May 2023 – Scribble & Scran

Munro Kershaw

Last weekend I was taken back, what feels like yesterday to me, maybe forty years on paper.

Originally it was meant to be a small village in the highlands just minutes from my fravourite campsite. The chip shop that owns a marquee at the back, hosting events, local gigs for the surrounding scottish bands. In this case, I’m not sure how I first heard, it might have been the flyer in the chip shop. It might have been the feed in facebook, and at first I couldn’t believe it. An 80’s pop icon, not just any though, he was my 80’s pop icon. My first album on cassette, maybe even my 2nd album on vinyl. I couldn’t believe it, Nik Kershaw, with his band an intimate gig At Blair Athol.

Oddly enough I couldn’t get anyone else interested! So I came up with my own plan, I’d camp literally 5 minutes away, enjoy the evening and then bag a couple of Munro’s by myself. This feels like 3 years ago. The whole pandemic thing kicked in and played it’s part. Then it was supposed to be last year. I still followed through on the camping and got the Munro’s in. Amazingly though, it still stayed postponed, a new date arranged and then disaster the venue changed. No longer a 5 minute walk from the campsite, a different place some 20 minutes down the road. The Pitlochry town hall. On the plus side, still going ahead on the downside new accommodation plans required. Pitlochry full of guest houses, B&Bs and hotels not a problem. Even a YHA which I opted for in order to keep the price down. Option of taking my own food, great kitchen a dining area. An 8 minute walk to the town hall. In the end no biggy.

So in the end in the strangest of places, I got to a concert for an artist whose album I purchased some forty years ago using a record token my uncle had given me for my 11th birthday. An amazing couple of hours, a remarkable experience that bridged the passage of time, connecting me with my cherished musical memories. Even playing the song that started off that first album, transporting me back to that long since gone record store in Kendal high street where you could listen to an album before you bought it.

I hung around for little bit and even got to meet him, he could have been any guy, but having seen him perform some of those cherished songs for 2 hours it was a night to remember.

The day after I was up bright an early in order to tackle the 2 out of the six Munro’s I couldn’t quite face after completing 4 from the year before. I’m glad I hadn’t tackled them, bit of a beast of a day. A quintessential day in the mountains, starting all moody and misty where it gradually disappeared and I was rewarded with a mixture of wind and sun. A 15k cycle in, followed by a 16k hike that took in the mighty Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil.

Food wise, I was armed with mackerel sandwiches, all kinds of mountain bars and a soup for good measure. I made it back to the campsite, that id originally booked for the weekend and made a really simple beef bourguignon with rice from one of those pre-cooked pouches.

I did have big plans for the write up of this adventure, and I don’t feel I’ve done it justice. I came back with so many aches and pains. A week at work, that saw 10+ hour days as we brought a project close to fruition, and with that we are already on to the next weekend adventure…….

The #WeekendCoffeeShare is an informal weekly link-up hosted by Natalie the Explorer that serves as weekly heart beat and sort of of a mind-dump. Helps me reflect on my week, with a list of achievements, thoughts and rambles normally whilst drinking a beverage probably listening to music.

May Sun – Coffee Share

Athur’s Seat, The warmth arrives

6:15am and I start the day going through the comments on my blog, the comments I made on someone else’s blogs. Easy wins on the road to feeling like I’m making progress. It’s better than checking the news and scrolling aimlessly. I enjoy the connections I’m making, a friendly jibe about small talk. A comrade in arms in the technology space relating to my predicament on a technology project. The gardener and the writer all stepping out their personal projects. Friends from across the globe and a nice way to great the day.

I’m gearing up, trying to wake my body and get ready for Thursdays run. I never feel like the run on Thursday goes that well. Tired from the meetings and constant conversations, and as I write this the feeling of bailing on the run is conquered by knowing I need this runners rush to get through another day of dealing with the machine.

The sun is shining so I’m keen to the route up by Arthur’s seat and down the innocent railway, a circular route that keeps me motivated most the way. Still a nip to the air, but the first time without gloves and the extra layer. I can’t resist taking a few shots as I reach the park.

A runners view

On reflection as I write, can’t help thinking this exercise routine is helping me keep grounded, to enjoy the light and how it changes. Today the world feels green and lush, it’s fresh the puddles of rain still to dry up and this little part of the world is alive and ready for the rays.

