A Thoughtful Gull

 

This is from a few years back. It's a Gull on top of a car at Edinburgh Zoo. I really thought it had a lovely and thoughtful face. I've spoken several times on here about my love for Gulls. They are hated by so many people. I have never had a bad experience with a Gull and been around plenty!

Small But Mighty

 

Check out this little weevil on the leaf! I love weevils and their lovely patterns and colours. This is from May last year. There is a part of the canal not far from where I am, about 15 minutes in the car, and in May there are loads of weevils, damselflies and other wonderful insects. I have been going there for a good few years now for photos. There is also a nice restaurant near where I park the car that do a nice coffee. So I am hoping to get there in May.

Ankle Update

 

Cleo photobombed the photo on the right! 

I had my big appointment at the hospital yesterday. They x-rayed my ankle and then had my appointment with the surgeon. It was good news. The breaks are healing really well and I don't need the moonboot or zimmer frame anymore. He said I need to start walking properly now and I don't really need to use the crutches in the house but must use them outside. He also advised not to wear any ankle supports or the likes. Keep it moving and work with the physio. He did say I'd have the pins and plates in for life, unless they cause me any issues down the line. I see him again in aboout 8 weeks and that might be my last appointment.

This next bit caused me some grief though and I am glad my friend was there to offer his support. The surgeon went through all the x-rays from day one when it happened and explained it all. Oh my goodness, it was a really, really bad one. I had broken bones in 3 parts and a segmented break in the fibula, that's why I have that big plate holding it together. The tibia was also badly damaged and the ankle ball was fully out of the socket. My foot was basically hanging off. No wonder my main operation lasted so long. Now all that said, I think I've come a long way in the 12 weeks to be able to walk again.

It's just a case of keep it moving and get out walking short distances at first and build up to long distances and to be extra careful. I really hope muscle memory kicks in as I used to do a lot of walking.

Thanks again to everyone for your lovely and positive comments, it really did mean a lot to me and kept me going.

Birds At The Feeding Post

 

At the feeding post we have a Male Chaffinch on the left and a Great Tit on the right.

Monday Morning

I was listening to the Fleetwood Mac song Monday Morning and I cannot get it out my head now! So I picked it as the title! I do like Fleetwood Mac a lot, both their early blues stuff with Peter Green to their 70s stuff with Stevie and Lindsey.

I took this last year at the local garden centre. I love going around the garden centres for photos. It's a Rhododendron Pushy Purple. It's very lovely.

 

The Squirrel Up On The Fence

Another from the archives.

I saw this squirrel on the grass and I watched him jump up and walk along the fence. They are very agile!

Caturday: The 3 Cats

 

These are my senior cats. Jethro, Chiana and Abby. They took ownership of the blankie fort my daughter made!

Happy Gotcha Day Cali and Cleo - 1 Year

It was one year ago today that Cali and Cleo arrived to their forever home with us. See the post HERE I made about them. 

This is Cali, she is so chatty and friendly. She loves coming into the toilet. She is definitely a toilet cat haha. She likes to wake me up at 3 in the morning for cuddles! She has settled in well and is very happy.

This is Cleo. She is pure black with a little white bib. She doesn't really talk, once in a while, and had formed a wonderful bond with Stitch. They sleep together, play together and fight together! Out of all my 6 cats, Cleo has the softest and loveliest coat. 

I don't know the background to their names as they came with them. I didn't change their names as they responded to them when they first arrived. 

Happy Gotcha Day girls.

Earthworm

 

I took this a few years ago. I saw something wriggling in these leaves and upon closer inspection saw this Earthworm. Worms are interesting little things and great for the soil.

Got a good report from the physio today. Ankle is moving and now time to strengthen the muscles. He also said I can walk in the house with my trainers again and to stop using the crutches so much and keep the bad ankle moving. So all good and happy with this.

Germander Speedwell

 

A wee flower from last year. Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), as it's known!

Moony Moon

 

Took these are few weeks ago. It's the moon. I was really happy how these turned out.

Sitatunga At Chessington

 

This is a Sitatunga that we saw a Chessington Zoo a few years ago. I think it looks happy!

Ringlet Butterfly

 

I took this a few years ago. It's a Ringlet Butterfly. I think everyone loves Butterflies!

Caturday: Love Is In The Air

 

Love is certainly in the air. Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Cali was on a date with Sonic, they were both very shy as you can see!

A Purple Bee

 

This is from a few summers ago. It's a little bee on Californian Lilac (Ceanothus). This bee was happy on the purple flower.

Heron At The Pond

 

This is the resident Heron at the pond.

