{"id":3069,"date":"2016-04-17T07:23:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-17T07:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2016-04-17T07:23:25","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T07:23:25","slug":"gatherings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?p=3069","title":{"rendered":"Gatherings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Vast have been our peregrinations of late; to wit a weekend with the Folk Club in Blairgowrie and a sojourn south to Peebles, thence to make the acquaintance of Marco, Bendrago and Pearly Popstar.<\/p>\n<p>We enjoyed some happy pottering in Kirriemuir, saw Marsh Harriers at Loch of Kinnordy, and nearly an Osprey but it turned out to be a Woodpigeon.\u00a0 Staff at the Angus Hotel were very helpful and the food was good.<\/p>\n<p>Our stay in Peebles was at the Hydro, which is obviously undergoing a massive upgrade.\u00a0 I had read some negative comments but I cannot say that the work in anyway impacted our stay, and I had lovely swims each morning with the sun streaming in the windows of the spa rooms.\u00a0 The main reason for our visit was to meet the alpacas at <a href=\"http:\/\/velvethall-alpacas.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Innerleithen, <\/a>and what beauties they were,\u00a0 Paul would have smuggled two home if he could.\u00a0 Followed that up with a visit to Dawyck Botanic Garden,\u00a0 where we walked among the giants of the arboretum and some freshly flowering rhododendrons.\u00a0 That brought back memories of walking through the woods in <a href=\"http:\/\/savegillieshill.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cambusbarron, up to Polmaise Castle<\/a> where the remains of the formal gardens were still highlighted by a range of cultivars.\u00a0 \u00a0 We had to go back to work for a few days but then found ourselves up Vane Hill by Loch Leven. looking down on the advancing hailstorm.\u00a0 Oh and the reds are still there.<\/p>\n<p>The weather brought this to mind:-<\/p>\n<p>When chapmen billies leave the street,<br \/>\nAnd drouthy neibors, neibors meet,<br \/>\nAs market days are wearing late,<br \/>\nAn&#8217; folk begin to tak the gate;<br \/>\nWhile we sit bousing at the nappy,<br \/>\nAnd getting fou and unco happy,<br \/>\nWe think na on the lang Scots miles,<br \/>\nThe mosses, waters, slaps, and styles,<br \/>\nThat lie between us and our hame,<br \/>\nWhere sits our sulky sullen dame.<br \/>\nGathering her brows like gathering storm,<br \/>\nNursing her wrath to keep it warm.<\/p>\n<p>from <em>Tam O&#8217;Shanter<\/em> by Robert Burns<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3070\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3070\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3070\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3070\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3070\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"View from Peebles Hydro hotel room\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3070\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View from Peebles Hydro hotel room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3071\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3071\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3071\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3071\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3071\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4100021-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Paul in the Hydro lounge\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3071\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul in the Hydro lounge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3072\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3072\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3072\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3072\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3072\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4110045-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Marco, Paul, Bendrago and me \" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3072\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marco, Paul, Bendrago and me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3073\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3073\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3073\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3073\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3073\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4110052-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Velvet Hall alpaca\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3073\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Velvet Hall alpaca<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3074\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3074\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3074\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3074\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3074\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4120066-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Hydro dining room refurb\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hydro dining room refurb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3075\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3075\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3075\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3075\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3075\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4120067-2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Hydro signage\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3075\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hydro signage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3076\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3076\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3076\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3076\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3076\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4120138-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Rhododendron at Dawyck\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rhododendron at Dawyck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3077\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3077\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3077\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3077\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3077\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4120142-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Mrs and Mr Pheasant, Dawyck\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3077\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mrs and Mr Pheasant, Dawyck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3078\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3078\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3078\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3078\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3078\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4160154-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Red squirrel, Loch Leven\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3078\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Red squirrel, Loch Leven<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3079\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3079\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3079\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3079\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3079\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4160165-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Incoming! Vane Hill\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3079\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Incoming! Vane Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3080\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3080\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/?attachment_id=3080\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3080\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3080\" src=\"http:\/\/banthewasp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/P4090112-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Chums at BG\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chums at BG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vast have been our peregrinations of late; to wit a weekend with the Folk Club in Blairgowrie and a sojourn south to Peebles, thence to make the acquaintance of Marco, Bendrago and Pearly Popstar. We enjoyed some happy pottering in Kirriemuir, saw Marsh Harriers at Loch of Kinnordy, and nearly an Osprey but it turned [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,7,30,13,18,23,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family","category-fife","category-friends","category-kirsty","category-poetry","category-travel","category-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banthewasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}