to wander round ..... fatal!!!!    No self-control!!!
Eventually we reached the cash desk - end of shop visit!  

I cannot explain how much we both enjoyed our visit to this shop.  A workshop was just finishing but, because the shop is 'divided', this did not matter as we walked in the door and turned right, while the workshop was on the left.  There was no staff interference, help, queries, greeting, we were left to walk the isles by ourselves, talking and laughing across the aisles.  At one point we needed to check some measurements and PJ went up to the other end, interrupted the conversation to request a tape or ruler measure, and returned.  No quibbles, no funny looks, just help.  Wonderful.
At the cash desk I explained how I had found the shop and we chatted casually.  I needed to pre-order a stencil - no bother, the order book was brought out and my details entered.  
What a wonderful experience this shopping expedition was. 

Down to the nitty gritty .......


PJ's actually - he has more space!!
Once emptied out  ........

 Please know that this is two orders!!!



My stamps, stencil, sprays and the best buy - BRUSHOS.  I never really thought I would get to buy this product and these four tiny tubs have made my day even more special.

PJ found some stamps and decided to do some stamping and colouring, so he picked up a few things for himself. 

Weekend Party

Travelling down south to Dunstable way the blossoms were beautiful ... lining the motorways and roads as we travelled along.  I love the way that the blackthorn blossoms before any of the leaves, adding a hint that Spring is on the way.


We managed to find the Hotel, another of PJ's little gems, hidden away behind the Restaurant.  We washed and changed then toddled off to the Party.

The party was organised by M's sister and daughter at a private venue, they had gone to a lot of trouble searching through M's address book to invite his friends. 

Ignore Breakfast - enjoy the view

 The venue itself could not be faulted, was magnificently fitted out and we had the use of the kitchen, patio and indoor pool area.  

There was a disco set up in the pool area so PJ and myself sat at the side of the pool and watched as the other guests arrived.  the DJ hushed us all as we were expecting the guest of honour ..... and then informed us that there was a delay as the taxi had not arrived on time.  We waited another half an hour and then the taxi was on its way ... hush ...... silence .... and then the man arrived!  
We all moved out onto the patio and 'Happy Birthday' rang out loud and clear into the night air.  M was amazed but loved every moment!  


The party real started now, the music picked up, the food was served (Pig Roast), the drink flowed and the Scouts were together again.





The amateur dramatic society organised the toast, joined in the disco as a chorus, harmonising so well that the DJ  kept turning the music down!!

We returned to the hotel and after a good night's sleep started to wend our way home. 

We managed to find a good place to have our breakfast ........

We passed the most amazing henhouse ..... house in a pen for the hens ..... set us off thinking ....

Along the South Coast visiting friends (late posting)

Friends moved down to this part of the country several years ago.  We went down to Devon to meet up and to explore.  
We met up with BS at their mobile home, just popped in to let them know we had arrived, then we arranged to meet up at The Dartbridge for an evening meal.



As the weather was so fine we met up outside and then decided to stay outside for our meal.  We had a great time - reminiscing, eating and laughing.  The time soon came for us to return to our campsite so we all said our goodbyes and agreed to meet up again in 2015.



We travelled into Totnes the next day and met up with our friend from the Flats.  She is in a new home now and took great pleasure in showing us around.  C has a lovely room, access to a really large community room and a bus every hour to take her into to town.... luxury!!


We wandered down into town to The Dartmouth, had a lovely Carvery meal.  We were just in time as the pans were cleared away not long after we were served!




The next day we went on the ferry across the bay to Torquay and had a wander round before we caught the bus back to Brixham.  This is the local open top tour bus  which fascinated PJ but we decided to save that until next year.

This is a post from 2014 which was not published.

Spring is on its way!!!

Definitely!
Look at our gorgeous newly painted signal box shining in the sunshine!

Look at those tiny bright green Delphinium shoots poking through ......

I am loving it!  With sunshine like this it is time to get the fork'n'spade out.

This square bed is where I will start .... dig out all those Primulas that are about to start flowering, take out the Sweet Williams and throw away the weeds.

A few hours later - I seemed to have slowed up a bit .... what with resting, taking cups of coffee, chatting -  we now have a prepared bed ..... weedless.

All those small and large plants are now settling into new homes ....

.... a few primulas  planted in the empty spaces in the Delphinium bed all the way along to the end.   Sweet Williams are planted along the ground at the railings (almost lineside!).  When the steam train trips start later in the year these will provide a lovely shot of colour alongside the track.


The lavender bed is showing some bareness, the summer geraniums have died back and the hyacinths are not yet high enough to bloom, so a few primulas fills this space for the time being.




We have a young volunteer in today and, while he waits for a job, he takes down my pea sticks from the Sweet Pea Garden and order is restored to another corner!




In the centre bed a small hebe is growing in the shade of its parent plant .... well it was but now it is growing in Christine C's pot, surrounded by Lysmachia, Black Mondo Grass and even some Aquilegia.  All that in one small pot you ask, well, yes!  These were planted a few years ago and now only the strongest survive !!

Now that all is dug, planted, tidies and swept there is time for a walk round this Railway Visitor's garden .....
There are two summer geraniums still surviving in the small box bed at the entrance .... for how much longer I wonder?

Now that the scaffolding has come down from around the Signal Box I can assess the damage ......

Most of the pots still have a few plants surviving and the hanging basket has new shoots as well!

The 'wheel' will be trimmed back into shape and no doubt will be throwing out it's pretty yellow flowers later in Spring.

Alas!  and Alack!  It looks as though a new lawn will have to be laid, sown, patched .....
Once the Tuesday Team have completed the Signal Box and moved onto their next project  ....... watch this space.

My concluding thought ...... Spring is on its way!!!!

YES!!!