Signs 11th February 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/ 

This is one from the archives. July 2017! I took this at a garden centre when we were down in England when I first met my partner's dad and step-mum. 

Azara's Agouti at Edinburgh Zoo

 

This is from a few years ago. It's Azara's Agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) from Edinburgh Zoo. I'd like to get back to the Zoo this year. It is very hilly and lots of walking so I think that will be a challenge!

Miss Scarlet

Not quite Miss Scarlet from Clue. We actually called it Cluedo over here!

This is a collection of Scarlet Elf Cup mushrooms. I took this last year, at the end of January. I will probably have missed them this year as they grow in the woods further than I can walk just now! They are also edible and good with a salad, I was reading!

A Summer Coot

Another from the archives. 

This is one of the coots up at the pond. I really hope they are still there when I visit the pond when I am walking again.

Caturday: Holding Hands (Paws)

 

This is such a sweet moment. Stitch and Cleo holding hands (paws). Stitch on the left and Cleo on the right. Since Cleo arrived last year, she has had a great bond with Stitch. They are best friends. It will be nearly a year since Cleo and Cali arrived so I will make a post on their Gotcha Day!

Little Hoverfly

More yellow today!

This little Hoverfly was enjoying this yellow flower.

The weather has been wet and windy in Scotland and I am longing to get out, even for a short walk. I had the physio yesterday and got a bad report. I had been walking in the house with my trainers on, he said a few weeks ago that was okay to do and walk outside in the moonboot. Well my calf is mega tight so need to wear the moonboot all the time for walking now. He also said to get out of the house and walk around the block and do short walks. So I am planning to do a few walks with my daughter next week. Hopefully get some good photos. The good news is since yesterday, the calf is loosening slightly. I had been walking on the ball of my left foot and this has caused all the issues. Good we caught it early though. I see him in a few weeks. So fingers crossed for a better report! 

A Crow Among The Buttercups

 

One from the archives. I always loved seeing the crows at the pond. I would always make sure they were fed. They would see me coming and wait nearby. Crows are good friends to have.

Signs 4th February 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/

We were in Edinburgh last week and I saw this sign on the train. 

A Stunning Sky

 

Click to enlarge.

This is a recent photo, I took it last week when I was out on the school run. I looked up and saw this sky and took this photo. I think it's so lovely. 

Where Does It Lead?

 

I wonder where this leads to?

A Seahorse

 

Saw this lovely, magical creature at Sea Life at Loch Lomond a while back. 

Cannot believe it is February already! Had a major win today....managed to go shopping and hobble around the store with the crutches and didn't need the wheelchair at all, partner and daughter were pushing the trolley though!

Caturday: Jethro Stands Tall

 

This is Jethro standing tall on the computer chair. 

Scots Pine

This is part of the Scots Pine Tree. 

An Evening Chat With A Snail

 

This snail was very chatty when I went out to the garden one night a long time ago!

A Spider And A Web

 

This spider was showing off his acrobatic skills. He was happy for me to take photos. I really like spiders, I know a lot of people don't! They fascinate me!

Nice Tree Pattern

 This is an older one. I liked the pattern on this tree.

Happy Birds At The Feeding Post

 

A Nuthatch on the left and a Blue Tit on the right are happy to have a chat before going to get the seeds I put down for them.

A Brainy Mushroom

 

Doesn't this mushroom look like brains? Yikes! From what I can tell, it is the False Morel. 

Caturday: Stitch On The Fridge

 

This is Stitch. He has decided to take residence up on the fridge! The human kitten is annoying him too much! So up high he went where she cannot get to him. I did store my oils up there but had to move them as I didn't want him knocking them down! Oil is hard to clean!

Gulls At The Pond

This is an older photo. Two Gulls at the pond. They were happy to eat the food I put down for the ducks. I do like Gulls a lot.

Mexican Orange Blossom

 

This is a Mexican Orange Blossom. It is very pretty.

Had my appointment today with the physio. Got a few exercises I need to do and I need to keep it moving. He said I was put as much weight on my left leg as I can tolerate.  He checked my hips and knees and they were all good, I hadn't lost any strength. So now it is no pain no gain and motion is lotion time! 

A Lovely Sky

 

A lovely sky in Scotland. 

Happy Ducks

 

This is an older photo. Feeding the ducks at the pond. I really enjoyed those day and really miss them. Hoping I get to see them sooner rather than later.

Pied Wagtail

 

This is a lovely little bird. It's a Pied Wagtail. They are really common in Scotland.

A Interesting Pebble

 

I liked the look of this pebble.