What else has gone on this week:

We watched the final of race around the world last night as it was broadcast, unusual for us in itself to watch live tv. We were that engrossed. Couples competing (two brothers, 2 pairs of father daughters, a married couple and two friends) across Canada with back packs, no phone, limited funds, and 8 or so check points they need to make 52 days. Awe inspiring stuff, moving to tears and a sense of achievement.

BBC One – Race Across the World, Series 3, The Final

I’m also hooked on Slow Horses on apple TV, a back stabbing spy drama. Clever, whitty, plot turns.

On the cooking front:
I was in the Portobello fishmongers on Saturday, looking for inspiration for tea as well as buying a couple fillets of Hake. At the same time, I couldn’t resist picking up an Arbroath Smokie. A hot smoked haddock, didn’t need cooking on the day in order to stay fresh as it had already been cook. The smokie, a renowned Scottish delicacy originating from Auchmithie, a small fishing village 3 miles from Arbroath.

My first encounter of having an Arbroath smokie was attending the highland show at Blair Athol Campsite. One of the concession stalls had set up shop by rigging up a smokery and making these beauties on site. Wrapped in a brown paper, on a damp day after camping, it was just the ticket for an elevenses snack.

So armed with a smoked haddock, I had no idea what I was going to do with it! Until the pressure of being given tea duty on Tuesday night.

Omelette ala ready steady cook:

4 Eggs lightly beaten
Knob of butter
Arbroath Smokie, flesh removed from the bone, broken into pieces
Double Cream – 50ml or so
Hard cheese – 50g or so grated (Parmesan/Gruyere)
Bread Crumbs – 50g or so

Using a pan that suitable for the grill in the oven.
Turn the grill onto a high heat

All whist on the hob:
Bring the butter to a bubble on a gentle heat
Add the eggs, and cook for a minute flat, forming a little layer
Add the fish, scattered evenly
pour over the cream, slowly, not looking to over power the eggs
scatter the bread crumbs.
A little shuggle, then place under the grill

Will be fairly quick so keep an eye on the bread crumbs as they begin to toast (5 mins or less)

Arbroath Smokies

Six Week Running Update

With six weeks to go before the Glasgow 10k, it’s time for a running update. Sunday comes around quickly which means the long one! It’s about being able to run for a set amount of time rather than completing a certain distance. That said the longer the time, the obvious distance takes care of itself.

Rewinding back to the start of the month, Monday and we had blue skies. The start of some warmth that brought a little joy to the start of the week. Then the last couple of days have been driech and it feels like the haar is full throttle today. It looks like it’s in the distance, however in reality it’s like running through an invisible mist that absorbs heat. However, the plan says Sunday is run day. So come rain or shine, the shoes get put on and we go for it one foot in front of the other.

Slow start, steady pace, I’ve decided to head to the Castle today which meant facing into some gradient. Again, slow, and steady, passed through the meadows and up past Greyfriars. Arrived at the Castle within 25 mins, just over 3k. I was hoping to get a couple of eerie pictures in the mist. However, the esplanade seemed to be locked off. Don’t know if there’d been an event yesterday for the Coronation or this was the start of the build out of the stadium for the summer events.

Down the steps and by the side you can get the full on feel of the scale and ingenuity of building something on the rock.

The run home, no escape, I’d run too far not to do 5k, however I needed to run a bit further to clock up the minutes. Which then meant, I managed to cover 8k in 50 minutes. The watch seemed happy, a new record, longest distance.

How am I feeling as I write this…..the legs are tired, and I’m slowly stiffening up. It’s a good 4 hours after getting back and I’m feeling that after glow sensation, when you know you’ve put your body to use.

The process is working, Tuesday and Thursday two short runs. Sunday the big one, don’t tell anyone but I think I’m enjoying it!

I’ve been busy in the kitchen, but not full on with the camera. The pictures pile up, and no words are forth coming. A sign that the weeks are full on and the idea of spending more time at the PC doesn’t feel right for my mental state of mind.

That said there are a couple of lamb shanks in the oven, for tonight’s tea as I write this. Lightly fried to begin with in the big Dutch oven. Two onions diced and softened, 2 carrots peeled and diced, softened, a tablespoon of curry powder, two tins of tomatoes and the usual overnight soaked beans technique that are simmered for 10 mins before adding. Three hours or so and we have something to keep the wolf from the door.