Loch Fyne Oyster Bar

  

Are you looking at me

  

Thursday in the monk.

I am hopping because I wrote a post and thought I had saved it in draft. But coz of the cacky blackberry interface and my own stupidity I must have deleted it. Fool. Btw there appears to be a new blackberry on the market no doubt arfur mullards eldest (the vodafone man). I used to liase with will be peddling them. We were short of ideas for a lunch venue. Ally had scooted to glasgow with colin and hannah. The oaktree was a no no, the crannarch apossibilty. Then fiona texted and reminded us of the hungry monk at gartocharn. So we were off. It looked positively seedy but delivered lots more than it promised. Totally no smoking and a huge lunch menu with too many choices. I have kromeski and jean goes for shrimp and crab cocktail. Mains - jean has mince and tatties and I have liver and onions. Top stuff we think about coming back tomorrow.
Home jean has a kip and I take the road to rowardden. Seedy looking hotel car park and youth hostel. I take some snaps of the loch. Tres bien. Back home and into the oak tree for a blog and a guinness. Lovely atmosphere ruined by 3 couples with 7 kids. Deep joy. Home chill girls and colin come home. Eat and oaktree.

Stirling Wednesday

The three adults take a stroll round up to the fort. A lovely hour and then back to montrose house for a Scotish breakfast/brunch I eat part of a slice of haggis but something which declares its main ingredient as sheeps luing disturbs me. Fed we head into stirling colinm goes to the castle girls shop and jean and I go in search of ye old scottish tea shoppe. We trudge and trudge and eventual stumble upon a cracker. A deli/coffee shop which was nice. Then into a huge shopping centre which seemed bigger than stirling. Nice town/city.
Home and takeaway from the drymen tandoori. Which for a holiday indian delivers a good meal. Colin and I feel obliged to take a pint in the clannach. Scotlands oldest licensed premises. Then over to the oaktree to see agnes. Catch a glimpse of the apprentice come to the conclusion they are all including sugar tossers.

Kromeski

Russian. Diced chicken mushrooms and onions white wine sauce garlic herbs wrapped in bacon and deepfried in batter.

Tuesday and its Fyne.

The week seems to be getting into a pattern. I wake and go for a walk, the girls catch me up. And rise at their leisure. Jean is up before I go out today. I recycle the tins and bottles in the eco friendly car park then its off to the millenium forest trail. It shares part of its route with the west highland way and promises 45 mins of a mile with great views and an activity sheet (available from easter to october at the ranger hut). It kicks off through the forest and the crosses the road and takes a different and thankfully easier route up craigie fort. Peace disturbed by the police helicopter and a wee man using a powered wheelbarrow with tank style tractor tracks. Funky I watch him effortlessly guide his barra up the hill. A leisurely strolll back and I remove my jacket to sit in the sun and relax. Ten blissfull minutes tilll some english toff and his poor wife who only had her eyes revealed (more through fear of cold than religious belief I think) come loudly pronouncin!
g how peaceful it is. The fail to see me and the robin on the bin next to me enjoying the sun. Not a soul in siight says he. Morning says I haha.
Then peace shattered I wander round to the bay and turn on the speed for home.
Arrive home girls nearly ready I enjoy water coffee and angel cake. We head off on the road. Through balloch then head north for tarbet straight and through Arrochar, round Loch Long, Ardgartan and then up Glen Croe to "rest and be thankful" a truly beuatiful view down the glen. Amazed by the couple of pensioners who are sat at apicnic table eating lunch in this icy wind. Jealous of white van man who is eating his butties looking down at a great view. Along Glen Kinlass to Ardkinglas looking over Loch Fyne then to Clachan Baeg for our lunch. Sounds dull but I know its the home of Loch Fyne oysters.
Loch Fyne Oyster bar. Its chocca. They advise its a half hour wait so we can browse the gift shop flower shop and caff. Then we get in I have a pint of the local brewerys golden piper. Ally starts with queen scallops with garlic butter, jean has four types of herring, and I 4 types of smoked salmon. (Ordinary, strong cure, roast smoked and gravad lax). Mains were a big choice ally went for garlic herb and tomqato, jean for salmon and cucumber sauce with red onion and tomato side salad. I had originally planned for a king scallop number but they had finished. So I was drawn and guided to the special deep fried haddock in batter. It was divine. Fish and chips will forever be judged by this though to be fair the chips weren't special. No puds needed and its off to the journey home. Same route different views. We see some awesome weather come down benlomond and empty itself on us. Back to balloch to the co op and we get the call that colin and hannah have arrived. We tootle roun!
d and meet up soonish. Fine tea of chilli imported from england and then odd the oak tree for a pint or two and a dram. Nice.

