In Memory of Wattie Rutherford

Our good friend Wattie Rutherford died recently and we have been friends with him and Jean for many years. Gaye and Jean became friends through Langholm Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Wattie served for 3 years with The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and part of that time was spent in Cyprus under their Commander in Chief Colonel Colin Mitchell (Mad Mitch) He loved his time in the Regiment and looked very smart in his dress uniform.

On holiday with us at Rockcliffe near Dalbeattie

In 2005 Jean & Wattie were invited to our son Fraser's wedding to Leslie Lemon in Salt Lake City. They loved every minute of their time in Utah and in New York where we spent 4 days before heading on to Salt Lake City. This is the day before the wedding and we were in Red Butte Gardens for a wedding rehearsal followed by a party at Leslies parents house.

We were given a Summer House by our friends and had to put it together in our garden. It was a big struggle until Wattie came along and took command.

In the Buccleuch Centre for lunch with Fraser's In-Laws Carlo and Sidne. They loved visiting them up at Winterhope when they came to Scotland on 3 holidays.

Hosting the Last of the Summer Wine Walkers at Winterhope

Enjoying an Ice Cream in Wigtown

With daughter Alison on Common Riding Day in our Sitooterie

With his beloved cat and I am afraid I have forgotten its name

 

In Central Park New York in 2005 prior to Fraser's wedding

On a boat off Manhattan Island on the way to the Statue of Liberty

At the wedding in Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City

With Elspeth Weatherstone at Fiona and Mario's wedding in 2005. We had 2 weddings in 3 months on either side of the Atlantic

With Fiona's in-laws at Winterhope. They couldn't speak any English but got on with Wattie and Jean very well

With Arthur and Doreen Bell on a train journey to Mallaig

In northern Italy on a holiday with Gaye and myself

Gunner Rutherford in Italy

On a holiday in Mull with John Irving driving the Jag

Wattie with his beloved hens 

Wattie and Jean in our kitchen. We miss them both but have lovely memories of time together and all our family loved their trips up to Winterhope. 

The Laverock Bird Hide

The Laverock Bird hide on Tarras Valley Nature Reserve was opened on 15th March 2015 by Simon Lester of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project. It had been built by Daniel Lacey and the idea for it being created was from Dr. Cat Barlow who was the Project Officer for The Making the Most of the Moorland Project. Prior to that this place was a Feeding Station for Birds from early 2009. I have been a volunteer for this project for 17 years since 2009. I went along every Saturday morning until the end of April this year. The Tarras Valley Nature Reserve under guidance from RSPB are planning to stop feeding the Birds but to create a better habitat for them to feed naturally. Work started this past weekend in creating a new habitat for the birds. Myself and our two grandchildren from Newcastle have enjoyed many Saturday morning visits  over the years. Our grandchildren from America have also visited.

Our daughter Fiona with our grandson Leo in July 2021.

Our grandchildren Leo and Hannah from Newcastle.

Peter Bart-Smith and Tom Stothart visiting the hide on a Wednesday walk.

Jack Irving visited it once and had a lovely hour there.

My last photo of the hide this April before the Feeders are taken away. It is hoped it will still be visited but it will take time for the area to be established as a natural feeding area for the birds. 

 

Near the hide myself and Hannah and Leo planted trees a few years ago. Hannah is now studying Biology at the University of Nijmegen in The Netherlands and I like to think her interests were helped by out visits to the Hide and TVNR.

Leo topping up the feeders about 9 years ago

In 2018 when we were hit by The Beast From the East it was difficult to get to the Hide, but Bob & Nancy McLure and myself walked there and back in deep snow to provide the birds with much needed food. 

Hannah topping up the feeders.

Cat Barlow used to do her bird ringing at the feeding station and Hannah loved going along to see the birds getting their rings put on. It is the end of an era, but the correct thing to do for the protection of the birds. I have loved every minute of my 17 years going nearly every Saturday morning and will miss the time spent in the hide after I had topped up the feeders.

The notice pinned up in the Hide telling its story.

A Wet Walk at Talkin Tarn

Despite a poor weather forecast Mike, Charlie and myself decided we would still have our walk at Talkin Tarn and just dress accordingly and take umbrellas. It did rain heavily at times, but it was also dry for 50% of our walk and the chat was excellent. This Gorse is looking good next to the Tarn.

Charlie & Mike inspect a hedge of Blackthorn

This tree was covered the whole length of its trunk by this Ivy

This is Wood Anemone and Mike explained it grows in the shade of trees. 

This pair of lambs were very pleased to see us

On a small pond next to Brampton Station we saw this pair of Swans building a nest.

If you look closely between the trees you will see a Goose on this small pond

Most of the time these pylons are not too intrusive, but this is a massive one and it seems to dominate the field it is in.

One of the three B roads we walked along near Talkin Tarn. The walk was about 4 miles and most enjoyable despite the rain. We decided to have our usual Coffee after the walk at The Buccleuch Centre and despite it being very busy with lunches prior to a film being shown we were soon found a table and served with our Coffee in no time at all.

 

A Longtown Walk

Todays Thursday walk with Mike & Charlie took us down to Longtown on a beautiful spring morning, but after quite a hard frost. This is Arthuret Church which we passed at the end of the walk. I uploaded the photos in the wrong order so the end of the walk is at the beginning of the blog. The last half mile of the walk from the church through a couple of fields was quite muddy and rough walking. We enjoyed a nice coffee at the Buccleuch Centre when we got back to Langholm with Jessica as usual needing no instructions but just produced our regular order within a minute of us walking in the door. 

On the bridge over the old Waverley railway line.

Whenever I walk in Longtown I realise how well off we are in Scotland being able to walk anywhere as long as we act responsibly. This lane is just after we have walked along the river Esk on a proper footpath. We leave the footpath and open a gate into this lane where there is a big sign saying PRIVATE PROPERTY and no access is allowed. We as usual decided to continue our walk and if a farmer approached us plead ignorance. To be honest its a lovely lane and could be classed as a right of way and no possible damage could be done by 3 old men with an average age of 80. We were never approached by a farmer, but did meet his wife and I immediately spoke to her and said what a lovely day before she had a chance to say this is private property.

The Longtown ponds on the first part of the walk beside the Esk

You can just see the nesting Swan in the middle of this photograph

Charlie had never walked this route before so enjoyed the new experience

The first of the 3 ponds we passed on our walk

The start of the walk beside the river Esk. Slightly muddy in places, but not too bad.

Plenty Willow Catkins about to appear