A productive day

I was fully dressed and ready for the tree doctor tree surgeon man with a chainsaw this morning. No, actually, he was in the back green next door, but sounded like he was in my dining room. I did hang out the window to watch him climb up and chop the big cypress tree down, which blocked everyone's sun and light. An before all the greenies shout 'shame!' the tree was actually damaged half way up and would have come down in the next big storm (the man with the chainsaw shouted across to me).

What a job! And he was wearing a nice white long sleeved shirt. Maybe he thought he was in the office today... I'm sure his wife/mum won't be very pleased.

Leo and his mum arrived in time to see the fun. I had put out an old remote for Leo to fiddle with as he loves remotes and phones. But he totally ignored it! He KNEW it didn't turn anything on, so absolutely no use to him!

We had a really successful swim today, with Leo laughing, kicking, lying on his front and back. This is a real change. If only it was warmer. All the wee kids were fair chittering. Z said she's always exhausted at the end, and that she wouldn't come next week as she has parents' interviews in the evening. I heard myself saying, 'I'll take him!'

Z dropped me off down in Leith and I had a wander along the river. I heard a bike bell ringing and looked round to see a man on one of those mobile wheelchair things. Suddenly, millions of gulls and ducks and pigeons converged from all over. He had two big bags of bread, and I think it's a regular thing. Took many (mostly blurry) photos.

I went to meet Mark at Calumet. He'd pointed out that the speed of my waterfall photo could have been taken without an ND filter. He offered to meet me and have a wee try. We went down to Portobello and fiddled about there for ages. Mark agrees that it's not what I need/want. He took a couple of shots and there was a big black smudge down the middle. I will go along to the camera shop tomorrow and show the photos, and hopefully exchange it for one that will suit my needs better.

We walked along to the fisherman to include him in a few last shots without any filter. He'd been fishing there all day, and had two fish for his tea/ dinner/ supper. He was a nice young man, with the curliest eyelashes I've ever seen.

I think fishing looks a nice hobby. He said that it gives him something to do, keeps him fit, and we both said at the same time, 'Keeps me/you out of mischief!'

So a very productive day, all in all - a tree down giving more light, Leo more or less swimming, and a photographic problem solved and several tips to work on - thanks Mark.