Glasgow afternoon

We find our way in and park at the back of saucie. We separate and ally hits the shops we chug in search of lunch. We head down buchanan street and into the merchant city. Find a trendy gaff called strata sort of bar restaurant. Jean heads for chicken ceasar salad and me for a lamb burger with garlic and coriander mayo. V. Good. We meet ally again I mule the shopping thus far back to the motor. The girls hit the shops I trudge drink coffee and look for a tripod. I find a hama cheapo. I get some prints done and feel a bit a little unhappy at the auto in low light settings. Meet up with the girls and we head to the mussel inn for tea. Ally does shallot kilo, jean does moroccan and I do a platter. This is prawns queenies king scallops mussels and fish in a tomato based sauce. Top stuff all round. Then a dark wet drive home frustrating locals with my slow speed. It was scary.

Glasgow monday

I started the day early, put my boots and coat on and started a climb up conic hill. It was gorgeous and the sun came out once I was though the tree line. I was knackkered and had to stop and sit at a stile. A young lady with a dog came by she looked far more comfortable than me. Some work needed in gym me thinks. I enjoyed it had a rest at the top of a steep set of stairs. I sat and took in the view and listened to the birds. I gingerly started down the precarioius steps feared for my safety but overcoming it by the fear of stayimng where I was. A babbling brook accompanied the path for most of the way, in a tree a bird was sounding alarm pretty and a member of rthe tit family is about as good as my recognition skills go. I sat by the stile once again enjoying the rays. Was happy as a sandboy till some old fella come wanting a chat so I chugged down. Felt like Bonnington just descending Everest. Chirpily engaged the two couples I met breathing heavily on the ascent. I expec!
t my legs will ache tomorrow.

Sunday

Fiona went during a wee shower. I picked up the pocket pc from the car and discover another geek cock up. Brought power lead for pocket pc but no cradle so can't charge the thing. Bang go my plans for editing shots and gps bugger bugger bugger.
Jean and I take a walk up the hill. We are well wrapped up but clearly my cardiovascular fitness has detirated since last I was here. Stiull we make it to the top and the views are superb. Just watching corrie and can't believe Craig Charles and Tony Slattery are in it. Still it did gandalf no harm. The view is breathtaking and the peaceful atmosphere and brisk air do us both good. Then its down the other side and. I take snaps of the roots of falling trees. Then its down to the shingly shore and back round to Balmaha. We sit in the sun with our coats off. Back to the house and chilll. I then scoot off to the shop at drymen. Its a spar, staffed by three youngsters the woman is the brightest. To get power here you hand in a credit card thing and they give you wee card you insert and extract at a constant rate from the meter. I buy a bottle of chilean cab mainly cause its wearing a knitted jacket. I then have a wander round drymmen and then back to balmaha. I arrive and th!
e light looks promising. So I nip over the hill to a bay. The one I had in mind says the car parl shuts at 4.30 and its 5. I saw another candidate so turn round and hunt for that other likely location. I find a spot complete with burnt out van. It comes with a couple of swans I thinlk I get a couple of good shots. Then its back to the house. Jean has kipped we are all clean and then off to the oak tree inn for our main meal. Nice meal prawns and lamb casserole for me onion soup and steak for the girls. Then off home to chill. Watching corrie and the apprentice followed by the bafta film awards. I will read the observer I think.

