Menoodlin; Making Do With Weather

Last Thursday, Aitch arrived for another visit. This had been planned six weeks earlier around our intention to attend an evening recital over at Kilmun, with the water organ we had learned about during her last visit. 

However, during that time, the picture had changed in matters of COVID and its risks. It is on quite a rapid rise again in the UK, but it seems that this time around, Scotland is bearing the brunt, with this week's figures showing a 1:20 R rate. We both readily acknowledged we did not wish to be in any enclosed spaces in proximity to others. Particularly as we had both known of others already infected (although not in contact ourselves). All a bit disconcerting, but really, it had to come, as so many were far too ready to drop all the precautions and mix and mingle again. 

Anyway, we adjusted our expectations and planned a simple, relaxing, take-it-as-it-comes time together. Much, as you will have learned by now, is dependent on the weather. Thus, on Friday, we were glad we grasped the time to go out and about, for the temps were almost tropical (well, hovering around 20'C/68'F), a little humid with a nice breeze. Mind you, it was a stretch for this old bod! The round trip was close to four miles on hard paving, and I was slightly regretting not breaking out the rollator instead of just the stick. The outing was in search of a geocache at the town cemetery, which I had never visited and hadn't even realised where it was, despite passing it often. We went out along the top road at the back of the town, which is mainly flat walking at least. Then downhill a bit only to discover the gate at that side was locked up. We had to walk along the main road for a while and down past the recycling collection point to get to the gates. Once there, Aitch quickly found the cache and then we sat for 20 minutes enjoying the peace of the place. Aitch was a tad concerned for me and offered to return for her car to come collect me - but I stuck it out and am glad that I did. There's no question the last half mile was not comfortable on the old bones, but part of that trouble is the very fact that life is so very static for me these days. 

There was plenty of time to recover over the rest of the weekend - because the weather reverted to situation normal; cloudy, windy, raining and although not exactly cold, certainly not warm.

What to do with ourselves? Saturday the decision was 'pyjama day'. Lots of cups of tea, word puzzles and a jigsaw. Only 500 pieces but cut irregularly and between us, it took 6.5 hours (that's 13 "man" hours!!!) Sunday's weather was only marginally better. We did cart an item of furniture I was gifting Aitch down the stair and into her car (in between showers), but that was the only physicality for that day. The rest was listening to the cricket, doing word puzzles and trivia (and researching some of the answers about which we had some doubts - turns out online trivia can be variable and even downright incorrect!) We did learn a couple of things - though whether we will remember them...

So you get the picture. Just twa auld biddies hanging oot the gither... 

Oh yes, pictures. There are some. However, due to the limited number, I am going to ration them out over a couple - maybe three - Tuesday "LSMP" posts! I'll let you have this one though. Our Sunday dinner; Cauldron Lincolnshire Vege Sausages, peas, mash and gravy. Slurp!!!

Aitch departed on Monday and the rain continued until yesterday morning. It's just the way it is around here.

We were also kept entertained by happenings in the town - and even in the neighbouring flat to the Hutch. Friday and Saturday the streets were busy due to the Argyll Rally running. There was quite the buzz about the town which we could feel, even walking the back streets. There were lots of strangers (visitors) around and parking was at a premium! Even here in William Street. One strange van and its occupants caught my attention as they, it transpired, were staying in the flat across the landing...

On Saturday arvo there was a knock at the door and I was faced with two (very young) police officers wondering if I knew anything about 'the incident' next door. It is a peculiarity of these units that despite hearing everything that goes on in the street and some of what goes on in the floor above, the sound-proofing here is pretty darned good. So my response had to be, 'what incident?' They, of course, could not share info. But let me tell you, there was constant coming and going in that door until yesterday. There has been no sign of the husband or his car since Sunday. The woman (who long-termers may recall was our troublesome neighbour, uncooperative around all things relating to the roof replacement back in 2017 - ugh, I still have nightmares about that year...) has always been odd about not answering her door. On Tuesday, those officers returned and, after forty minutes of knocking and calling, they called for backup and forced entry. I could hear there was much confusion - then that neighbour was finally taken away in an ambulance yesterday afternoon. At the time of writing, I am uncertain whether she is back home.

Such are the goings on in a wee remote town on the inner west coast of this Bonny Land!!!