Parklife

As I don't have a garden, I go to a park once a wek for a nature fix. One of my favourites is Johnston Gardens. There is a large pond where we found these weirdly cute moorhen chicks. The huge feet, the tiny wings! We also found an armoured car in the neighbouring gardens of the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Less cute, but an equally pleasing surprise.

Afternoon Tea

My friends Elaine and Helen introduced me to the pinnacle of civilisation that is afternoon tea! I've wanted to go to a posh afternoon tea for ages. Here are finger sandwiches (no, not made with fingers in which would be yuck) with smoked salmon, cucumber, ham and egg. Fruit and plain scones with jam and clotted cream. Cream, lemon drizzle, pistachio and chocolate cake and mini fruit tarts. Champagne was available but sadly we were driving.

Britannia ruled the waves

I saw this lady and her fabulous hat walking up Union Street yesterday. Presumably a Royal wedding enthusiast with a nautical bent. In the C18th sailing ships were often posed atop an outrageous Marie Antionette style wig, here going with a more modern do.

I have also bought a travel watercolour set so hopefully some posts from out and about soon!

Princess of the Pagodas

I saw this wonderful oriental umbrella from the bus yesterday. Weirdly exotic with the hot humid rain that was falling.

The search for bread

My search for a bakers that does really nice bread is over! I found The Breadmaker on Rosemount, Aberdeen. We had the oaty bread (pictured) and the blue cheese and walnut. Both yummy. Sadly, the croissants, which looked great, were more like rowies/butteries. Maybe only the French make great croissants. A lovely shop and I am anxious to try the cafe there also.

A vegetarian venture

With apologies to Alistair (who doesn't like tomatoes At All), a van-dycked tomato stuffed with herby breadcrumbs from Vegetarian Cooking 1976. I uplifted this fine volume from my dad's house looking for interesting salad recipes. It actually has many appealing food ideas, such as little loaves shaped in flower pots (cute) and presages many foods not common at the time such as blueberry muffins and avocado pate (guacamole). I'm really looking forward to cooking from it!

Ponchos in the rain

(With apologies to Bruce and Martin who know about bikes for my poor understanding of cycle construction.) Pink ponchos a go go in the torrential rain we enjoyed last week. I always like the idea of cycling, wind in the hair and all that. I'm not a good cyclist, so I'd have to go with an old style girl bike with basket. In fact my last cycling experience involved a steep hill, an Edwardian outfit and the sudden appearance of the ground near my face. The one before (many years ago)involved a steep hill, an inability to locate the brake handle and a thick hedgerow. That's why I don't own a bike now.