Catch up

Had a mega busy week. Went to permitted work met Lesley who will be Louises full time much needed admin assistant. Busy day on phone. Home. Jeans visit to the hospital didn't go well. Then its Wednesday change from the usual as a speciial day putting me uncle billys ashes in the ground. Lookin back now from sunday am its a bit confused as ever week compressed and too much to do mum cut her leg on my door and most of her family got on my nerves. Another day at work confirmation of a trip to boston. Sorted out some heavy duty financial stuff and here we are in balmaha. It was amad hectic rush getting here but it was worth it.
Arrived at 5 on saturday after a good journey and two stops we arrive happy. Fiona joins us at just after 7 and we have a good old natter. We arise in a staggered state and I trot to the boatyard and take a few shots. Sunday scottish breakfast and the watch oceans 11. We plan a lazy day. Jjean and I will take a short stroll, wrapped up well. Probably take an evening meal at oak tree inn. Bad news on the geek front. No DAB signal and no means to charge pocket pc. That means no sat nav fun. Found an old fm wireless and got radio 4 tuned in. All I could get last night was bagpipes, there was live music on at the oak tree but we decide to avoid. Had a good enough time in a relaxed fashion with friends. The view from here across the loch is a delight.

Off to the smoke

Train from lime street mr branson done good. Fine service even if the sausage was spicy. Arrived in euston dead on and went over to the first class lounge. Then across the road to the Wellcome Foundation. Nifty new building I'll blog the program llater. Good gig enjoyed it. Inspirational in places.

Inverted Sunday

I spend the morning and most of the afternoon acting like a post graduate student doing rearch for my essay. Hard graft and the diarrhoea is back in town. Deep Joy. Then its off to ruth and pauls for tea unusally. Bee is allowed out tagged from the Alexander wing and we enjoy a "traditional family gathering. "

Once more Mr Branson

On the way to london. Just recount Saturday Jean and I went to town on a bus, yeah scary innit. We went to blacks where there was a sale on. I bought me a three in one coat. It is a fleece and a waterproof that zip together. Its good added a beanie and some gloves I am ready to be soaked in scotland. I feel certain I will not be dissapointed. We dine Nandos which was pleasant enough in a portugeuse chicken sort of way. Nip to the museum to see james and other apes. Saturday night I talk to a friend who is struggling. I feel comfort in sharing our woes and I hope we can both do better. We enjoy abusing each other which is marginally better ther the self abuse we often go in for. Not that sort.

Waiting in Franks barbers

Its friday already sat number three in a queue of four. I like a bit of blogging in the barbers. Worked in abbey tues wednesday and immodium did me proud. No bog mishaps. Wednesday night and its off to winwick meet up with chrissy owen a rum character from days gone by we did many foolish things togethjer some of which were recounted. Thursday sees me catching up with charity stuff then I take me mum to tesco. I lose her for 30 mins. I end up asking the nice lady to tannoy her. She comes running out of the caff crying. Add to that a positive customer experience with fiona at t-mobile and a visit to b and the world is well

Apparatus Photo Gallery

Apparatus Photo Gallery Should the presence of a hydrant thawing unit make you think its a cold place.

IngentaConnect The work of the South Liverpool Primary Care Trust Informatics Te...

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DVD Times - Murder One: Case One

DVD Times - Murder One: Case One Started watching this last night it was a birthday present from Jean, we are both big bochco fans

The wild...............

The last 4 days I have been laid aside with diarrheoa. Its wicked, interfering with every aspect of my life. My sleep has been disturbed by sometimes successful visits to the bathroom. I think its food poisoning (had some dodgy seafood). Dilemma is this should I just let nature take its course, or attempt to medicate. http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/diarrhoea.htm has some interesting views.

whichbook.net

whichbook.net Cortesy of Mark Sanderson Sheffield

A week gone

Passed quickly. Friday saw us out with mike and jane at spoon. Good meal and good company. I woke up in the night with bad guts. Don't know if it was meal realted but it wasn't good. Full of manflu too very so for myself. Wasn't much use to jean in getting ready for Allys party. They seemed like a nice bunch of girls. Remind me not to ill again when we have house guests. Sunday sees me working on the charity web site I grasp vb portal and move oit kicking and screaming into the 1990's. Pleased with results.